Infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and right-handed pitcher Dillon Tate have been added to the team’s major league roster and will be active for the series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, the team announced Monday.
Every team in MLB is granted two additional roster spots for September, giving the clubs the chance to add one position player and one pitcher for the final post-season push.
Kiner-Falefa was claimed by the Blue Jays on Sunday before the deadline for post-season-eligible players came to pass on Sept. 1. He told Sportsnet on Monday that the team plans to use him in a bench utility role, and he said he offered to serve as emergency third catcher — a position he last played in the minors.
“I’m willing to do whatever they need me to do for giving me this opportunity,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I’m just excited to be here. I’ll be the best 10th man I can be. I take pride in that. I’m going to be doing everything I can to just provide energy, provide help. It’s the least I could do.”
Beginning the year with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kiner-Falefa suited up for 119 games while putting up a .264 batting average, one home run, 15 stolen bases and a .632 OPS.
He spent the first half of last season with the Blue Jays before being dealt to the Pirates at the trade deadline. A career utility man, Kiner-Falefa provides the Jays with versatility across the infield.
The 30-year-old will be coming off the bench in his first game back with the Jays.
Meanwhile, everyday centre fielder Daulton Varsho will make his return to the lineup, batting fifth.
Varsho didn’t start on Saturday or Sunday after crashing into the outfield wall to make a catch on Friday against the Brewers. He was a defensive substitute in the ninth inning on Sunday, however.
Tate, meanwhile, has spent most of the season pitching in triple-A. He last made an appearance with the MLB club on May 6.
In five games with the Blue Jays this season, he has a 5.06 ERA and a 2.438 WHIP with seven strikeouts. However, he’s been steady for Buffalo, making 31 appearances while serving up a 2.06 ERA and 1.314 WHIP.
In addition to the above moves, reliever Nick Sandlin was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Tate on the team’s 40-man roster.
Sandlin has been dealing with right elbow inflammation since early July and was originally placed on the 15-day IL.
The Blue Jays get set to open an inter-divisional series against the Reds, with coverage beginning on Sportsnet at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT.