Since the Jays refuse to give us news to discuss, let’s continue down the 40-man roster.
Angel Bastardo is a right-handed, 22-year-old pitcher. The Jays picked him up in the Rule 5 draft, which surprised me. I didn’t expect them to pick up (or lose) anyone. He was born in Moron, Venezuela. I’ve known a lot of people who should have been from a town named Moron,
He’s an interesting pick because he had Tommy John surgery last summer. Because of that, he will spend most of this season on the IL and not hanging out at the back of the bullpen. It gives them time to get to know him, give him to know the team and then, well, hang out at the back of the bullpen in 2026. He would have to be on the roster for 90 days to have it, so he doesn’t have to be on the MLB roster in 2026, and I doubt he’ll recover quickly enough for that.
Of course, that’s if they don’t decide they need the 40-man roster spot at some point this season.
Before the surgery, he threw a fastball (that reached 97 mph), a changeup, slider, and curve, which was work-in-progress, before the surgery. Apparently, the change and fastball are the two better pitches.
Angel looks to be a reliever type, hopefully a long reliever.
Last year, he made 10 starts for Double-A Portland (with a 5.36 ERA in 45.1 with 53 strikeouts). But, then, that was just before needing the surgery.
In 2023, he made 21 starts at Greenville (High-A) with a 4.62 ERA. In 103.1 innings, he had 139 strikeouts and 46 walks.
It reminds me of the Jays’ pickup of Elvie Luciano in the Rule 5 draft in 2018. That was a different sort of Rule 5 pick, too. Like this one, it was a little longer-range than the usual Rule 5 pick. It didn’t work out, but it was an interesting idea. Picking up Bastardo is an interesting idea, too.
I wouldn’t like to guess the odds that Angel pitches for the Jays. It must be less than 50/50, but there is a chance it works out.
You know, if your last name is Bastardo, giving your kid the first name Angel is a very good move.