Blue Jays Slugger Talks Revenge on Former Team: ‘They let me go’

“I mean, I understand it’s a business, but they let me go,” Sanchez told reporters, including Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. “Every time I play against them, I’m ready to compete. Adrenaline against the Marlins is always going to be there.”

Sanchez had spent his entire big-league career with the Marlins before last season. Miami traded him to the Houston Astros for right-hander Ryan Gusto, infielder Chase Jaworsky, and outfielder Esmil Valencia midway through the 2025 campaign. The lefty-swinging outfielder was on the move again this offseason, landing with the Blue Jays in a swap for fellow outfielder Joey Loperfido.

Toronto Blue Jays Outfielder Jesus Sanchez Opens Up About Playing Miami Marlins

The Blue Jays jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a homer by Ernie Clement and an RBI single from Kazuma Okamoto. Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara settled in from there, holding Toronto to two earned runs into the sixth inning. He ran into trouble in his final frame of work. Yohendrick Pinango led off the inning with a solo homer. Alcantara got the next two outs, then ceded three straight baserunners, including an RBI single by George Springer.

Alcantara walked Daulton Varsho, loading the bases for Sanchez. The outfielder delivered the knockout punch, sending a 98 mph four-seamer from Alcantara soaring into the right field seats. It was the first grand slam of his seven-year MLB career.

Before departing, Alcantara hit Okamoto with a pitch. It was a changeup that ran inside, and all parties agreed it was unintentional. “Knowing Sandy, he’s not that type of pitcher,” Sanchez said, relayed by Nicholson-Smith. “He’s not going to try to hurt anyone.” Blue Jays manager John Schneider shared a similar sentiment in his postgame remarks.

Blue Jays Get Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Back in the Lineup

Sanchez will have some help in the middle of the order in the final game of the series. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is back in the lineup after missing the past two games. Guerrero was struck by a pitch on the elbow over the weekend against the Pittsburgh Pirates. A contusion kept him on the sidelines to open the three-game set against Miami.

Guerrero’s return should boost an offense that has been middling against right-handed pitching recently. Toronto has posted a league-average 100 wRC+ vs. righties in May. The club ranks 14th in OPS and wOBA in those situations. The Blue Jays will catch Perez after one of his best outings of the year. The young righty delivered 6.1 innings of one-run ball in a win over the New York Mets. It was the first time since his first outing of the campaign that Perez recorded an out beyond the sixth inning.