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Blue Jays: Hedbert Perez hits fourth home run in six games
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Photo credit: © Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 12, 2026, 13:30 EDTUpdated: Jun 12, 2026, 13:19 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays may have found a legitimate prospect in the minor league portion of the 2025 Rule 5 draft.
Everyone knows about Spencer Miles, the Blue Jays’ Rule 5 selection who has gone on to be an important member of the staff. But later that day, the Blue Jays took a flier on a prospect named Hedbert Perez.
Beginning the season on the injured list, the outfielder has begun a rehab assignment in the lower minors and has been nothing short of terrific. After hitting three home runs in just 14 Florida Complex League plate appearances, Perez was promoted to the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays.
In the first game of their doubleheader against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, Perez went deep in the top of the first, coming off the bat at 106.9 mph. He hit two singles as well, driving in a total of three runs in what turned out to be a 10-5 victory thanks to eight runs in the top of the seventh.
Over his six games this season, Perez is slashing .476/.500/1.095 with four home runs in 22 plate appearances, good for a 281 wRC+. Of course, it’s only a rehab assignment, and his 27.3 K% is a little concerning, but there is some precedent for the optimism.
Back in 2021, Perez ranked as the Milwaukee Brewers’ third-best prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He eventually dropped to ninth in 2022, then 20th in 2023, before he was off their list in 2024. Perez looked terrific with the Arizona Complex League Brewers in 2021, before struggling once he reached the “A” affiliates.
That said, he hit 15 home runs in 2022 before struggling with injury in 2023 and 2024. When he returned in 2025, he slashed .211/.331/.405 with 14 home runs in 359 plate appearances, good for a 107 wRC+.
Is Perez one of the Blue Jays top prospects? No, but he just turned 23 and could be a prospect worth monitoring as the season continues.

Other notes…

Down 5-2 with three outs to go, the D-Jays rallied to score eight runs, winning that game 10-5.All starters except for Jean Joseph had a hit, with Juan Sanchez going 2-4 with a double and three RBIs. Cade Doughty hit the team’s other double, while both he and Blaine Bullard had a two-hit game. It was a tough start for Dylan Watts, giving up five earned over five innings of work.
The second game of their doubleheader was suspended in the top of the fifth, with a runner on first. Carson Messina started that game, striking out four, but allowing three walks and an earned run over two and one-third innings. Not the worst Single-A debut.
Johnny King started the Vancouver Canadians’ game, going four innings of one-run ball and giving up four hits. While he struck out four, the left-handed pitcher allowed four walks as well, as he has a 2.13 ERA for the season. Tucker Toman hit his fourth home run of the season, while Canadian Sam Shaw hit his first High-A double of the season, and Alexis Hernandez hit his 10th double of the season.
In Double-A, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats dropped a 5-3 decision to the Hartford Yard Goats. Victor Arias hit his fifth home run of the season, but has cooled off recently, posting a 96 wRC+ since joining the Fisher Cats. Aaron Parker hit his sixth home run of the season, as the catcher is now slashing .267/.375/.448 with a 122 wRC+ in 137 plate appearances.
Starting the game for the Fisher Cats was Jake Bloss, who gave up three earned runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out six and walking two. Jackson Wentworth pitched four innings, striking out three while allowing two runs, one earned.
The other “A” affiliate game saw the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons defeat the Syracuse Mets 3-1. Shane Bieber made the start on a rehab assignment, striking out four over five scoreless innings. Alejandro Kirk made a rehab appearance in this game as well, hitting a standup double. Josh Rivera hit his 12th double, and Jonatan Clase his fifth.
Their biggest hit of the day was undoubtedly Carlos Mendoza’s third home run of the season, a two-run home run in what was a three-run inning. It allowed Bieber to depart the game with the victory.
Lázaro Estrada replaced Bieber, giving up a home run and striking out two over an inning and two-thirds. Chad Dallas picked up his first professional save, throwing the final two and one-third innings, allowing a hit, walking a batter, and striking out two.
In the rookie leagues, the Florida Complex League Blue Jays lost again, falling 7-6 to the FCL Yankees. Angel Guzman has continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-5 with his sixth double of the season.  
Venezuelan-born catcher Giaconino Lasaracina hit his second and third home runs of the season. Lasaracina signed with the Jays in March and spent three seasons playing in Italy, the country he represents internationally. The 22-year-old catcher is a player to keep an eye on.
As for the two Dominican Summer League teams, the DSL Blue Jays Red lost 3-2, while the DSL Blue Jays Blue lost 8-5. Red saw Ayberson Ortega hit his second double of the season, as Cristhian Duarte threw five innings, giving up one unearned run and striking out six.
The other DSL game saw Michael Mesa hit his third and fourth doubles of the season, one of just two players with a multi-hit game. Sebastian Casanova hit two singles, while Cristopher Polanco hit his first triple of the season, driving in three.
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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