Blue Jays bringing back .290 hitter they shockingly released

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May 22, 2026 - 20:00

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Blue Jays bringing back .290 hitter they shockingly released originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It was a bit surprising earlier this season when the Toronto Blue Jays chose to designate Eloy Jimenez for assignment.

He was hitting .290 in the major leagues, but the DFA allowed him to become a free agent once he cleared waivers.

The Blue Jays went from having the talented righty in their organization to losing him instead.

Now, though, Jimenez is coming back.

He didn't find better offers elsewhere, and he's returning to the Blue Jays on a minor league contract, according to The Athletic's Mitch Bannon.

Eloy Jiménez is returning to the #BlueJays on a minor-league deal, source tells @Ken_Rosenthal and I.

He hit .290 in 12 games with the Jays earlier this year, and elected FA.— Mitch Bannon (@MitchBannon) May 22, 2026

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Jimenez was called up earlier this season after George Springer went on the Injured List, which allowed the former White Sox star to fill the DH role in Toronto's lineup.

He must have decided now that he believes his best path back to the major leagues is still with the Blue Jays, where Springer is slumping (along with much of the rest of the MLB order in Toronto, too).

Jimenez already knew what it was like to play for Triple-A Buffalo from starting the season down there, so there's a level of familiarity he'll get to appreciate in the meantime. Clearly, he wants to get back to the majors, and so he's going after it in the way he feels like is best.

Whether the Blue Jays get him promoted soon or not remains to be seen, but he's an option once again.