Toronto Blue Jays Activate Dustin McGowan From DL
By Aaron Somers
Dustin McGowan will finally make his return to the Blue Jays active roster after yet another procedure on his right shoulder. (Image Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports)
Dustin McGowan has been activated from the 60-day disabled list by the Toronto Blue Jays. Evan Crawford has been designated for assignment to make room on the team’s 40-man roster, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca. The team has reportedly optioned Todd Redmond down to Triple-A in order to make space on the active roster.
McGowan, now 31, has seen his once promising career completely derailed by an extensive series of injuries that includes Tommy John Surgery in 2004, a torn rotator cuff and frayed labrum in 2008, knee surgery in 2009, a second rotator cuff tear in 2010, and a final procedure on his shoulder last August to clean up debris. The right-hander has thrown a grand total of 67.1 innings since the end of the 2008 season, combined between the Majors and Minors. He’s already under contract with the team through the end of next season, with a club option for 2015.
Formerly a starter that the team viewed as a significant piece of their rotation moving forward, McGowan is now going to be used strictly in a relief role. It remains to be seen if the team will use him simply in middle relief or if they’ll try him in a late inning role. What will be key is how he handles pitching on back-to-back days and ultimately whether he can remain healthy.
Crawford has yet to see any time with the team’s big league club this year, having spent the season between High-A and Double-A. He’s posted a 2-1 record, 5.86 ERA, and 1.518 WHIP in 27.2 IP on the year. The left-hander did make ten brief appearances with the club last season, with a 6.75 ERA and 1.750 WHIP in 8.0 IP.
Redmond had appeared in just two games for the Blue Jays, totaling 4.2 IP. The 28 year old right-hander is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in that stretch. He hadn’t fared much better in limited action down at Triple-A before his callup, posting a 9.53 ERA and 1.941 WHIP (albeit in just 5.2 IP).