Elvis

Luciano

Luciano was just released by the Jays last Thursday but he will remain in the organization as minor league depth. The 21-year-old former Rule 5 Draft pick has posted a 3.41 ERA and 33/16 K/BB ratio in 34 1/3 innings this summer at Double-A New Hampshire.

Luciano was a former Rule 5 pick of the Jays and debuted in the majors as a 19-year-old back in 2019. He’s had trouble with health and throwing strikes, but some team will take a shot on his big arm.

The Blue Jays reassigned another 21 players to the minor league side of camp, including pitching prospects Alek Manoah and Simeon Woods Richardson and infield prospect Austin Martin.

The 20-year-old Luciano spent last year in the majors after being taken in the Rule 5 draft, but he was expected to return to the minors to work as a starter this year. Since that’s not happening, he might be a part of the Jays’ pen sometime this season.

The Rule 5 Draft pick will be on the Jays’ active roster for the final 18 days of the regular season and will surpass the required 90 days of active roster time that allows the Jays to retain his rights. The 19-year-old right-hander has struggled to a 6.51 ERA and 2.02 WHIP in 27 2/3 innings this season when healthy.

The workout impressed, as Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo told reporters afterward that Luciano could be activated off the injured list as early as Wednesday. The 19-year-old Rule 5 Draft pick owns a rough 6.51 ERA and 2.02 WHIP in 27 2/3 innings this season, but the Blue Jays now have him under control for the long term because he will have spent 90 days on their active MLB roster in 2019.

Luciano has been on the injured list since June 13 because of a right elbow sprain. The 19-year-old Rule 5 Draft pick had a 6.51 ERA and 2.02 WHIP through his first 27 2/3 major league innings this year with the Jays.

The move clears space for David Phelps’ return to the 40-man roster. Luciano now isn’t eligible to return from his elbow injury until August.

It sounds like this will longer than a 10-day absence for the teenage reliever, who has struggled to a 6.51 ERA and 2.02 WHIP through his first 27 2/3 major league innings this season with Toronto.

In a corresponding move, they’ve placed Jacob Waguespack on the 10-day injured list. The 19-year-old owns a 7.32 ERA over 19 2/3 innings.