Adam Macko is back in Buffalo, but John Schneider made it clear this Blue Jays option wasn't about performance.
That matters because Macko didn't pitch his way out of Toronto. He earned 12 strikeouts across 12 big-league innings and gave up just 2 runs in his first stretch with the club.
He also wasn't boxed into one job. Toronto used the left-hander as an opener on a bullpen day and trusted him in late, high-leverage work, which says plenty about how the staff viewed him.
When a pitcher handles both roles cleanly, a demotion usually points to roster math. That was the case here, and it keeps Macko firmly in the picture for another recall.
Schneider's public message backed that up. The Blue Jays manager said Macko handled the move like a pro and was likely to be back at some point.
That return path still exists because Toronto's bullpen lacks left-handed depth. A club that thin from the left side doesn't leave a useful arm parked in Triple-A for long.
Macko's Buffalo results have complicated the timing
The issue now is what has happened since the option. Macko's first outing back with Buffalo on June 13 against Syracuse lasted 1 inning, and he allowed 2 earned runs.
His next appearance on June 17 against Charlotte looked sharper on the surface because he struck out the side, but he still gave up 2 hits in that inning.
Then came another short outing on June 19 against Charlotte. Macko recorded only 2 outs, allowed 3 hits, and was charged with 1 unearned run.
That's a different look from the composed version Toronto got in the majors. It also lines up more closely with the uneven Triple-A form he showed for much of the season before the call-up.
Still, the Blue Jays can't ignore what he already gave them. Macko showed swing-and-miss stuff, enough poise for pressure spots, and a left-handed look this bullpen doesn't have much of right now.
That's why this story isn't about whether Macko stays relevant. He does. It's about whether Toronto calls him back on need, or waits until the Buffalo line settles again.
For now, the safest read is this: Macko remains one of the clearest internal bullpen options the Blue Jays have, even if the timing of his next trip north just got tougher to pin down.
Should the Blue Jays bring Adam Macko back soon?
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