Sorry, Buffalo Bisons fans, your playoff-contending team has been asked to report to the Toronto Blue Jays as shortstop Ryan Goins was called up on Thursday morning as Maicer Izturis was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left ankle sprain, according to an official tweet. Izturis was removed from the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees. After observing it for one day, the Blue Jays decided it would be best to rest it for 15 days. Boy, we could've used Emilio Bonifacio right about now.
Goins, a 25-year old fourth-round draft pick in 2009, is a left-handed hitting shortstop.The Texan mostly played at short stop this season with Buffalo, trying a handful of games at the other positions. He has good range at short, and overall good defense, which allows him to make plays like this:
He was batting .257/.311/.369 for the Bisons with six homers to his name. Goins strikes out about 20% of the time, walking 7% of the time. He had a great May and June at the plate, but has cooled off lately.
Goins was a R. Howard Webster Award recipient last season, having been named the Fisher Cats' MVP. He will be wearing #2 for the Blue Jays. He will be the third player to make his major league debut with the Blue Jays, after Sean Nolin and Kevin Pillar.
A.J. Jimenez and Mauro Gomez (who is injured) are the only two remaining position players on the 40-man roster who are not on the active roster. So much for September callups!
UPDATE
In other injury news, John Gibbons said that while Colby Rasmus would likely play again in 2013, Melky Cabreraprobably won't. The Blue Jays can free up room on their 40-man roster by transferring Cabrera to the 60-day disabled list. They can fill that spot with a prospect coming up or maybe they can use it to claim Jeff Francoeur!