The Toronto Blue Jays have opened up spring training, and one player has the pressure on him.
Toronto enters camp with not many roster spots up for grabs. But one spot that is up for grabs is a backup infield spot, and former top prospect Leo Jimenez appeared to have the inside track as he’s out of options.
Yet, on Feb. 18, Toronto claimed infielder Ben Cowles off waivers from the Chicago Cubs to add some more depth. Cowles has minor-league options, but he will now be in competition with Jimenez for the backup job, and manager John Schneider made it clear this is a big camp for him.
“Big spring, for sure,” said Schneider. “He did a really, really good job for us in 2024 and played a lot. Last year, not the way he wanted it to go. Certain guys, they get to this point and they’re out of options. They’ve got to perform a little bit, but I think he can really help us when you’re talking about a right-handed infield bat when you deploy lineups.”
Jimenez will also get a chance to represent Panama at the World Baseball Classic, so he’ll be away from the team for a bit. However, Schneider believes that is a good thing for the infielder.
“For Leo, in his particular case, I actually think it’s a good thing to get his body moving, his motor, his game clock,” Schneider said. “Hopefully, he carries that over when he gets back here.”
Jimenez appeared in 18 games last season, hitting .069 with 1 home run and 1 RBI. But, in 2024, he hit .229 with 4 home runs and 19 RBIs in 63 games, as he is a glove-first infielder.
Spring Training Considered Do-or-Die for Jimenez
Jimenez signed with the Blue Jays as an International Free Agent in 2017, and he was considered the Blue Jays’ fifth-ranked prospect in 2022 and 2024.
However, the glove-first infielder has struggled to hit at the MLB level, and with him out of options, this is do-or-die for him. If he doesn’t make the team, it’s unlikely he will sneak through waivers, so perhaps a trade happens.
Yet, Blue Jays reporter Keegan Matheson wrote back in December that this is do-or-die for Jimenez’s future in Toronto.
“Is Jiménez the Blue Jays’ next-best option in the infield? If he is, great,” Matheson wrote. “If not, they need to find one. Jiménez is still just 24 years old. But he is out of Minor League options and feels like the type of young player who would quickly get scooped up elsewhere if he’s exposed at the end of camp. … This will be a real decision for the Blue Jays. Jiménez’s game action in Spring Training will be as meaningful as any other player.”
Jimenez does appear to have the inside track for a roster spot and will get every chance to prove he belongs.
Toronto Kicks off Spring Schedule
The Blue Jays will begin spring training games on Saturday.
Toronto will play the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday at home in their spring opener. It’s expected that plenty of the Blue Jays starters will play in the opener, especially with some players going to the WBC.
The Blue Jays will kick off their 2026 MLB season on March 27 at home against the Athletics.
Blue Jays Manager Puts Pressure on Former Top Prospect as Camp Opens