MONTREAL -- The Blue Jays’ battle for starting rotation spots has come to an end.

On Tuesday, ahead of the team’s final exhibition contest, a 2-0 win over the Brewers at Olympic Stadium, manager Charlie Montoyo announced that Trent Thornton would step into the squad’s open rotation spot. Montoyo also announced that Sam Gaviglio had officially made the team, and will be a part of Toronto's bullpen on Opening Day.

Thornton made seven spring appearances, and the 25-year-old right-hander posted a 4.80 ERA over 15 innings with five walks and 16 strikeouts. Montoyo was most impressed by the former Astros farmhand in his lone start and final spring outing, when he faced the Yankees and allowed three runs on four hits in 3 2/3 frames with four strikeouts.

“He’s got the stuff to compete in the big leagues for sure,” Montoyo said. “So that game that we saw him against the Yankees' good lineup, I thought he was very good. To me, it tells me that he’s ready to compete in the big leagues. Again, it was one start, but he’s got the stuff to do it.”

Thornton will become the team’s fourth starter, scheduled to make his Major League debut against a right-handed-heavy Tigers lineup on Sunday, while Blue Jays southpaw Clayton Richard -- who threw 80 pitches in a Minor League game in Florida on Tuesday -- will take on the Orioles on Monday. Marcus Stroman, Matt Shoemaker and Aaron Sanchez round out the rotation.

With a number of roster spots left to solidify and decisions still to be made, Montoyo has enjoyed the moments he’s been afforded to give good news to a number of his players.

“I love it,” Montoyo said. “It killed me yesterday that I couldn’t tell Trent because he was in Florida, so somebody else did it. I wanted to tell him. And then Sammy today, when he walked into the room, I said, ‘It’s good news, it’s good news,’ because he had the face. Then, a smile, and he was of course really happy.”

Gaviglio made eight spring appearances with the Blue Jays, including three starts, and the 28-year-old righty posted a 4.66 mark over 19 1/3 innings with five walks and 24 strikeouts.

Roster solidification
Elvis Luciano, the Blue Jays' 19-year-old Rule 5 Draft pick, is set to make his Major League debut with the Toronto team, also as a member of the bullpen. Luciano allowed 11 runs in 8 2/3 spring innings, but most impressed his manager on Monday, when he came back after hitting his first batter to strike out reigning National League MVP Award winner Christian Yelich.

“He showed a lot yesterday,” Montoyo said. “So it was one of the reasons he made the club. We want to give him a chance.”

After Tuesday’s game, Montoyo declared another pair of roster battles over. Following Thomas Pannone’s start against the Brewers -- in which he allowed two hits in two scoreless innings with a walk and a strikeout -- the Blue Jays manager announced that Pannone would be a member of the bullpen.

“We can use the length,” Montoyo said. “He could also come in and get left-handed hitters out, so it will give me more matchups. It will be easier for me to manage with another lefty in the ‘pen for sure.”

One bullpen spot is still open for the taking, and barring an addition to the organization it looks as though Javy Guerra is the frontrunner, with the Blue Jays having only a short look at Bud Norris so far.

“Guerra’s still in the mix,” Montoyo said. “He’s going to fly back with us and see what happens. … Bud Norris, Guerra, it’s those two guys right now and maybe someone still, you never know.”

The battle between Richard Urena and Eric Sogard also came to an end, with Urena securing the final open spot among position players. Urena hit .302/.367/.419 during Spring Training with one home run, two doubles and five RBIs. 

More updates on the arms
The season will start without a number of pitchers the Blue Jays saw go down with various injuries during Spring Training, but a few of them could return shortly.

On Tuesday, Ryan Borucki and Ryan Tepera -- who both experienced elbow soreness in their throwing arms -- were scheduled to play catch, while Norris (sore right arm) was scheduled to throw a bullpen session.

“It’s good news,” Montoyo said. “Again, [Tepera] is not going to have surgery so now he should be ready, we’re hoping by mid-April. That’s our goal right now; that’s the best-case scenario. … Borucki could miss at least for sure one [start]. I’m going to guess, a young guy like that, long season, probably two starts would be my guess.”

On Norris, Montoyo added: “We don’t want to rush [him]. We want to see how he’s doing. He could be two more bullpens, another game, we’ll see.”

After being signed late in camp, Clay Buchholz is set for a 45-pitch simulated game on Wednesday in Florida.

“[He should be ready] sometime around mid-April,” the Blue Jays’ manager said. “Somewhere around there, which is also good news. We’ll see how he does tomorrow of course.”

Vlad Jr. ahead of schedule
On Tuesday, Montoyo announced that Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the No. 1 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, is ahead of the timeline set out for him to return from an oblique injury he sustained earlier in the spring.

“He’s swinging the bat now, so he’s doing well,” Montoyo said. “[The next step] is to play games. I don’t know [when] yet. We’re going to take it slowly, but his injury wasn’t that bad, so that’s why he’s swinging the bat already, and he’s ahead of schedule. He’s doing well.”

Before Guerrero Jr. can make his highly anticipated Major League debut, he will first get into games in extending spring training before heading to Triple-A Buffalo to join the Bisons.

“He’ll get a couple of games in extended and then send him to the 20-degree weather,” Montoyo said. “We’re going to keep him there. When he’s ready to play, he’ll go to Buffalo and play, that’s for sure.”

Up next
The Blue Jays completed their spring slate in Montreal on Tuesday and will head home for an off-day before taking on the Tigers at Rogers Centre on Thursday. Marcus Stroman will make the Opening Day start, with first pitch set for 3:37 p.m. ET.