logo
Blue Jays shortstop prospect Juan Sanchez homers twice
alt
Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 3, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 3, 2026, 15:51 EDT
Comments
It’s safe to say that Toronto Blue Jays prospect Juan Sanchez has figured out Single-A pitching.
On Tuesday, the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays began a six-game series against the Daytona Tortugas, falling 7-6 to drop their first half record. Still, there were some positives from this game, namely Juan Sanchez.
Down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the second, the shortstop prospect hit his third Single-A home run, getting a hold of a slider right in the wheel house. The ball came off the bat at 98.9 mph.
But it got even better, as the shortstop got hold of an inside slider, driving it 393 feet with a 100.5 mph exit velocity, his fourth home run of the season. Add in a bases loaded walk, and Sanchez drove in three of the D-Jays’ five runs.
Over his 34 games in Single-A, Sanchez is slashing .215/.311/.377 with seven doubles, four long balls, and a triple. That’s good enough for an 89 wRC+, while Sanchez’s K% has elevated from 17.4% to 28.4%.
But since May 8th, Sanchez has been one of the best hitters in the system. In his last 19 games, he’s hit all four of his home runs in this span, all while slashing .306/.398/.583 for a 158 wRC+. Skipping the Florida Complex League entirely, the shortstop’s start to Single-A was always going to be rough, but he’s flourished over the last four weeks or so.

Also in Dunedin

In the inning following Sanchez’s second home run of the game, 2025 draftee Eric Snow went deep for the first time in his professional career. It pulled the D-Jays to within one, but Silvano Hechavarria’s poor start was too much to overcome. Canadian utility player Sam Shaw also hit a triple, while catcher Adam Hackenberg hit his fifth double of the season.

Sean Keys hits organization-leading 13th home run

The Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats lost their series opener 8-3, but there were some notable performances. Namely, Jace Bohrofen and Sean Keys went back to back, their 12th and 13th home runs respectively. Jay Harry hit his fourth double of the season, while Aaron Parker hit a double.
Gage Stanifer started this game and had a solid out, striking out eight, walking two, and giving up two earned runs over five innings of work. Since April 14th, the righty has a 2.68 ERA and 3.95 FIP in 37 innings pitched, with a 26.9 K% and 14.4 BB%. Opponents are batting just .199 off the Blue Jays’ 19th-rounder in 2022.

Davis Schneider rocking a 42.4 BB% over seven Bisons’ games

The Triple-A Buffalo Bisons fell 3-2 in their series opener. Josh Kasevich hit two doubles, and Josh Rivera hit a two-bagger as well. Since being optioned, Davis Schneider is batting just .176, but has drawn 14 walks in 33 plate appearances, which is an absurd 42.4 BB%. He’s struck out just two times, a 14/2 walk to strikeout ratio.
Lázaro Estrada started that game, giving up three walks, one earned run, and striking out three in two and one-third hitless innings. Brendon Little threw a scoreless inning and two-thirds, and CJ Van Eyk struck out four, but gave up two earned runs in four and two-thirds innings.

Vancouver Canadians doubled up by Dust Devils

As for the High-A Vancouver Canadians, they lost 8-4 in their opener against the Tri-City Dust Devils. Maddox Latta had a three-hit game, while Carter Cunningham had two hits, as well as the C’s only extra-base hit (his 10th double). Tough out for both Landen Maroudis and Gilberto Batista.

Carson Messina throws another shutout start

It wasn’t a tough start for Carson Messina in the FCL, though, as he threw four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, all while allowing a walk and two hits. So far this season, the 20-year-old has a 1.69 ERA and 2.88 FIP, with a 33.9 K% and 11.9 BB%. In his last three starts, he pitched 10.2 scoreless innings with a 36.8 K%.
A three-run inning sunk the FCL Jays, dropping a 4-3 decision to the FCL Yankees to move to a 17-6 record. Cade Doughty, on a rehab assignment, hit his first home run at the level, while 2024 draftee Gavin Smith hit his first career double.

Other notes…

This was the FCL Jays’ second loss in three games, but they picked up a 2-0 victory over the FCL Tigers on Monday. Seojun Moon started the game, striking out five in four scoreless innings where he gave up just a hit and a walk. Rehabber Javen Coleman struck out the side in order, and Italian Giacomo Taschin struck out three in two innings of work, picking up the save.
Monday marked the beginning of the Dominican Summer League, and both the DSL Blue Jays Blue and Red were in action these last two days Isay Veras, an 18-year-old catcher, hit a double in DSL Blue’s 7-5 loss, while Ruben Sanchez drew four walks and Michael Mesa drew three.
As for DSL Red’s opener, they fell 3-1 to the DSL Tigers, mustering just five hits. Both Gabriel Porras and Ayberson Ortega hit two singles each, while Alex Linares drew three walks. On Tuesday, DSL Red fell 6-0, this time only notching three singles with no standout pitching performances.
The lone win by a Blue Jays’ DSL team this season belongs to DSL Blue, as they defeated the DSL Nationals 2-1 on Tuesday. Veras hit two singles, while Cristopher Polanco hit a double, his first extra-base hit of the season. Right-handed pitcher Jose Andrades had a good start, striking out four over five scoreless innings.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
News
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News