In a surprising move, the Toronto Blue Jays have re-signed infielder Rafael Lantigua to a minor league contract, as announced by the team. Alongside this signing, they also welcomed infielder Carlos Mendoza and confirmed prior agreements with players Jorge Alcala, Eloy Jiménez, and Michael Plassmeyer. Notably, all five athletes are set to receive non-roster invitations to join the major league spring training camp.
Rafael Lantigua, who is 27 years old, originally joined the Blue Jays during the 2016 amateur signing period after being scouted in his native Dominican Republic. By the end of the 2022 season, this right-handed utility player had showcased his skills well enough to ascend to Triple-A. However, he spent the following two seasons primarily with the Buffalo Bisons, the Blue Jays' top affiliate, before becoming eligible for minor league free agency. Last winter, Lantigua signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he again played most of the year in the International League.
During his time with the Phillies’ minor league team, Lantigua recorded a batting line of .230/.356/.330 over 495 plate appearances. Impressively, he maintained a walk rate of 15.6%, while his strikeout rate was relatively low at 14.7%. This ability to get on base contributed significantly to his on-base percentage. However, when it came to making impactful contact, he fell short, hitting only seven home runs and achieving a .260 batting average on balls in play (BABIP). It’s worth noting that his BABIP was much higher in the previous two seasons, suggesting that some of his struggles this past year could be attributed to bad luck. Additionally, he generated hard contact on merely a quarter of the balls he put in play, which limited his offensive production.
Lantigua did receive his first call-up to the major leagues in September as a result of an injury to Edmundo Sosa. Unfortunately for Lantigua, he was optioned back to the minors just three days later without having the chance to step onto the field for a game. As the offseason began, he was outrighted from the roster, but he remains hopeful that he will finally make his major league debut with the organization that originally signed him sometime during the 2026 season.
On the other hand, Carlos Mendoza, another recent addition, is known for his ability to get on base as well. This left-handed infielder produced an impressive batting line of .287/.394/.409 while playing in the Detroit Tigers' system last year. Mendoza, a Miami native, spent the majority of his season in Double-A and has the versatility to play both second and third base, albeit without any experience at shortstop. After spending seven years in the minors, he did not make it onto Detroit's 40-man roster, leading him to qualify for free agency.
What do you think about these signings? Will Lantigua finally make an impact in the majors with the Blue Jays? Or does Mendoza have what it takes to carve out a successful role? Share your thoughts below!
