GDB 87.0: Leo Jimenez makes MLB debut for Blue Jays
Photo credit: © Jonathan Dyer - USA Today
By Zach Laing
Jul 4, 2024, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 4, 2024, 13:21 EDT
Toronto Blue Jays prospect Leo Jimenez is set to make his MLB debut Wednesday.
The fifth-ranked prospect in the Jays system, Jimenez was called up to the big leagues Tuesday when Isiah-Kiner Falefa went down with a knee injury. And on Thursday, Bo Bichette was made a late scratch ahead of the Blue Jays’ final game of their four-game set against the Houston Astros.
Bichette was removed from the lineup with what the team is calling a right forearm contusion after being hit in his last at-bat during Wednesday’s game.
For Jimenez, meanwhile, his debut is a longtime coming. Signed as an international free agent in July 2017, the 23-year-old has worked his way up the minor league ranks from playing in the rookie league at 17 years old to slashing .271/.416/.431 for a .847 OPS with AAA Buffalo this season.
Following Thursday’s game, the Jays will head to Seattle for a three-game set against the Mariners, before continuing a road trip against the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks ahead of the All-Star game.
First pitch: 1:05 p.m. EST.
TV & Radio: Sportsnet, SN590.
Starting pitchers:
| Name | Team | GS | W | L | IP | ERA | xERA | ERA- | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Bassitt | TOR | 17 | 7 | 6 | 97.1 | 3.24 | 4.12 | 82 | 3.71 | 1.37 | 8.41 | 3.42 |
Framber Valdez | HOU | 14 | 6 | 5 | 85.1 | 4.11 | 4.03 | 104 | 3.98 | 1.29 | 7.17 | 3.06 |
Lineups:
BLUE JAYS:
- G Springer (R) RF
- D Jansen (R) DH
- V Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
- D Schneider (R) LF
- S Horwitz (L) 2B
- A Kirk (R) C
- E Clement (R) 3B
- L Jimenez (R) SS
- K Kiermaier (L) CF
ASTROS:
- J Altuve (R) 2B
- A Bregman (R) 3B
- Y Alvarez (L) DH
- Y Diaz (R) C
- J Singleton (L) 1B
- J Peña (R) SS
- J Loperfido (L) LF
- M Dubón (R) CF
- T Cabbage (L) RF
Need to bide the time until first pitch?
Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about all the happenings in Toronto and beyond.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
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