Rudy Martin Jr. is heading to the big leagues for the first time.
As the Toronto Blue Jays get set to open a mammoth three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, congratulations are set to be in order for outfielder Rudy Martin Jr.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the 30-year-old is being promoted to the big leagues for the first time. There is no word on what the corresponding move will be as of this posting. (UPDATE: Jesus Sanchez has been designated for assignment).
The outfielder was selected in the 25th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of the Mississippi high school ranks by the Kansas City Royals. He's played in independent ball and in Mexico, per Passan, and he's put together an excellent campaign with three minor league teams: Double-A Northwest Arkansas (Royals), Triple-A Omaha (Royals) and Triple-A Buffalo (Blue Jays). The 25th round of the draft no longer exists. It's currently 20 rounds.
In 91 total games this year, he's hit .274 with 11 homers, 40 RBIs and 45 stolen bases. He did not play affiliated ball in 2023 or 2024.
His promotion comes at a time of great importance for the Blue Jays, who are just one game back of the Cleveland Guardians in the battle for the third and final wild card spot.
Friday's game begins at 7:07 p.m. ET and features Max Scherzer going up against Chris Bassitt, who spent three years with the Blue Jays from 2023-25.
Bassitt led the American League in wins with 16 in that 2023 campaign. He pitched out of the bullpen during the team's World Series run last year.
Also in the news for Toronto
The season is over for Jays top prospect Jojo Parker. Just 20 years old, Parker was drafted in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of the Mississippi high school ranks. He began the year with Single-A Dunedin, playing 87 games and hitting .258 with 13 home runs and 66 RBIs. In those 87 games, he walked a whopping 63 times and stole 22 bases.
The biggest bugaboo for him was the strikeout: He fanned 99 times in those 87 games.
His numbers improved in the hitter-friendly Northwest League, as he played 21 games for High-A Vancouver. In those 21 games, he hit .316 and posted a .443 on-base percentage. While he did not homer, he had seven RBIs and he only struck out 18 times, less than once per game.
He represented the Blue Jays at the MLB Futures Game.
