The son of a former Toronto Blue Jays infielder is following in his father's footsteps—and he's only 14 years old. Maicer Izturis Jr., the namesake of the former big leaguer, has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with the Texas Rangers, a common pre-signing practice in Latin America for prospects too young to ink official contracts.
For Blue Jays fans who still remember Maicer Izturis Sr.'s time in Toronto, this news might feel like a time warp. The elder Izturis played his final MLB game in April 2014, but now his son is poised to carry on the family legacy. The younger Izturis announced the agreement on Instagram on May 12, and he currently trains at his father's baseball academy in Cabudare, Venezuela.
While details about the younger Izturis remain scarce, the Rangers are clearly betting on pedigree. And history suggests that's a smart gamble. Consider Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a five-time MLB All-Star with the Blue Jays, whose father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., played his final All-Star season with the Rangers in 2010. Like Guerrero, Maicer Izturis Jr. has both a father and an uncle who played in the majors.
His uncle, César Izturis, enjoyed a 13-year MLB career with teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Blue Jays. A one-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, César Izturis played one season longer than his older brother Maicer Sr.
Maicer Izturis Sr., now 45, began his professional journey when the Cleveland Indians signed him as an amateur in 1998. After a trade to the Montreal Expos in 2004, he made his MLB debut later that season. Rather than relocating with the franchise to Washington, D.C., he was traded to the Anaheim Angels in November 2004 alongside Juan Rivera for José Guillén.
Izturis spent eight seasons in Anaheim (2005–2012), showcasing his versatility by playing five different positions while posting a solid .276/.339/.384 slash line. Though more of a reliable utility player than a superstar, he delivered one of the most memorable moments of his career in the 2009 AL Division Series against the Boston Red Sox: a go-ahead RBI single off Josh Beckett in Game 2 that sparked a decisive Angels rally, leading to the club's first playoff series win over Boston after years of heartbreak.
After two seasons in Toronto (2013–2014), where he served as a backup shortstop and second baseman and slashed .240/.291/.310, Izturis officially retired in March 2016. But now, with his son's promising future on the horizon, it suddenly feels like the days of an Izturis patrolling an American League infield could be just around the corner once more.