Denis Samudio impressed with Single-A Dunedin following his mid-season acquisition
Photo credit: © Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Sep 13, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 13, 2026, 12:30 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays know how to develop pitching throughout all levels of their organization.
While Trey Yesavage’s rise from Single-A to the majors last season is what will be remembered for years, the Blue Jays have seen the likes of Daniel Guerra, Johnny King and Nolan Perry all impress with their seasons to date.
One arm in the Blue Jays’ system who impressed with his 2026 season is right-hander Denis Samudio. Samudio was quietly acquired alongside cash considerations by the Blue Jays on June 15 from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Connor Seabold.
A native of Panama, Samudio was signed by the Royals to a minor league contract on January 17, 2025, and made his debut in the Dominican Summer League. Samudio pitched to a 1.72 ERA across 11 outings to close out his 2025 campaign.
To open the 2026 season, Samudio was assigned to Rookie League, where he only pitched in two games and recorded a 3.18 ERA before being moved to Single-A as he continued to impress in his development.
At the time of the trade, Samudio was pitching in Single-A with the Columbia Fireflies. Through four outings (two starts), Samudio was 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. The 21-year-old had struck out 17 batters across 14 innings and held opponents to a .204 average.
Upon being added to the Blue Jays’ organization, Samudio joined Single-A Dunedin, where he remained for the duration of the 2026 season. Through 13 games (nine starts) with Dunedin, Samudio went 4-2 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Samudio struck out an impressive 74 batters over 56 innings and was hit at a .258 clip.
While there were some ups and downs throughout his year, Samudio showed an ability to take on a starter’s workload early in his professional career. The righty worked at least five innings in six of his nine starts this year.
Samudio’s final outing of the season came during Dunedin’s penultimate game of the year. Samudio turned in a pitching line of 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K. The right-hander cruised through his 5.1 frames, requiring 78 pitches to slow down the Tampa Tarpons and pick up the win.
With a strong campaign, Samudio is likely to head to High-A Vancouver next season, where he will be tested against even better competition. While his season may not generate the attention that others’ have received, turning Seabold into Samudio brings an upside in the form of another young pitcher.
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