Blue Jays call up Alford, send down Petricka

Outfield prospect Anthony Alford, shown here signing autographs for fans in Dunedin this spring, was called up by the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Photo Credit: Amanda Fewer

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

The Blue Jays continued a busy week of roster transactions by recalling outfielder Anthony Alford from triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

In a corresponding move, right-handed reliever Jake Petricka has been optioned to clear a spot on Toronto's active roster.

Ranked as the Blue Jays No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Alford has hit a combined .175 (10-for-57) with a pair of doubles over 16 games between class-A Advanced Dunedin and Buffalo in 2018.

The 6-foot-1 right-handed hitting outfielder made his MLB debut in 2017, appearing in four games with Toronto prior to landing on the disabled list with a broken hamate bone in his left wrist.

Through 317 minor league contests, the product of Columbia, Miss., has slashed .269/.370/.392 with 76 stolen bases in 95 attempts.

Alford's arrival likely spells trouble for fellow outfielder Curtis Granderson, who was forced from Friday's 6-2 loss to Tampa Bay with right-hamstring tightness.

A day after having his contract selected by Toronto, Petricka returns to Buffalo having allowed an earned run on three hits over 1 1/3 innings in the Show.

Since last Monday, the 18-15 Blue Jays have performed 20 individual roster transactions, eight of which came when the club checked into Cleveland for a rain-assisted doubleheader on Thursday.

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