2016 Blue Jays Season Review: Bo Schultz

By: Jay Blue and @JaysGirlEmily

Blue Jays From Away

Now that the season is over, the crew at Blue Jays from Away will take a look at the Blue Jays one by one and review how each player’s season went, whether he met expectations (or not) and look at how he fits into (what we think of) the Blue Jays’ plans going forward.

Bo Schultz started the season recovering from offseason hip surgery that left him out of action until the end of April. The 31-year-old hard-throwing righty (averaging over 96 mph on his fastball) made three appearances with the Dunedin Blue Jays (getting roughed up in one of them), followed by two with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (getting roughed up in his second) before moving up to Buffalo where, after getting roughed up in his third outing (a two-inning stint in which he allowed four runs but still picked up the win), he was quite dominant, posting a 1.32 ERA and allowing 10 hits and one walk over 13 2/3 innings with 12 strikeouts.

Following that initial stint with Buffalo, Schultz was called up to the Blue Jays, making his season debut on June 26 and he gave up a solo home run in one inning of work, despite striking out three. He allowed a run in his next outing and three hits (but no runs) in 2 2/3 innings in his third outing before getting sent out to Buffalo.

After one appearance in Buffalo, he came back to Toronto, making five appearances without allowing a run before giving up two runs on two hits (including a home run) in 1/3 of an inning on July 25. He went back to Buffalo for about a week before returning to Toronto to provide a scoreless inning of work on August 1 and was sent back to Buffalo again for most of the month of August.

Back in Toronto on August 27, he gave up a home run and a walk, leading to two runs and he went back to Buffalo to finish out the Bisons’ season. Back in Toronto for September, he gave up four runs in five appearances and did not appear in the playoffs.

Overall, with Toronto, Schultz had a 5.51 ERA in 16 1/3 innings with a 1.22 WHIP. He gave up three home runs but only walked three and struck out 10. In Buffalo, he had a 3.74 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with seven walks and 21 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings.

Contract Status

Schultz is currently on the 40-man roster with no option years left.

Emily Says

In 16 appearances during his age-30 season, Bo Schultz earned a 0-1 record and a 5.51 ERA. He began the season on a rehab assignment, making his way through Dunedin, New Hampshire and Buffalo before being optioned to Buffalo at the end of his recovery. Schultz didn’t make his first appearance in the big leagues this season until the end of June, when he pitched one inning each in two games, allowing one run per outing. He allowed three hits and struck out three, with no walks over the two games.

He pitched 2.2 scoreless innings on three hits in the marathon Canada Day game, then was optioned back to Buffalo the day after to make room for more relief arms. Recalled on July 6, he next appeared in a game on the 8th, throwing two scoreless innings against the Tigers. He had four more scoreless appearances in July, before allowing two runs in a third of an inning on the 25. His monthly ERA was 2.00 in nine innings of work, allowing eight hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

After another brief stint in Buffalo, Schultz reappeared on August 1, and pitched a perfect inning in Houston before being sent back down. He wouldn’t return until the 27th of that month, when he gave up two earned runs in one inning on a home run. Across five games in September, he pitched 3.1 innings total, allowing four earned runs on five hits for a monthly ERA of 10.80.

His season WHIP was 1.22 over 16.1 innings and his opponent’s batting average was .266. The right-hander allowed three home runs, walked three and struck out ten, for a K/BB ratio of 3.33. He did not make the playoff roster.

Regular Season Grades

Jay: C-
Emily: C