A former 14th-round pick by the Marlins in 2019, left-hander Easton Lucas will take the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays in their spring training opener against the New York Yankees on Saturday, February 22, at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla.
Lucas, a current member of Toronto’s 40-man roster, made eight relief appearances last season across three organizations—Oakland, Detroit, and Toronto. Over 14 career MLB outings, he owns a 9.82 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 18 innings of work.
This start marks Lucas’ first with a big-league club in either spring training or the regular season. While he has yet to blossom in his big league career, the opportunity gives him a chance to showcase his potential as a bullpen option. Given the current state of the Blue Jays’ relief corps, a strong spring could put him in the mix for a roster spot.
As for the Yankees, they have yet to announce their starter for Saturday’s game. However, former Blue Jay Marcus Stroman is scheduled to take the ball in New York’s Grapefruit League opener against the Rays tomorrow.
With Lucas on the mound, don’t expect Toronto to roll out a full-strength lineup just yet. Early spring training games typically feature reserves and prospects, with regulars easing into action next week as they ramp up for the season.
