Jays Centre Hitter of the Month - March/April 2025

Over the first month of the season, the offence was a sour spot for the Toronto Blue Jays. They ranked among the bottom five teams in runs scored, home runs hit, isolated power, and slugging percentage. It wasn't the start the Blue Jays were hoping for at the plate, and they are in clear need of improvement going forward.

With that being said, the Blue Jays have had some moments of success on the offensive side of the ball, and this is a good time to reflect on some of the positives that have occurred so far this season. These are the names that stand out the most.

Honorable Mentions
Tyler Heineman – .448/.467/.655, 1 HR, 1 BB, 5 K, 228 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR
Here is a quick look at the Blue Jays' position player fWAR leaders through the end of April:


Hands up if you had Tyler Heineman leading all Blue Jays in fWAR after the first month. I certainly didn't. It's a testament to two things: just how much the offense has struggled, but also the fact that Heineman has played quite well when he’s gotten into the lineup.

Heineman has suited up ten times for the Blue Jays so far and has started eight games. In those eight games, he has a hit in seven of them, including two separate three-hit games and one where he even hit a home run, his first in the big leagues since 2019.

Going forward, it's hard to imagine that Heineman has truly found another level to his game, especially as he has a career OPS of .625 and is in his age-33 season. But the Blue Jays will absolutely take every ounce of production they can get from the backup catcher spot.

Myles Straw – .304/.347/.435, 1 HR, 3 BB, 10 K, 127 wRC+, 0.4 fWAR
If you didn't have Heineman as number one on the position player fWAR list, then I'd bet you're also surprised to see Myles Straw in fifth. But credit where credit is due, Straw had a good spring and made the team out of camp, and that success has continued over the regular season.

Straw started strong out of the gate. After going 0-3 in his first start of the season, he had a 10-game stretch where he had 11 hits, including three extra-base hits and his first home run. Add to that two stolen bases and some flawless outfield defence, and the Blue Jays have to be very happy with the production Straw has given them early in the season. His ability to provide a spark off the bench could be key at some point later in the season.

3. Bo Bichette – .295/.328/.364, 0 HR, 5 BB, 19 K, 99 wRC+, 0.2 fWAR
Here we are, one month into the season, and it's a disappointment that the Blue Jays' no. 3 position player so far is roughly a league-average hitter, but that's just where we are.

Bo Bichette has shown some signs of hope, and it has been an improvement on his 2024 season in which he only played 82 games and was a below-league-average hitter (71 wRC+), but his 2025 still leaves you wanting more. The most notable number is the zero in the home run column, especially after a spring training in which he hit four home runs.

Bichette has taken his contact-heavy approach to the next level, as his walk rate has dropped to a career low 3.6% and his strikeout rate has also dropped to a career low 13.9% He has has been swinging early and often, and while he is still getting his hits, it's been mostly an empty batting average so far: 29 of his 38 hits in the month were singles. It's worth noting, too, that pitchers have taken note of Bichette's aggressive approach and are throwing him fewer first pitch strikes than ever before.

There are some positives. For one, his line drive rate is at a career high, and his xwOBA is also a career high (.375), but the Blue Jays and Bichette alike would like to see things get better, especially in the power department, going forward.

2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – .268/.362/.402, 3 HR, 16 BB, 23 K, 123 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has had a very eventful 2025 season so far, from entering the season without a long-term contract to quickly signing the longest and most lucrative deal in franchise history. A lot of pressure has been put on him to perform, and he’s done that for the most part. His lack of home runs (like the rest of the team) has been underwhelming, but he’s still doing a lot of things that have made him a successful big leaguer. The barrel rate is right in line with his recent averages, and the 123 wRC+ means he's still producing like a well-above-average hitter.

Vlad still hits the ball hard. Very hard. In fact, no one in baseball has hit a ball harder this season than Vlad’s 120.4-mph exit velocity groundout against the Mariners on April 18. Since 2021, only Giancarlo Stanton, Oneil Cruz and Ronald Acuña Jr. have hit a ball harder.

Guerrero still has to do more to be the MVP-type hitter he was in 2024, but the start has been promising. If you're a betting person, it's likely a safe bet that when this list comes out in May, Vlad is likely to be at the top.

1. George Springer – .306/.406/.482, 2 HR, 15 BB, 24 K, 157 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR
What year is this?!? George Springer has had a renaissance at the plate, reaching base at a .400 clip and providing some much-needed thump at the plate. The profile has been extreme; he's striking out more often but is trying to do damage on the pitches he can handle. It's a message that new hitting coach David Popkins has brought over to the team, and Springer has been handling it well.

MLB.com's Mike Petriello had a good thread on Bluesky explaining what is going on at the plate with Springer, but to summarize, he’s swinging a lot harder at fastballs and slower on off-speed pitches, and he is squaring up the baseball more often. It's something that is absolutely welcome, especially as a resurgence at age 35 for the veteran outfielder. He’s also added four stolen bases and has spent more time in center field than most people imagined.

Springer ends the month of March/April with a 157 wRC+, making it the best offensive month he has had since August of 2022, when he was coming off an All-Star selection. Many Blue Jays fans, myself included, did not think that Springer had a month like this left in him. Now, he's locked into the clean-up spot in the lineup and should be there until he cools off. Just look at all the red on his Baseball Savant page:

The Blue Jays certainly need more production at the plate as a team, but Springer is certainly doing his part.