As we speak is Teoscar Hernandez’s thirty fourth birthday.
When Teoscar arrived from the Astros, few might have predicted he’d grow to be such a robust slugger.
Throughout his six seasons with the Jays, he posted a .263/.320/.503 slash line with 129 dwelling runs. He ranks thirteenth in franchise historical past for dwelling runs and twenty fourth in RBIs.
The commerce that despatched him to the Mariners was surprising. Erik Swanson excelled within the bullpen for us in 2023, although he struggled in 2024. Adam Macko made 16 begins for New Hampshire and one for the Bisons this 12 months, tallying 105 strikeouts and 35 walks over 93.1 innings, with a 3.63 ERA.
Teoscar joined the Dodgers forward of the 2024 season. Over his three seasons in Los Angeles, he has hit .262/.320/.462 with 74 dwelling runs and picked up two World Collection rings. Nevertheless, except the Dodgers stage a powerful comeback in opposition to the Brewers, a 3rd ring appears unlikely this 12 months.
Pleased Birthday, Teoscar. I want you one of the best, however I hope your group loses. Sorry.
As we speak is Carlos Garcia’s 59th birthday.
You may recall that Carlos had a very tough season with the Jays. In November 1996, Toronto traded for Garcia, Orlando Merced, and Dan Plasac from the Pirates. Initially, we despatched Brandon Cromer, Jose Pett, and Jose Silva to Pittsburgh, adopted by Mike Halperin, Abraham Nunez, and Craig Wilson in December to finish the deal. For the document, I used to be by no means a fan of then-GM Gord Ash.
In 1997, Garcia batted .220/.253/.309 over 103 video games, primarily at second base. He managed 3 dwelling runs, 29 runs, 23 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases. Sadly, his protection was additionally underwhelming, and the Jays paid $2.55 million for that efficiency. By WAR, it was one of many worst seasons by a non-pitcher in group historical past.
Following that season, Garcia signed with the Angels as a free agent however hit solely .143 in 40 at-bats. He then moved to San Diego, the place his struggles continued, and shortly after, he was out of baseball.
Garcia’s lone stable 12 months within the majors got here as a rookie with the Pirates, when he hit .269/.316/.399. He did have 12 dwelling runs and 47 RBIs in 1993, making it obscure what the Jays anticipated from the commerce.
As for the gamers the Jays despatched to Pittsburgh:
Craig Wilson went on to have a decent MLB profession, taking part in seven seasons—six with the Pirates—and hitting .262/.353/.474 with 99 dwelling runs. His greatest 12 months was 2004, when he performed 155 video games and posted a .264/.354/.499 line with 29 homers.
Abraham Nunez loved a 12-year profession, spending eight seasons with the Pirates. Over 1,030 video games, he hit .242/.313/.314, primarily as a utility infielder.
Jose Silva pitched seven MLB seasons, ending with a 25-28 document and a 5.41 ERA over 154 video games, together with 53 begins.
Pleased Birthday, Carlos.
As we speak marks Chad Mottola’s fifty fifth birthday.
Chad was an outfielder who appeared in simply 59 MLB video games over 5 seasons, 13 of them with the Blue Jays.
He spent a lot of his taking part in profession within the minors. In 2007, his last minor league season, he performed Triple-A for the Jays and hit .267/.324/.467. At 35, he started transitioning into teaching.
In 2008, he grew to become the hitting coach for the Gulf Coast League Jays. By 2009, he was the roving minor league hitting coach, and from 2010 to 2012, he coached hitters for the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s. In 2011, he earned the Bobby Mattick Award for excellence in participant improvement.
In 2013, he was promoted to the Blue Jays’ main league employees, however was let go on the finish of the season. One 12 months he was praised as a miracle employee, the following he was out—the unpredictable lifetime of a coach.
The Rays employed him as a roving teacher, and in 2017, he grew to become their main league hitting coach—a job he nonetheless holds immediately.
Pleased Birthday, Chad.