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Blue Jays prospect Juan Sanchez hits first Single-A home run
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Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
May 9, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: May 9, 2026, 06:11 EDT
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No prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays’ system last year raised their stock like Juan Sanchez.
Signed to a bonus to a little under $1 million, the shortstop burst onto the scene in the Dominican Summer League, slashing .341/.439/.565 with eight home runs in 253 plate appearances for a 156. The 18-year-old performed so well that he skipped the Florida Complex League entirely, something unheard of in the organization since at least 2020.
Well, Sanchez’s promotion to Single-A paid dividends for the Dunedin Blue Jays on Friday evening, as the shortstop hit his first Florida State League home run in what turned out to be a 6-2 defeat.
Unsurprisingly, Sanchez isn’t off to the best start with the D-Jays. Through his first 16 games, the 18-year-old is slashing .115/.217/.180 with two extra-base hits in 69 plate appearances. That said, he’s one of the youngest players in the league and this was to be expected.
Also in that game, Daniel Guzman and Austin Smith each hit their first double of the season. Smith had a two-hit game and struck out once, one of 15 strikeouts. Blaine Bullard struck out three times, and Will Cresswell struck out four times.

Other notes from Friday’s games…

The phrase “barn burner” is common in hockey lingo, but it applies to Friday’s New Hampshire Fisher Cats’ game. Facing the Portland Sea Dogs, the Blue Jays’ Double-A team won a close 15-13 game in 10 innings. Each starter in the Fisher Cats’ lineup had at least one hit, but there were some standouts.
After earning an early-season promotion to Double-A, Arjun Nimmala is off to a great start with the Fisher Cats. That includes a four-hit game on Friday, where he also managed to hit his first career Eastern League extra-base hit, a double.
That was one of 10 extra-base hits that the Fisher Cats had in this one. In the fourth, Jace Bohrofen went deep for his ninth home run of the season, matching Sean Keys for the organization lead. That tie lasted for five innings, as Keys hit his 10th home run of the season. In the seventh, Eddie Micheletti Jr. went deep for the fifth time this season, he’s off to a good start as well.
As for the other extra base hits, Bohrofen hit his sixth double of the season, as did Jay Harry. Not only that, but Harry hit his second triple of the season, while Jorge Burgos hit two doubles and a triple.
The High-A Vancouver Canadians also won late in their affair on Friday, albeit with a lot less scoring. All five of their hits were singles, with Tucker Toman going 2-4 with two RBIs and two strikeouts.
Friday’s game was also Nolan Perry’s High-A debut. The 22-year-old struck out eight, walked a batter, and gave up a home run in five innings of work. He’s been terrific this season and will quickly rise up the Blue Jays’ prospect rankings if he keeps it up.
Unfortunately, the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons’ offence was held in check, with Willie MacIver going 2-4 with his first triple of the season. Those were just two of their five hits, as Ryan McCarty, RJ Schreck, and Josh Kasevich all hit a single.
The Bisons used an opener, Hayden Juenger, before Chad Dallas went four innings. He gave up one unearned run, walked three, and struck out six to bring his season ERA to 3.60. Chase Lee struck out three in two scoreless innings, and Brendon Little gave up an unearned run in his inning of work.
Lastly, the Florida Complex League Blue Jays’ kicked off their season last Saturday, and the reigning FCL Champs are off to a 5-0 start. Their fifth win came on Friday, defeating the FCL Yankees 4-3. Shortstop prospect Kennew Blanco was 2-4 with his first double of the season, while Franklin Rojas also hit a double.
Simply put, it was a pretty productive day on the farm for the Blue Jays’ organization.
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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