The Blue Jays optioned Pop to their spring training complex on Tuesday.
He's being sent to the team's spring training facility because Triple-A Buffalo's season is over. Pop will be replaced on the roster and in the bullpen by Easton Lucas.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Earns first career save
Rotowire
Pop earned the save Sunday, tossing a perfect 1.1 innings against the Rangers.
Pop made his second appearance since being recalled from Triple-A, coming on with runners on second and third and two outs in the eighth and inducing a Jonah Heim groundout to end the inning. He then stayed on for a perfect ninth to complete his first career save. Chad Green remains the closer for Toronto, but with the Blue Jays losing Jordan Romano to injury, Yimi Garcia being shipped out to the Mariners, and the potential for more arms to leave prior to Tuesday's trade deadline, Pop has an opportunity to earn a prominent role at the back end of the bullpen.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Recalled from Buffalo
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Pop from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.
The trade of Yimi Garcia to the Mariners on Friday cleared a spot in the Blue Jays' bullpen, so Pop will come up from the minors to fill the opening. The 27-year-old righty owns a 5.90 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 29 innings in the majors this season, and he'll likely be limited to middle relief while in Toronto. Jonatan Clase was optioned to Buffalo in a corresponding move.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Sent down to minors
Rotowire
The Blue Jays optioned Pop to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Pop was knocked around for three runs (two earned) over an inning of work in his final appearance before the All-Star break and holds a 5.90 ERA in 29 relief frames this season. The Blue Jays have recalled Erik Swanson and also reinstated Yimi Garcia from the injured list to supplement their bullpen.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Picks up second hold
Rotowire
Pop worked a scoreless seventh inning Thursday to record his second hold of the season in a win over the Tigers.
Entering the game to protect a two-run lead, Pop needed only seven pitches (six strikes) to set down the middle of Detroit's batting order. The right-hander has been effective since his promotion in late April, posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB in 10 innings, but he could be the pitcher who gets bumped out of the big-league bullpen when Chad Green (shoulder) comes off the IL.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Pop from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.
With Yariel Rodriguez (back) headed for the injured list, Pop will return to the majors to provide additional depth to Toronto's bullpen. Pop accumulated a 6.59 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 13.2 innings with the Blue Jays last season, though he's fared much better this year in Triple-A, allowing two earned runs across 9.2 frames. He'll presumably serve in middle relief while in the big leagues.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Bound for Triple-A
Rotowire
The Blue Jays optioned Pop to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday.
Toronto demoted Pop and Yariel Rodriguez one day before its season opener at Tampa Bay, likely signaling that Wes Parsons and Nate Pearson have secured the final spots in the club's Opening Day bullpen. Pop, who owns a 3.94 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 107.1 innings over parts of three seasons in the majors, will likely be up with Toronto at some point in 2024, but he'll likely be ticketed for a low-leverage role out of the bullpen whenever he's summoned from Triple-A.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Might open season in majors
Rotowire
Pop could break camp in the big-league bullpen if Jordan Romano (elbow) or Erik Swanson (forearm) need to begin the season on the injured list, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Pop still has minor-league options remaining, so it was expected he would begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo, but there may be a need for him right away to begin the campaign. The 27-year-old right-hander made 15 appearances for Toronto in 2023, and while he struck out 14 batters in 13.2 innings, six walks and four homers allowed contributed to a 6.59 ERA. Pop would work in low-leverage situations should he begin the campaign in the majors.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Activated and optioned
Rotowire
The Blue Jays reinstated Pop (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo.
Before landing on the IL on May 5 with a strained right hamstring, Pop was a fringe member of the Blue Jays' 26-man active roster after compiling a 6.59 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 13.2 innings over his 15 relief appearances. Though Pop is now healthy again after making eight rehab appearances over the course of two separate assignments with Buffalo, the Blue Jays don't have a spot available for another low-leverage reliever.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Restarts rehab assignment
Rotowire
Pop (hamstring) restarted a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Pop had to be pulled off his initial rehab assignment earlier this month following a setback with his right hamstring, but he returned to game action over the weekend and is slated for another appearance with Buffalo on Wednesday. The reliever might be ready for activation after that if he can avoid another setback.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Suffers setback on rehab
Rotowire
Pop returned to Toronto on Monday for further evaluation after feeling renewed discomfort in his right hamstring during his most recent rehab appearance Friday with Single-A Dunedin, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
Coming out of the weekend, Pop's return from the 15-day injured list appeared imminent, but he's now hit a bump in the road. Even if Pop's re-evaluation reveals nothing overly concerning, he's still likely to put his rehab program on pause for at least a few days.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: On rehab assignment
Rotowire
Pop (hamstring) is scheduled to make another rehab appearance Friday with Low-A Dunedin, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Pop worked around a walk and a hit-by-pitch to deliver a scoreless inning Tuesday in his rehab debut with Dunedin. He should be a consideration for the Blue Jays' bullpen sometime next week, assuming all continues to go well on his rehab stint. The right-hander has been out since May 5 due to a right hamstring strain.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
Pop (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Pop has been on the shelf for the last two weeks with a strained right hamstring but would appear close to heading out on a rehab assignment. The reliever posted a 6.59 ERA over 15 appearances before getting hurt.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Continuing throwing program
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Pop (hamstring) is continuing to move through his throwing program, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
According to MLB.com, Pop was cleared to resume playing catch last Tuesday, just five days after suffering the right hamstring strain that forced him to the 15-day injured list. While it's unclear whether Pop has reached the point in his throwing program where he's facing hitters, the 26-year-old right-hander doesn't look as though he's in danger of being sidelined much longer than the minimum 15 days. He may require a brief rehab assignment prior to being activated, however.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Exited with hamstring issue
Rotowire
Pop exited Thursday's game against the Red Sox with right hamstring discomfort, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The Blue Jays said they will give Pop the night to rest and reevaluate him tomorrow. However, the injury appears to be a longer-term issue that will ultimately force him to the injured list. Pop has struggled early on this season, posting a 6.59 ERA across 13.2 innings.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Suffers apparent leg injury
Rotowire
Pop was helped off the field by a trainer after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury Thursday against the Red Sox, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Pop struck out Jarren Duran in the eighth inning, but he started to limp after the final pitch of the at-bat and had to be removed from the game. It's unclear if a stint on the injured list will be required.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Expected to win bullpen spot
Rotowire
Pop appears set to open the season in the big-league bullpen with Mitch White battling elbow soreness, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
White was expected to begin the season as a long reliever if he lost out on the fifth starter role to Yusei Kikuchi, but instead he now appears headed for the injured list. Pop pitched well this spring, posting a 9:1 K:BB through six innings, and he'll likely be used in middle relief in the majors.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Pop was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday.
Pop served as the 29th man for Monday's doubleheader against the Orioles, and he'll rejoin the major-league bullpen a few days later after Mitch White was sent down. Over 26 relief appearances between the Marlins and Blue Jays this year, Pop has posted a 3.25 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 27.2 innings.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Returns to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Blue Jays returned Pop to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.
As expected, Pop will rejoin the Triple-A club after he served as the Blue Jays' 29th man for Monday's doubleheader with the Orioles. He appeared out of the bullpen in Toronto's 7-3 win in Game 1, striking out one over a scoreless inning.
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Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Joins bullpen for twin bill
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Pop from Triple-A Buffalo ahead of Monday's doubleheader with the Orioles.
Pop should be available out of the bullpen for either game of the twin bill, but since he's being designated as the Blue Jays' 29th man, he'll be returned to Triple-A immediately after Monday's contests. After being acquired from the Marlins on Aug. 2, Pop gave up two earned runs while striking out just one batter over 6.2 innings in his seven appearances with Toronto before he was optioned to Triple-A on Aug. 23.
