Music: {allcanada} The wait is over

Thursday, August 4, 2011

{allcanada} The wait is over

TORONTO -- Canadian infielder Brett Lawrie will soon make his long-awaited debut with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The team selected his contract from triple-A Las Vegas shortly after the Jays dropped a 7-6, 12-inning decision to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon.

The Blue Jays also recalled left-hander Luis Perez from Las Vegas, sent outfielder Travis Snider back down to the triple-A club and placed right-hander Carlos Villanueva on the 15-day disabled list.

In 292 at-bats this season with the Las Vegas 51s, the 21-year-old Lawrie posted a line of .353/.415/.661 with 18 home runs, 61 RBIs, 24 doubles, six triples and 13 stolen bases. The top prospect was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers last December in the Shaun Marcum trade.

Villanueva, who has a right forearm strain, is 6-3 this season with a 4.24 earned-run average but he has struggled of late.

Snider and Perez, meanwhile, have split this season between Toronto and Las Vegas. Snider has a .225 average in the majors with three homers and 30 RBIs. Perez is 1-2 on the season with a 3.57 ERA.

The Blue Jays continue their road trip Friday with the opener of a weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles.

He committed 16 errors at third base.

Lawrie appeared close to a promotion in late May before being hit in the hand by a pitch on May 31 and suffering a non-displaced fracture in his hand.

Following a brief rehab stint with single-A Dunedin he was promoted back to Las Vegas on July 18.