As 1 long shot fulfills dream, here are 4 TOR prospects who could follow
Julia Kreuz
@juliackreuzTORONTO -- Nine years later, Luis De Los Santos got his chance -- and it¡¯s already someone else¡¯s turn.
After picking up his first Major League hit and RBI in the Blue Jays¡¯ 8-4 loss to the A¡¯s on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre, De Los Santos was informed that he¡¯s being optioned back to Triple-A Buffalo. The move is expected to be made official on Monday.
¡°They want to see some new players in the organization,¡± De Los Santos said in Spanish, holding onto the game¡¯s lineup card by his locker. ¡°But it's OK. I'll keep working, doing my part and I'm hoping to come back soon.¡±
It¡¯s what he¡¯s been doing from Day 1.
The 26-year-old De Los Santos is one of the longest-tenured players in the Blue Jays¡¯ organization, signed on July 2, 2015, as an international free agent. He quietly made his way up Toronto¡¯s system, showing above-average defense and adding some pop as he progressed.
All that work led to his Major League debut on July 31 and a big day in the finale against the A¡¯s.
De Los Santos¡¯ first career hit was an oddity -- a grounder to third base that got jammed in Abraham Toro¡¯s glove and was scored an infield single in the sixth inning. But De Los Santos left no room for doubt in his next at-bat, swatting an eighth-inning double down the right-field line to score Spencer Horwitz and add his first career RBI to the books.
Nine years of built-up anticipation erupted when he got to second base, pounded his chest and loudly celebrated.
¡°I¡¯m so thankful,¡± said De Los Santos. ¡°Really, this is so special. It¡¯s taken me a long time to achieve what we saw today, and this is unforgettable. I know that my family is very proud of me and of where I am. Truly, I can¡¯t even describe it right now.¡±
De Los Santos hopes to make his return to Triple-A a short one, which is possible as September approaches and big league rosters expand. With that in mind, here are some of the ¡°new guys¡± that could get their own chance with the Blue Jays soon.
INF Will Wagner (No. 21 prospect)
Acquired in the trade that sent Yusei Kikuchi to the Astros at the Trade Deadline, Wagner has stood out thanks to an above-average plate approach and high baseball IQ. The 26-year-old is hitting .315 with an .876 OPS between Triple-A Sugar Land and Buffalo this season, and he¡¯s gone 10-for-25 (.400) with five walks against four strikeouts, one homer and two RBIs since the trade.
The son of potential Hall of Famer Billy Wagner -- the Astros¡¯ all-time saves leader -- Will Wagner may soon become the latest Blue Jays player with a big league dad.
RHP Jake Bloss (No. 3)
Bloss was the centerpiece of the Kikuchi trade as a starter who can help the Blue Jays as early as next season. He got off to a good start on Saturday, pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings with three hits, one walk and two strikeouts in his first outing with the Bisons.
The 23-year-old Bloss has some big league experience already. He made three starts with the Astros, allowing nine earned runs over 11 2/3 innings.
OF Jonatan Clase (No. 7)
Tabbed as the fastest runner in the Mariners¡¯ system, Clase landed in the Blue Jays¡¯ organization as part of the trade that sent Yimi Garc¨ªa to Seattle. The 22-year-old Clase stole 79 bases and hit 20 home runs between High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas last season, and he¡¯s kept on running since then.
In nine games since joining the Bisons, the Dominican native has swiped two more bags to bring his season total to 28. Entering Sunday, he owned a .280 average and an .862 OPS between Triple-A Tacoma and Buffalo.
OF Alan Roden (No. 8)
Roden would be a new guy only in the sense of making his big league debut, as he was a third-round pick of the Blue Jays in the 2022 MLB Draft. The focus for Roden this season was to add some pop to his bat, and he¡¯s achieved it by adjusting his swing mechanics and using his whole body instead of relying on his arms and shoulders.
After topping out at 10 homers in 115 games last season, Roden already has 11 in 94 contests this year, including one Sunday afternoon down in Triple-A. He¡¯s in the midst of a hot stretch, too, having hit .361 with a 1.040 OPS and seven RBIs in 10 games this month.