Article: Round Number Roundup: Blue Jays Milestones To Watch for in 2025

[Mike LeSage]

The Blue Jays may end up letting you down, but there are plenty of reasons beyond the wins and losses to watch.

Round numbers are aesthetically pleasing (just ask Taijuan Walker). They make convenient markers when we’re grouping players in to tiers. The recent Hall of Fame induction announcements served as a reminder of just how important those milestones can be: Did he have 3,000 hits (Ichiro Suzuki), or 400 saves (Billy Wagner), or 3,000 strikeouts (CC Sabathia)? The Blue Jays roster doesn’t feature any players who are in sight of Hall of Fame milestones (yet), but there’s still plenty to look forward to. During the 2025 season, we’re in line to hit some nice, round numbers.

The Ironclad Locks
José Berríos - 100 wins (one away)
Andrés Giménez - 100 stolen bases (one away)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 500 runs (25 away)

There’s only one thing that will stop Berríos from reaching 100 wins, and I’m superstitious enough that I’m not even going to risk speaking it into existence here. Toronto opens the season at home against Baltimore and I’m betting he gets it there.

Similarly, Giménez should be given the green light to run (just ask Peter Snow and Owen Hill). As with Berríos, I’m betting we see it against Baltimore in the opening series.

Even in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Guerrero scored 34 runs. With Anthony Santander hitting behind him, he should be crossing the plate more often than ever. Expect this one to fall early.

The Likely to Happen
Bo Bichette - 100 home runs (seven away)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 1,000 hits (95 away)
Ernie Clement - 100 RBI (24 away)

Bichette’s four home runs last (injury-hampered) season were a career low, but so long as he’s healthy and doesn’t get traded, we should see him hit the 100 mark with ease. The homestand against the Athletics at the end of May is where I would look for this to happen.

Over the last four seasons, Vladdy has averaged just over 180 hits per year. According to that pace, we should look for him to hit this mark in the home series against the Yankees following the All-Star break.

Unless the Blue Jays sign or trade for someone else to play third, Clement is projected to start half the games this season and knock in at least 30 runs. 

The Outside Shots
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 200 home runs (40 away)

Guerrero has only reached 40 home once in his career, and ever since, the debate about whether he’s capable of recapturing his 2021 form has raged on. Until he signs an extension, this is a contract year, and what a perfect time to have (another) breakout season! The Jays end the regular season at home with a series against the Rays. If it’s going to happen, that’s likely where we’ll see it.

The Magical Season of Our Dreams
Kevin Gausman - 2,000 strikeouts (235 away)
Anthony Santander - 200 home runs (45 away)

In 2022, Kevin Gausman led the American League with 237 strikeouts. As Jesse Burrill has written, a fully healthy Gausman could see a return to that dominance. If the splitter that Gausman leaned on to strike out almost a full third of the batters he faced in 2023 is truly back, I’d say that qualifies as magical.

Santander hit 44 home runs just last season in a power spike that blew him past his previous high of 33. The Blue Jays are certainly betting that his 2024 production is repeatable. Most projections are more conservative, putting Santander in the mid-30s. If he hits 45 this season, Toronto’s front office will likely call it an expected outcome, but I believe in magic.

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[Jesse Burrill]

some other fun Jays milestones i stumbled across: 
Berrios 1500 Career K's (Currently at 1343)
Springer 40 Career bWAR (Currently at 37.3)
Jeff Hoffman 100 games finished (Currently at 57)
Chris Bassitt has 100 hit batters (Currently at 83)

[Spanky99]

1 hour ago, Jesse Burrill said:

some other fun Jays milestones i stumbled across: 
Berrios 1500 Career K's (Currently at 1343)
Springer 40 Career bWAR (Currently at 37.3)
Jeff Hoffman 100 games finished (Currently at 57)
Chris Bassitt has 100 hit batters (Currently at 83)

Scherzer has a couple milestones coming up to, 3500K's and 3000 IP, IIRC,

[Mike LeSage]

2 hours ago, Jesse Burrill said:

some other fun Jays milestones i stumbled across: 
Berrios 1500 Career K's (Currently at 1343)
Springer 40 Career bWAR (Currently at 37.3)
Jeff Hoffman 100 games finished (Currently at 57)
Chris Bassitt has 100 hit batters (Currently at 83)

Great ones! Let's hope all but Bassitt hit those marks!