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Blue Jays DFA reliever Rafael Dolis, promote prospect Kevin Smith

Julia Kreuz
·2-min read

The Toronto Blue Jays are moving on from reliever Rafael Dolis after three consecutive bad outings and a disappointing season overall.

The move opens up a roster spot for infield prospect Kevin Smith, who is joining Toronto in D.C. for the Blue Jays' game against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.

The Blue Jays also announced lefty reliever Tim Mayza is back with the team after a 10-day stint on the IL and starter Alek Manoah has been placed on the bereavement list.

Dolis last pitched in Tuesday's loss to the Nationals, allowing two hits and an earned run in the eighth inning. Washington ended up scoring four runs in the frame. He has a 5.63 ERA for the season.

The Dominican native signed a one-year contract with the Jays this year after an impressive 1.50 ERA over 24 games in 2020. There was chatter around making him Toronto's closer before the start of the season, but an unravelling campaign and a deadline trade that brought Brad Hand into the club's fold eventually shot down that idea.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JULY 04: Rafael Dolis #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks off the field after being pulled from the game during the ninth inning at Sahlen Field on July 04, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JULY 04: Rafael Dolis #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks off the field after being pulled from the game during the ninth inning at Sahlen Field on July 04, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)

Smith, 25, was a fourth-round draft pick with the Blue Jays in 2017. Ranked No. 27 in the team's prospect list, Smith has batted .286 with a .947 OPS and 19 home runs in triple-A Buffalo this year. He's seen time mostly at shortstop and second.

His promotion comes on the heels of Otto López's call-up on Tuesday.

Though active, Smith isn't in the club's starting lineup for Wednesday's matchup with the Nationals, as the Blue Jays are starting Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien in the middle infield and Breyvic Valera at third base.

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