Rookie Valenzuela making most of opportunity early on with Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays' Brandon Valenzuela (right) celebrates his two-run home run with Andres Gimenez (0) in front of Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (27) during fourth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, April 10, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays rookie Brandon Valenzuela has been rapidly checking off a bunch of career firsts in his introductory week to Major League Baseball.

Six days after his first hit and 48 hours following his first win behind the plate, the rookie catcher smacked his first home run for his first RBI in the Blue Jays series-opening 10-4 win against the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

The 383-foot, two-run shot to right field off righty Simeon Woods Richardson provided the Blue Jays with their fourth and fifth runs of the fourth inning to pull ahead for good after falling behind 4-0 before 40,721 at Rogers Centre.

“It’s hard to describe,” said the 25-year-old from Mexico. “I knew I got it well. I just didn’t know if it was high enough.

“It was fun to say the least.”

Valenzuela also singled and scored on a double from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the eighth inning, finishing 2 for 4 with two runs scored on the evening.

His go-ahead blast was on a 1-0 count. The ball came off his bat at 111.4 MPH, the hardest hit homer by a Toronto player in 2026.

“He’s been pretty good so far, in terms of not being fazed with a lot of stuff,” Toronto manager John Schneider said.

“You kind of watch him interact with the pitchers. You watch him with (pitching coach) Pete (Walker), and in the pitchers’ meetings and things like that. You kind of watch how he interacts with the guys, and he’s got a pretty good way about him.”

Valenzuela was acquired by the Blue Jays at the trade deadline last July 31, when Toronto sent infielder Will Wagner to the San Diego Padres in exchange for the young catcher.

He finished the season with triple-A Buffalo, but then joined the Blue Jays for their playoff run to catch for pitchers that needed work on off days.

Valenzuela believes the fall experience has helped him with his comfort level since he was promoted on April 7, when his fellow countryman, Alejandro Kirk, was sidelined with a thumb injury that required surgery.

Kirk has been there for Valenzuela, as have other Toronto veterans.

“(Kirk’s) never going to leave me alone,” Valenzuela said with a smile, and added his biggest piece of advice was to be himself.

“Vladdy, George (Springer) and (Daulton) Varsho have visited my corner (of the clubhouse). They have given me confidence.”

In helping the Blue Jays to back-to-back wins and halting the Twins’ four-game victory string, Valenzuela had a difficult challenge in catching 36-year-old Patrick Corbin, who was making his Blue Jays debut after being signed by Toronto last week.

Corbin was asked to fill in for an injury-riddled starting rotation. Although he was quite familiar with Max Scherzer, a neighbour in Florida who works out at the same gym, Corbin was meeting his new teammates for the first time on Friday, including his rookie catcher.

“There’s going to be a learning curve for any young catcher,” said Corbin, who lasted four innings but surrendered a three-run homer to Ryan Jeffers in the first inning and a solo shot to Brooks Lee in the fourth.

“That’s always tough to come back from,” Corbin said, referring to his 30-plus pitch first inning.

“I was excited to be back on a big-league mound again.”

The former Texas Ranger also was excited to see his rookie catcher bail him out in the fourth inning.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2026.

Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press