The Toronto Blue Jays added some corner infield depth Tuesday night, signing Juan Francisco to a minor league deal, according to Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s Mike Wilner. Francisco, who hit 18 home runs for the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers in 2013, will report to triple-A Buffalo.
Francisco combined to hit .227/.296/.422 in 124 games last year while playing first and third. The left-handed hitter has a significant platoon split, with a career OPS of .776 against right-handers.
Francisco, who has experience in parts of five seasons with the Braves, Brewers and Cincinnati Reds, was released by the Brewers on March 24. For the time being he’ll provide the Blue Jays with an extra power bat at triple-A.
The 26-year-old native of the Dominican Republic was originally signed by the Reds as an amateur free agent in 2004.
