Blue Jays call up Rudy Martin Jr., designate Jesus Sanchez for assignment

Blue Jays call up Rudy Martin Jr., designate Jesus Sanchez for assignment | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Brett Bateman, right, fields a single in front of right fielder Jesus Sanchez by Tampa Bay Rays' Cedric Mullins during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

TORONTO — Rudy Martin Jr. has been called up by the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing the 30-year-old outfielder to make his first-ever Major League Baseball appearance.

Outfielder Jesus Sanchez was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Martin was selected in the 25th round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft — a round that no longer exists — by the Kansas City Royals.

He hit .253 for Toronto’s triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, N.Y., this season with a .351 on-base percentage, three home runs and 12 stolen bases in 27 games.

Sanchez was traded by the Houston Astros to the Blue Jays on Feb. 13 for outfielder Joey Loperfido.

He’s hit .260 with eight home runs and 35 runs batted in this season with a .734 on-base plus slugging percentage, fifth-best among active Toronto players, but he has made several costly fielding errors.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2026.

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