The Blue Jays could've used this sort of power on Wednesday night.
In a rehab start with triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons, catcher Danny Jansen crushed a towering grand slam to deep left centre field to take the lead over the Rochester Red Wings in the fourth inning.
The 405-foot blast came off his bat at a sweet 108.2 m.p.h., clearing potential concerns that the catcher is still dealing with wrist issues.
Jansen started the year on the 10-day IL after suffering a fractured right wrist during spring training. He was hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh Pirates righty Carmen Mlodzinski on March 13.
On Wednesday, Jansen was serving as the team's designated hitter in his first game of a rehab assignment in Buffalo. He's set to make two appearances in his main role behind the plate over the weekend in the team's series against the Red Wings if all goes well.
He had three plate appearances before being replaced by Damiano Palmegiani in the top of the sixth inning. In his first at-bat in the first inning, he hit a single, then in the second followed it up with a strikeout swinging. His round-tripper would come in his third and final at-bat in the bottom of the fourth.
According to reports, the team is targeting a late-April return for the catcher, so he may remain with the Bisons for the foreseeable future while they ramp him back up from the wrist injury.
Jansen, 28, was a solid source of power for the Blue Jays last season, hitting 17 homers and notching 53 RBIs in 301 plate appearances. He finished the year slashing .228/.312/.474.
The Blue Jays are currently 6-7 and sit in last in the crowded AL East. Their 10 home runs on the year put them in a tie for 21st in MLB in that category.
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