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Yimi Garcia of the Blue Jays Impresses in Rehab Start with Buffalo Bisons

Yimi Garcia of the Blue Jays Impresses in Rehab Start with Buffalo Bisons

July 7, 2024

Yimi Garcia took an important step Saturday toward making his return to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The reliever retired all three batters he faced and struck out two in an inning of work for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons against the Rochester Red Wings.

Garcia needed just 10 pitches to get through the fourth inning, with seven of them for strikes.

Garcia was placed on the 15-day injured list in mid-June with right elbow ulnar neuritis.

The right-hander has been Toronto’s best bullpen arm in 2024, posting a 2.57 ERA, a 3-0 record, 37 strikeouts and five saves over 28.0 innings this season.

He has been a stabilizing force in what has been a shaky season for Blue Jays relievers, as Jordan Romano is recovering from elbow surgery, Erik Swanson has been demoted to Buffalo and veteran Tim Mayza has been released.

Yimi Garcia, a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, recently made a rehab start with the team’s Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons. The right-hander impressed in his outing, showcasing his talent and potential to make a strong comeback to the major league roster.

Garcia, who has been sidelined with a forearm injury, showed no signs of rust in his rehab start. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five batters. His fastball was lively and his off-speed pitches were sharp, keeping hitters off balance throughout the game.

The Blue Jays acquired Garcia in a trade with the Miami Marlins earlier this season, hoping to bolster their bullpen for a playoff push. Before his injury, Garcia was having a solid season, posting a 3.47 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings pitched.

With his impressive performance in Buffalo, Garcia has shown that he is ready to contribute to the Blue Jays’ bullpen once he is activated from the injured list. His experience and proven track record of success make him a valuable asset for the team as they look to secure a spot in the postseason.

Overall, Yimi Garcia’s successful rehab start with the Buffalo Bisons is a positive sign for the Toronto Blue Jays. His return to form could provide a much-needed boost to the team’s pitching staff as they aim to make a deep playoff run. Fans can look forward to seeing Garcia back on the mound for the Blue Jays in the near future.