Rehabbing Blue Jays prospects Kyle Drabek, Drew Hutchison nearing return to majors

BUFFALO – Amid a mostly forgettable season for the Toronto Blue Jays pitching, there may be some reinforcements, and hope, on the horizon.

Young pitchers Drew Hutchison and Kyle Drabek both pitched in rehab assignments for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in an 8-3 victory over the Rochester Red Wings on Wednesday night. Hutchison and Drabek both suffered elbow injuries in 2012 and required Tommy John ligament replacement surgery.

Their lives have been linked over the last year and it seems they will continue to be side-by-side as they attempt to make it back to the big leagues. They suffered their injuries two days apart last June, lived together, rehabbed together and now are on the cusp of a return together.

“We became close [during spring training] since we were younger guys and could relate to the same things,” Drabek said. “I ended up living with him through rehab. I’m real happy with where he’s at.”

Drabek should know. The 25-year-old is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery already.

Both pitchers were mostly forgotten after the Blue Jays spent the offseason acquiring big-name pitchers. But injuries and ineptness have lead to the need for pitching help. Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said both pitchers could be in line for a September callup when rosters expand.

“That’s obviously your goal,” Hutchison said. “Right now I need to focus on what I’m doing and that’s pitching as well as I can and continuing to make good pitches, which leads to good outings.”

While Hutchison started, Drabek came out of the bullpen in the sixth inning and earned the win Wednesday thanks to three near-perfect innings. He faced the minimum, with the only base runner reaching on an error before being thrown out trying to steal third. Drabek struck out three.

“[Velocity] is pretty much back to where I was. I can’t wait to see how it feels at 100 percent instead of 98, or whatever it feels like.”

Drabek, who was part of the trade that sent Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009, was making his first Triple-A start after two with Double-A New Hampshire and eight games with Dunedin in high-A ball back in June.

Hutchison began his rehab assignment in July with Dunedin. He made two starts with New Hamphire before being promoted to Buffalo. Hutchison has had mixed results in his two Triple-A starts. He was tagged for six runs in just 3.2 innings in his first start. He improved in his second, but still wasn’t able to go four innings.

On Wednesday, he went deep into counts and got his pitch count up early. He had more than 50 pitches through two innings.

“I feel good, just too many pitches,” Hutchison said. “I lost it a bit in the second. The third inning I felt was good, where I need to be. The third inning is the way I should pitch every time. It’s there, I just need to execute.

He narrowly avoided disaster in the second inning. Back-to-back walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with one out. He got out of it on a pop fly to right fielder Moises Sierra, who gunned out the tagging runner at third base, before the run could score from third. Hutchison finished with two earned runs, on four hits with four strikeouts in three innings.

Hutchison was a 15^th-round pick by the Blue Jays in 2009. He rose through the minors quickly and, due to some desperation, made his big-league debut in April 2012. He made 11 starts last year before his injury. Drabek has made 30 big-league starts over parts of three seasons in Toronto.

Drabek has been helping Hutchison with the mental side of the recovery, coaching him through the ups and downs of a serious injury.

“I just remember telling him, if there’s any sort of pain, make sure someone knows about it. After a surgery like this there’s no need to try to be a hero,” Drabek said.

Despite the Bisons locked in a tight playoff race in the International League, both players have dreams of playing in the majors again this season.

“Definitely would rather be in the bigs, it’s just trying to work my way back up,” Drabek said. “Body wise, I feel like I’m ready. My pitch count is still a little short. I’m looking just to stay healthy."