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TORONTO \u2014 Jesus Sanchez has brought a simple approach to his first four regular-season games with the Toronto Blue Jays: hit it up the middle.\nSanchez went 2-for-4 at the plate, driving in the first run of the game, as the Toronto Blue Jays topped the Colorado Rockies 5-1 on Tuesday. That performance improved the outfielder\u2019s batting average to .462 with a 1.255 on-base plus slugging percentage.
\n\u201cI\u2019m enjoying this moment, I\u2019m having fun, but I want to talk about approach, especially for the year,\u201d said Sanchez through translator Hector Lebron. \u201cI came in here with the mentality to stay through the middle, gap to gap, all the time.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s the approach I\u2019m going to continue to do through the season and hopefully it works out for me and for the team.\u201d
\nToronto got Sanchez in a one-for-one deal with the Houston Astros for fellow outfielder Joey Loperfido on Feb. 13.
\nSanchez, 28, hit .237 with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs in 134 games last season between the Miami Marlins and Houston. The left-handed hitter had 73 home runs in 580 games over six major-league seasons before joining the Blue Jays.
\nHis best-ever season was in 2024 when he had a .252 batting average, 123 hits including 18 home runs and 64 RBIs. His highest OPS was .808 in 2021, also with the Marlins.
\nWhen Sanchez joined Toronto he and the Blue Jays hitting coaches agreed he had to avoid pulling the ball, instead focusing on solid contact up the middle.
\n\u201cI want to stay back through the middle, left centre, right centre,\u201d said Sanchez. \u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019ve been working on since spring training and obviously it\u2019s working pretty good for me.
\n\u201cI\u2019m feeling good with that approach, and I\u2019m going to continue to keep working on that.\u201d
\nIt\u2019s early in the season, but in 16 plate appearances Sanchez has a .675 Expected Weighted On-base Average \u2014 a Sabermetric stat measuring a hitter\u2019s skill based on quality of contact \u2014 and a .538 Expected Batting Average. He tops Major League Baseball in both of those advanced stat categories which are predictive rather than based on results.
\nSanchez struck out for the first time this season on Tuesday and has walked in 16.7 per cent of his plate appearances for a .563 on-base percentage.
\nHis strategy of trying to keep the ball in the middle of the field has resulted in a 22.2 barrel percentage, one of the most reliable metrics for predicting power because it shows that a hitter is consistently making optimal contact.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s swinging at the good pitches and he\u2019s swinging with intent. That\u2019s basically it,\u201d said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. \u201cI think he\u2019s realizing our approach and within that what we\u2019re asking him to do, and it\u2019s paying off.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s got a lot of talent and I like what I see.\u201d
\nSo does surefire Hall of Fame pitcher Max Scherzer, who earned the win for Toronto on Tuesday.
\n\u201cI faced him over the years, so I know he\u2019s a quality at bat and presents problems for you,\u201d said Scherzer. \u201cIt\u2019s good that he\u2019s on our team, presenting problems for the opposing team.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s good to see him get his opportunity and come through in some big spots for us.\u201d
\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2026.<\/p>\n