The smoothness with which Tyler Fitzgerald plays shortstop is the first thing that catches your eye. He fields the baseball with a natural grace, the kind of player who seems to know the out is secured before the grounder even reaches his glove.

The surprising part? On a recent Friday night, that defensive artistry was on display for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in Rochester, not for the Toronto Blue Jays. This is where the situation gets puzzling for fans following the roster moves.

The Blue Jays acquired Fitzgerald from the San Francisco Giants earlier this month, a logical move to bolster their infield depth. Fitzgerald has shown flashes of big-league ability, and with a crowded situation in San Francisco, he became an available target for Toronto.

Yet, after the trade, Fitzgerald didn't see immediate MLB action. Instead, he was optioned to Buffalo. The plot thickened just a week later when Toronto dealt for utilityman Lenyn Sosa from the Chicago White Sox and promptly added him to the major league roster, seemingly in the role Fitzgerald was expected to fill.

So, what's the strategy? For now, Buffalo's pitching staff is surely grateful. Fitzgerald's elite glovework at shortstop turns potential hits into routine outs, providing stability up the middle. His path back to Toronto likely hinges on his bat; he's getting crucial at-bats in Buffalo to find his rhythm and prove he's a complete package.

Watching him defensively, the Blue Jays' initial interest is perfectly clear. The glove is unquestionably major league ready. The coming weeks will reveal if his bat can force the issue and bring that smooth defense back to the big-league diamond.