---
title: "Toronto Blue Jays Designate Panamanian Infielder Leonardo Jiménez for Assignment"
date: 2026-03-25
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/2026/03/25/leonardo-jimenez-designated-assignment/
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Sports"
tags:
  - "Blue Jays"
  - "DFA"
  - "Leonardo Jiménez"
  - "MLB"
  - "Panama baseball"
---

# Toronto Blue Jays Designate Panamanian Infielder Leonardo Jiménez for Assignment

## What Happened

The Toronto Blue Jays have designated Panamanian infielder Leonardo Jiménez for assignment, sports journalist Shi Davidi reported via social media on March 25, 2026. According to Davidi, the move was made to open a spot on the roster for infielder Davis Schneider.

## Roster Details and Timeline

By being designated for assignment (DFA), the 24-year-old Jiménez now has a seven-day window in which the club must determine his status. During that period he could be claimed off waivers by another Major League team, be placed on outright waivers, elect free agency if eligible, or be reassigned to the Blue Jays’ minor league system and removed from the 40-man roster.

## Player Background

Jiménez, a native of Santiago de Veraguas in Panama (referred to as “santeño”), made his Major League debut with Toronto in the 2024 season. Over the 2024 and 2025 campaigns he appeared in 81 games, posting a .207 batting average with five home runs and 20 runs batted in. In the 2026 preseason he recorded a .231 average with three RBIs and two runs scored across 14 exhibition games.

Jiménez also represented Panama at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, appearing in two games and going 0-for-5 in official at-bats during the tournament.

## What This Means

The designation signals a roster adjustment by the Blue Jays as they finalize positions ahead of the regular season. For Jiménez, the DFA introduces uncertainty: a claiming team could add him to their 40-man roster, or Toronto could retain him in the organization by outrighting him to the minors if he clears waivers.

For Panamanian baseball followers, Jiménez’s status will be watched closely in the coming days. His recent Major League experience and participation in the World Baseball Classic keep him on the radar of teams looking for infield depth.

## Next Steps

The immediate timeline is short: the club and Jiménez will know the next move within seven days. Any official transaction updates will be reported by the team and outlets such as Sportsnet, which first relayed the designation via Shi Davidi’s social post.