April 9, 2021

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

With OF Teoscar Hernandez sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols, OF Josh Palacios will make his MLB debut when the Blue Jays square off against the Angels on Friday night.

Hernandez was placed on the Injured List due to his exposure to a positive COVID-19 case.

Palacios, 25, has slashed a combined .288/.366/.403 across 349 minor league games dating back to his professional debut with the low-A Lansing Lugnuts in 2016. The left-handed swinging product of Brooklyn, N.Y. hit .353 (12-for-34) with a pair of home runs and seven RBI over 20 games with the big league club this spring.

LHP Ryan Borucki has also landed on the IL with side effects to a COVID-19 vaccination and RHP Tyler Chatwood was also placed on the 10-day IL with triceps inflammation. Chatwood will be eligible to rejoin the club when they face off against Kansas City on April 18.

And left fielder Lourdes Gurriel was removed from the team’s game Friday after two innings against the Angels with COVID-19 vaccine-related symptoms. Joe Panik replaced Gurriel.

Right-handers Ty Tice and Joel Payamps have been called up from the club's alternate training site as a result of Friday's developments.

Tice, 24, owns a cumulative ERA of 2.09 across 113 minor league contests. The 5-foot-9 righty has struck out 155 while walking 64 over his 142 1/3 professional innings dating back to 2017.

Both Hernandez and Borucki will be eligible to return to the active roster once they clear protocols.

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