Pitcher Liam Hendriks #34 of the Toronto Blue Jays poses on Photo Day February 25, 2014 in Dunedin, Florida.
Nothing like getting thrown right into the fire.
The Toronto Blue Jays officially selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Liam Hendriks from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday and he will make his Major League Baseball debut for the team Friday night against the Oakland Athletics.
Hendriks will start tonight in place of R.A. Dickey, whose next start has been pushed back to Saturday.
The Blue Jays are thinking it will be beneficial to separate the knuckleballer from Mark Buehrle in the rotation, two pitchers who don't exactly overwhelm the opposition with high velocity stuff.
In order to make room on the roster for Hendriks, the Blue Jays have severed their relationship with reliever Esmil Rogers, who was designated for assignment.
Hendriks, 25, has appeared in 10 games, eight of them starts, for Buffalo this season, posting a 5-0 record with a 1.48 ERA, allowing 36 hits and walking just three batters in 48.2 innings.
His numbers spread out over three seasons in MLB have not been as impressive, making 30 appearances, all with Minnesota, going 2-13 with a 6.06 ERA.
Rogers has posted a 6.97 ERA in 16 relief appearances for the Blue Jays this season.