The Blue Jays are signing outfielder Wynton Bernard to a minor league deal, studies Robert Murray of FanSided (on Twitter). The 32-year-old might be in massive league Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.
Bernard has spent over a decade within the skilled ranks. Initially a Thirty fifth-round decide of the Padres in 2012, the Niagara product landed with the Tigers on a minor league deal a pair seasons later. He’s sometimes hit effectively sufficient within the minors to proceed to seek out alternatives, touchdown subsequent depth roles with the Giants, Cubs and Rockies. He continued to bide his time searching for an MLB look.
At lengthy final, he earned that desired name late final summer season. Bernard had mashed at a .333/.387/.590 clip by 108 video games with the Rox’s high affiliate in Albuquerque, connecting on 21 residence runs and stealing 30 bases in 35 tries. The Rockies introduced him up in mid-August, the place he acquired some restricted runtime within the outfield. He appeared in 12 MLB video games, hitting .286/.286/.310 over his first 42 journeys to the plate. Colorado ran him by outright waivers on the finish of the 12 months, sending him again to minor league free company.
While it was a short first MLB name, it little question served as some vindication for the San Diego native. Bernard’s 2022 displaying was aided to some extent by the Pacific Coast League’s extraordinarily hitter-friendly surroundings, however he’s sometimes carried out at an above-average degree all through his time within the minors. He’s a profession .289/.350/.424 minor league hitter, sporting a .273/.328/.435 mark by components of six Triple-A campaigns.
Bernard is a superb runner who’s able to masking all three outfield spots. He’ll slot in behind Nathan Lukes — who was added to the 40-man roster at first of the offseason — as a velocity/protection depth outfielder. Bernard figures to open the season with Triple-A Buffalo. He nonetheless has two choice years remaining, so the Jays would be capable to shuttle him between Toronto and Buffalo if he claims a 40-man spot at any level.
