Blue Jays reunite with right handed pitcher

MLB Insider Robert Murray was the first to report the signing.

Kloffenstein, who made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals last season, returns to the organization that drafted him in 2018.

Selected 88th overall by the Blue Jays, Kloffenstein progressed through the minor league system before his development hit a roadblock. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he struggled to regain his form in 2021.

In 2023, Kloffenstein was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals along with fellow prospect Sem Robberse in exchange for flamethrower Jordan Hicks. He finished the 2023 season with Triple-A Memphis, posting a 3.00 ERA across eight starts.

Kloffenstein's major league debut was a unique one. After a strong first half in the minors, he was called up on June 20 for a game against the San Francisco Giants. In his debut, he threw a perfect inning. What made the appearance particularly unusual was the location: it wasn't in St. Louis or San Francisco, but in Alabama, as part of the MLB at Rickwood Field Game, which honoured Willie Mays and the Negro Leagues. Kloffenstein may be the first major leaguer to make his debut in the state.

Kloffenstein provides valuable depth for the Blue Jays, particularly with his experience as a starter in the minors. With the team's rotation depth stretched thin beyond Jake Bloss and Eric Lauer, Kloffenstein could be an option should injury or ineffectiveness strike.

Standing at an imposing 6'5", Kloffenstein is built for durability and strength, with a fastball that can reach up to 96 mph.

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