Blue Jays turn to prospect Sean Keys as search for more power reaches a breaking point

The Toronto Blue Jays don't want 2026 to become a wasted season. But at 39-42 (going into Jun. 26) they have let way too many opportunities already slip away. In just the last week they have basically handed two of their Wild Card contending opponents three wins on a silver platter.

There was the 9-7 loss in extra innings to the Houston Astros on Tuesday (Jun. 23) in which the Blue Jays led 6-4 going into the top of the ninth. That was followed by a 3-1 loss the next night to the same Astros squad. A game in which the Blue Jays mustered four measly hits. Then on Thursday, they lost 6-5 to the visiting Texas Rangers, and the only reason the score looks close is thanks to a two-run home run by Kazuma Okamoto in the bottom of the ninth.

The Blue Jays have hit 82 home runs, which is tied with Kansas City for 22nd in the league. They have a team slugging percentage of .391, which ranks 18th. These numbers have to start coming up if the Blue Jays want to get over .500 and into realistic playoff contention.

Tired of the anemic output, the Blue Jays have decided to call up one of their hottest hitting prospects in Sean Keys. The 23-year-old left-handed hitting infielder is hitting .284/.409/.619 with 21 home runs in 67 games in Toronto's system this year.

Keys' surge couldn't be tamed for much longer

Keys began the year with Double-A New Hampshire where he spent 49 games tearing the cover off the ball. He slashed .285/.411/.581 with 14 home runs. He produced a .327 BABIP and .297 ISO while generating a 158 wRC+. He struck out 51 times, but added 28 walks , nine doubles and six stolen bases to his resume.

The Blue Jays then called him up just a few weeks ago to Triple-A Buffalo and he's barely needed any time to adjust. In 18 games he has hit seven home runs, drove in 20 runs, has an ISO of .438 and an OPS of 1.121. He had an 85.5% Z-Contact percentage and a Fly Ball percentage of 44.9%, turning that into a 31.8% HR/FB percentage.

All that means, the kid is putting the ball in the air with authority and the ball is travelling...far. The Blue Jays may need to get creative to figure out where he is going to play in the lineup. During his minor league career he has played at third base, first base, and DH, although reports surfaced that the Blue Jays were going to try and get him some reps in the outfield. That may not happen now, as they clearly want him to focus on being the best hitter he can be at the big league level.

Kazuma Okamoto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer currently occupy the 3B, 1B, DH, roles respectively and the Blue Jays (as of this writing) haven't announced a corresponding move just yet. Keys is also not on the 40-man roster and so there could be a couple of moves made before he is activated.

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