Toronto Blue Jays latest signing is being compared to Juan Soto

Toronto officially signed Ismael Munguia to a minor league contract on Dec. 22, 2025. The move showed up on the club's transactions page, which is usually the cleanest confirmation.

Munguia is a 27-year-old lefty hitter from Chinandega, Nicaragua, originally signed by the San Francisco Giants in July 2015. He elected free agency on Nov. 6, 2025, then landed in Toronto's system shortly after.

Last season at Triple-A Scranton, he hit .246 with a .313 OBP, four homers, and 23 steals in 91 games. FanGraphs also shows just a 7.9% strikeout rate in 315 plate appearances, that's a rare contact profile in modern baseball. 

For the Jays, this reads like smart depth more than a headline grab. MLB.com's log also lists him assigned to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats right away, which tells you the club wants him playing daily somewhere. 

I love these low-cost bets, because every contender needs a couple «break glass» outfielders by June. Heavy leaned into a «Juan Soto» vibe comparison, and I get it, more as energy than raw power.

Munguia's path to value is pretty straightforward, put the ball in play, run, and make clean reads in the gaps. With his speed, even a soft liner can turn into first-to-third pressure and a rushed throw.

The challenge is also obvious, his Triple-A slugging was .342, so the bat has to do enough to stay relevant. If he stacks good at-bats in camp, the next milestone is simple, force the Jays to keep him close at Buffalo.

Source: Heavy Sports
Blue Jays Sign New Slugger Surprisingly Compared to Juan Soto Amid Surging Trade Talks

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