Checking In on the Newer Blue Jays: Hitters

This is the second half of a two-part series about the players who have joined the Blue Jays' active roster since Opening Day. You can read part one here. I started with the pitchers because they've made more of an impact (and had more success) than the position players. However, a piece like this is probably more useful for the position players, who aren't as well known as Patrick Corbin and Joe Mantiply and haven't received as much media attention. Let's get into it.

Brandon Valenzuela, C

• 2026 Hitting Stats: 14 G, 39 PA, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .189/.231/.351, 59 wRC+
• 2026 Catching Stats: 98 innings, 4-for-9 CS, +2 CS Above Average, +2 Framing Runs (per Savant), 2 DRS, 3 FRV
• Recalled from Triple-A Buffalo after Alejandro Kirk fractured his thumb.

Brandon Valenzuela has been thrust into a much bigger role than he was supposed to take on, and he deserves credit for stepping up. He also deserves props for how nicely he has settled in behind the plate. Despite the occasional mistake, it's clear he's a talented defender. While they wait for Alejandro Kirk to return, the Blue Jays could do worse than a part-time catcher who helps his pitchers by stealing strikes and controlling the running game. 

Just don't ask about Valenzuela's offense.

After hitting his first home run against the Twins on April 10, the switch-hitter went 2-for-22 with two singles, one walk, and nine strikeouts in his next eight games. He finally recorded another extra-base hit yesterday against the Red Sox, while reaching base three times – a new personal best. Still, by and large, Valenzuela just hasn't looked up to the task of facing major league arms. To make matters worse, Tyler Heineman has also come crashing down to earth with more playing time; his batting line is even worse than Valenzuela's. Blue Jays catchers rank last in the AL in wRC+, and their defense only bumps them up to 23rd overall in FanGraphs WAR. Kirk can't come back soon enough.

Lenyn Sosa, UTIL

• 2026 Stats (with Blue Jays): 10 G, 30 PA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .214/.207/.286, 28 wRC+
• Acquired via trade from the White Sox on April 13.

Note: Sosa is reportedly nursing a minor leg injury. He has not played since Monday.

Evidently, the Blue Jays decided that Lenyn Sosa was an upgrade over Tyler Fitzgerald (more on him later). Fitzgerald joined the active roster in place of an injured Addison Barger on April 7. A week later, Toronto sent minor league outfielder Jordan Rich to the White Sox for Sosa and swapped him in for Fitzgerald as the new righty-batting utility player on the bench.

Whatever it is the Jays might have liked about Sosa, it hasn't shown up in-game yet. Outside of a big double against the Angels last week, he hasn't done much at the plate. He has yet to draw a walk or hit a home run in 30 trips to the plate, and his 28 wRC+ ranks second-last among hitters on the active roster, ahead of only Heineman. The lack of power is especially disappointing, considering Sosa hit 20 doubles and 22 home runs for the White Sox last season.

Primarily a second baseman, Sosa has experience playing all around the infield. So far, he has seen the majority of his playing time at DH, with a few starts at first and second base. He's made one highlight-reel play already, though Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s reactions in the clip are just as entertaining as Sosa's catch itself:

Yohendrick Pinango, OF

• 2026 Stats: 3 G, 2-for-5
• Selected after Nathan Lukes strained his hamstring.

The newest of the new Jays, Yohendrick Pinango made his MLB debut over the weekend, starting in left field against the Guardians. The lefty batter earned the call after Nathan Lukes hit the injured list. Pinango was hitting .288 with seven doubles, three home runs, and a 126 wRC+ at Triple-A Buffalo. His job in the majors is only safe until Addison Barger returns from the IL. However, now that he's on the 40-man roster, this likely won't be the last we see of the young slugger.

Pinango still has skills he needs to work on in the minors, namely converting more of his raw power into balls that fly over the fence. Fingers crossed we get to see some of that power while he's with the Jays, but it might be smart to temper your expectations for now.

Pinango is Jays Centre's No. 9 prospect. Read his full prospect write-up here!

*Eloy Jiménez, DH

• 2026 Stats: 12 G, 35 PA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .290/.343/.290, 82 wRC+
• Selected from Triple-A Buffalo after George Springer fractured his toe.

*Note: I originally finished writing this article about six minutes before the news broke that Springer was returning and Jiménez was DFA'd. Jiménez isn't on Toronto's active roster anymore, but he was around for long enough that his time with the team is still worth a couple of paragraphs of attention.

A strong spring (in which he took reps at first base) had fans wondering if Eloy Jiménez could somehow force his way onto the Opening Day roster. While that didn't end up happening, he did not have to wait long to join the Jays. George Springer fractured his big toe a couple of weeks into the season, and Jiménez got the call to DH in his place.

For a brief, shining moment, we could all dream that David Popkins would help Jiménez rediscover the power that earned him a Silver Slugger in 2020. Soon, we were just counting the days until Springer could get back in the lineup. While Jiménez's .290 batting average might look impressive, it was all from singles. He had nine hits, but none of them went for extra bases. That's disappointing, but it's not surprising; with all the poor plate discipline and mediocre contact we saw from Jiménez, the Blue Jays are lucky he managed as many hits as he did. 

The Phantom Bench Bat

• 2026 Stats: 0 G, 0 PA, -/-/-

Was Tyler Fitzgerald ever really a Blue Jay? Yes. I swear. The Jays acquired the utility man earlier this month, after he was designated for assignment by the Giants. However, although he spent a week on the active roster, he never made it into a game. The Jays DFA'd him last week and traded him to the Dodgers on Tuesday. His stint with the Blue Jays lives on in his transaction log, but it won't appear on the back of his next baseball card.