The Toronto Blue Jays will have a decision to make regarding Tommy Nance before the start of the 2026 season.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual 40-man roster review ahead of the new season. If you missed the most recent article, we looked at Davis Schneider. In this article, we’ll look at Tommy Nance.
In 2024, the Blue Jays weren’t a good team. They never recovered from a rough start, eventually sold at the trade deadline, and finished the season with a 74-88 record. There were certainly bright spots, as Addison Barger received playing time and Bowden Francis became one of the best pitchers on the planet over the final two months. Moreover, the Jays also picked up some relievers for future seasons.
We looked at Brendon Little in this series recently, and he figures to be their high-leverage lefty option. Ryan Burr had success with the Jays in 2024, but spent most of the 2025 season injured. And finally, Tommy Nance was acquired in a small deal.
Nance had big league experience prior to joining the Jays, but he was unremarkable in his 20 innings with the team in 2024. Overall, he finished with a 4.09 ERA and 3.98 FIP in 22 innings pitched, with a 20.4 K% and 9.7 BB%. Nance didn’t make the Opening Day roster, as the jays outrighted the 34-year-old to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
The right-handed pitcher was okay with the Jays’ Triple-A team and on July 11th, the Jays re-added him to the 40-man roster. Nance wasn’t demoted again, as he pitched in 30 games over the final two and a half months, posting a 1.99 ERA and 1.87 FIP in 31.2 innings pitched, with a 25.4 K% and 5.6 BB%.
Among pitchers with 30 or more innings out of the bullpen, Nance’s 1.99 ERA ranked 14th in a sample size of 244 pitchers. He wasn’t the only Blue Jay, future, past, or present, to be included in that list, as Eric Lauer had a 1.76 ERA out of the bullpen, Braydon Fisher had a 1.85 ERA, Tyler Rogers had a 1.98 ERA, and former Blue Jay prospect Matt Svanson had a 1.94 ERA. Additionally, Nic Enright just missed the cut with a 2.03 ERA.
As good as Nance’s numbers were, most of innings came in low-leverage and he’s far from a lock to make the roster out of Spring Training. With plenty of competition for just a few spots in the bullpen, the Jays are in a tough spot with Nance due to his lack of option years. If he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, he’ll need to be outrighted, where he’ll surely be claimed on waivers.
Nance’s numbers according to the projections aren’t nearly as good as he had in 2025. Steamer has him posting a 3.83 ERA and 3.79 FIP in 58 innings pitched, with a 21.7 K% and 7.5 BB%, which is still respectable for a low-leverage arm. The right-handed pitcher’s best projection comes from OOPSY, as it has him posting a 3.65 ERA and 3.66 FIP in 58 innings pitched, with a 22.7 K% and 7.6 BB%.
Where Nance ends up in 2026 solely depends on how he and others perform in Spring Training.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.