José Berríos is starting to get things going for the Blue Jays

After a disappointing 2022 campaign, right-hander José Berríos was looking to bounce back this season in the second year of his long-term deal that he signed during the 2020/2021 offseason worth $131 million over seven seasons, with an opt-out after the 2026 campaign.
While Berríos has been a consistent arm since his debut in 2016, last season saw the Puerto Rican product amass a 5.23 ERA through 32 outings, the highest amongst qualified arms and posting a 7.8 K/9, the lowest career total since 2016. He allowed an AL-leading 199 hits and 100 earned runs through 172 innings of work and while he had 16 games where he allowed two runs or fewer, he also allowed five or more through nine games, struggling to find consistency on the mound throughout the season.
Relegated to the fourth spot in the rotation a year after being the Jays Opening Day starter, Berríos made his 2023 debut against the Kansas City Royals. He struggled at Kauffman Stadium, allowing eight earned runs through 5 2/3 with nine hits and two walks on the ledger compared to seven strikeouts. The right-hander followed this outing with six hit performance against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing four earned runs through 4 innings while allowing his first home run on the season.
Kiyoshi Mio …

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Author: Tyson Shushkewich / Blue Jays Nation

News and Notes: Chris Bassitt throws another gem, Blue Jays have some upcoming roster decisions, and more

Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt was tasked with righting the ship against the New York Yankees, as the Jays were looking to try and get their first win in the series after dropping the previous two fun-filled affairs that had lots of drama including coaches yelling at each other, Aaron Boone getting ejected, Domingo German playing with sticky stuff (and also getting ejected), and the Aaron Judge debacle.

Bassitt was riding a 20-inning scoreless streak coming into today’s contest and the former Mets starter was outstanding against the Bronx Bombers, going seven innings while allowing just three hits and one walk to the tune of zero earned runs with seven strikeouts. More impressively was the fact that Bassitt appeared to be battling something physically, whether it be the back issue that limited him in a previous outing or the stomach bug currently going around in the clubhouse, yet he still made a fantastic play at first base to tag Jose Trevino and end the inning.
The Ohio product put the Jays in the best spot to win the game but the bats struggled to get him any run support, as Yankees starter Gerrit Cole allowed seven hits but put up zero earned runs with six strikeouts and really stymied the Blue Jays bats, who struggled to bring around runners in scoring position all evening. After this last appearance, Bassitt is currently at 27 innings of scorel …

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Author: Tyson Shushkewich / Blue Jays Nation

Right-hander Matt Svanson talks about Lehigh University, being drafted by the Blue Jays, and offseason goals

A product of Lake Zurich, Illinois, right-hander Matt Svanson followed in his parent’s footsteps following his time at Lake Zurich High School and decided to take his talents to Lehigh University, situated in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
“My parents are alumni’s there and I have family that still lives in that area, so I was introduced to the program and the campus early. I committed early to Lehigh also because of their academics and everything took off baseball-wise after that.”
Through four years with the Mountain Hawks, Svanson pitched to a 4.49 ERA through 38 games (22 starts), striking out 113 batters compared to 61 walks, finishing with a 1.469 WHIP. In his senior season, the right-hander made 12 starts (one relief appearance) and pitched a career-high 70.1 innings while also leading the team and the league with his 2.30 ERA, amassing an 8.3 K/9 with a 1.194 WHIP. Svanson became the team’s second starter behind Mason Black (Giants third-round selection in 2019) and earned First Team All-Patriot League honours.
Speaking on his time at Lehigh, Svanson talked about his last year with the program, “My whole senior year was great, my last college outing, I went eight and a third innings and threw 135 pitches in Game 2 of the cham …

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Author: Tyson Shushkewich / Blue Jays Nation