Toronto Blue Jays land player known for one of the longest home runs in history

The Toronto Blue Jays attempted to add some power to their lineup in a trade with the Houston Astros on Friday morning, landing a player known for hitting one of the longest home runs ever recorded in MLB history.

The Blue Jays and Astros inked a one-for-one deal, sending Joey Loperfido to Houston in exchange for Jesús Sánchez. Though the 28-year-old has yet to put it all together in the big leagues, he has both great power and bat speed.

"The power is real. He hits the ball as hard as anyone," GM Ross Atkins said shortly after the deal was announced.

"He has obviously been incredibly effective against right-handed pitching. He slots in as one of our better options against right-handers on a very regular basis."

Ross Atkins on Jesús Sánchez:

“He has obviously been incredibly effective against right-handed pitching. He slots in as one of our better options against right-handers on a very regular basis.” #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/uHdxvqdIzo

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) February 13, 2026

That power was on complete display during the 2022 season, where Sánchez hit a 496-foot bomb, tied as the fifth-longest homer on record since Statcast began tracking distances back in 2015.

Sánchez, who has spent parts of six seasons in the Majors, was traded from the Miami Marlins to the Astros during the 2025 season. Between the two clubs, he hit a combined .237 with 14 home runs and 48 RBI in 134 games. He's hit double-digit homers in each of the past five seasons.

As for Loperfido, he departs the Jays organization after originally being acquired from the Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi trade ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. The 26-year-old has struggled to become an everyday MLBer so far, but has shown promise. In 41 games with the Jays this past season, he hit .333 with four home runs and 14 RBI.

This trade gives the Jays some outfield depth and potential power to replace Anthony Santander. The 31-year-old, who the organization was hoping could bounce back, recently underwent shoulder surgery and is expected to miss 5-6 months of action.