Hutchison among Blue Jays' spring invitees

Right-hander Drew Hutchison is one of five players that the Toronto Blue Jays have signed to minor league deals and invited to spring training.

January 6, 2023

Official Toronto Blue Jays News Release

The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms with the following free agents on Minor League contracts with invites to 2023 Major League Spring Training:

C Rob Brantly

RHP Julian Fernández

LHP Paul Fry

RHP Drew Hutchison

RHP Casey Lawrence

Brantly, 33, appeared in one game for the Yankees in 2022 while suiting up for 59 contests with triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre where he hit .269 with 12 extra-base hits and 22 RBIs. The 6-foot, 191-pound catcher was drafted by Detroit in the third round in 2010 and has made Major League appearances for the Marlins, White Sox, Phillies, Giants, and Yankees. Over parts of eight big-league seasons, the native of San Diego, Calif., owns a .225 batting average while recording 21 doubles, seven homers, and 37 RBIs in 135 games.

Fernández, 27, spent the 2022 campaign with the Rockies’ triple-A squad in Albuquerque, pitching to a 6.63 ERA over 58 games. The Boca Chica, D.R., native was signed by Colorado as an international free agent in 2012 and spent time with the Giants and Marlins organizations before returning to the Rockies in 2019. The 6-foot-6, 233-pound reliever appeared in six MLB games in 2021, posting a 10.80 ERA while throwing 24 pitches of at least 100 miles per hour and averaging 99 mph on his four-seamer. The big righty has kept a 4.14 ERA across 230 career Minor League contests with 240 strikeouts over 247 2/3 innings.

Fry, 30, pitched in a total of 13 Major League games while with the Baltimore Orioles and the Arizona Diamondbacks last season, combining for a 6.23 ERA. The 6-foot, 205-pound lefty was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2013 and made his debut with the Orioles in 2018. The native of Pontiac, Mich., has a 7-16 record and 4.82 ERA over five big-league seasons.

Hutchison, 32, is back for another season with the organization, having appeared in 76 games for Toronto between 2012 and 2016. The native of Lakeland, Fla., went 3-9 with a 4.53 ERA for the Detroit Tigers last season. Originally a 15th round draft pick of the Blue Jays in 2009, Hutchison has made Major League appearances for Toronto, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Texas, and Detroit, posting a career record of 38-33 to go with a 4.89 ERA over 135 games and 99 starts.

Lawrence, 35, returns to the Blue Jays in 2023 after having appeared in six games in a Toronto uniform last year, going 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA. The righty also made 23 starts for triple-A Buffalo, with a 2.79 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. The product of Albright College (PA) signed with the Blue Jays as an undrafted free agent in 2010 and made his Major League debut with the club in 2017. The McSherrystown, Pa., native has gone 3-4 while pitching in 44 big-league games over three seasons, and has a career record of 90-77 across 250 Minor League contests.