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Blue Jays place reliever Ryan Borucki on 10-day injured list with finger blister

Apr 27, 2022 | 3:54 PM

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays placed reliever Ryan Borucki on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left middle finger blister and recalled left-hander Andrew Vasquez from triple-A Buffalo.

Manager Charlie Montoyo said Borucki’s blister problem first developed last weekend in Houston.

“It’s been lingering a little bit,” he said in his pre-game media availability. “So instead of it (continuing), let’s just heal it.”

Borucki threw an inning of scoreless relief in Toronto’s 6-5 walkoff win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night. He walked two batters, had two strikeouts and didn’t allow a hit in his second appearance of the season.

The 28-year-old southpaw used tape on his finger but it didn’t work as well as desired.

“He was trying his best to pitch with the tape but he didn’t feel right,” Montoyo said.

Borucki has battled injuries throughout his five-year big-league career with the Blue Jays.

He was on the IL earlier this month due to a strained right hamstring and was limited to 24 appearances last season after going on the 60-day IL with a left forearm flexor strain. Borucki also had IL stints in 2019 due to left elbow soreness and inflammation.

Vasquez, meanwhile, was active for the Blue Jays’ game against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night at Rogers Centre.

The six-foot-six 235-pounder didn’t allow a run in five appearances with the Bisons this season, going 2-0 with one save and seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

“He was pitching well and he was having success,” Montoyo said. “That was the main reason he got called up. It had nothing to do with being a lefty. Of course that helps because we lost a lefty, but he was pitching well.”

The bullpen corps were a little thin for Toronto on Wednesday after five relievers were used in the 10-inning game a night earlier. Closer Jordan Romano of Markham, Ont., and Yimi Garcia were not available, Montoyo said.

Borucki signed a US$825,000, one-year deal with the Blue Jays last month to avoid arbitration. He was selected by Toronto in the 15th round – 475th overall – of the 2012 draft.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2022.

Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press