The Blue Jays bullpen was dealt another significant blow Saturday as the team placed reliable reliever Yimi García on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. In a corresponding move, the club recalled right-hander Willy Piña from Triple-A Buffalo to fill the vacancy.
For Toronto fans following this season’s rollercoaster performance, this latest setback comes at a particularly challenging time. García, 33, has been one of the steadier arms in manager John Schneider’s bullpen arsenal, posting a respectable 3.90 ERA through 32 appearances this season.
“We’re taking the cautious approach with Yimi,” Schneider told me during pre-game availability at Rogers Centre. “When a veteran reliever mentions any discomfort, especially in the elbow, you don’t take chances. We expect him back after the minimum IL stint, but we’ll monitor his progress daily.”
García’s absence creates yet another hole in a bullpen that’s faced considerable fluctuation this season. Just last month, Toronto lost closer Jordan Romano to a similar elbow issue, forcing the team to shuffle relief roles extensively.
Piña, who gets the call-up from Buffalo, has shown flashes of potential in his limited major league exposure. The 26-year-old Dominican right-hander has appeared in seven games for the Blue Jays this season, working to a 4.76 ERA while striking out eight batters across 5.2 innings.
What’s particularly interesting about Piña’s development has been his performance in Triple-A. Sources within the organization tell me his fastball velocity has ticked up consistently, now sitting 95-97 mph with improved command of his breaking pitches.
“Willy’s been putting in tremendous work with our pitching development staff,” noted Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker. “His slider shape has really progressed, giving him a legitimate out pitch against both righties and lefties.”
According to Statcast data from his previous major league stint, Piña’s slider generated a 36% whiff rate, suggesting the pitch could become a valuable weapon if he can maintain consistency.
The timing of García’s injury creates an intriguing opportunity for several relievers to step into higher-leverage situations. Tim Mayza and Génesis Cabrera will likely see increased late-inning work, while Trevor Richards could factor more prominently into the seventh and eighth inning mix.
For the Blue Jays, currently hovering around the .500 mark, maintaining bullpen stability becomes increasingly crucial as they approach the July 30 trade deadline. Front office sources suggest the team is actively exploring relief pitching options on the market, though Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Mark Shapiro hasn’t yet committed to being definitive buyers.
“Every game matters right now,” veteran first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. emphasized when I caught up with him in the clubhouse. “We believe in the guys we have here. Injuries happen, but that’s why we build depth. Piña has electric stuff – we’ve all seen it.”
The statistical impact of García’s absence shouldn’t be understated. According to Baseball Savant, he ranks in the 74th percentile in chase rate and has limited hard contact effectively this season. His 1.20 WHIP shows his ability to keep runners off base, a crucial skill for a high-leverage reliever.
Toronto’s bullpen has thrown the sixth-most innings in the American League this season, a workload that’s taken its toll on the relief corps. The coaching staff has been carefully monitoring usage patterns, especially with several relievers approaching career highs in appearances.
The Blue Jays open a critical three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, followed by four against the Boston Red Sox heading into the All-Star break. How the bullpen performs during this stretch could significantly influence the front office’s trade deadline strategy.
For Piña, this recall represents perhaps his most significant opportunity yet to establish himself as a major league reliever. After bouncing between Toronto and Buffalo over the past two seasons, consistency at the big-league level remains his primary challenge.
As the Blue Jays navigate another pitching injury, the resilience of this bullpen will be tested once again. But as someone who’s covered this team extensively, I’ve noted their remarkable ability to find unexpected contributors when needed most. Perhaps Piña becomes the latest example of that organizational depth stepping forward when called upon.
