The Toronto Blue Jays’ Defence Returns!

During recent offseasons, the Toronto Blue Jays have made acquisitions that emphasized top-tier defence. For example, they added Daulton Varsho, Kevin Kiermaier, Matt Chapman, Andrés Giménez and Myles Straw. In terms of total Fielding Run Value (“FRV”), Toronto ranked seventh in 2023 and first in both 2024 and 2025. This season, because the Blue Jays’ offence is poor (27th in wRC+ and 28th in runs), superior defence is critical if Toronto is to capture a place in the postseason.

To that end, as of August 15, 2026, the Blue Jays posted a +34 FRV total, the second-highest in MLB. However, before the 2026 All-Star Game (the All-Star Game break occurred from July 13 to 16), Toronto’s defence ranked sixth (+17 FRV). On the good news front, after the Midsummer Classic, the team has generated an additional 17 FRV, the second-highest total during the July 17 to August 15 period.

What would an article be without tables? Behold a table concerning Toronto’s recent FRV scores and rankings. Not to be forgotten, gaze upon details of the 2026 Blue Jays’ pre- and post-All-Star Game non-pitcher defence.

So, why has Toronto’s defence improved after the All-Star Game? The first matter to highlight is the top-tier performance from Toronto’s catchers. Before the All-Star Game, the Blue Jays generated a +17 FRV, 19 of which was attributable to the catchers. In 850 innings, the Alejandro Kirk-Brandon Valenzuela-Tyler Heineman trio’s performance in the categories of Catcher Framing (+14 FRV), Catcher Throwing (+3 FRV) and Catcher Blocking (+2 FRV) was, in total, MLB’s best. After the All-Star Game, Kirk and Valenzuela have produced a +5 FRV mark in 263 innings, which is MLB’s best during the post-Midsummer Classic period. Toronto’s catchers continue to excel defensively.

If the Blue Jays’ catchers posted a +19 FRV before the All-Star Game, and Toronto’s total FRV was +17, then Toronto’s infield and outfield posted a -2 FRV in 5,950 pre-Midsummer Classic innings. Furthermore, Toronto’s infield/outfield FRV ranked 16th. In 2025 and 2024, the Blue Jays’ infield/outfield slotted in at #7 (+13 FRV) and #1 (+32 FRV), respectively. Clearly, the team saw a pre-All-Star Game relative performance drop-off in 2026 compared to the previous two campaigns.

In the infield, two positive contributors stood out before July 17: Giménez (+8 FRV) in 725 innings and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+3 FRV) in 694. The infielder with the worst FRV was Ernie Clement (-5 FRV), who has struggled at second base. Other infielders with negative FRVs were Kazuma Okamoto (-1), Lenyn Sosa (-1) and Davis Schneider (-1). However, the infield crew has improved after the All-Star Game. Notably, Toronto’s infielders recorded the same net +4 FRV after July 16 in 1,054 innings as they did before July 17 (but in 3,400 innings). Notably, Giménez has been terrific recently. In 500 fewer innings than he played before the All-Star Game break, Giménez has generated a +5 FRV afterwards. Also, post-All-Star Game, Clement has produced a +2 FRV, which is a positive development. On the negative side of the ledger, Okamoto has struggled defensively after the All-Star Game break (-3 FRV). Overall, a happy story: Toronto’s infield has posted the fourth-highest FRV after July 16, whereas they ranked 14th before July 17. 

Concerning the outfield, the Blue Jays’ defence was a disappointment before the All-Star Game. The group's net -3 FRV slotted in at #18, quite different from 2025’s #6 ranking, 2024’s #2 slot and 2023’s numero uno perch. On the plus side, Toronto had four outfielders each with a +2 FRV: Varsho, Nathan Lukes, Straw, and Addison Barger. Jonatan Clase chipped in with a +1 FRV. On the negative side, oh boy. Jesús Sánchez rolled with -7 FRV, and Yohendrick Piñango “contributed” a -4 FRV. Given the poor outfield defence of Sánchez and Piñango, a variation of an old Michael Jackson joke seems apropos.

What do Michael Jackson, Jesús Sánchez, and Yohendrick Piñango have in common? Each wears one glove for no apparent reason.

However, things have improved after July 12. The Sánchez-Piñango Show has had a short post-All-Star Game run. The duo has roamed the outfield for a combined 101 innings, which is fewer than the 802 innings of pre-July 17 terror. In those limited innings, the duo has produced a -1 FRV after July 12.

Conversely, the other outfielders have stepped up to the plate, if you will, after the All-Star Game. Lukes has shone brightly (+4 FRV) in 238 fewer innings, and Straw slides in with another +2 FRV, but in 180 innings, fewer than his 354 innings before July 17. The newly minted Brett Bateman has produced a +1 FRV in just 76 innings. Hence, there are three reasons for Toronto’s improved outfield defence after the All-Star Game. First, Sánchez and Piñango are patrolling the outfield a lot less than they did before. Second, Lukes and Straw have excelled after July 12. Third, as advertised, Bateman plays center field very well.

The Last Word

In recent seasons, the Toronto Blue Jays have been one of MLB's best defensive teams. In 2025 and 2024, Toronto produced the highest FRV scores in each of those seasons. As of August 15, Toronto ranks second-best. However, before the All-Star Game, the Blue Jays were only MLB’s sixth-best defence, and that ranking was masked by the defensive prowess of Toronto’s catchers. The infield and outfield, as a unit, ranked 16th; the catchers were MLB’s best. Separately, the infield had the 14th-highest FRV, and the outfield recorded the 18th-highest. The main drags on performance were second baseman Clement and outfielders Sánchez and Piñango. 

After the All-Star Game break, Toronto’s defence has been MLB’s second-best. The catcher tandem of Kirk and Valenzuela continues to provide Toronto with the best catcher defence. Furthermore, the infield’s defence is MLB’s fourth-best post-All-Star break, and the outfield has produced the second-most FRV. Toronto’s prowess in the field is critical if the Blue Jays are to make the 2026 postseason. Fortunately, post-All-Star Game, Toronto’s top-tier defence has returned!