Dirk

Hayhurst

The 30-year-old right-hander struggled to find much interest on the free agent market this offseason after posting a 4.12 ERA and 43/21 K/BB ratio over 59 innings with Triple-A Durham in 2011. Rather than join another major league club’s Triple-A affiliate, he’s decided to travel to Europe and spend the summer in the relaxed environment of Italian professional baseball.

Hayhurst was called to the bigs in early June after posting a 29/10 K/BB ratio for Las Vegas. He allowed 25 baserunners in 15 2/3 innings with the Jays.

Lane and Emaus were the Jays’ home run and RBI leaders this spring, with Lane hitting .358 with five homers and Emaus batting .3333 with four homers and 13 RBI. Still, Emaus was never a candidate to make the team and the Jays decided against going with Lane over Kevin Millar. Maybe someone else will step up and grab Lane before the season starts.

Hayhurst failed to capture a spot in the bullpen during spring training, but posted a 29/10 K/BB ratio at Las Vegas and the Jays could ignore him no longer. He’ll work in middle relief.

Hayhurst returns to a 1.72 ERA over 15 2/3 innings logged with the Blue Jays earlier this season. The 27-year-old right-hander was 4-6 with a 3.75 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 48/12 K/BB ratio for the 51s.

Tallet has been very sore for a couple days thanks to the bruise. As for who might take his place? “We could start Dirk Hayhurst,” mentioned manager Cito Gaston. “He has been out there a while without pitching and then go to Brian Wolfe.” The Jays do not plan on calling up any pitchers, as their minor leaguers have been shut down for over a week already.

A 27-year-old former eighth-round pick who failed to show much promise prior to this season, Hayhurst writes a “Non-Prospect Diary” column for Baseball America, although perhaps now he’ll have to change the title. Hayhurst has an underwhelming 4.04 career ERA in the minors, but has a 3.75 ERA and 98/28 K/BB ratio in 84 innings at Triple-A this season. He hasn’t started regularly since 2006, but will make his MLB debut as a starter Saturday against the Giants. Don’t expect much, but he’s definitely someone to root for.

Hayhurst got off to a rough start in the first inning. The first batter he faced, Dave Roberts, walked and two runs eventually crossed the plate. He settled down after that, but didn’t overpower anyone and looked like, well, a career minor leaguer. Still, he might have earned himself another look.

Hayhurst allowed five hits, walked four and struck out four. As great as it would be to see him succeed for the Padres, he just doesn’t belong in a major league rotation. Maybe he’d be able to hold his own out of the pen.

San Diego is moving to a six-man rotation, with LeBlanc joining Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Cha Seung Baek, Shawn Estes and Josh Geer for now. Dick Hayhurst apparently will move to the pen. LeBlanc’s 5.32 ERA at Triple-A is ugly, but he posted a solid 139/42 K/BB ratio in 138 1/3 innings and projects as a potential fourth or fifth starter.