The Blue Jays have announced that bullpen coach Matt Buschmann is leaving the organization to pursue other opportunities. Buschmann had been with the Blue Jays since 2018, and also served as the team’s director of pitching development since 2020. Toronto also announced that it will complete its coaching staff in the coming weeks.
Buschmann, 38, was a 15th-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt University by the Padres in 2006. He would work his way through the Friar’s minor league system, spending time with both their Double- and Triple-A affiliates in 2009, 2010, and 2011, but would struggle and post combined ERAs north of 5. He was eventually selected in the Double-A portion of the Rule 5 Draft by the Nationals who flipped him to the Rays for cash considerations in 2012.
Like with the Padres, Buschmann’s time with the Rays was limited to Double- and Triple-A baseball. He would work to a 2.86 ERA in 160 2/3 innings during the 2013 season across the two levels but did not receive a call-up. The righty left the team in free agency and joined the Athletics for the 2014 season, re-signing with the club for the 2015 season. However, he would be traded back to the Rays for cash considerations before the season began but was released mid-way through the season. He had a short stint with the Reds’ minor league affiliate before he was traded to the Orioles for cash.
Buschmann signed with the Diamondbacks ahead of his age-32 season in 2016, and would finally earn a promotion to the majors 10 years after he was drafted. However, he would only make three appearances at the major league level, pitching 4 1/3 innings while allowing two hits (one home run), striking out three, and walking one. Following this brief appearance, he was designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A Reno, where he finished the 2016 season. Ahead of the 2017 season, Buschmann signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays but did not make an appearance with the club before transitioning into a coaching role.
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