MLB Debut: Toronto Blue Jays trio leads week’s debuts
A trio of Toronto Blue Jays lead this weeks MLB debut list
With plenty of players to make their MLB debut each week from now until the end of the season, we at Call To The Pen will start a weekly piece to review those players who debuted in the past week.
This week was highlighted by three Toronto Blue Jays, including an all-debut battery!
Sean Reid-Foley, RHP; Danny Jansen, C; Justin Shafer, RHP
Sean Reid-Foley and Danny Jansen became the first battery pairing to debut together last Monday for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Royals on the road.
Reid-Foley had the prospect pedigree from his early days of drafting, though Jansen had overtaken him before the 2018 season. Build with a wide 6’3″ frame out of high school, the Toronto Blue Jays drafted Reid-Foley in the 2nd round out of high school in Florida. Instead of the quick mover that his advanced frame portended, Reid-Foley has needed some time to develop.
He took a major step forward this year, posting a 2.98 ERA over 126 2/3 innings at AA and AAA, with a 1.12 WHIP, and a 47/146 BB/K ratio. On Monday, he was solid, albeit not spectacular against the Royals, going 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out 3.
In his second start of the week, Reid-Foley ran into the buzzsaw that is the Yankees lineup, allowing 3 home runs over 4 1/3 innings, allowing 8 runs, 6 earned, on 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 6.
Jansen was a 16th round pick out of high schoolby the Toronto Blue Jays, and he’s worked hard to make himself into a top prospect, with the first real glimpses coming in the 2016 Arizona Fall League. His breakout season followed in 2017, and many had Jansen as one of the top catching prospects in the game coming into 2018. He continued hitting while showing very well behind the plate, with a .275/.390/.473 line at the plate with 12 home runs, posting a 44/49 BB/K ratio over 88 games.
After going 2-3 in his first game against the Royals on Monday, Jansen continued having a tremendous week, finishing his first big league week, with a .412/.421/.706 line with a home run.
A pitcher at the University of Florida that isn’t one of the weekend rotation can really get lost, in spite of plenty of talent, and that’s the case for Justin Shafer, who is a very solid reliever after moving full-time to the bullpen in 2017 after being an 8th round pick in 2014 by the Toronto Blue Jays.
His minor league season has been absolutely dominant this year, with a 1.17 ERA over 54 innings, with a 1.07 WHIP, and a 21/46 BB/K ratio. He made his debut on Sunday against the Yankees, tossing a scoreless inning, allowing a hit and a walk, while also striking out one.
So who else got their first shot last week?