The Blue Jays are planning to select infielder Gosuke Katoh to the big league roster, the team informed reporters (including Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet) this afternoon. Toronto already has a vacancy on the 40-man roster, meaning they won’t need to make another move in that regard.
Once finalized, Katoh will get his first MLB opportunity. The 27-year-old began his professional career back in 2013, when he was selected by the Yankees in the second round out of a California high school. The left-handed hitter spent the next few seasons in the low minors, drawing plenty of walks but rarely hitting for power and striking out quite a bit. He didn’t reach Double-A until 2018, and he spent some time there the following season after struggling to a .229/.327/.335 line.
After a more productive 2019 campaign split between the minors’ top two levels, Katoh qualified for minor league free agency. He signed on with the Marlins for 2020 but didn’t play in a game in the Miami organization because of the canceled minor league season. Katoh caught on with the Padres last winter and spent the entire year with their top affiliate in El Paso. He had a solid .306/.388/.474 showing over 402 plate appearances with the Chihuahuas. Katoh walked at a customarily strong 11.4% clip and his 20.9% strikeout rate was among the lowest rates of his minor league career.
That wasn’t enough for Katoh to get an MLB opportunity in San Diego, but he latched on with the Jays on a minors pact this winter. He impressed the front office and coaching staff enough to get a season-opening bench job that had been up for grabs. It had seemed as if first baseman Greg Bird was trending towards that spot, but Bird was let go this afternoon once the club had opted for Katoh instead.
In doing so, the Jays will forfeit some power potential for a bit more defensive flexibility. Katoh bounced between first, second and third base and left field for El Paso last season, whereas Bird would’ve been limited to first base or designated hitter. Katoh pairs with the righty-hitting Santiago Espinal as utility options behind the starting infield of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, Matt Chapman and Bo Bichette. He still has all three minor league option years remaining, so while he’ll be receiving his first MLB opportunity, Katoh could bounce between Toronto and Triple-A Buffalo for a while.
I can see the jays wanting maximum flexibility but it still feels like a lefty power bat off the bench is what they’re missing. I wonder if there are any infielder health issues they’re worried about or maybe the just figure a power bat us something they can do without until the deadline.
Between him, Biggio and Espinal theyve got 3 guys who can play all over the infield. Thinking they’ll probably resign bird if he doesn’t latch on anywhere and not sure who’d even be available that you’d want right now as a lefty bench bat. A Joey Gallo type is what they need a 1st basemen who can play corner outfield In a pinch
*basemAn
Baseperson.
Bird will be the A’s opening day 1B at this point
Yes health is an issue but with yoga they will be flexible. Need like a Lou Gehrig type at first and Joe Morgan type at 2nd.
Danny Jansen is the only starting player you’d want to pinch hit for, and you want to use Kirk for that to avoid burning a guy. Or maybe you’d pinch hit for Espinal, but in that case your lefty power bench bat would be Biggio.
The last thing they need is more power. They win all the games that are decided by home run count. They need guys who can execute the little things in pitchers duels, and Katoh might be that, we’ll see.
He had a nice spring training. Sadly, he won’t get the consistent reps to prove much but maybe when he goes back to AAA he can get in that groove again. All the best to him, as I’d like to see him succeed but I don’t think that will be with the Jays.
Don’t be sad little buckaroo. It’s nice you’d like him to succeed
Wasn’t he the captain of the Klingon ship “The Phaw”?
After kicking around the minors for as long as he has, likely without any college to fall back on, Im sure he won’t mind “bouncing between Toronto and AAA
Oh, my. The inspiration for Fangraphs’ Kotoh model makes the majors all these years on.
And the lefty righty combo in the top of the order makes the scouts go wow.
Get the feeling going the Gaston line up more or less. Same six guys every day with some c/dh/2b splits/platoon. Unless hurt the rest of the bench will see Darnell coles AB’s
Except nobody plays 162 anymore and they certainly shouldn’t on that concrete unless they want a bunch of broken down 27 year olds.
Whit Merrifield does.
Hey Iver, Last season Vlad appeared in 161 games and Semien appeared in 162 games! Bo was not far behind with 159 games!
Very solid move, I think he’ll be a very solid bench piece. Happy about it.
Let’s hope that ‘Gos-K’ does not go and K too often at the plate so that he keeps his spot on the roster. Gos-K!.
deserved a shot. i think the versatility got him the spot over Bird.
Agreed, the lefty righty combo in the top of the order makes the scouts go wow.
I’d rather have Espy at the keystone than cement foot and bat Biggio
And a ducksnort
Have the jays improved on paper , all things being equal from the great roster that finished the season ? Ray to Gausman ? Matz to Kikuchi? Semien to Chapman? Grichuk/Dickerson for Tapia/ Palacios?
Richards, cimber, Garcia
Full year of Manoah, Berrios, Springer (?) and Merryweather (?)
So in short yes, they are.
However that being said, they need some luck and to play well. The division is good and people overlooking the rays to win 100 games again is silly. Also the yanks have an offense that can carry them easily if they stay healthy, not going to be a cake walk.
They’ll have full seasons of Berrios and Manoah. Along with an improved BP.
they’ll also get to play all home games In Toronto.
Not a lot better from the roster that finished last season. But not a lot worse. And the roster that finished last year was one of the best in baseball. Eons better than the one that started last year. I suspect the roster that finishes this year will be the best iteration of them all. My biggest worry is the depth in the event of long absences from any of the regulars. But they’ll have in season opportunities to address that too.
If you say his name fast it sounds like youre saying Go suck a toe
Greg Bird was feeling bad. Then this happened.
I hope Katoh does well with the Blue Jays. I think it was a mistake for the Padres to cut him loose, but I’ll be rooting for him. in Toronto..
Gesundheit! I mean Gosuke.
Just when you think the Blue Jay’s are getting good, they go out and do something like this. Now they go suke.
Same birthplace as Brandon Crawford. I know, you didn’t need to know that.
And same High School as Hank Blaylock!
Congrats Ghost-K!