Jays option Yohendrick Piñango to Buffalo

The Rays are using Casey Legumina as an opener and then turning to left-hander Ian Seymour, so this may simply be about the Blue Jays getting a left-handed hitter up against a right-handed opener. However, Piñango has now started both games since being recalled from Triple-A. Jesús Sánchez is nearing a return, but the Blue Jays appear to be sellers at the trade deadline, so Piñango may get a chance at everyday at-bats for the rest of the season. Before being recalled on Wednesday, he had hit .267/.313/.413 in 160 MLB plate appearances with five home runs and 20 RBI. He also posted a 7.1 percent barrel rate, 45.1 percent hard-hit rate, and a 75.7 mph bat speed, suggesting that there could be more in the tank.

Piñango is in left field and hitting fifth for Wednesday’s series finale against the division-rival Rays. The 24-year-old old rookie is a bit of a defensive liability, but he’s got some thunder in his bat, which the Blue JHays could certainly use.

Piñango hit just .174 (4-for-23) with one homer during eight games with the Blue Jays after being brought back on June 27 to replace an injured Jesús Sánchez (ankle). The 24-year-old rookie outfielder makes plenty of loud contact, but he’s a bit of a liability defensively and remains a work in progress.

Piñango remains a defensive liability, but the Blue Jays are probably willing to overlook that if he’s running a 45 percent hard-hit rate. The 24-year-old rookie was just shipped back to the minors earlier this week after hitting .283/.331/.433 with four homers and 18 RBI in 138 plate appearances. He gets another look at the highest level with Jesús Sánchez requiring a trip to the injured list with a sprained ankle.

Piñango is having a solid season overall, hitting .283/.331/.433 with four home runs in 136 plate appearances, but he had slowed down of late and made just two starts this past week. The Blue Jays valued David Schneider’s defensive versatility and his ability to handle left-handed pitching, so Piñango was sent down with Luis Urias joining the team.

Although Urías’s official transactions page said he’s been assigned to Buffalo, he will be headed to the majors. According to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, Urías trigged an upward mobility cause in his contract, which led to the D-backs trading him. Davis Schneider has played well since his recall, so perhaps Yohendrick Pinango will lose his spot to Urías. An Ernie Clement IL stint might also be a possibility.

Sánchez is at DH and hitting cleanup following a brief one-game absence after being hit on the wrist by a ball that was thrown from the stands during Sunday’s game against Baltimore. He appears to have avoided serious injury and isn’t expected to miss any additional time. It’ll be George Springer getting a maintenance day with rookie Yohendrick Piñango picking up another start in right field on Wednesday evening at Truist Park.

Sánchez likely would’ve been in the lineup against righty Bryce Elder on Tuesday night had he not suffered a right wrist contusion when he was struck by a ball that was thrown from the stands during Sunday’s game against the Orioles. It was a bizarre incident, and by all accounts a misunderstanding by a fan, but Sánchez seems to have avoided serious injury. He’s day-to-day for now. It’ll be hard-hitting rookie Yohendrick Piñango taking over in right field in his absence.

The 24-year-old outfielder didn’t even start the game, he entered after Jesús Sánchez was struck by a fan-thrown ball while in the outfield during the fifth inning. He made the most of his time in the lineup though, smacking a single to center in the seventh inning and then a 421-foot two-run shot off of Tyler Wells in the eighth. On the season, Pinango is now slashing .294/.333/.447 with three homers and 16 RBI in his first 90 plate appearances.

Pinango’s home run was his second. He hit a solo shot off Sandy Alcantara in the sixth inning. Pinango’s hitting .303 with 12 RBI in 76 at-bats. He hit fifth in the batting order and is worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues.