Blue Jays call up Harrell, designate Parmley

The Toronto Blue Jays called up right-hander Lucas Harrell prior to their Canada Day game against the Boston Red Sox. Photo Credit: AP

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

TORONTO - With Friday's 11-inning marathon emptying the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen, RHP Lucas Harrell has been added to the club's 25- and 40-man rosters ahead of the team's Canada Day tilt against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre.

To clear a spot for the Blue Jays' most recent addition, OF Ian Parmley has been designated for assignment.

Harrell, 32, is a veteran of six major league seasons and owns a career ERA of 4.77 with 304 strikeouts against 224 walks over 448 2/3 innings dating back to his rookie campaign in 2010.

Signed to a minor league deal in January, the former fourth-round draft pick appeared in six games split between class-A Dunedin and triple-A Buffalo after recovering from a bout of biceps tendonitis sustained during spring training. During his rehab stint, the Missouri native went 0-1 while posting a WHIP of 1.337 to go along with an ERA of 2.28 across 27 2/3 frames.

On Friday, Blue Jays relievers accounted for a total of 147 pitches thrown over their 6 2/3 innings of relief. That includes a 35-pitch effort from Aaron Loup, 31 from Danny Barnes and a pair of 22 pitch assignments from both Dominic Leone and Rule 5 call-up, Glenn Sparkman.

Having last pitched on June 27, Harrell's addition will provide the Blue Jays with some much-needed length out of the pen should he be called upon this weekend.

In three games with the Blue Jays, Ian Parmley went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and one sacrifice bunt. Now designated, the 27-year-old outfielder hits the open market having slashed .289/.332/.369 over 60 games with the triple-A Bisons in 2017.

For his career, the native of Snohomish, Wash., has hit .251 with an OPS of .642 over 410 minor-league games.

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