Leonardo Joel Jiménez (born May 17, 2001) is a Panamanian professional baseball shortstop and second baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
Leo Jiménez | |
---|---|
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 49 | |
Shortstop / Second baseman | |
Born: Chitré, Panama | May 17, 2001|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
July 4, 2024, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
MLB statistics (through August 22, 2024) | |
Batting average | .226 |
Home runs | 3 |
Runs batted in | 10 |
Teams | |
|
Career
editJiménez signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as an international free agent on July 2, 2017, receiving a $800,000 signing bonus.[1] He began his minor league career in 2018 with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, hitting .250 in 37 games.[2] He spent 2019 almost exclusively with the Rookie Advanced Bluefield Blue Jays, hitting .298 in 56 games.[2]
Jimenez did not play in game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] In 2021, he spent most of the year with the Single–A Dunedin Blue Jays, playing in 54 games and batting .316/.517/.381 with one home run and 19 RBI. On November 19, 2021, Toronto added Jimenez to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[4]
In 2022, he started the season with the High-A Vancouver Canadians.[2] Jiménez was optioned to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats to begin the 2023 season.[5] In 94 games split between New Hampshire and the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons, he batted .270/.366/.401 with 8 home runs, 47 RBI, and 8 stolen bases. Jiménez was optioned to Triple–A Buffalo to begin the 2024 season.[6]
On July 2, 2024, Jiménez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Isiah Kiner-Falefa.[7] He made his major league debut two days later, starting at shortstop against the Houston Astros.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Sources: Blue Jays make 2 key int'l deals". MLB.com. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ a b c "Leo Jimenez Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season shelved". MiLB.com. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
- ^ "Jimenez, 3 others shielded from Rule 5 Draft". mlb.com. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
- ^ "Blue Jays' Leo Jimenez: Sent to MiLB camp". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
- ^ "Blue Jays' Leo Jimenez: Sent to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "Toronto Blue Jays place Isiah Kiner-Falefa on injured list". ESPN.com. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ "Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette scratched with forearm bruise". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 4, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)