The Blue Jays are giving Brandon Valenzuela his first MLB shot on Easter Sunday, with the 25-year-old catcher getting the call behind the plate.
It’s a moment that’s been years in the making for Valenzuela, who’s getting this opportunity because Alejandro Kirk landed on the IL with an injury. The Blue Jays called him up from Triple-A Buffalo to work alongside Tyler Heineman, and now he’s getting his chance to show what he can do at the big league level.
What makes this debut even more interesting is that Valenzuela shares something meaningful with Kirk – they’re both from Mexico. It’s not every day you see two Mexican catchers on the same organization’s depth chart.
The Trade That Brought Him North
Valenzuela’s path to Toronto came through a July 31st trade with the San Diego Padres. The Blue Jays sent Will Wagner to San Diego in exchange for the young catcher, betting on his potential behind the plate.
The numbers from his initial stint in Buffalo weren’t eye-popping – he hit .207 with three homers across 26 games after the trade. But sometimes it’s about more than just the slash line, especially for catchers who bring defensive skills and game-calling ability.
A Familiar Name
Before anyone asks – no, there’s no indication that Brandon is related to Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela. They share a surname and Mexican heritage, but that seems to be where the connection ends.
It’s actually pretty interesting when you think about it. Mexico hasn’t produced a huge number of MLB players over the years, but they’ve now contributed three different Valenzuelas to the big leagues. There was Benny Valenzuela who pitched back in the 1950s, Fernando became a legend in LA, and now Brandon’s getting his shot in Toronto.
That’s quite a legacy for one surname, even if they’re not family.
