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WACTH: Alan Roden hits his first big league home run
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Apr 15, 2025, 20:45 EDTUpdated: Apr 15, 2025, 21:48 EDT
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It’s another first for one of the top Toronto Blue Jays prospects, Alan Roden.
On Tuesday evening against the Atlanta Braves, the outfielder hit his first big league home run on a 0-0 count in his second at-bat of the game. It had a distance of 397 feet to Roden’s pull-side with an exit velocity of 106.4 mph.
Roden was selected in the third round of the 2022 draft by the Blue Jays out of Creighton University, whose baseball team is ironically named the Bluejays. Roden’s first full season in the Jays’ system saw him slash .317/.430/.459 with 10 home runs in 532 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A.
The following season is where Roden made his mark and quickly rose the Jyas’ top prospect list, as he slashed .293/.391/.475 in 530 plate appearances, increasing his home run total from 10 in 2023 to 16 last season.
After dominating the minor leagues in 2023 and 2024, the outfielder was given an invite to Spring Training in 2025 and was one of the best hitters for the team. Before the season began, Roden was added to the 40-man and the 26-man roster, becoming the first rookie to make the Jays roster out of Spring Training in a long time. 
On top of the home run in Tuesday’s game, Roden hit a double and eventually scored on a fielder’s choice. This season, Roden is slashing .283/.346/.413 with three doubles, a home run, and  13 hits in 52 plate appearances for a 123 wRC+.
The outfielder is one of numerous young players/rookies who could play a role for the 2025 Blue Jays. Another young player in Will Wagner, has been getting regular time early this season. On Tuesday, the Blue Jays recalled Addison Barger for the next few games, he’s another young player who deserves a long look with the team this season.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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