ST. PETERSBURG -- Yennsy Diaz’s cup of coffee didn’t last as long as the 22-year-old would have liked, as the Blue Jays optioned the righty back to Double-A New Hampshire on Monday afternoon prior to Toronto’s series opener against the Rays.
Diaz, the organization’s No. 24 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was promoted from New Hampshire on Saturday as Toronto sought to bolster its bullpen. The Blue Jays called up newly acquired hurler Brock Stewart from Triple-A Buffalo to fill Diaz’s spot on the roster.
Sunday marked Diaz’s MLB debut, and while his fastball hit 97.8 mph in the abbreviated outing, control was definitely lacking. Diaz entered in the fifth inning against the O’s with a definite set of first-game jitters and walked four, recording only two outs. The rough beginning didn’t temper the organization’s enthusiasm for Diaz, however, whom they signed as an international free agent in 2014.
“When I [talked to] him today [I said], ‘Just relax, we’re going to send you back, I love your arm,’ and he said, ‘I was nervous,'” Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. “And I loved that, because usually guys make excuses, ‘Oh, I was just wild,' and stuff, but he was just nervous.
“He’ll be all right. Great arm. We’ll see [him] soon. He’s part of our future.”
Stewart is a new face the organization scooped up off waivers from the Dodgers on Wednesday. After meeting the Bisons on Friday but not appearing in a game for Buffalo, the righty will join the Blue Jays’ bullpen in hopes of providing additional depth, although Montoyo didn’t rule out the possibility of a start or two, should the need arise.
The 27-year-old is 5-7 with a 7.37 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) at Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.
“He’s a long guy right now,” Montoyo said. “We’ll find out [more about him]. … I want to see the guy first before I say anything about him.”