Leo Jiménez

Leo Jiménez
Free agent
Shortstop / Second baseman
Born: (2001-05-17) May 17, 2001 (age 25)
Chitré, Panama
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 4, 2024, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
(through August 28, 2026)
Batting average.205
Home runs7
Runs batted in34
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Leonardo Joel Jiménez (born May 17, 2001) is a Panamanian professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins.

Career

Toronto Blue Jays

Jiménez signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as an international free agent on July 2, 2017, receiving a $800,000 signing bonus. He began his minor league career in 2018 with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, hitting .250 in 37 games. He spent 2019 almost exclusively with the Rookie Advanced Bluefield Blue Jays, hitting .298 in 56 games.

Jimenez did not play in game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.

In 2022, he started the season with the High-A Vancouver Canadians. Jiménez was optioned to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats to begin the 2023 season. 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.

On July 2, 2024, Jiménez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Isiah Kiner-Falefa. He made his major league debut two days later, starting at shortstop against the Houston Astros. In 63 appearances for the Blue Jays during his rookie campaign, Jiménez slashed .229/.329/.358 with four home runs and 19 RBI.

Jiménez was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to begin the 2025 season. He made 18 appearances for Toronto during the regular season, batting .069/.129/.172 with one home run and one RBI.

On March 25, 2026, Jiménez was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays after failing to make the team's Opening Day roster.

Miami Marlins

On March 29, 2026, Jiménez was traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Dub Gleed. He played in 66 games for the Marlins in 2026 and hit .199 with two home runs and 14 RBI.

On September 3, Jiménez was designated for assignment by the Marlins. He was released on September 5.

Notes

  1. ↑ Jiménez made his MLB debut on July 4, 2024. On August 26, 2024, he appeared in the resumption of a suspended game that had begun on June 26, 2024. As all MLB statistics are recorded on the date that a game started, Jiménez has MLB statistics with a June 26 date.

References

  1. ↑ Abraham, Peter (August 26, 2024). "You thought you've seen everything in baseball? Danny Jansen just played for Red Sox and Blue Jays in the same game". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  2. ↑ Sanchez, Jesse (July 2, 2017). "Blue Jays agree with 2 top int'l prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Leo Jimenez Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  4. ↑ "2020 Minor League Baseball season shelved". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  5. ↑ Matheson, Keegan (November 20, 2021). "Blue Jays protect 4 players from 2021 Rule 5 Draft". MLB.com. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Blue Jays' Leo Jimenez: Sent to MiLB camp". cbssports.com. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Blue Jays' Leo Jimenez: Sent to Triple-A". cbssports.com. March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Toronto Blue Jays place Isiah Kiner-Falefa on injured list". ESPN.com. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette scratched with forearm bruise". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 4, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Toronto Blue Jays cut nine players from roster including a five-year MLB veteran". dailyhive.com. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  11. ↑ Franco, Anthony (March 25, 2026). "Blue Jays Designate Leo Jimenez". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  12. ↑ Maguire, Brent (March 29, 2026). "Blue Jays acquire infielder Gleed from Marlins in exchange for Jiménez". MLB.com. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  13. ↑ Wright, Charlie (September 5, 2026). "Marlins Release Leo Jimenez". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved September 7, 2026.