Leo Jiménez's Biggest Challenge Began After First Pro Contract
· Yahoo Sports
Every Major League Baseball player has a story to tell, and for many, the road to the big leagues wasn't easy.
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Miami Marlins third baseman Leo Jiménez is a prime example. He sat down with Tyler Boronski in the dugout at loanDepot park to discuss his up-and-down journey.
The journey began at 16 years old, when Jiménez, now 25, signed his first professional baseball contract out of Panama.
Many believe signing on the dotted line means they've achieved the ultimate goal, but for Jiménez, it marked the beginning of a long and complex journey.
"They just probably think that, you know, you just sign and you come straight to the big leagues and stuff. It takes a lot of, a lot of years," Jiménez told Boronski.
Jiménez said it took him "seven-ish, eight years" before reaching the professional level.
When Jiménez was 15 years old, he played in a World Cup baseball tournament in Japan.
Because of how well he played, Jiménez told Boronski that many teams reached out to him, but the Toronto Blue Jays were the first to show interest.
He signed with the Blue Jays as an international free agent in 2017, but spent the first several years of his career in the minor leagues.
"After I signed, it was really hard for me to, like, leave home," Jiménez said.
It wasn't until 2024 that Jiménez made his MLB debut for Toronto after Isaiah Kiner-Falefa suffered an injury.
Prior to the start of the 2026 campaign, however, Jiménez, like now-Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez during his time in Toronto, was designated for assignment after failing to make the club's Opening Day roster.
On March 29, the Marlins acquired Jiménez via trade in exchange for shortstop Dub Gleed and future considerations.
Jiménez, who closed 0-for-2 in his Marlins debut April 1 against the Chicago White Sox, would be the first to tell you he is beginning to gain confidence after what was a rough few months with the club.
"There'll be certain times that I'll be like, you know, I think that I can do way more than I'm doing," Jiménez said.
Boronski mentioned Jiménez's first home run as a Marlin, which came July 5 against the Athletics.
His second home run with the club, and first at loanDepot park, came in Miami's final series before the All-Star break.
"I think the work that I put on every single day when I come to the ballpark and, like, whenever they give me an opportunity to be out there, I think, you know, I've been trying to take advantage of it," Jiménez said.
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