Blue Jays Catch a Break as Yohendrick Pinango Lights Up Venezuelan Winter League
The Rule 5 Draft always comes with a bit of risk. For the Toronto Blue Jays, that risk came in the form of outfield prospect Yohendrick Pinango.
Despite a strong year in the minors, Toronto left the 22-year-old unprotected heading into the draft - a decision that could’ve cost them a rising talent for nothing more than a roster spot. But when the dust settled, Pinango went unclaimed, and now the Blue Jays are reaping the benefits of that gamble.
Because right now? Pinango is absolutely raking in Venezuela.
A Winter League Tear
Playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, Pinango is putting up video game numbers. Through 22 games, he's slashing .353/.424/.694 with a 1.118 OPS.
He’s already launched seven home runs, driven in 29 runs, and has a 12-to-21 walk-to-strikeout ratio over 101 plate appearances. That’s not just hot - that’s scorching.
This kind of production is turning heads, especially considering the context. Winter ball can be a proving ground for young players, and Pinango is making the most of every at-bat.
He’s not just padding stats - he’s showing advanced plate discipline, consistent contact, and legitimate power. For a player who was just left off a 40-man roster, this performance is making that decision look a lot more fortunate than calculated.
The Road to Toronto
Pinango joined the Blue Jays organization at the 2024 trade deadline, coming over from the Cubs in exchange for right-hander Nate Pearson. At the time, it was a move that flew under the radar. But after what we've seen since, it’s starting to look like a savvy pickup for Toronto.
In 2025, Pinango split time between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo. With New Hampshire, he posted a strong .298/.406/.522 slash line over 47 games, including eight home runs. That performance earned him a midseason promotion to Triple-A, where he filled a key depth role following a string of injuries at the big-league level - most notably to Anthony Santander.
In Buffalo, the numbers weren’t quite as loud. Over 84 games, he hit seven homers with a .714 OPS.
While he flashed some pop, the overall production was inconsistent, which likely contributed to teams passing on him in the Rule 5 Draft. After all, committing a full year of a 26-man roster spot to a player with fewer than 100 Triple-A games under his belt is a tough sell.
A Missed Opportunity for 29 Teams
But now? With the way Pinango is swinging it in Venezuela, some front offices might be kicking themselves.
The Rule 5 Draft is always a bit of a gamble, and this one may have slipped through the cracks. It’s rare to get a shot at a potential impact bat for free - and even rarer to pass on it.
That said, Toronto’s front office isn’t likely to complain. They took a calculated risk, and it paid off. Now they’ve got a 22-year-old left-handed hitter with a rising profile, red-hot winter league numbers, and a chip on his shoulder heading into spring training.
If Pinango can carry this momentum into 2026, the Blue Jays might have a real player on their hands - and one they didn’t have to protect to keep.