Rookie catcher Curtis Thigpen was called up Tuesday to the Toronto Blue Jays to replace injured first baseman Lyle Overbay on the active roster.

Thigpen, 24, is averaging .299 in 44 games for the Syracuse SkyChiefs of the triple-A International League this season.

Curtis Thigpen, right, was called up Tuesday by the Toronto Blue Jays. Curtis Thigpen, right, was called up Tuesday by the Toronto Blue Jays.
(Rusty Kennedy/Associated Press)

He has three home runs, nine doubles, 16 runs batted in and 17 runs scored.

"You never wish for anyone to get injured," Thigpen said. "But it happens in sports and, when it happens, someone has to fill the spots.

"I think it has to put pressure on guys in double-A and triple-A to perform — and not to perform next week or next month, but now."

Although Thigpen is primarily a catcher, he was picked to replace Overbay at first base because he played the position at the University of Texas.

"I will just get over there and catch it, throw it, field ground balls and knock it down," he said. "I feel OK over there."

Thigpen also played twice at second base in a pinch for the SkyChiefs this season, but he prefers catching.

"I want to catch and I feel like I can catch," he said. "I just look at playing other positions as a bonus.

"I would like to keep my athleticism because I know it can be a good attribute for me to be able to play other positions. And it can really help a team out to have a guy who can play other positions besides catcher.

"Hopefully, I can catch. But if I'm called to play somewhere else, so be it."

Overbay out 4-6 weeks
 
Overbay is sidelined four to six weeks with a broken right hand, suffered when he was hit by a pitch in the third inning of a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox last Sunday.

The 30-year-old is batting .256 with eight HRs, 27 RBIs and 25 runs in 55 games this season, his second in Toronto.

"This is uncharted water for me," Overbay said of his first-ever stint on the 15-day disabled list.

Along with Overbay, other Blue Jays currently occupying the DL are: catcher Gregg Zaun (hand), outfielder Reed Johnson (back) and pitchers Gustavo Chacin (shoulder), Brandon League (shoulder), Davis Romero (shoulder), B.J. Ryan (elbow), John Thomson (shoulder) and Victor Zambrano (forearm).

Third baseman Troy Glaus and pitcher Roy Halladay recently returned from the DL.

"It is almost comical when you start thinking about all the guys who have gone down," Overbay said. "I've never seen anything like this."

Overbay is a .289 hitter with 69 HRs, 307 RBIs and 293 runs in 627 games over seven MLB seasons for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers and Blue Jays.

"Hopefully, we can get through this and tread water," he said. "We'll be getting all of our guys back here soon and I'll be a part of that."

To make room on the 40-man roster for Thigpen, Toronto moved Thomson to the 60-day DL.

With files from the Canadian Press