TORONTO -- The Blue Jays added some versatility to their bench by recalling utility man Andy Burns from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday afternoon.
Right-hander Drew Hutchison was optioned to the Minor Leagues to make room for Burns on the 25-man roster. The move had been expected after Hutchison made a spot start in Thursday night's 5-4 victory over the Tigers.
Burns, rated No. 26 on the Blue Jays' Top 30 Prospects list, according to MLBPipeline.com, is expected to stick around until at least the All-Star break that begins Monday, and it's possible he will remain on the roster until Toronto completes an Interleague Series against the D-backs from July 19-20.
"You can play him anywhere and he's a pretty good runner too," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He has played some good defense and you can throw him anywhere. That's the key."
Burns had been up a couple of times this season prior to Friday's promotion. He received just six at-bats over eight games and is still looking for his first big league hit. The 25-year-old was batting .238 with a .364 on-base percentage in 70 games for Buffalo.
Toronto had been playing with one less man available off the bench in recent weeks because of an eight-man bullpen. The Blue Jays still have eight relievers on the roster, but Burns essentially takes the spot of starter Marco Estrada, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list earlier this week with a sore back.
"We're just looking to get through the break, but he could come in handy [in Arizona] too," Gibbons said. "He'd be the ideal guy."