Toronto Blue Jays closer Robert Osuna is progressing in his recovery from neck stiffness to the point that he’s likely healthy enough to see game action right now, according to pitching coach Pete Walker.
Osuna is currently on the 10-day disabled list with what the team is describing as a cervical spasm and was forced to watch from the bench Monday as the Blue Jays bullpen logged four-plus high-leverage innings in a 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Mark Trumbo’s walk-off home run in the 11th frame off Jason Grilli was the deciding hit in the season-opening affair.
“We were conservative and smart to make this decision and he was in agreement with it,” Walker said about Osuna on The Jeff Blair Show Tuesday on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. “He played catch [Monday] and looked great to be honest with you. Probably could have pitched in [Monday] night’s game. It’s a smart approach. It’s a long season.”
The Jeff Blair Show
Pete Walker: Osuna probably could have pitched Monday
Originally aired April 04 2017
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The right-hander is receiving treatment from the Blue Jays training staff on his upper traps and neck area and the team expects him to be back by April 11, when he’s eligible for activation off the DL.
General manager Ross Atkins’s previous comments that Osuna likely won’t need a rehab assignment before he returns were reiterated by Walker as well.
The pitching coach also shared his thoughts on a pair of Blue Jays relievers. Joe Biagini pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief on Monday, while southpaw J.P. Howell retired left-handed hitting slugger Chris Davis in the eighth inning with a runner on base during a tie game.
Joe Biagini
“To be honest with you when we first got him I was a little unsure when we saw him [in 2016 spring training]. But the more you get to watch him, the more you get to see him pitch in big situations, he has this ability to have tunnel vision where he can block everything out. It’s special.
“He’s an inexperienced, for the most part, major leaguer, but when you watch him pitch it looks like he’s been out there for 10 years,” added Walker. “He’s turning into quite a good reliever and will definitely be pitching in some high-leverage, late-inning situations for us.”
J.P. Howell
“He knows how to get outs. His stuff moves an awful lot. He’s another guy who’s going to dismiss the radar gun,” said Walker. “He knows how to pitch. … We’re very confident in his ability. He’s a gamer, he wants the ball, he wants to be out there. The human element comes into play, too. He’s not scared. That makes a big difference in a major-league setting. Having no fear. That’s something that he brings to the table and it’s good for the other guys too, to see how he works.”
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