May 18, 2019

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

Needing to produce a starter ahead of Saturday's afternoon tilt vs. the White Sox in Chicago's south side, the Blue Jays have called up left-handed knuckleballer Ryan Feierabend.

In a subsequent move, RHP Javy Guerra has been designated for assignment.

Having last appeared at the Major League level with the Texas Rangers in 2014, Feierabend, 33, joins the club after posting an ERA of 2.70 with 13 strikeouts against six walks in 16 2/3 innings with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons this season.

Through parts of four big league campaigns, the 6-foot-3 product of Grafton, Ohio has accounted for an overall WHIP of 1.809 while allowing hits to 159 of the 391 batters he's faced since breaking in as a member of the Seattle Mariners as a 20-year-old in 2006.

All of his major league experience came before he began leaning heavily on the knuckleball, a pitch he only began to master while appearing in the Korean Baseball Organization as a member of the KT Wiz in 2016.

A rarity in baseball, Feierabend is set to become the first left-handed knuckler to take the hill in a Major League game since Danny Boone suited up for the Baltimore Orioles on September 30, 1990.

In 11 games with the club this season, Guerra, also 33, has allowed an overall ERA of 3.86 while not yet factoring into a decision. Saturday's move represented the second time he has been designated for assignment this season. Given his major league service time, Guerra will have the right to reject the assignment and elect for free agency if he passes through waivers.

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