Could today’s prospect be the team’s shortstop of the future?

This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual Mid-Season top prospect list, where we’ll look at the 35 best prospects in the Blue Jays system. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publication’s scouting reports if available.
Let’s take a look at our ninth-best prospect, Leo Jiménez!
<h2>Getting to know Leo Jiménez…</h2>
Position: Shortstop
Bats: Right
Born: May 17, 2001
Acquired 2017 International Free Agency
Previous ranking: 9
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Leo Jiménez from Panama in the 2017 International Free Agency window. In his first season with the organization in 2018, he slashed .250/.333/.341 with no home runs in 150 plate appearances.  He improved the following season, slashing .298/.377/.377 with no home runs in 245 plate appearances, along with a 115 wRC+.
Despite starting his 2021 season on the Injured List, Jiménez posted one of the most absurd stat lines I’ve seen while covering prospects. In Single-A, he slashed .315/.517/.381 with one home run (his first career home run) in 242 plate appearances, along with a 21.1 BB% and a 14.5 K%. On top of the absurd walk rate, Jiménez was hit by a pitch 21 times, or 8.7% of the time.
His power came along in 2022 with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, hitting six home runs in 294 plate appearances. However, he spent a portion of the season injured, and slashed just .230/.340/.385 with a 9.2 BB% and a 19.7 K%.
Jiménez regained a lot of his stock in 2023, as he slashed .287/.372/.436 with eight home runs in 333 plate appearances, along with a 9.6 BB% and a 15.9 K% for a 125 wRC+ in Double-A. His brief tenure in Triple-A wasn’t great in 2023, posting a 61 wRC+, but this landed him as our ninth-best prospect prior to the beginning of this season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
LEO LAUNCHES 😱
First career Major League blast for Leo Jiménez! <a href="https://t.co/W06kLoK0WE">pic.twitter.com/W06kLoK0WE</a>
&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1823183659899208022?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Starting the season in Triple-A, Jiménez slashed .271/.416/.431 with seven home runs in 226 plate appearances, along with a 13.3 BB% and a 15 K% for a 131 wRC+. Since joining Toronto, he’s slashing .229/.337/.373 with four home runs (so a new career-high) in 181 plate appearances, along with a 6.6 BB% and a 29.3 K%.
Moreover, he’s been hit by 14 pitches this season in just 181 plate appearances, meaning he has a 7.7 HBP%, like walk percentage, but a stat exclusively for Jiménez because he’s a ball magnet. He was also hit by 15 pitches with the Bisons prior to the callup.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Leo Jiménez&#39;s HBP% of 7.7% is higher than these player&#39;s BB%:
Ernie Clement (2.2%) Joey Loperfido (3.4%) Addison Barger (4.2%) Isiah Kiner-Falefa (4.6%) Kevin Kiermaier (4.6%) Will Wagner (4.7%) Bo Bichette (6%) Leo Jiménez (6.8%) Brian Serven (7%)
&mdash; Ryley Delaney🏳️‍⚧️ (@Ryley_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ryley_L_D/status/1836254943709221095?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
Jiménez’s best tools are his strong defence and solid hit tool. Although he hasn’t hit much for an average with the Jays, Jiménez has shown a track record of hitting for an upper-.200 average while also getting on base as we’ve already looked at. Defensively, he’s sound at shortstop with good instincts and a strong arm, albeit he is prone to the occasional “what the heck are you doing” error.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
LEO JIMENEZ LAYS HIS BODY ON THE LINE TO MAKE AN INSANE CATCH! 😱 <a href="https://t.co/UE1gFIwIE4">pic.twitter.com/UE1gFIwIE4</a>
&mdash; Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1830326161790103888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
What makes Jiménez a potential mainstay on a big league roster is the development of his power. Through his first three seasons in the minor leagues, he only hit one home run, but it’s incrementally improving over the past three seasons, going from six home runs, to eight, to 11 (so far) in 2023.
<hr />
<h2>In case you missed it…</h2>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2024-mid-season-top-35-prospect-countdown-no-35-peyton-williams">No. 35: Peyton Williams</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2024-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-34-victor-arias">No. 34: Victor Arias</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2024-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-33-sean-keys">No. 33: Sean Keys</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2024-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-32-randy-soto">No. 32: Randy Soto</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2024-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-31-trenton-wallace">No. 31: Trenton Wallace</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-30-jace-bohrofen">No. 30: Jace Bohrofen</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-29-will-robertson">No. 29: Will Robertson</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-28-yohendrick-pinango">No. 28: Yohendrick Piñango</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-27-eddinson-paulino">No. 27: Eddinson Paulino</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-26-juaron-watts-brown">No. 26: Juaron Watts-Brown</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-25-cutter-coffey">No. 25: Cutter Coffey</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-24-dahian-santos">No. 24: Dahian Santos</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2024/09/02/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-23-damiano-palmegiani">No. 23: Damiano Palmegiani</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-22-dasan-brown">No. 22: Dasan Brown</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-21-brandon-barriera">No. 21: Brandon Barriera</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-20-josh-kasevich">No. 20: Josh Kasevich</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-19-johnny-king-iv">No. 19: Johnny King IV</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-18-will-wagner">No. 18: Will Wagner</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-blew-another-late-lead-in-3-2-loss-to-the-mets">No. 17: Riley Tirotta</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2024/09/11/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-16-enmanuel-bonilla">No. 16: Enmanuel Bonilla</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-15-landen-maroudis">No. 15: Landen Maroudis</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-14-charles-mcadoo">No. 14: Charles McAdoo</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-13-jonatan-clase">No. 13: Jonatan Clase</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-12-fernando-perez">No. 12: Fernando Pérez</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-11-khal-stephen">No. 11: Khal Stephen</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-10-adam-macko">No. 10: Adam Macko</a>
<hr />
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

Could today’s prospect be the team’s shortstop of the future?



This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual Mid-Season top prospect list, where we’ll look at the 35 best prospects in the Blue Jays system. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publication’s scouting reports if available.

Let’s take a look at our ninth-best prospect, Leo Jiménez!
<h2>Getting to know Leo Jiménez…</h2>
Position: Shortstop

Bats: Right

Born: May 17, 2001

Acquired 2017 International Free Agency

Previous ranking: 9

The Toronto Blue Jays signed Leo Jiménez from Panama in the 2017 International Free Agency window. In his first season with the organization in 2018, he slashed .250/.333/.341 with no home runs in 150 plate appearances.  He improved the following season, slashing .298/.377/.377 with no home runs in 245 plate appearances, along with a 115 wRC+.

Despite starting his 2021 season on the Injured List, Jiménez posted one of the most absurd stat lines I’ve seen while covering prospects. In Single-A, he slashed .315/.517/.381 with one home run (his first career home run) in 242 plate appearances, along with a 21.1 BB% and a 14.5 K%. On top of the absurd walk rate, Jiménez was hit by a pitch 21 times, or 8.7% of the time.

His power came along in 2022 with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, hitting six home runs in 294 plate appearances. However, he spent a portion of the season injured, and slashed just .230/.340/.385 with a 9.2 BB% and a 19.7 K%.

Jiménez regained a lot of his stock in 2023, as he slashed .287/.372/.436 with eight home runs in 333 plate appearances, along with a 9.6 BB% and a 15.9 K% for a 125 wRC+ in Double-A. His brief tenure in Triple-A wasn’t great in 2023, posting a 61 wRC+, but this landed him as our ninth-best prospect prior to the beginning of this season.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1823183659899208022

Starting the season in Triple-A, Jiménez slashed .271/.416/.431 with seven home runs in 226 plate appearances, along with a 13.3 BB% and a 15 K% for a 131 wRC+. Since joining Toronto, he’s slashing .229/.337/.373 with four home runs (so a new career-high) in 181 plate appearances, along with a 6.6 BB% and a 29.3 K%.

Moreover, he’s been hit by 14 pitches this season in just 181 plate appearances, meaning he has a 7.7 HBP%, like walk percentage, but a stat exclusively for Jiménez because he’s a ball magnet. He was also hit by 15 pitches with the Bisons prior to the callup.

https://twitter.com/Ryley_L_D/status/1836254943709221095

&nbsp;

Jiménez’s best tools are his strong defence and solid hit tool. Although he hasn’t hit much for an average with the Jays, Jiménez has shown a track record of hitting for an upper-.200 average while also getting on base as we’ve already looked at. Defensively, he’s sound at shortstop with good instincts and a strong arm, albeit he is prone to the occasional “what the heck are you doing” error.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1830326161790103888

What makes Jiménez a potential mainstay on a big league roster is the development of his power. Through his first three seasons in the minor leagues, he only hit one home run, but it’s incrementally improving over the past three seasons, going from six home runs, to eight, to 11 (so far) in 2023.

<hr />

<h2>In case you missed it…</h2>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2024-mid-season-top-35-prospect-countdown-no-35-peyton-williams">No. 35: Peyton Williams</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2024-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-34-victor-arias">No. 34: Victor Arias</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2024-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-33-sean-keys">No. 33: Sean Keys</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2024-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-32-randy-soto">No. 32: Randy Soto</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2024-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-31-trenton-wallace">No. 31: Trenton Wallace</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-30-jace-bohrofen">No. 30: Jace Bohrofen</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-29-will-robertson">No. 29: Will Robertson</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-28-yohendrick-pinango">No. 28: Yohendrick Piñango</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-27-eddinson-paulino">No. 27: Eddinson Paulino</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-26-juaron-watts-brown">No. 26: Juaron Watts-Brown</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-25-cutter-coffey">No. 25: Cutter Coffey</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-24-dahian-santos">No. 24: Dahian Santos</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2024/09/02/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-23-damiano-palmegiani">No. 23: Damiano Palmegiani</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-22-dasan-brown">No. 22: Dasan Brown</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-21-brandon-barriera">No. 21: Brandon Barriera</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-20-josh-kasevich">No. 20: Josh Kasevich</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-19-johnny-king-iv">No. 19: Johnny King IV</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-18-will-wagner">No. 18: Will Wagner</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-blew-another-late-lead-in-3-2-loss-to-the-mets">No. 17: Riley Tirotta</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2024/09/11/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-16-enmanuel-bonilla">No. 16: Enmanuel Bonilla</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-15-landen-maroudis">No. 15: Landen Maroudis</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-14-charles-mcadoo">No. 14: Charles McAdoo</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-13-jonatan-clase">No. 13: Jonatan Clase</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-12-fernando-perez">No. 12: Fernando Pérez</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-11-khal-stephen">No. 11: Khal Stephen</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-mid-season-prospect-countdown-no-10-adam-macko">No. 10: Adam Macko</a>

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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