Related videos:
The Cuban pitcher Lázaro Estrada has been promoted back to Major League Baseball by the Toronto Blue Jays, according to journalist Francys Romero , with the pitcher expected to join the team on Tuesday, one day before the start of the regular season.
The return of Estrada was directly motivated by the injury of Cody Ponce, who suffered a sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Monday's game against the Colorado Rockies, leaving him out for a significant period.
The situation with the pitching staff of Toronto is critical: in addition to Ponce, the organization has José Berríos, Trey Yesavage, and Shane Bieber on the injured list, which has paved the way for the return of the Cuban.
Estrada made his call with a dominant performance at Triple-A Buffalo last Friday, his only outing in the minors in 2026: he pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, not allowing any hits or runs, with three strikeouts and only one walk, according to the specialized site Pelota Cubana.
That performance convinced the organization that the 26-year-old pitcher was ready, despite an uneven Spring Training in which he recorded a 4.76 ERA over 11.1 innings, with 13 hits, six earned runs, and three home runs allowed.
Estrada had been sent to the minors on March 21 after not being included in the Opening Day roster.
The Cuban already has experience in the best baseball in the world. He made his debut on July 5, 2025 against the Los Angeles Angels, pitching four solid innings with only one earned run, two hits, and four strikeouts, helping the Blue Jays win 4-3 in 11 innings.
That debut made him the 400th player born in Cuba to reach the Major Leagues, including the MLB and the historic Negro Leagues, a milestone for Cuban baseball.
He was called up a second time on July 29, 2025 for a doubleheader, but sent back to Triple-A the following day. In total, during the 2025 season, he accumulated 7.1 innings, an 8.59 ERA, and 10 strikeouts in two appearances.
Estrada signed with the Blue Jays as an international free agent on January 4, 2018, and his journey in the minor leagues was long: the pandemic canceled the 2020 season, and in 2021 he suffered an elbow injury that required an internal brace procedure. It was in 2024 when he showcased his best performance, with 3.29 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 98.1 innings across three levels, which earned him a selection for the American League Fall Stars.
Now, with the Toronto bullpen in emergency mode, Estrada has before him the clearest opportunity of his career to establish himself permanently in the Major Leagues.
Filed under: