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Blue Jays name rookie Trent Thornton to starting rotation in place of Borucki

Mar 26, 2019 | 3:12 PM

MONTREAL — The Toronto Blue Jays have named right-hander Trent Thornton to their starting rotation, giving the 25-year-old a chance to make his MLB debut while the team awaits the return of injured left-hander Ryan Borucki.

Manager Charlie Montoyo made the announcement Tuesday before Toronto’s pre-season finale against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Blue Jays acquired Thornton from the Houston Astros in the off-season in exchange for infielder Aledmys Diaz.

Thornton went 9-8 with a 4.42 earned-run average at triple-A Fresno last season. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Astros in 2015 and ranked Houston’s No. 24 prospect at the time of the trade, per MLB Pipeline.

Borucki, who was coming off a solid rookie season with Toronto in 2018, will open the year on the injured list with a sore elbow. The 24-year-old experienced elbow discomfort during spring training.

Montoyo also announced Tuesday that top prospect Vlad Guerrero Jr. appears ahead of schedule in his rehab from an oblique injury suffered in spring training.

Injured pitchers Clay Buchholz and Ryan Tepera should be ready to join the big league club by mid-April, Montoyo said. 

The Canadian Press

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