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Blue Jays release catching prospect Luis Meza and others
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Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 15, 2026, 19:30 ESTUpdated: Jan 15, 2026, 20:08 EST
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With the 2026 International Free Agency period beginning on Thursday, the Toronto Blue Jays recently released a few prospects.
The most notable of which was Luis Meza, according to the Blue Jays’ transaction page. Meza was signed to a bonus of $2.05 million in January of 2022, and instantly ranked as MLB Pipeline’s 20th-best Blue Jays prospect that season.
Meza’s debut season didn’t go well, playing 28 games with the Jays’ Dominican Summer League team and slashing .229/267/.292 with no home runs in 101 plate appearances for a 57 wRC+. The catcher still ranked as MLB Pipeline’s 30th-best prospect in 2023, but that season was also rough for Meza, as he slashed .192/.276/.212 with no home runs in 59 plate appearances for a 42 wRC+. Not great for his first season stateside.
The 2024 season was Meza’s best in the Jays’ system, as he slashed .274/.361/.290 with no home runs and a double in 72 plate appearances, or 24 games. In 2024, he finished with a 92 wRC+, which was easily his best season.
Unfortunately, Meza regressed in 2025, slashing just .186/.280/.209 in 50 plate appearances, in what was his third season with the Blue Jays’ Florida Complex League team. Once again, he failed to hit a home run and had a 54 wRC+.
Meza wasn’t the only prospect released. Justin Kelly, who I pegged for a rebound season in 2026, was released after five seasons in the system. Pitcher Christian Mracna, who signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024, was also released after throwing just 13.1 innings over the last two seasons.
Another pitching prospect who was released was JJ Sanchez. He had a strong season in both 2024 and 2025, posting a 2.84 ERA and 4.15 FIP in 50.2 innings pitched in 2024 and a 3.28 ERA and 5.31 FIP in 46.2 innings pitched last year. Peyton Powell, another player that went undrafted, slashed .231/.355/.277 with one home run in 288 plate appearances last season.
Brett Garcia had a solid year in the Jays system, authoring a 3.29 ERA and 4.51 FIP in 27.1 innings pitched, with a 25.6 K% and 12.8 BB% between the FCL and Single-A. Grif Hughes was the final undrafted free agent signee to be released after posting a 5.84 ERA and 5.30 FIP in 24.2 innings pitched in 2025.
Two former IFA signings were also released. Yeicer Crespo, who was a part of the 2025 class, slashed .212/.366/.273 with a home run in 123 plate appearances last season in the DSL. Samuel Acuna was a part of the 2023 IFA class and he posted a 4.82 ERA and 3.76 FIP in 9.1 innings pitched in 2023. He hasn’t pitched since.
Hopefully, all of these prospects can continue their baseball careers in different organizations.
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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