Blue Jays Sign 27-Year-Old Power Hitter to Minor-League Deal

Juan Yepez joins Toronto on a non-roster invite to spring training

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Toronto Blue Jays have signed 27-year-old outfielder/first baseman Juan Yepez to a minor-league contract with a non-roster invite to spring training. Yepez, who has 3 partial seasons of major league experience, will look to earn a spot on the Blue Jays' roster after spending last season in the Washington Nationals' minor league system.

Why it matters

The Blue Jays have built a reputation for helping to revive veteran bats, with players like George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, and Tyler Heineman all seeing major improvements under the team's coaching staff. Yepez, who has shown power potential at the major league level, could be the latest reclamation project for the Blue Jays as they look to bolster their spring training depth.

The details

Yepez spent the 2022 season on a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals, where he appeared in 62 games at the major league level. While his Triple-A numbers were subpar (.605 OPS in 62 games), he did hit 4 home runs in 13 games at High-A and had a solid stint in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason. In 166 career MLB games, Yepez has 20 home runs and a .423 slugging percentage.

  • The Blue Jays signed Yepez in February 2023, just as spring training was kicking off.

The players

Juan Yepez

A 27-year-old outfielder/first baseman who has 3 partial seasons of major league experience, most recently with the Washington Nationals in 2022.

George Springer

A veteran outfielder who has seen major improvements in his production since joining the Blue Jays.

Alejandro Kirk

A catcher who has developed into an offensive force for the Blue Jays.

Tyler Heineman

A catcher who has also seen his offensive numbers improve with the Blue Jays.

David Popkins

The Blue Jays' hitting coach who has received praise for his work with the team's lineup.

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What’s next

Yepez will look to earn a spot on the Blue Jays' major league roster during spring training.

The takeaway

The Blue Jays' ability to revive veteran bats has been a key part of their recent success, and the signing of Juan Yepez represents another opportunity for the team's coaching staff to work their magic and uncover a hidden power threat.