Valenzuela smashes his first MLB homer as the Blue Jays trounce the Twins

Brandon Valenzuela delivered his first big moment in the majors — and he did it when it mattered most. The rookie catcher launched his first MLB home run to give the Toronto Blue Jays the lead in the fourth inning, a swing that ultimately set the tone for a 10-4 comeback win over the Minnesota Twins in the series opener at Rogers Centre.

Valenzuela’s blast — a two‑run shot to right field off a splitter from Simeon Woods Richardson — wasn’t just his first big‑league homer. It flipped the scoreboard and ignited an offense that had been searching for a spark. The ball traveled 383 feet and left his bat at 111.4 mph, making it the hardest‑hit ball by any Blue Jay this season at the time.

A swing that changed the game

The moment came in the fourth inning with the game still up for grabs. Sitting on a 1–0 count, Valenzuela got a pitch he could handle and didn’t miss. The clean, loud contact not only broke the tie — it shifted the entire momentum of the night.

With that swing, Valenzuela became just the 21st player in Blue Jays history to hit a go‑ahead home run for his first career blast. The last to do it was Alan Roden back in April 2025 against Atlanta.

A complete night at the plate

The home run was only part of the story. Valenzuela put together a full, confident performance, finishing 2‑for‑4 with two runs scored and two RBIs — his first multi‑hit game in the majors.

He wasn’t done after the homer, either. In the eighth inning, he reached again with a single and later came around to score, helping Toronto capitalize in key moments throughout the night.

Valenzuela smashes his first MLB homer as the Blue Jays trounce the Twins

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