T.J. Zeuch earns MLB call-up from Toronto Blue Jays

Former Pitt pitcher T.J. Zeuch has put on an impressive performance at the Triple-A level this season, and as a result, he earned a call-up to the major leagues. According to Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun, Zeuch will make his MLB debut for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night as a reliever for Blue Jays starter Wilmer Font.

Zeuch has spent the majority of the 2019 season with the Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A affiliate of the Blue Jays, and in 13 games at that level, he has an ERA of 3.69 to go with 39 strikeouts. Both of those figures represent downgrades from 2018, when Zeuch spent most of the season with Double-A New Hampshire. But given the uptick in competition, the results have been promising.

Zeuch has also been especially keyed in over the last 28 days, during which he started five games and accumulated an ERA of 1.95. Part of that is due to a no-hitter he threw on Aug. 19, but he has also limited his mistakes. Zeuch has avoided giving up home runs in four of his past five games. He has also allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of his last five games.

The organization’s decision to call Zeuch up at this point also places him in a low-pressure situation, as the Blue Jays are not in playoff contention with a record of 55-84. In addition, the team will face the Braves, an 85-54 team six and a half games ahead of its closest division rival. So expectations will be tempered.

With that said, the Braves rank sixth among MLB teams in runs scored, while the Blue Jays rank 23rd. That means run support could be an issue for Zeuch, who will also have to make his debut on the road at SunTrust Park in Atlanta. So the Pitt alum will have his work cut out for him when he takes the mound on Tuesday.