The Toronto Blue Jays have officially re-signed outfielder Rudy Martin Jr. to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training, according to the MLB transaction log.
The move brings the 30-year-old back into the organization as non-roster depth ahead of the 2027 season.
Martin, listed at 5-foot-5 and 155 pounds, is one of the shorter position players in professional baseball.
The left-handed hitter from Memphis, Tennessee (via Lewisburg High School), was originally a 25th-round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2014.
His path to the majors was long and circuitous.
After years in the Royals system, a stint with the Nationals, time in independent leagues (Milwaukee Milkmen and York Revolution), and Mexican League play, he returned to affiliated ball and eventually reached Triple-A.
Toronto first acquired him in July 2026, claiming him off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles (who had recently picked him up from Kansas City).
He spent most of the year in Triple-A, where he posted a combined .274/.394/.421 line across the Royals and Blue Jays organizations, with 11 home runs and 45 stolen bases in 53 attempts.
His speed and on-base skills have long been his calling cards—he has swiped well over 200 bases in his professional career.
Martin finally made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays in mid-September 2026 after more than 12 years in the minors. In limited action (three plate appearances), he went 0-for-2 with a walk before a hamstring issue sidelined him.
He was later removed from the 40-man roster, cleared waivers, and elected free agency.
The new minor-league deal keeps him in the Blue Jays system as organizational depth and a potential late-game or pinch-running option if he continues to perform in camp and at Triple-A Buffalo.
For a player of Martin’s stature and résumé, the re-signing is another chapter in a resilient career built on speed, plate discipline, and persistence rather than power or size.
The Blue Jays, coming off a 79-83 season, continue to stock their depth chart with versatile, low-cost outfielders who can contribute in specific roles.
Martin will report to spring training as a non-roster invitee with a chance to compete for a spot on the 40-man roster or return to Triple-A as a proven basestealer and depth piece.
