Reid-Foley thrives in debut with Dunedin

Entering his first full season in the Blue Jays system, Sean Reid-Foley was probably told something along the lines of "It's going to be a marathon, not a sprint." In his debut with Class A Advanced Dunedin on Sunday, the right-hander got to experience baseball's version of an actual marathon -- one that's still not technically over. 

The No. 6 Blue Jays prospect allowed only two hits and struck out a pair over five scoreless innings in his first start for Dunedin on Sunday afternoon, but the game with Lakeland was suspended due to rain in the top of the 17th frame with the score tied, 1-1.

Reid-Foley started off with a perfect first frame. His only trouble came in the second when Dominic Ficociello and Jared Reaves both singled, but the 19-year-old right-hander escaped the mini-jam by fanning Tim Remes. He was perfect the rest of the way, retiring 10 Lakeland batters in a row to close out his outing. 

Sunday marked just the fourth time this season that the 6-foot-3 hurler completed five innings as the Jays have limited his innings during his introduction to full-season ball. He was promoted to the FSL on July 2 after going 3-3 with a 3.48 ERA in 15 starts with Class A Lansing.

Armed with a fastball that can reach the upper-90s along with a slider and an improving changeup, he struck out 74 Midwest League hitters in just 59 1/3 innings (13.1 K/9). However, he struggled with control with 40 walks in that same span for a rate of 6.1 walks per nine innings. Reid-Foley's two strikeouts Sunday were his lowest total since May 15 and his debut also marked the first time all season he didn't allow a free pass.

Toronto took Reid-Foley in the second round with the 49th overall pick in 2014 and signed him away from a Florida State University commitment with a $1,128,800 bonus. He pitched 22 2/3 innings in the Gulf Coast League and got the bump to the Midwest League to start the 2015 campaign. 

The Blue Jays starter was in line for the win Sunday reliever Jeremy Gabryszwski gave up a run in the sixth that tied the game. Rain forced the game to be suspended with one out in the top of the 17th. The game will be resumed at 5:30 p.m. Monday with a regularly scheduled nine-inning to contest to follow 30 minutes after its completion.