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Blue Jays: FCL Blue Jays fall 4-2 to FCL Rays in semifinals
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Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jul 26, 2026, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 26, 2026, 08:46 EDT
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Despite a great season, a back-to-back championship wasn’t in the cards for the Florida Complex League Blue Jays.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ FCL team began their ill-fated playoff run on Saturday, falling 4-2 to the FCL Rays in the single-game elimination game. After winning the championship in 2025, the FCL Jays followed it up with a division-winning 38-20 record, nothing to sneeze at.
They actually took the lead in the bottom of the second. Andres Arias led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a passed ball, then was cashed in thanks to a Max Viera single. Viera then stole second and was driven in by David Guzman’s single.
From there, they had a handful of baserunners, but couldn’t get a big hit, mustering just three in the game. A two-out walk led to nothing in the bottom of the fourth, the last inning they held the lead. The FCL Rays tied it with a bases loaded walk, then a wild pitch allowed the eventual game-winning run to come in.
The bottom of the sixth had a promising start, as both Pascual Archila and Franklin Rojas drew a walk to lead off the inning. But Archila was picked off, followed by a fly out and pop out to end the threat.
In the top of the seventh, the FCL Rays tacked on a run, as Taitn Gray took Reece Fields deep to lead off the inning. Again, the FCL Jays threatened in the bottom of the seventh, but two one-out walks were left stranded. In the bottom of the eighth, Arias hit a two-out double, but the FCL Jays were unable to cash him in. That turned out to be the final hit of the season.
They certainly had their chances in this one. Archila and Geovanny Planchart each earned two walks, four of the eight free passes the FCL Jays got. Angel Rivero also gave the team a strong start, going four innings without giving up a run and striking out four. But just like the big league team, they were unable to get the big hit.
Expect a few of the key players on the FCL Blue Jays to join the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays to end the year. Archila and Rivero are candidates to get a look at the next level.
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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