Blue Jays Designate Jesús Sánchez for Assignment, Promote Rudy Martin Jr.

The Toronto Blue Jays have designated outfielder Jesús Sánchez for assignment, ending his tenure with the team after an offseason trade from the Houston Astros. In his place, the Jays have promoted Rudy Martin Jr. to make his MLB debut.

Sánchez, who was acquired in exchange for Joey Loperfido, was expected to bolster the team's power following Anthony Santander's shoulder surgery. Although he hit eight home runs and had a .734 OPS, his defensive performance, including a minus-8 outs above average rating, hindered his playing time.

With other outfielders like Myles Straw and Brett Bateman performing well, Sánchez's role diminished. Martin, who has extensive minor-league experience and has excelled with an .816 OPS this season, adds speed to the roster with 45 stolen bases.