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5 minor leaguers who’ll make their Blue Jays debut this season
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Photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Mar 27, 2026, 14:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 27, 2026, 13:57 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays 2026 campaign begins on Friday.
On Wednesday, the team announced its Opening Day roster, mostly featuring players that you’d expect. Well, aside from Rule 5 draftee Spencer Miles, the biggest surprise. Last season’s Opening Day roster saw prospect Alan Roden make it out of Spring Training.
While there’s no surprises like that, it doesn’t tend to take long for the 26-man roster to be shaken up, either due to poor performance or injury issues. Look no further than the Blue Jays DFA’ing both Jacob Barnes and Richard Lovelady.
So with that being said, let’s take a look at five players who’ll make their Blue Jays debut this season.

Josh Kasevich

It seems like a matter of when, not if Josh Kasevich makes his big league debut in 2026. After a strong 2024 season, the shortstop positioned himself to make his big league debut in 2025, but injuries derailed his season. When healthy, he batted below the Mendoza Line, then failed to hit an extra-base hit during the Arizona Fall League.
Well, his Spring Training pumped his stock back up. Over 20 games, the shortstop slashed .306/.375/.500 with a home run and four doubles in 40 plate appearances for a 129 wRC+. This is on top of dependable defence.
If Leo Jiménez is claimed off waivers, the likely outcome, Kasevich would be the first infielder to be called up as he can play shortstop, third base, and second base.

RJ Schreck

Kasevich will be the first infielder who is called up in case of an injury, but if an outfielder is injured, RJ Schreck has a shot of making his big league debut. Acquired for Justin Turner ahead of the 2024 trade deadline, the 25-year-old finished the season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, then continued to hit to begin the 2025 season.
In 169 plate appearances with the Fisher Cats, Schreck slashed .266/.396/.518 with nine home runs for a 166 wRC+. He continued to hit in Triple-A, slashing .242/.392/.435 with nine home runs in 234 plate appearances for a 129 wRC+, giving him a season wRC+ of 143.
Schreck didn’t have the best Spring Training, slashing .143/.182/.190 with no home runs in 22 plate appearances, while hitting a home run in his time with Israel at the World Baseball Classic. However, if he can hit like he did in 2025, he may force his way onto the roster.

Eloy Jiménez

Eloy Jiménez is the lone player on this list who has made his big league debut. Once one of the best prospects in baseball, Jiménez’s first two seasons were a success, but injuries derailed his career from there.
After spending the entirety of the 2025 season in the minor leagues, Jiménez found himself in the Blue Jays organization to end the season. After an impressive Dominican Winter League, he re-signed to a minor league deal with the team and had a good Spring Training. Over 18 games, the 29-year-old slashed .286/.33/.524 with two home runs in 45 plate appearances for a 119 wRC+, with a 6.7 BB%, a 17.8 K%, and plenty of hard hit balls.
Jiménez’s position is essentially a bat, though he’ll get a look in the outfield, first base, and as the Bisons designated hitter. If he can continue his success to begin the season, he could find his way on the Jays if there is an injury.

Grant Rogers

One starter who could find his way on the Blue Jays in 2026 is right-handed pitcher Grant Rogers. Drafted in the 11th round of the 2023 draft, Rogers made his professional debut in 2024 and posted a 3.87 ERA and 3.70 FIP in 111.2 innings pitched. Over 28 starts last season he pitched 150.1 innings (the most in the Jays’ farm system since 2018) and finished the year with a 3.47 ERA and 3.66 FIP.
The 24-year-old’s Spring Training wasn’t great, posting an 8.59 ERA and 5.02 FIP in seven and one-third innings, but he made three starts. Additionally, he was named as the Bisons’ Opening Day starter.

Adam Macko

Adam Macko, acquired in the Teoscar Hernández trade following the 2022 season, is on the cusp of making the big leagues. While his 5.06 ERA and 4.56 FIP with the Bisons wasn’t great last season, he finished the season with a 3 ERA over his last 11 outings, with a 27 K% and 11.9 BB%.
The last eight of those outings were in a multi-inning role, which is the role he could find himself in if he joins the Blue Jays at some point this season. Macko has a good showing for himself in Spring Training, pitching three scoreless innings and representing Canada at the World Baseball Classic.
He’s one of a few options who could be called up if the Jays need some length out of the bullpen or a spot starter, as well as Lázaro Estrada.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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