Jays round out opening-day roster with Rowdy Tellez, Javy Guerra
Trade of designated hitter Morales opens door for Tellez to make team
Rowdy Tellez is getting an opportunity to prove himself right from Opening Day.
The rookie first baseman and right-hander Javy Guerra made the Toronto Blue Jays' opening-day roster on Thursday, with Tellez being inserted into the starting lineup. Toronto set its 25-man roster hours before its home opener at the Rogers Centre against the Detroit Tigers.
Tellez will be the first of several players to rotate through the designated hitter spot for the Blue Jays after veteran switch-hitter Kendrys Morales was traded to the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night. The 24-year-old Tellez was a September callup last year, batting .280 with five homers and 11 runs batted in over 20 games.
"I'm excited for Rowdy, he's going to get a chance to play," said manager Charlie Montoyo. "That's one of the reasons we made that trade, to give our young guys a chance. Rowdy's going to get a chance to compete and play.
"He's going to DH and he's playing today, already, so he's going to get a chance to show what he can do."
Veteran first baseman Justin Smoak and outfielders Randal Grichuk and Billy McKinney are other DH options for Montoyo, who said he likes to make use of all of his players.
"Rowdy's going to get a chance. Rowdy goes 3-for-3 today he's playing tomorrow," said Montoyo, who made his official managerial debut on Thursday. "Everybody's get a chance. Rowdy's going to play first when Smoak gets a day off, Grichuk is going to DH when McKinney goes to right. Yeah, everybody is going to get a chance with the DH spot."
Depleted bullpen
Guerra was selected to the major-league roster after the Blue Jays bullpen was depleted by injuries late in spring training.
The 33-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Miami Marlins. He was 1-1 with a 5.55 earned-run average in 35 2/3 innings last year.
The Blue Jays placed left-handers Ryan Borucki and Clay Buchholz, right-handers David Phelps and Ryan Tepera and outfielder Jonathan Davis on the 10-day injured list retroactive to March 25 on Thursday.
Toronto general manager Ross Atkins expected that Bucholz would with be the team shortly. He was acquired by the Blue Jays as a free agent in March after he missed the end of the Arizona Diamondbacks' season with a right elbow flexor strain.
"It's just that he finished the season injured and we're rebuilding him up from that," said Atkins. "His off-season was a bit delayed because of the injury. That's all it is."
Canadian outfielder Dalton Pompey has been placed on the seven-day concussion injured list retroactive to March 25.
Atkins also said highly touted third base prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who missed the home opener with an oblique strain, is improving.
"He's coming along great, he actually will be playing in games this weekend, we're moving that timeline as quickly as we possibly can to make him an option," said Atkins. "As it relates to the young core, it's not just Vladdy. There's so many young players that we're excited about them pushing that timeline up on us."