Toronto shuffled a few players around their roster in April. On the 12th, the Blue Jays designated C-R Ken Huckaby for assignment and called up OF-R Reed Johnson. The team was looking for additional flexibility in the outfield, which caused them to forego carrying a third catcher. Huckaby cleared waivers and accepted his assignment to AAA Syracuse.

The Blue Jays drafted Johnson out of Cal State Fullerton with their 17th round pick of the 1999 draft. Johnson finished out the year at St. Catharines in the Short-Season New York-Pennsylvania League. In 2000, he began the season at A Hagerstown in the South Atlantic League before advancing to A+ Dunedin in the Florida State League. Toronto promoted Johnson to AA Tennessee in the Southern League for the 2001 season. Last season, Johnson suffered a wrist injury that kept him sidelined for much of the year, but when healthy he played for AAA Syracuse of the International League.

Johnson made his major league debut as a pinch runner for Josh Phelps in the ninth inning of the Blue Jays' April 17th game in New York. Unfortunately, Eric Hinske grounded into a fielder's choice and Johnson was quickly out at second. The 26-year-old's once strong walk rate began to fade when he reached AA, but he possesses marginal power potential and considerable speed. When the Blue Jays called up Jayson Werth on Monday, Johnson returned to AAA, which is probably best given his injury abbreviate 2002. However, he should develop into at least a quality reserve outfielder for Toronto.

Werth began the season on the disabled list with a sore wrist. On April 14th, Toronto activated him from the DL and assigned him to AAA, but he remained at A+ Dunedin on a rehab assignment. I'm troubled that the nature of his wrist injury was never really explained, but his performance at Dunedin indicates he has fully recovered. The Blue Jays are determined to find playing time for Werth if he's to stay in the majors, and Manager Carlos Tosca started him in place of Frank Catalanotto yesterday. The 23-year-old's contact rate could use improvement, but he walks at a good rate and offers Toronto solid speed and power skills.