Eloy Jiménez is back in John Schneider's orbit, but Toronto's latest reunion opened with a quiet first step in rookie ball.
Working as the designated hitter for the FCL Blue Jays, Jiménez went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run in his first game back. Toronto's rookie club still rolled 19-4.
The bigger detail sits above the box score. Toronto signed Jiménez to a minor league deal on June 1, then assigned him to the FCL Blue Jays on June 4.
That is not where a club parks a hitter it expects to help right away. This is rookie-ball buildup, not a straight shot back to Buffalo or the big-league dugout.
Jiménez's earlier Blue Jays run this season had some surface shine. He hit .290 in the majors, but the OPS sat at .633 and there was no home run behind it.
Toronto had already pulled the plug once. The Blue Jays designated him for assignment on April 29, and Jiménez elected free agency on May 2.
That part stung because the spring had given him some life. Sportsnet reported he hit .286 with a .857 OPS and 6 extra-base hits in camp before the season opened.
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Toronto is still waiting for Eloy Jiménez's bat
So one hitless afternoon in the FCL does not bury anything by itself. But it does remind you how far this comeback still has to go.
Jiménez is not fighting for prospect shine here. He is a 2020 American League Silver Slugger with 95 career home runs trying to play his way back into a real lane.
Toronto can wait a little, but not forever. The Blue Jays are 30-33, and this lineup has spent too much of the year searching for damage.
That is why this restart matters even with the small stage. Toronto has already tried Jiménez in the majors, cut him loose, and then brought him back anyway.
The next box to check is simple. He needs to drive the ball again, get out of rookie-ball games fast, and force Buffalo back into the conversation.
Right now, though, the return is starting from the ground floor. Eloy Jiménez is back in the organization, but his first swing at another Toronto chance opened quietly.
Should the Blue Jays still believe Eloy Jiménez can help this lineup?
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