Loperfido grateful for Blue Jays stint after trade sends him back to Houston

Toronto Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido works out ahead of Game 3 of the 2025 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, file)

DUNEDIN — Joey Loperfido will never forget his time with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Loperfido was traded back to the Houston Astros by the Blue Jays on Friday morning for fellow outfielder Jesus Sanchez. Toronto originally acquired Loperfido from Houston as part of a package for pitcher Yusei Kikuchi in July 2024.

“I feel like I can leave knowing I’m a better player now than I was when I got here,” said Loperfido after clearing out his locker at the Blue Jays Player Development Complex. “I’m so grateful to have gotten to play with this group, to play in Toronto, for the fans, for the whole country.

“That post-season run is something I’ll have for my whole life. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Loperfido, Jake Bloss, and Will Wagner were traded for Kikuchi on July 29, 2024. Loperfido struggled in his first half-season in Toronto, batting .197 with two home runs, nine runs batted in and 52 strikeouts over 43 games.

The 26-year-old split last season between the Blue Jays and their triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, N.Y., batting .333 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 41 games with the big-league club.

Loperfido said it felt different when he was traded from the Astros to Toronto because he wasn’t crying yet.

“I feel like I’ve grown up a lot in the year and a half that I’ve been here,” he said. “Coming here, not putting what I thought was my best foot forward, in that second half of ’24, making some adjustments, having some tough conversations, and then seeing those adjustments play out down the stretch last year with this group.”

Sanchez, 28, hit .237 with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs in 134 games last season between Miami and Houston. The left-handed hitter has hit 73 home runs in 580 games over six major-league seasons.

“The offence is a good complement as well, but he’s a good two sides of the ball player,” said Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins of Sanchez. “He runs the bases well, can steal bases, but the power is real.

“He hits the ball as hard as anybody, and that’s a good fit for us.”

The move comes as the Blue Jays continue spring training in Dunedin, Fla.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2026.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press