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Blue Jays 2026 40-man Roster Review: Leo Jiménez needs to make the roster out of Spring Training or be DFA’ed
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Photo credit: © Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Feb 24, 2026, 07:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 24, 2026, 04:20 EST
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It’s make a break time for Leo Jiménez, and decision time for the Toronto Blue Jays.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual 40-man roster review ahead of the new season. If you missed the most recent article, we looked at Lázaro Estrada. In this article, we’ll look at Leo Jiménez in what will be the final 40-man Roster Review.
Signed to a bonus of $825,000 during the 2017 international free agency period, Jiménez had some okay seasons in the Blue Jays’ system before breaking out in 2021. Starting that season injured, the middle infielder had one of the most absurd stat lines you’ll ever see, slashing .320/.523/.392 with a home run in 262 plate appearances, mostly in Single-A. In just 262 plate appearances, Jiménez was hit with 25 pitches, 11 fewer than his strikeout total from that season. Because of that season, Jiménez was added to the 40-man roster.
That home run was also the first of his career, and over the next few seasons, Jiménez developed his power, gradually improving year after year, hitting six in 2022, then eight in 2023. With the Blue Jays being as bad as they were in 2024 and Bo Bichette hitting the injured list for a large portion of the season, Jiménez finally earned his first MLB look, slashing .229/.329/.358 with four home runs in 210 plate appearances. Adding the seven home runs he had in Triple-A, the middle infielder reached double-digit home runs for the first time in his career.
However, Jiménez missed a large part of the 2025 season due to injury, receiving just 99 plate appearances in Triple-A and 32 in the big leagues. He hit just one home run all season in what was the final season he could be optioned.
Now, the Blue Jays have a decision to make. Out of option years, if they wish to place him in the minor leagues, Jiménez will need to be designated for assignment and clear waivers, something that will surely not happen. Back before the start of the 2024 season, the Jays had a similar decision to make with Otto López, with the team electing to DFA him, then trade him to the San Francisco Giants.
López, who will represent Canada at the upcoming World Baseball Classic, has developed into a strong defensive shortstop, finding a power stroke since getting an opportunity with the Miami Marlins. It’s not inconceivable to envision Jiménez doing the same with a similar type of opportunity, that is if the Jays elect to DFA him.
He’ll need to have a strong Spring Training, which will be cut short as he’s due to represent Panama at the World Baseball Classic. Steamer projects that the 24-year-old will slashed .235/.318/.359 with three home runs in 120 plate appearances. If he’s to be given a full time roster spot, which he’ll need to be, ZiPS has him slashing .224/.319/.345 with seven home runs in 352 plate appearances.
Assuming Jiménez makes the Blue Jays’ roster out of Spring Training, he’ll likely slot into a utility infielder role and be given limited at bats. With strong defence in the middle infielder, there is a pathway for Jiménez to make the team, but he has to start to hit like he has the potential to do.
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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