Blue Jays Take Biagini In Rule 5 Draft

TORONTO—The Blue Jays’ search for bullpen help and pitching depth extended into the Rule 5 draft when they selected Double-A righthander Joe Biagini from the Giants.

A 25-year-old with an average fastball, solid changeup and curveball, he’ll head to spring training with a chance to make the big league club as a reliever. In 23 games he posted a 2.42 ERA over 130 innings, allowing 112 hits and 34 walks with 84 strikeouts with Richmond of the Eastern League.

The Blue Jays, who haven’t had a Rule 5 pick make the team since Randy Wells in 2008, used the 21st pick in 2015 on Biagini.

“He was really high on our board,” general manager Ross Atkins said. “Powerful righthanded pitcher that potentially we’ll shorten up, put him in shorter stints and see if there’s a little bit of upside to his stuff. Three-pitch mix, a guy that jumps a little bit more subjectively than objectively, but still has a lot of interesting elements.”

A 26th-round pick in 2011 out of UC Davis, Biagini produced a rate of 5.8 strikeouts per nine innings during his first Double-A season was the lowest of his career, dropping sharply from 9.6 in 2012, 7.4 in 2014 and 7.2 in ’14. One thing the Blue Jays will be watching closely during the spring is whether the change in role generates more strikeouts.

“I think there’s the potential for that,” Atkins said. “A lot to learn about the guy, that’s one of the beauties of the Rule 5 draft. We’ll have some time to evaluate and make the decision on if he fits.”

Sticking on a team with designs on repeating as American League East champions won’t be easy. Wells only made it until April 18 before being offered back to the Cubs. In 2007, infielder Jason Smith made it to the middle of May before the Diamondbacks claimed him on waivers.

Aquilino Lopez is the last Rule 5 pick to survive a full season with the Blue Jays, collecting a team-leading 14 saves while appearing in a club rookie record 72 games.

JAYS CHATTER

• First baseman Rowdy Tellez was named to the Arizona Fall League’s Top Prospects team as the designated after batting .293 with four homers and 17 RBIs in 21 games.

• Lefthander Scott Diamond, a Blue Jays fan growing up in nearby Guelph, Ontario, signed a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp.