The Buffalo Bisons will be getting an influx of major-league talent this week as four Toronto Blue Jays are scheduled to make rehab appearances in triple-A this week.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Wednesday's game against the Seattle Mariners, manager John Schneider said that catcher Danny Jansen would serve as the Bisons' designated hitter later in the day.
Jansen has been working back from a fractured pisiform in his wrist during spring training. The 28-year-old backstop hit 17 home runs in 86 games with Toronto in 2023.
Meanwhile, relievers Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson will pitch for Buffalo on Thursday.
Swanson made his first rehab appearance on Sunday with the low-A Dunedin Blue Jays, striking out two in a perfect inning of work.
Romano will be making his rehab appearance after dealing with forearm tightness to begin the season.
The 30-year-old Romano, a native of Markham, Ont., tied a career high with 36 saves in 2023. He had a 2.90 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 59 appearances.
Finally, starter Alek Manoah is expected to start for the Bisons on Saturday. Like Swanson, he pitched for low-A Dunedin on Sunday. However, the 26-year-old allowed six runs over 1.2 innings, walking four batters and allowing five hits.
Despite the poor results, Manoah said he "felt really good."
After going 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA and making the AL All-Star team in 2023, Manoah went 3-9 with a 5.87 ERA last season and was sent to the rookie-level Florida Complex League on June 6 to work on mechanics. After a pair of minor-league outings, including one in which Manoah allowed 11 runs over 2 2/3 innings in an FCL game, the right-hander rejoined the Blue Jays on July 7 but was shut down for the season after a start on Aug. 10.
— With files from The Associated Press
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