WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup alum Brandon Valenzuela makes MLB debut

WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup two-time alum Brandon Valenzuela made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on April 5.

Valenzuela helped Mexico finish second in 2021 on home soil in Hermosillo and Ciudad Obregon and fourth the following year in Taipei City.

Born in Hermosillo, Sonora, in 2000, Valenzuela developed at the Alfredo Harp Helú Academy.

He signed with the San Diego Padres as an amateur free agent on July 2, 2017, receiving a US$100,000 bonus.

While playing for the Double-A San Antonio Missions, he received the Texas League's player of the month honours for June 2024. He reached the Triple-A level the same season.

On July 31, 2025, the Padres traded Valenzuela to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Will Wagner. He made 26 appearances for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, batting .207, but three of his 19 hits were home runs, and he produced 12 RBIs. On November 6, the Blue Jays added Valenzuela to their 40-man roster to prevent him from reaching minor league free agency.

After 11 good games during Spring Training, the Blue Jays optioned Valenzuela to Triple-A Buffalo to begin the 2026 season. On April 4, 2026, Toronto promoted Valenzuela to the major leagues for the first time after placing Alejandro Kirk, who represented Mexico at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, on the injured list.

He made his major league debut the following day against the Chicago White Sox. becoming the 153rd Mexican-born player to reach the Big Leagues and the 41st from the Sonoran State.

The Blue Jays lost the game, 3-0, but Valenzuela got his first MLB hit in his first at-bat against Chicago's starter Davis Martin.

Valenzuela entered as a replacement in a 14-2 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 6 and started the game against the Dodgers on April 7.

Los Angeles won, 4-1, and Valenzuela was hitless. In the bottom of the fifth, Valenzuela attempted a pickoff throw to first base. On his follow-through, his hand clipped Shohei Ohtani's left elbow on the funny bone.

Valenzuela is the Toronto Blue Jays' No. 24 prospect. Despite switch-hitting, scouts rate him as a below-average hitter. He is an above-average catcher with a plus arm.

His scouting report states: "Valenzuela's value has long been his defensive work. He's an impressive receiver and manages the pitching staff well, but the first trait brought up by those around him is his throwing arm. Valenzuela projects to be well above average at controlling the running game."