Toronto Blue Jays 2026 Position Analysis: Shortstop

[Edward E]

Jays Centre is taking a close look at every position on the Toronto Blue Jays heading into the 2026 season. Check out prior entries in the series here:

• Catcher
• First Base
• Second Base
• Third Base
• Left Field
• Right Field

Toronto Blue Jays Shortstops at a Glance

• Starter: Andrés Giménez
• Backup: Ernie Clement
• Depth: Leo Jiménez, Addison Barger, Davis Schneider
• Prospects: Josh Kasevich, Arjun Nimmala, JoJo Parker, Juan Sanchez

 

• Blue Jays SS fWAR in 2025: 12th out of 30
• Blue Jays SS FGDC Projection for 2026: 17th out of 30

Entering 2026, the Toronto Blue Jays can expect their shortstop position to be constantly under the microscope. After all, the departure of star shortstop Bo Bichette in free agency most certainly has left a huge void for the Blue Jays to fill going forward. Fortunately for Toronto, shortstop is one of those positions at which the team has sufficient pieces to potentially overcome the dire situation. So, what does the depth chart look like for the Blue Jays for now and the future?

The Good

With Bichette leaving the organization, there is one clear benefit that the Jays can capitalize on, which is the instant boost in defense at the shortstop position. With multiple-time Gold Glove winner (at second base) Andrés Giménez taking over as the team’s everyday shortstop and multiple-time Gold Glove finalist (at third base and utility) Ernie Clement as the trusted backup, the Blue Jays have perhaps their best defensive unit at the position since Troy Tulowitzki left town. Not to mention the fact that they have also had the defensively sound Leo Jiménez knocking on the door the past couple of years, waiting for his chance. Moreover, with Toronto valuing positional versatility in recent years, they could potentially even slot Addison Barger or Davis Schneider in at shortstop if an emergency arises.

On top of that, in a situation in which Giménez, Clement and Jiménez all falter in taking on the role, Toronto appears to have an MLB-ready shortstop waiting in the wings in Josh Kasevich. Kasevich showed exactly what he could provide to the team with a strong spring showing in training camp. In 20 games of action, the 25-year-old infielder impressed with a .306/.375/.500 slash line (.875 OPS) with four runs scored, one home run and five RBIs. He also added two stolen bases, along with showing strong plate discipline with three walks and only two strikeouts in 40 total plate appearances.

If that wasn’t enough, the Jays also have three more promising top prospects deep in their system that could be potential stars when they make the majors: Arjun Nimmala, JoJo Parker and Juan Sanchez. All three players are currently ranked among the top 10 prospects in the Jays’ organization, with both Nimmala and Parker among the top 100 prospects in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. With a pipeline of riches at the position, the Blue Jays should be set for the foreseeable future.

The Bad

Even with their immense depth at the position, remember that the Blue Jays lost a superstar in Bichette, who has averaged 20+ home runs and 90+ RBIs per season, along with a career OPS of .806 and bWAR of 20.9. With the current setup at shortstop for Toronto, one shouldn’t expect that kind of offensive output from the position for a while, at least not with the likes of Giménez and Clement at the helm.

Giménez is coming off a dismal offensive campaign in 2025; his .598 OPS was among the worst in the league for those who played a minimum of 100 games. His best MLB season came in 2022 when he managed career highs in home runs (17) and RBIs (69). As for Clement, he has posted back-to-back 9+ home runs and 50+ RBIs campaigns, while setting his career-best mark in runs scored with 83 last season. But as one can see, those numbers are far from the elite offensive production that Bichette provided on an annual basis during his time with Toronto.

In addition, Jiménez has yet to secure a permanent MLB gig with the Jays after struggling to perform offensively during the past two years. As for Kasevich, he has yet to make his major league debut, so whether or not his spring training and limited minor league success could actually translate to the majors is still a question to ask.

As for those that could ultimately reach Bichette’s potential, all three of Parker, Nimmala and Sanchez could one day become that player. But, unfortunately, they are still years away from their eventual arrival in the big leagues.

The Outlook

With the Toronto Blue Jays in win-now mode after a successful 2025 campaign that saw the team make it all the way to the World Series, the pressure will be on Giménez to make significant contributions right from the get-go when he officially takes over as the starting shortstop on Opening Day (March 27). The Blue Jays can ill afford to experiment with their lineup too much in their quest to repeat as World Series contenders.

At the same time, the shortstop position could very well be in flux throughout this season, as any struggles by the starter could lead to other options being utilized to hopefully rectify the issue promptly. As a result, it is possible Jays fans will see a carousel of players utilized at the position, including the possibility of the Jays trading for a new shortstop at the deadline if all of their MLB-ready options falter. But one thing is for sure: in the not-so-distant future, the shortstop position will no longer be a worry for years to come, once names like Nimmala, Parker, and Sanchez start to reach the big show.

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