Toronto Blue Jays' Eloy Jimenez to get extended big-league reps at first base during WBC
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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Eloy Jimenez is learning how to play first base making himself more versatile for a team with too many outfielders.
Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Eloy Jimenez had himself a big day in yesterdays 11-10 loss to the Boston Red Sox.
Jimenez hit a lazer for an RBI double in the first that would have left 23 other major league parks.
Eloy Jiménez with an absolute missile off the baby monster for an RBI double. What a swing. 104.8 MPH/398 FT (HR in 23/30 ballparks)
In his next at-bat Jimenez would hit the ball completely out of Jet BluePark.
Eloy Jiménez figured out the launch angle this time and sent this ball over the baby monster and out of the ballpark! Big, big day for him! 97.7 MPH/29° LA/357 FT
Jimenez to get extended big-league reps while others are at the WBC
Once regarded as one of baseball’s brightest young stars, Jiménez is now at a crossroads in his career.
A former top prospect with the Chicago White Sox, he’s looking for a path back to consistent major-league relevance, and first base could provide it.
According to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Jiménez has been taking reps at first during camp. The move makes sense.
Eloy Jiménez has been spending a lot of time at first base early in camp. He’s dabbled there for a few games in the minors and, more recently, in the Dominican Winter League. He’s taking more grounders there with Vladdy this morning at TD Ballpark. #BlueJays
Even if his chances of breaking camp with Toronto are uncertain, showing defensive flexibility could make him more attractive — whether to the Blue Jays or another club in need of right-handed power.
Opportunities should be there this spring. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto expected to represent their countries in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, at-bats and innings at first base could open up in early March.
Still only 29, Jiménez debuted in 2019 after being ranked the No. 4 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline the year prior.
He made an immediate impact, launching 31 home runs in 122 games as a rookie and adding 14 more during the shortened 2020 season, helping Chicago reach the postseason in consecutive years.
Injuries, however, stalled his momentum. Limited to 55 games in 2021 and 84 in 2022, he later split time between Chicago and the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, struggling to regain his earlier form.
After minor-league stints with the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto in 2025, Jiménez returned to the Blue Jays on another minor-league deal.
A strong winter in the Dominican Winter League where he hit .246 with five homers and earned DWL MVP honours suggests there’s still life in his bat.
Now, with a new position in his toolkit, Jiménez is fighting to prove his story isn’t finished yet.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 23|90 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays' Eloy Jimenez to get extended big-league reps at first base during WBC Do you think getting an extended amount of big league reps will help Eloy Jimenez break camp with the Blue Jays? | ||
| Yes | 58 | 64.4 % |
| No | 8 | 8.9 % |
| Too early to tell | 24 | 26.7 % |
| List of polls | ||