Blue Jays option catcher Thole to Herd
The Toronto Blue Jays have optioned C JOSH THOLE to the Buffalo Bisons and reassigned INF MUNENORI KAWASAKI and LHP JEFF FRANCIS to the Herd's roster.
Thole, 28, spent the entire 2014 season with the Blue Jays and hit .248 (33-133) with four doubles and seven RBI in 57 games played. A veteran of 410 Major League games, Thole played 91 games with the Bisons in three seasons (2010, 2012-13) and has averaged .292 with 24 doubles, nine home runs and 48 RBI in a Buffalo uniform. He last played for the Bisons in 2013 when he averaged .322 (48-149) with seven home runs and 31 RBI in just 41 games.
KAWASAKI, 33, has played 69 games with the Bisons over the past two seasons. In 2014, the popular infielder hit .276 (32-116) with 11 doubles, a triple and nine RBI in 44 games. He made just three errors while spending time at second base, third base and shortstop.
FRANCIS, 34, pitched for Cincinnati, Oakland and the New York Yankees in 2014 and was also 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA in eight starts for Triple-A Louisville. A veteran of 240 Major League games, the southpaw has a big league record of 71-80 with a 4.95 ERA and 848 career strikeouts.