The Toronto Blue Jays play their final game of the Florida schedule in spring training today, before heading to Montreal for a pair of exhibition games against the New York Mets, and then getting ready for a trip back to Florida for Opening Day in Tampa Bay against the Rays. Before the game the Jays trimmed their roster to the 25-man group that should start the regular season.
In the biggest surprise, Dustin McGowan was named the team’s fifth starter; and J.A. Happ was placed on the fifteen-day disabled list.
McGowan was a Blue Jays first round draft pick in 2000. He progressed through the minors and was considered one of the best young pitching prospects in the organization. However in 2007 he injured his shoulder, and required surgery. It was the first of many shoulder surgeries for McGowan and he has made just 30 MLB appearances since 2008.
“He was one of the top up-and-coming pitchers here in this organization a few years ago,” Gibbons said. “It’s pretty amazing in my mind that he’s come back this far. We’re going to run with it and see where it takes us.”
Last season Dustin McGowan made it back to the majors in a relief role, but the 32-year-old wanted to start and knew that this year would be his final opportunity. McGowan believed that if he was put back into the bullpen it would be too hard to be stretched out again. That said, he didn’t really believe he’d win a starting role.
“I was kind of speechless,” said McGowan. “I told them, thank you for the opportunity and I’ll be ready.”
“I always had the resolve to push through,” said McGowan. “There’s no quitting in my blood. There was times I thought it may not happen anymore but it wouldn’t be from lack of trying so I kept pushing hard for moments like this.”
The Jays have been slowly stretching him out in pre-season. He is expected to throw 70 – 80 pitches in a simulated game on Sunday, and will be limited to just 90 pitches when he starts the Blue Jays home opener against the New York Yankees.
The Blue Jays also announced that they will go with an eight man bullpen, and that Josh Thole will be the backup catcher/R.A. Dickey’s personal catcher.
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