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Blue Jays: Can Eloy Jiménez make the Opening Day roster?
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Photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Ben Wrixon
Mar 10, 2026, 20:30 EDTUpdated: Mar 10, 2026, 19:52 EDT
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Once upon a time in 2019, Eloy Jiménez was a rising young star with the Chicago White Sox who hit 31 home runs as a rookie. However, his story quickly took a sad turn as persistent injuries derailed his career — or so we thought. 
Jiménez signed a new minor-league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays in January after finishing last season with the Buffalo Bisons. Now, somehow, he’s making a case to crack the team with a strong showing in spring training after years out of the spotlight. 
The 29-year-old spent all of 2025 in the minor leagues. He started the year in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, got released, and then signed with the Blue Jays at the end of August. He didn’t hit much in the six games he played with the Bisons at Triple-A, but recorded a .750 OPS in the Dominican Winter League afterwards. 
Flash forward to 2026, where Jiménez looks like a man reborn. He’s recorded a .892 OPS through 29 Spring Training at-bats. He looks healthier and more athletic than ever. It’s fair to wonder if this is a genuine comeback or simply a Greg Bird-esque flash in the pan? 
Jiménez was abysmal the last time he appeared in MLB in 2024. He recorded a .642 OPS in 65 games with the White Sox, who flipped him at the trade deadline to the Baltimore Orioles, where he slashed .232/.270/.316 as a total shell of his former self. 
However, it’s easy to forget that Jiménez actually recorded an above-average 106 OPS+ with 18 home runs across 120 games in 2023. He also ranked in the 90th percentile for both average exit velocity and hard-hit rate in 2024 despite everything that went wrong. 
Jiménez never lost the ability to hit the baseball hard amid all his injuries. The important question the Blue Jays now face is whether they believe in his ability to stay healthy enough to warrant a spot on their bench. Even the 2023 version of Jiménez would be precisely the kind of veteran right-handed bat they desperately need on the team.  
The issue is that carrying Jiménez would likely involve sending Davis Schneider to the minor leagues, or perhaps even parting with impending free agent Myles Straw. Both were valuable contributors last season and have earned places on the 2026 squad. 
Jiménez starting the year in Triple-A with the Bisons is the most likely scenario, but he could force the front office into making a tough decision if he continues to hit well— and, more importantly, stay healthy. It will be fascinating to watch him over the next few weeks. 

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