The Toronto Blue Jays opened spring training with several notable injuries to both the position players and the starting rotation.

The Blue Jays will likely place several players on the injured list and are making moves to fill the vacated holes on the roster due to injuries.

On Wednesday, Toronto claimed infielder Ben Cowles off waivers from the Chicago Cubs and placed right-handed pitcher Bowden Francis on the 60-day injured list. The latter will miss the entire season after undergoing UCL surgery.

Cowles was originally selected in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees out of Maryland.

The 26-year-old infielder spent three years with the Yankees. He, alongside right-handed pitcher Jack Neely, was traded to the Chicago Cubs on July 30, 2024, in return for right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. Most of the latter half of his 2024 season was mired with a broken wrist he suffered after he was hit by a pitch days before he was traded.

Entering the 2025 season, Cowles was recognized as a top 15 prospect for the Cubs according to Baseball America.

This is the scouting report Baseball America had on Cowles going into the 2025 season:

Cowles is a utility infielder type who flashed fringe-average power in 2024 with the ability to consistently find barrels. He shows average bat-to-ball ability with above-average swing decisions. When Cowles’ swing is right, he generates excellent hip-shoulder separation and drives pitches up the middle or to his pull side. When he’s off, as he was after the trade, his posture slouches and he pops up pitches he typically would drive. 

Cowles was designated for assignment by Chicago and claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 3.

The Cubs brought Cowles back and claimed him off waivers Jan. 15 from the White Sox after the latter organization designated him for assignment Jan. 8.

Chicago DFA'd Cowles yet again on Feb. 15.

Cowles spent the entirety of 2025 at each Chicago franchise's respective Triple-A affiliates. He slashed .235/.300/.371 with a .671 OPS in 128 games and hit 30 doubles, four triples and nine home runs with 49 RBIs and stole 18 bases in 26 opportunities.

For his minor league career, Cowles has slashed .258/.346/.409 with a .755 OPS.

Cowles will likely be mainly utilized for infield depth. He has defensive versatility not dissimilar to departed infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (who signed a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox this offseason).

Cowles has played second base, shortstop, third base and left field in his minor league career. He's registered 790.2 innings at third, 1,181.2 innings at second and 1,858 innings at shortstop.

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