Blue Jays get glimpse at what could have been

After Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto reached base in the sixth inning, manager Rob Thomson sent in infield prospect Rafael Lantigua to pinch run.

For years, Lantigua worked his way through the Blue Jays system, finally breaking through in 2023. That season with Buffalo, the shortstop/second baseman slashed .305/.425/.469 with 12 home runs and 85 RBIs over 129 games, leading many in the organization to believe his time was coming.

But 2024 was a different story. Lantigua regressed, hitting just .265 with four home runs and 33 RBIs. While his .367 OBP was still solid, it marked a 60-point drop from the previous year.

As a result, Lantigua became a minor-league free agent this offseason and signed a minor-league deal with Philadelphia in late December.

So far this spring, he has just one hit in six at-bats over four games, but he has impressed in the field, logging reps at shortstop, third base, and left field.

While Lantigua's bat may not jump off the page, his positional versatility and speed could make him a valuable depth piece. Across seven minor league seasons, he has swiped 113 bases.

Although the Phillies' Opening Day roster is nearly set, teams always need more than 26 men over the course of a season. If Lantigua performs well this spring, he could position himself for a call-up should anything happen to Alec Bohm, Trea Turner, or Bryson Stott.

While some may wonder why the Blue Jays let him walk, their current logjam of middle infielders likely made it difficult to find a spot for him.

Still, Lantigua's journey isn't over yet-he just may get his shot in the big leagues after all.