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Arriving to majors ‘dream come true’ for Blue Jays’ Spencer Miles
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Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Thomas Hall
Mar 28, 2026, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 28, 2026, 00:22 EDT
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When Spencer Miles completes his 15th professional inning, it’ll come in the major leagues — a level he’s never pitched at before, following multiple season-ending injuries that have limited him to 14.1 career innings since being drafted nearly four years ago by the San Francisco Giants.
But all that’s about to change for the now-healthy, still 25-year-old righty.
Miles, selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays last December, is finally 100 per cent healthy again. He only made five relief appearances after being drafted in 2022 before missing all of ’23 due to back surgery. Then, after returning the following season, he pitched another five games before suffering a right flexor strain that ultimately required Tommy John surgery, sidelining him until last year’s Arizona Fall League.
That’s when, as a Rule 5-eligible pitcher, he started inching his way back on everyone’s radar again. Before long, the 6-foot-3 hurler was no longer a member of the Giants and was headed to the Blue Jays, where he’d have an opportunity to achieve a lifelong goal — pitch in the major leagues.
Over seven Grapefruit League appearances, Miles quickly forced himself into consideration for one of the final bullpen spots, impressing with his upper-90s velocity and three different fastball shapes (four-seamer, sinker, cutter). But he also was facing plenty of internal competition, including from another Rule 5 selection in Angel Bastardo, who, of course, didn’t make the cut.
Neither did Chase Lee, who was already on the 40-man roster. The Blue Jays were particularly seeking a bit of length in the bullpen with Eric Lauer returning to the starting rotation, vacating his projected multi-inning reliever role, which now belongs to Miles.
What stood out about the former Giants prospect was not only his ability to cover more than three outs, but also the stuff that he possesses. It’s an arsenal that manager John Schneider believes could eventually offer his club another high-leverage option when the regulars — Louis Varland, Tyler Rogers and Brendon Little, among them — are unavailable.
When Miles steps onto a major-league mound for the first time, it’ll further prove that all the work and rehab sessions from these last few years will have paid off.
“It was kind of a surreal experience. I don’t think it’s fully hit yet,” Miles said of learning that he made the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster. “Throwing so little in the minor leagues and grinding this whole way, doing rehab and everything.
“It’s going to be crazy having your 15th full inning in the Show.”
The hope, at least for the Miles family, is that his major league debut will arrive this weekend against the Athletics. Spencer’s mom and dad made the trip up to Toronto for Friday’s 3-2 walk-off, season-opening win, as did his brother, John, whose wife is currently pregnant with their third child, and girlfriend.
Miles also had three of his teammates from Rock Bridge High School in Missouri at the Rogers Centre for opening night. The current plan is for everyone to stay in town for Saturday’s game and perhaps Sunday’s too, but that remains TBD.
Whenever that joyous moment comes, the memories of Miles’ long, gruelling journey to reach this monumental point will rush to the surface, and he’s ready to embrace all the emotions along with it.
“I’ll be thinking about all the work, the two surgeries and all the day-to-day grind,” Miles said. “How good it feels to know that the diligence and day-to-day work finally paid off.”
Miles’ story, showcasing his perseverance and determination after bouncing back from multiple surgeries and lost seasons, may even inspire someone else who’s enduring a similar battle. He’s living proof that if you possess the talent and the mental strength, you’re capable of anything. No matter how daunting the road might feel.
Even before he throws his first pitch in the majors, that internal brightness is already shining through as he attempts to find his role in this Blue Jays bullpen during the early days of the 2026 season.

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