The Toronto Blue Jays added some organizational depth Tuesday, signing utility player Steve Tolleson to a minor league contract.
Though the 30-year-old has 54 games of MLB experience, he spent the 2013 season at triple-A. Tolleson, a fifth round selection of the Minnesota Twins in 2005, debuted with the 2010 Oakland Athletics and returned to the MLB level with the 2012 Baltimore Orioles.
Tolleson appeared all over the diamond during his brief time at the MLB level. He played second base, third base, shortstop and both corner outfield positions, spending most of his time on the left side of the infield. Most of Tolleson’s minor league experience comes at second base, third base and shortstop.
In nine seasons at the minor league level, the right-handed hitter owns a .283/.372/.409 batting line. He played for the triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox in 2013, hitting .288/.381/.426 with eight home runs. Though Tolleson has never posted a double-digit home run total, he has an excellent ratio of walks (434) to strikeouts (594) during his minor-league career. He has a history of hitting left-handed pitching, which likely appealed to Toronto.
The Blue Jays could use a right-handed hitting infielder capable of filling in at various positions, but Tolleson will presumably enter spring training as a depth option for the upper minor leagues. He could be called upon in case a starter suffers an injury.
Tolleson’s father, Wayne Tolleson, spent a decade at the MLB level with the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and White Sox from 1981-1990.
