Why Blue Jays fans could see Eloy Jimenez back in Toronto sooner than they think
Photo credit: Toronto Blue Jays - https://x.com/BlueJays
Even though Eloy Jiménez will begin the 2026 season in Triple-A Buffalo, it wouldn't be surprising to see him join the Toronto Blue Jays sooner rather than later.
Eloy Jimenez was one of the standout performers during Blue Jays' Spring Training, earning praise for an impressive showing at the plate.
Joining the Blue Jays with hopes of reigniting a once-promising career, the Dominican outfielder looked revitalized from the start.
He showed up in great shape, hammering the ball to the tune of a .286/.333/.524 line, belting two dingers and four doubles in 45 at-bats.
Eloy Jiménez has a .937 OPS this Spring 🔥
Now a valuable depth option, Jimenez will likely be up with the Blue Jays sooner than most think
Despite that performance, the Blue Jays optioned Jiménez to Triple-A on Monday as part of their final roster cuts ahead of Opening Day.
While he didn't make the initial roster, Jiménez remains a valuable depth option.
With a crowded outfield and limited opportunities at designated hitter, his path to the majors out of camp was always going to be difficult.
George Springer is expected to handle most of the designated hitter duties this season, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will also rotate into that role at times.
In the outfield, Jiménez was edged out by Jesus Sanchez, with Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw securing the final roster spots.
Still, Jiménez shouldn't be overlooked. If he continues to produce offensively in Triple-A, he could force his way back into the big leagues before long.
Eloy Jiménez is staying hot at the plate: every ball coming off his bat is over 100 mph. For example, in this at-bat the ball came off at 102 mph. His bat is ready, and Toronto needs to keep that power in their lineup. #Toronto
@The_bigbaby74
@The_bigbaby74
There are also question marks within the current roster.
Sánchez, despite a solid 2025 campaign with the Miami Marlins that included 14 home runs and a 1.0 WAR, is not a guaranteed long-term solution.
Injuries are another factor that could impact the roster as the season unfolds, potentially creating an opportunity for Jiménez to return.
Ultimately, his timeline will depend on one thing: continuing to hit and proving he deserves another shot in the majors.
Also read on Blue Jays Central :
Toronto Blue Jays assign Eloy Jimenez, five other players to minor league-camp
Toronto Blue Jays assign Eloy Jimenez, five other players to minor league-camp
| POLL | ||
MARS 24|158 ANSWERS Why Blue Jays fans could see Eloy Jimenez back in Toronto sooner than they think Do you think we will see Eloy Jimenez up with the Toronto Blue jays in 2026? | ||
| Yes | 119 | 75.3 % |
| No | 16 | 10.1 % |
| Too early to tell | 23 | 14.6 % |
| List of polls | ||