TORONTO – Daniel Norris is the latest Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect to graduate to the big-leagues this season after becoming one of the club’s September call-ups, multiple industry sources told Sportsnet.
The promotion caps a season of rapid progress for the 21-year-old, who began the campaign at single-A Dunedin, dominated there, before moving up to double-A New Hampshire and, later, triple-A Buffalo.
In 26 games, 25 starts, at the three levels, the 2011 second-round pick is 12-2 with a 2.53 ERA in 124.2 innings, with 163 strikeouts against 43 walks.
Norris joins Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez in breaking through with the Blue Jays this year.
Kendall Graveman, another rapidly progressing prospect, is also being considered for a September callup, as is Sean Nolin, who made his big-league debut in an emergency start last year.
Anthony Gose, Ryan Goins and Dan Johnson, who’s been rehabbing a leg injury at Buffalo, are also expected to be among the Blue Jays’ additions as rosters expand to up to 40 men.
Another new arrival will be John Mayberry Jr., acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday night for minor-league infielder Gustavo Pierre.
Mayberry, 30, gives the Blue Jays another right-handed option in the outfield, at first base and designated hitter with his career .856 OPS against left-handed pitchers.
Essentially, the next month will be a free look at him for the Blue Jays, who will have two spots available in the outfield next year with Melky Cabrera and Colby Rasmus headed for free agency.
Mayberry has two years of arbitration remaining and is earning $1.59 million this year.
