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Blue Jays pitching prospect Karson Ligon returns to mound and strikes out five
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Photo credit: © Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ryley Delaney
May 23, 2026, 10:00 EDTUpdated: May 23, 2026, 06:17 EDT
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One of the Toronto Blue Jays’ most intriguing prospects returned on Friday.
Karson Ligon was activated from the 7-day injured list on Friday, and made the start for the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays. Pitching two and two-thirds scoreless innings, the Blue Jays’ ninth rounder in 2025 allowed two hits, a walk, and struck out five.
The 23-year-old righty made a name for himself in his first three professional outings earlier this season, striking out nine in five and two-thirds innings before suffering an injury that kept him on the shelf for over a month. With a strong performance on Friday evening, Ligon now has a 3.24 ERA in eight and one-thirds innings pitched, with a 37.8 K% and 16.2 BB%.
It’s the stuff that makes him so intriguing, though. Ligon threw 54 pitches on Friday, with his four-seam fastball averaging 95 mph with a ton of movement. He also generated 10 whiffs on 20 total swings.
Ligon spent his first two collegiate seasons at Miami, before transferring to Mississippi State for his final two seasons. The Jays came calling in the ninth round and signed the 23-year-old to a bonus of $125,000.
We’ll see how he does in his next outing.

Other notes…

Ligon didn’t pick up a decision in that game, but the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays walked off the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels for a second consecutive day. Dariel Ramon hit his fifth double of the season, the lone extra-base hit they had. However, Blaine Bullard (who hit the game-winning single), Edward Duran, Juan Sanchez, Yorman Licourt, and Ramon all had two-hit games.
The High-A Vancouver Canadians smashed Spokane 15-0. Alexis Hernandez continues his hot streak, hitting his sixth home run of the season, all of them coming since May 9th. Dub Gleed went deep for the fourth time this season, while Maddox Latta hit his third home run. Latta and Matt Scannell each hit a double as well.
They didn’t need a good pitching performance, but the C’s still got one from Daniel Guerra. Over five scoreless innings of work, the right-handed pitcher allowed six hits, three walks, and struck out six to bring his season ERA to 3.15. Juanmi Vasquez struck out six in three scoreless innings of work, and Trace Baker struck out the side in a scoreless inning.
Also winning on Friday were the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. Charles McAdoo hit his eighth home run of the season, giving the Bisons a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth. He started at second base once again, and his callup to the big leagues is quickly approaching if he keeps hitting like this.
Willie MacIver hit his third double of the season, and Riley Tirotta hit his first triple of the season. Other players with a hit were Carlos Mendoza, Je’Von Ward, and Ryan McCarty, all hit singles. On the mound, Michael Plassmeyer and Tanner Andrews each threw a scoreless inning, as both players have a 1.35 ERA.
Two of the Blue Jays’ affiliates lost. The lone “A” affiliate that lost was the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who fell 8-1 to the Hartford Yard Goats. Sean Keys had a great game, hitting his seventh double of the season, going 2-2 with two walks. Jorge Burgos hit his first home run of the season and had a two-hit game.
For just the third time this season, the Florida Complex League Blue Jays lost a game, falling 5-0 to the 5-10 FCL Tigers. Catcher Franklin Rojas hit their lone extra-base hit, a double, and was one of three players with a two-hit game. Joining him were Andres Arias and Angel Guzman, who each hit two singles. Canadian Owen Gregg had the team’s other single.
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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