Addison Barger, Eric Lauer, Braydon Fisher, and Joey Loperfido are all recent minor leaguers who are doing well in the majors. All four weren’t expected to be the talk of the Blue Jays. These Bisons call-ups have provided solid contributions to the top team in the AL East. Lauer wasn’t even supposed to be in the rotation; Barger’s status of remaining in the majors was questionable, Fisher had just made his debut this season, and Loperfido had just recently been called up. All four have made strong contributions and have been impressive in distinct ways. It will be interesting to see their performances following the trade deadline on July 31st.

Four Bisons Call Ups Standing Tall in Majors
Look out for Barger and Lauer

Barger is sporting an OPS of .828, Lauer a 2.78 ERA, Fisher a 2.30 ERA, and Loperfido has gone 5 for 14 since being called up, including a home run. While Barger’s power is no surprise, it’s nice to see him come into his form with 12 bombs on the season. He has also provided the Blue Jays with a comeback victory and recently secured a walk-off win, extending their winning streak to seven games. Barger is having a monster July with a .3086 batting average, a .342 OBP, .639 SLG, .981 OPS, three home runs, and 12 RBI across 10 games.

Lauer has emphasized the significance of his fastball command, in regard to speed and location. They have been a key to his success. Lauer has focused on speeding up and slowing down hitters. Lauer also relies on his ability to make his pitches play up through strategic execution. He has also demonstrated the ability to adapt to different roles. Such as short relief to spot starts and has thrived by learning from veterans like Chris Bassitt and José Berríos. Overall, Lauer’s solid performance in the rotation follows a period where he was experiencing injuries and tough competition within the Brewers’ pitching rotation. This illustrates his resilience and determination to succeed.
Loperfido and Fisher

Loperfido has showcased how he can be clutch and effective through small sample sizes. Since coming to the Blue Jays, he has demonstrated a decent offensive output. Including a home run after being called up. Loperfido is considered a solid outfielder due to his power, speed, and defensive versatility. He has shown how he can hit for power and also has a solid pull-side approach. He also showcases above-average speed, making him a threat to steal. Additionally, he is seen as a key utility player as he can play multiple positions. This includes center field, first base, and second base. 

Fisher has been another pleasant arm for the Blue Jays. He takes a little velocity off his fastball and leans on strong breaking pitches. He’s turned into one of the Blue Jays’ intriguing developmental stories this season. He has thrown the ball harder out of the zone, which has allowed him to be dominant.

Main Photo Credits: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images