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The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have announced the contract of outfielder Jason Lane has been purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays. Lane is the third position player and fifth Blue Crab to be signed by a Major League organization in-season in 2010. Southern Maryland sent outfielder Justin Christian to the New York Yankees on May 8, starting pitchers John Halama to the Oakland Athletics May 22 and Jarrett Grube to the Seattle Mariners June 8, and infielder/outfielder Kody Kirkland to the Houston Astros July 22.

Lane, who spent parts of six seasons in the Majors with the Houston Astros and last appeared in the big leagues in 2007 with the San Diego Padres, had a short stay with Southern Maryland but made an impact after signing on June 27. In 19 games and 17 starts, Lane slugged three homers and drove in 11 runs. His most notable game came at home on July 15 against the Lancaster Barnstormers, when he drove in five runs, swatting two home runs at Regency Furniture Stadium. Lane began the season at Triple-A New Orleans in the Florida Marlins organization.

Lane was last with the Blue Jays in 2009, spending spring training on Toronto’s Major League roster before playing the entire season at Triple-A Las Vegas. In 2005, Lane was the starting right fielder for the Astros during the World Series against the Chicago White Sox. In Game 3, he hit a solo home run and had two RBI. Lane spent all of 2005 in the Majors with Houston and put together his finest MLB season, batting .267 with 26 home runs and 78 RBI in a career high 145 games.

In six Major League seasons total, Lane owns a .241 average with 61 home runs and 189 RBI in 497 games. Originally drafted in 1999 by Houston, Lane is now in his 11th professional season and has accumulated 204 career home runs and 782 RBI in the majors and minors combined.