Blue Jays decide Tyler Heineman’s fate after new catcher added to roster originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Tyler Heineman had a brutal couple of days for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Now, he’s being benched in favor of a new catcher while Alejandro Kirk is out with injury.
The Blue Jays announced Saturday night that Brandon Valenzuela will start at catcher on Sunday in the series finale in Chicago against the White Sox.
It will be the MLB debut for Valenzuela.
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Valenzuela is a 25-year old who, like Kirk, is from Mexico.
He played most of his career in the Padres organization before being sent to Toronto last year.
He’s a career .242 hitter in his minor league career with a .712 OPS.
Kirk fractured his left thumb Friday and is now on the Injured List, and one batter after Heineman subbed in, a White Sox bunt set Heineman up with a throw to first to end the ballgame.
Heineman threw it away, and Chicago ended up winning.
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On Saturday, Heineman got himself involved in a rundown and was chasing a runner back to third base.
Instead of tossing an on-the-money throw from 20 feet away, Heineman airmailed it into left field. Two White Sox runs scored.
Heineman will still have to play plenty with Kirk out.
For now, though, the Blue Jays wouldn’t mind seeing some good things out of Valenzuela.
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