Aaron Sanchez returns to Blue Jays hoping to provide boost to bullpen

SEATTLE – Aaron Sanchez is back with the Toronto Blue Jays and after coming out of spring training as a starting pitcher is back in the bullpen, where he thrived for the second half of last season.

Sanchez was activated from the disabled list Saturday and pitched one scoreless inning in relief in Toronto's 8-6 win overSeattle with his fastball topping out at 99 mph on the radar gun. It was Sanchez's first appearance for the Blue Jays since June 5, when he injured his back in a start against Houston. He appeared set to rejoin the rotation when he returned to full health, but the decision was made earlier this week while he completed his rehab that he'll be used as a relief pitcher for the rest of the year. Right-hander Steve Delabar was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to make room for Sanchez on the active roster.

"I've been in this situation before. I know what to do in a sense of being in that role," Sanchez said before Saturday's game. "I'm excited. I'm ready to take on this challenge and see where it goes."

In 33 innings out of the bullpen in 2014, the 23-year-old right-hander put up a 1.09 ERA, racked up 27 strikeouts, and managed to keep his walks down. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons sees Sanchez and Roberto Osuna, who has been the team's closer the past few weeks, operating as a lethal power-pitching late inning combination. Osuna, 20, closed out Saturday's victory with a scoreless inning of his own.

"We can go either way," said Gibbons. "Primarily when we come down to the end, it'll be Osuna or [Sanchez]."

The hope is that Sanchez continues making strides on the mound and can put what he learned about himself as a pitcher from his 11 starts earlier this season to good use. Sanchez's long-term future is still as a starter, but in the short-term he's most useful to the Blue Jays and their push for the playoffs pitching in relief.

"I'm here to help this team win games. If [Gibbons] and the organization feels like me being in the bullpen is going to help win games, I'm all for it," said Sanchez.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr

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