Richard, Pannone join expanded roster

ATLANTA -- After officially adding Ryan Tepera and Beau Taylor to the active roster on Sunday, the Blue Jays continued their September roster expansion with the additions of Clayton Richard and Thomas Pannone on Monday.

Richard was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after being sidelined with a left lat strain in mid-July, and the 35-year-old left-hander owns a 5.96 ERA over 10 starts and 45 1/3 innings with Toronto this season. Pannone was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo ahead of the Bisons’ final game of the season on Monday afternoon. Through 30 appearances and 65 2/3 innings with the Blue Jays, the 25-year-old southpaw has posted a 6.44 ERA.

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When Buffalo’s season officially comes to an end, Toronto expects to continue making moves, and could add hurlers Sean Reid-Foley, Justin Shafer and Brock Stewart or infielder Richard Urena,. The club might also see outfielders Anthony Alford and Jonathan Davis added to the fold. All are members of the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster.

As the Minor League season reaches its final days, and as Toronto continues to flash forward to the future with glimpses of what the club hopes will be its core in the years to come, here’s a look at who stands out and what to keep an eye out for:

Arrival: C Reese McGuire
Starting his season at Buffalo this year, McGuire slashed .247/.316/.366 in 72 games for the Bisons with five home runs, 12 doubles, a triple and 29 RBIs. When Blue Jays’ backup catcher Luke Maile was shelved at the end of July with a left oblique strain, McGuire returned to the big leagues after debuting in September last year, and the 24-year-old has since impressed both behind the dish and at the plate with 15 hits in 53 at-bats, including four homers and two doubles with six RBIs.

“It’s been good,” McGuire said. “Obviously, being down in Triple-A all year wasn’t a ton of fun. I felt like I belong up here, so it was a matter of getting that opportunity and producing, and almost trying to force the hand. I felt like I did a lot of good things this year down in Triple-A and really developed myself and was ready for this opportunity. Obviously, I wish it would have happened sooner, but I’m happy I’m here now.”

Breakout: SS Bo Bichette
The 21-year-old shortstop has done nothing but impress those around him since making his big league debut just ahead of the Trade Deadline. Entering play on Monday, Bichette’s 45 hits were the most in franchise history in any player’s first 31 games. The Florida native also notched 39 hits in August, the most by a Blue Jays rookie in any calendar month.

Since getting his first shot at the Majors on July 29, Bichette’s 15 doubles are tied for the Major League lead, while he ranks second with 23 extra-base hits and is tied for fourth with 45 hits and 84 total bases over that span.

“I know his dad could really hit, and he can, too,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said. “He’s another one of these guys, and this is an incredible team of guys who grew up in the big leagues. He’s a good hitter … and I know the league’s having a hard time getting him out consistently. And he’s got a little flare to him.”

Something to prove: 1B/DH Rowdy Tellez
Tellez made Toronto’s Opening Day roster and struggled to find consistency at the plate, hitting .228/.281/.440 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs in the first half of the season. The 24-year-old infielder was optioned to Buffalo on July 15, when he earned a return trip to the Majors after hitting .366 (34-for-93) with seven home runs, nine doubles and 21 RBIs in 26 games for the Bisons.

The question remains whether Tellez can use the adjustments he made in Triple-A to maintain a consistent level of success in the big leagues. But he showed his potential in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Braves with a 455-foot homer off the bench.

Name to watch: RHP Nate Pearson
Ranked Toronto’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 13 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, there’s no doubt that Pearson’s arrival is the next most highly-anticipated one for the Blue Jays, though it is unlikely to happen until the 2020 season.

Healthy for the majority of this year, the 24-year-old right-handed flamethrower posted a 2.30 ERA over 25 starts and 101 2/3 innings between Class A Advanced Dunedin, Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo, but has already met the increase in innings Toronto was looking for. He's unlikely to exceed that limit any further.