Toronto Blue Jays star infielder Bo Bichette, who has been a major disappointment this season, is headed to the injured list with a right calf strain.
The Jays don’t want to miss a beat, so they are calling up one of their best prospects to replace Bichette: Orelvis Martinez.
The team made the announcement as part of a series of roster moves.
“ROSTER MOVES: SS Bo Bichette placed on 10-day IL (right calf strain); INF Orelvis Martinez recalled from Triple-A and will be active for tonight’s game; LHP Brandon Eisert optioned; RHP Ryan Burr recalled from Triple-A and will be active for tonight’s game,” they tweeted.
Martinez was having a solid year with the Jays’ Triple-A affiliate, slashing a cool .260/.343/.523 with 16 home runs in 63 games.
Martinez has been a top prospect for a while.
He is not flawless as a prospect – he has a slight strikeout problem that can be exposed in MLB, and his batting average is usually not very high – but he also has impact power from the infield.
The 22-year-old can play shortstop and third base and will have his first chance of sticking with the Jays for the long haul if he can hit during Bichette’s absence.
He is not particularly speedy, and his defense is merely average, but the bat and the power allow him to make an immediate impact.
The 35-37 Blue Jays need all the help they can get to seriously get in the race for one of the Wild Card spots in the American League, and Martinez is a fine add for the short and long term.
