Seattle Mariners fans might recognize a familiar name popping up in the MLB news. Former Mariners reliever Austin Voth has inked a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
This move officially took place last Wednesday, with a nod to Zac Hereth of Seattle Sports for catching it early. Voth has since been assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, where he took the mound on Sunday.
Voth, a Redmond native and University of Washington alum, was drafted in the fifth round by the Washington Nationals back in 2013. Now, at 33, he's looking to reignite his MLB career with the Blue Jays.
With seven major league seasons behind him, Voth's standout year came with the Mariners in 2024. He appeared in 68 games, boasting a solid 3.69 ERA and recording 61 strikeouts over 61 innings.
Known for his versatility out of the bullpen, Voth utilized a four-pitch mix, leaning heavily on his cutter while mixing in a sweeper, four-seamer, and curveball. His effectiveness against right-handed hitters was notable, holding them to a .193 average.
In 2024, Voth even snagged the PitchingNinja Award for his soul-stealing curveball, a testament to his skill on the mound.
However, by the end of 2024, Voth's performance dipped below replacement level, with a -0.2 rWAR. This led him to Japan, where he joined the Chiba Lotte Marines and reinvented himself as a starter. Over 22 starts, he pitched 125 innings, averaging 5.7 innings per start, though his strikeout numbers were modest with 92, and he finished with a 1.256 WHIP.
The Blue Jays, dealing with a slew of injuries to key starters like Shane Bieber, José Berríos, and Trey Yesavage, are in dire need of pitching depth. With Cody Ponce also sidelined due to an ACL sprain, Voth could find himself called up sooner rather than later.
The Mariners won't face the Blue Jays until July, so there's a chance Toronto's rotation might be fully recovered by then. But if Voth takes the mound against his former team, Mariners hitters will be ready to challenge him.