Rudy Martin Jr. is getting called up by the Blue Jays after 12 years in the minors.

A source told ESPN the outfielder is expected to make his major-league debut with Toronto.

That's a genuinely long road. Martin was taken in the 25th round of the 2014 draft, a round that doesn't even exist anymore in today's shortened draft format.

At 30 years old, this represents the culmination of a professional career that's bounced through independent ball, the Mexican League, and now, finally, the majors.

Stories like this don't happen often. Most players who go undrafted at the round level Martin was taken in, or who spend this long searching for a path back, never actually get here.

There's no word yet on his specific stats this season, or which level he was playing at right before this call-up came through.

Why this debut means something beyond the roster move itself

Toronto is deep in a wild-card push right now, sitting close to the final spot with limited games left in the regular season.

Adding a player with this kind of resume speaks to organizational depth, even if Martin's role likely starts as a bench or depth outfield option rather than an everyday player.

For a 30-year-old who's played independent ball and internationally just to keep his career alive, reaching the majors at all is the real headline, regardless of what role Toronto has planned for him.

These are the stories that remind people why baseball's minor-league grind matters, players spending over a decade chasing one shot that finally arrives.

Whether Martin gets extended playing time or simply gets to say he made it to the big leagues, his path here is already a genuinely remarkable one.

For Toronto, adding a player with this kind of perseverance to the roster during a playoff push adds a human element to a stretch run that's mostly been about numbers and standings.