Zach

Pop

With the minor league season over, Pop is heading to the Spring Training Complex. The 28-year-old right-hander had a 5.59 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 33 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings for the Blue Jays this year.

The 27-year-old right-hander will get another shot to pitch out of the Blue Jays’ bullpen with Yimi Garcia on the move to the Mariners on Friday. Pop has posted a 5.90 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 19/12 K/BB ratio over 29 innings in 34 appearances for the Jays this season.

With the returns of both Yimi Garcia and Erik Swanson to the Jays’ bullpen on Friday, someone had to go to create a spot and unfortunately Pop was the odd man out this time around. The 27-year-old hurler will continue to refine his craft at the Triple-A level until another opportunity arises in Toronto.

Pop figures to provide Toronto’s bullpen with some extra length over the next few days and could wind up taking the ball this weekend in place of an injured Yariel Rodríguez, who landed on the injured list Tuesday with back inflammation.

Rodríguez is going to wind up missing at least a couple turns in Toronto’s starting rotation, which presumably opens the door for either Alek Manoah or Zach Pop to get a look with the Blue Jays. Unfortunately, top prospect Ricky Tiedemann isn’t an option due to an elbow injury. Regardless of how it plays out, it’s not a situation fantasy managers want any part of. There should be some clarity on Rodríguez’s status and potential return timeline at some point in the coming days.

The 27-year-old will start the 2024 season in the minors. Last season, Pop posted a 5.79 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with a 32/13 K/BB ratio across 32 2/3 innings in Triple-A. His 2023 campaign in the majors was rough as he allowed 10 earned runs over 13 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays. He could find himself back in Toronto this season as bullpen depth if the team suffers injuries to the staff.

Pop has been working his way back from a hamstring injury but will now stay with Triple-A Buffalo. The 26-year-old had a 6.59 ERA and 1.24 WHIP before injuring his hamstring in early May.

Pop has given up six runs in five innings since his rehab moved up to Triple-A, so instead of returning to the major league pen, he might be sent down for a spell upon being activated from the IL by the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays could certainly use some help in their bullpen at the moment, so it sounds like Pop could be activated rather quickly. He’s been out since early May due to a right hamstring strain.

Pop has made a pair of minor league rehab appearances for Single-A Dunedin and figures to still be a few weeks away from returning to Toronto’s relief mix. He’s been on the shelf since early May due to a right hamstring strain.