Blue Jays designate once-promising Dalton Pompey for assignment

Once considered one of the most promising players in the Toronto Blue Jays’ system, Canadian outfielder Dalton Pompey was designated for assignment Tuesday.

Working his way back from the third concussion of his career, Pompey’s rehab assignment ended on Monday. The Blue Jays were faced with the option of either promoting him to the big-league roster or sending him through waivers, and chose the latter. The other 29 teams in MLB will have a chance to claim the 26-year-old, and if he clears through that process the Blue Jays can return him to their minor-league system.

The Mississauga, Ont., native has appeared in just 13 games at the MLB level since the start of 2016 as injuries and inconsistent performance stalled his development. Pompey showed promise during a brief stint in 2014, and opened the 2015 season as the Blue Jays’ starting centre-fielder.

The switch-hitting Pompey failed to live up to expectations, and only lasted 34 games before being demoted. His speed earned him a spot on the team’s 2015 post-season roster as a late-game pinch-running threat, and he stole four bases during Toronto’s run to the ALCS.

Pompey isn’t the prospect he once was, but he’s by no means old. The Blue Jays are well aware of how successful late-bloomers can be in MLB, as heroes Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson all rose to prominence at age 27 or later. If Pompey follows in that mould, Toronto may have to watch him reach his potential elsewhere.

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