Former Blue Jays infielder is having a breakout season for Marlins no one saw coming

Two years ago, the Toronto Blue Jays made what has turned out to be a roster move they probably would like to hit the reset button on. Just prior to the opening of training camp in February of 2024, the Blue Jays had a major signing, bringing in Cuban pitcher Yariel Rodríguez on a five-year, $32 million deal to bolster their pitching staff. To make room for Rodríguez on the 40-man roster, the Jays designated the young Otto Lopez for assignment.

Just two years later, that move looks more like a blunder by Toronto as Lopez has become a staple in the Miami Marlins lineup. In fact, Lopez has recently been named by MLB.com as one of the eight players in the league that have soared way past expectations in 2026. Projected to have a 2.5 fWAR and .710 OPS this year, the 27-year-old shortstop not only has wowed everyone with a 4.5 fWAR and close to .800 OPS to date with the Marlins, he was also a first-time All-Star as well.

The Blue Jays may have let one get away as Otto Lopez continues to excel

Looking back, no one could really fault the Blue Jays at the time since they really needed pitching help. But perhaps they could have chosen another player at the time instead of a promising young hitter in the organization.

Lopez had been maintaining close to a .300 batting average while coming up in the Blue Jays’ minor league system. Not to mention his strong showing during his limited time up with the big league club in Toronto when he compiled a .600 average, 1.236 OPS, registering six hits and three RBIs in just 11 plate appearances over nine games played. Perhaps giving Lopez a longer would have been the wiser move in retrospect.

Lopez was ultimately traded to the San Francisco Giants, where he would be DFA’d once again before being claimed by the Marlins off waivers in April that same year. That was where he finally got his opportunity to show what he could do in the majors.

In his three seasons with Miami since 2024, Lopez has amassed a solid .274 batting average, .718 OPS, along with 190 runs scored, 30 home runs, 170 RBIs and 59 stolen bases in 383 games played. More significantly, he has taken the next step in his game this season, currently posting career highs in average (.308), OPS (.792), run scored (75), doubles (29), triples (7), stolen bases (24), and total bases (222) with still over a month and a half of baseball left.

Lopez certainly would have looked great in the Blue Jays’ top part of their batting order, helping set the offensive table for the big guns with his elite ability to reach base consistently. Instead, they are now stuck with Rodríguez, who had since moved from being a starter in 2024, to a reliever in 2025, and to now currently roaming in the minors in the Blue Jays’ organization this year.

He had displayed disappointing numbers (7.71 ERA and 2.04 WHIP in 10 appearances) in his limited time up in the majors in Toronto in 2026 and had been designated for assignment in June.

Rodriguez is currently on the 60-day IL with an undisclosed injury. With nothing seemingly going right for Rodriguez right now, Toronto and their fans are only left with the thought of what could have been.

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