Jesse Burrill

Lets go crazy, Eric Lauer has a Marco Estrada-esque outing and gets it done

Bold predictions are always a tricky exercise. What feels bold to one person might seem completely reasonable to another. Think back to last season. Predicting a career year for George Springer after a .674 OPS would have raised some eyebrows. Predicting a team that won just 74 games to go from worst-to-first and push a World Series to Game 7? That would have sounded even more unlikely. That's the beauty of baseball: We can analyze rosters, project breakouts, and map out every potential storyline, but something unexpected is always going to happen, especially during (or after) a 162-game season. For this exercise, we’ll use a definition inspired by Ben Clemens of FanGraphs: A bold prediction is something you know might not be likely to happen, but you believe has a better chance of happening than most people think. Rather than keeping all the fun to myself, I asked the Jays Centre staff to share their own bold predictions for the 2026 season. The results were a great mix, including some Blue Jays taking home end-of-season hardware, dominant pitching performances, and prospect breakouts. Let's dive in. Michael Coyle: Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease both throw over 200 IP and strike out over 200 batters. We’ll start with a big one. The 200-inning threshold has decreased dramatically over the past few seasons, with just three pitchers reaching it in 2025. Chris Bassitt was the most recent Blue Jay to hit that number, doing so in 2023, and the last time the team had two pitchers do it in the same season was in 2014, when R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle each eclipsed that mark. Both Gausman and Cease have come close to these numbers in the past, but neither has quite gotten there. In order for this to come true, both pitchers will need to be healthy all season and maintain at least one strikeout per inning; the latter is something that Gausman hasn’t quite done the past two seasons. It's bold for a reason, but the Blue Jays' pitching staff would be in great shape if this one comes true. Matthew Creally: Brendon Little will have a sub-2.50 ERA. Little faded down the stretch last season to the point where he was barely used in the World Series; he was likely overworked and, frankly, had some of the worst command/control in the league. But turning the page to 2026, he’s shown a new four-seamer in camp (touching as high as 98.1 mph), and the added depth in the bullpen will take some pressure off him. It's a bet on the stuff, which is probably a bit underrated. If he can make an improvement to his command, then he can shake off the rough postseason and be a true anchor out of the bullpen. Mike LeSage: Kevin Gausman will finish second in Cy Young voting. Most predictions would have a player ultimately winning the Cy Young Award, but predicting a second-place finish feels bolder in a way. Gausman has come close before. Back in 2023, he led the AL in strikeouts and finished third in the Cy Young race, behind Gerrit Cole and Sonny Gray. Since then, the strikeout numbers have dipped slightly, but he’s remained highly effective. For this to happen, Gausman will need to rediscover that strikeout form while continuing his run of durability as he enters his age-35 season. He’ll also need a bit of luck, with either Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, or any of the other elite AL arms taking a step back. If there’s anyone who can thread that needle, Kevin Gausman is as good a pick as any. Bryan Jaeger: Daulton Varsho finishes top three in AL MVP voting. Varsho has changed his approach at the plate this spring, and it's paying off tremendously. He is letting the ball travel deeper and hitting the ball to all parts of the field. Letting the pitch travel more has also helped his plate vision. He's reduced his strikeouts from 28.4% last season to 7.4% this spring. Take spring training stats with a grain of salt, but it looks like he’s been making some cognitive changes with his approach. The center fielder has an astounding 1.246 OPS and .440 ISO over 54 plate appearances with five home runs, 12 runs, and 14 knocked in. He's doing all this while maintaining his ability to hit the ball hard. Varsho's 54.3 hard-hit% would be a career-high. Pair all this with his elite center field defence and smart baserunning, and you don’t have to squint too hard to see it all come together. The key to making this prediction come true is if he can stay healthy, which is a massive ask, but there is a real path to this becoming a reality. Simon Li: Austin Cates jumps into the top 15 in the Blue Jays system. Currently, Cates isn't ranked among Jays Centre's top 20 prospects, and he was outside of FanGraphs' top 40 Blue Jays prospects as well, but there is lots to like about the 22-year-old right-hander. If you look at the pitch characteristics, he gets elite ride on the fastball (21+ inches of induced vertical break) and pairs it with a devastating splitter, a pitch the Blue Jays have used effectively over the past few seasons. He’ll still need to sharpen up the breaking ball, but if he can make progress with that offering, then he’s got a legitimate three-pitch mix. Cates got the start in the Jay's Spring Breakout game this year and sat at 93 mph after showing increased velocity from the year prior. He’s a name to watch on the prospect side going forward. Sam Charles: The Blue Jays will not win more than 80 games. Not every bold prediction has to be optimistic. Sometimes, saying the unpopular answer may be the right one, all things considered. You don’t have to look too hard to see how this could be possible. The Blue Jays' lineup isn't certain to just mash. Kazuma Okamoto could struggle in his first year against MLB pitching, Alejandro Kirk and George Springer could revert to their 2023/2024 stat lines, and the surprise performances from Nathan Lukes, Tyler Heineman, and Myles Straw could easily disappear. As always, injuries would be a factor here, too. The pitching staff has lots of question marks as well. Three potential starters are already on the injured list. Dylan Cease has all the tools in the world but has had ERAs north of 4.50 in two of the last three seasons. It could happen again. The bullpen has several question marks, and on the whole, the Blue Jays' pitchers are getting old; only Trey Yesavage and Mason Fluharty are currently projected to be on the roster and under 25. Pair that with an AL East that got significantly better in the offseason, and one team is going to disappoint – and there is a chance it could be the Blue Jays. Edward Eng: Jeff Hoffman figures out the home run issues and becomes the shutdown closer the Blue Jays need. One of the many question marks surrounding the Blue Jays in 2026 will be Jeff Hoffman's performance. In 2025, he had stretches of dominance and stretches where he struggled with consistency. Consistency in the closer spot is paramount, and the Jays weren’t always getting that last season. The home runs were always an issue; his 15 allowed were second in baseball by a reliever, and the HR/FB ratio of 20% was his worst since he was a starting pitcher in Coors Field. If he’s able to figure out how to keep the ball in the ballpark, then there is enough dominance in the arm that he can be a lock-down closer. That is going to be important if the Jays wish to remain on top of the division. Leo Morgenstern: Two Blue Jays will make their first all star game this summer. Dylan Cease (somehow) has never made an All-Star Game and seems to be a likely candidate to get there this summer, but what makes this bold is finding another one. Daulton Varsho is a prime candidate to get to the Midsummer Classic for the first time, but there is a path where Kazuma Okamoto, Addison Barger, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce, or Louis Varland end up there as well. Last season, the Blue Jays sent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk to the All-Star Game, and with John Schneider set to manage the AL team in Philadelphia this year, having some extra Blue Jays on the roster is never a bad thing. Owen Hill: José Berríos makes more starts than Max Scherzer. This is a prediction about two things: Berríos' durability and Scherzer showing his age. This prediction is certainly bold, as right now, Berríos isn't throwing and is dealing with elbow inflammation that will have him start the season on the IL. For his career, Berríos has been a model of consistency, even after an uneven 2025 season; his ability to log innings has been a strength. Scherzer, on the other hand, has looked sharp in camp and is currently locked into the starting rotation, but there are always going to be durability concerns that come with a pitcher in his forties. While the upside remains, predicting a full, healthy season may be optimistic. The Blue Jays are almost certain to use more than five starters over the course of the year, and the rotation in September is rarely the same as it is in March. This prediction comes down to trusting that Berríos will be available more often in the long run, even though that is not the case at the moment. Bob Ritchie: Andrés Giménez steals 25+ bases and has a wRC+ above 114. Both these numbers are something Giménez has accomplished before, but never in the same year. He reached the 25 stolen base mark in 2023 and 2024, and hit the wRC+ number in his All-Star 2022 campaign, but that feels like it's well in the rearview mirror. However, these numbers aren’t necessarily out of reach. The stolen bases may be the hardest number to reach, as no Blue Jay even reached 20 last season, but Giménez has done it before and will be locked in as the everyday starting shortstop, so he could approach this number once again. If he does reach these numbers, he’ll join a list that in 2025 would have included names like Juan Soto, Corbin Carroll, and José Ramírez. Jesse Burrill: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will set the record for the hardest hit ball in the Statcast era Personally, I have been rooting for this record for a long time. The current mark was set by Oneil Cruz just last season at 122.9 mph. Vladimir Guerrero Jr has come close before, with his best being 120.4 mph, also recorded last year. Here’s why it could happen: Guerrero is entering his age-27 season, which is historically right in the heart of a player's prime. Pair that with the fact that several Blue Jays made noticeable improvements in bat speed during the second half of last season, and you’ve got a recipe for some serious ferocious exit velocities. If everything clicks, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Guerrero claim the top spot. Now, will any of these predictions actually come true? Probably not, but baseball has never been predictable. Over 162 games, the unexpected is inevitable, but that’s what makes it fun, and all that fun starts tonight at Rogers Centre. View full article

Jays Centre is counting down the top 50 Blue Jays in franchise history. Check out prior entries in the series here: Introduction 50 to 46 45 to 41 40 to 36 As we continue our countdown of the top 50 players in Blue Jays franchise history, spots 35 to 31 feature a mix of players from every era: a power bat from the early years, a fiery pitcher from the 2010s, and even an active player still climbing the franchise leaderboards. No. 35: Willie Upshaw First base 1978, 1980-1987 Blue Jays Career Stats: .265/.336/.426, 112 HR, 478 RBI, 50 SB Willie Upshaw may be the most underrated player from those early 1980s Blue Jays teams. Originally drafted by the New York Yankees in 1975, Upshaw joined the Blue Jays in the 1977 Rule 5 draft, one of two players the club selected that day. Although his rookie season was underwhelming (.602 OPS), he became the Blue Jays' regular first baseman by 1982. From there, Upshaw produced the best stretch of his career from 1983-85. In that three-year span, he averaged a .287/.354/.477 line with 20 home runs and 84 RBI. His best season came in 1983, when he slugged 27 home runs and became the first player in franchise history to reach 100 RBI in a season. He was a key part of the Blue Jays' first AL East title in 1985. Upshaw battled with injuries and a slight decline through the ‘86 and ‘87 seasons, and with first base prospects Fred McGriff and Cecil Fielder in the wings, he was traded to Cleveland, ending his tenure with the club. Off the field, Upshaw was widely respected within the organization. After he was traded to Cleveland, Pat Gillick stated, “He’s a real class guy. He gave great service to the club.” Gillick even mentioned Upshaw directly in his Hall of Fame speech, telling a story of what it was like drafting him. Post-playing career, Upshaw took up coaching and, most famously, served as the Giants' first base coach in 2007 when Barry Bonds hit home run No. 756, breaking the all-time record. Upshaw's Blue Jays career: Games played - 8th (1,115)* Hits - 11th (982) Home runs - 21st (112) RBI - 13th (478) Triples - 4th (42) Intentional bases on balls - 4th (46) *Upshaw and Rance Mulliniks both finished with exactly 1,115 games played, tied for eighth place in franchise history No. 34: Marcus Stroman Starting pitcher 2014-2019 Accolades: All-Star, Gold Glove Blue Jays Career Stats: 789.2 IP, 47-45 3.76 ERA There may not have been a more unique pitcher in Blue Jays history than Marcus Stroman. Stroman was drafted by the Blue Jays in the first round of the 2012 draft and quickly became one of the prized prospects in the system. He made his major league debut in relief on May 4, 2014, and by the end of the month, he was inserted into the rotation. Stroman’s strong rookie year set the stage for 2015, as he was going to be a key part of an emerging Blue Jays rotation. But during spring training of that year, while fielding a bunt in practice, he heard a “pop” in his knee and tore his ACL. Initial reports suggested that his 2015 season was over. Stroman didn’t let that stop him; he’s always had a chip on his shoulder, saying things like “heart doesn’t measure height” as a motivational tool for people who thought he couldn’t be good because he stood 5-foot-7. He used that chip to fuel a quicker-than-expected recovery from his injury and, surprisingly, returned to the mound that September. His return helped fuel a division title in 2015, and the Blue Jays reached the ALCS in back-to-back seasons. As the Blue Jays were coming off their run of success, Stroman was traded to the Mets at the trade deadline in 2019. After spending time with the Mets, Cubs, and Yankees, he is still on the lookout for his next team. Off the field, Stroman built a strong personal brand. He had “height doesn't measure heart,” or HDMH, trademarked, and has partnered with Nike, Biosteel, and Rogers to create apparel featuring his logo. He also appeared in music videos alongside his friend and former Duke teammate Mike Stud. Marcus Stroman was many things, but for the mid-2010s Blue Jays, he was a key part of the effort, and you will still see many Stroman jerseys around the park today. Stroman's Blue Jays career: Innings pitched - 15th (789.2) ERA - 10th (3.76) Wins - 17th (47) Strikeouts - 15th (635) FIP - 5th (3.60) No. 33: Alejandro Kirk Catcher 2020-present Accolades: Two-time All-Star, Silver Slugger Blue Jays Career Stats: .268/.345/.398, 51 HR, 263 RBI Alejandro Kirk is still building his resume and is quietly shaping up to be one of the best catchers in franchise history. Kirk was originally signed as an international free agent at the age of 17. After spending his first three seasons at various stops in the minor leagues, he made his MLB debut in 2020. He initially joined the taxi squad during the shortened season, but he made his debut on September 12, getting his first major league hit that same day. Kirk has relied on his immense bat-to-ball skills at the plate, and in 2022, he put together his best season, posting a .786 OPS and earning an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger Award. After two subpar years with the bat, Kirk rebounded in 2025, set a career-high in home runs (15), and was a key part of the Blue Jays' World Series run, though the season ended with him grounding into a double play in the 11th inning of Game 7. The Blue Jays value Kirk so much that they gave him a five-year extension at the start of 2025. By the time Kirk’s career is over, he’s likely going to rank much higher on this list, as he is entering his age-27 season. An argument could be made that the best years of his career are still to come. Off the field, Kirk and his wife, Sofia, welcomed their daughter into the world in 2023. Kirk's Blue Jays career: Games played - 41st (564) Hits - 47th (489) Home runs - 50th (51) RBI - 38th (263) No. 32: Rance Mulliniks Third base 1982-1992 Accolades: World Series Champion Blue Jays Career Stats: .280/.365/.407, 73 HR, 435 RBI If there was ever an underappreciated Blue Jay from the era of the team's first division title and first World Series championship, there's a good case to be made that it was Rance Mulliniks. Mulliniks joined the Blue Jays in a trade with the Kansas City Royals in 1982 and became part of a third base platoon with Garth Iorg. Over the next six seasons, Mulliniks was the model of consistency: His OPS+ was between 125 and 127 in four of those seasons, and even the other two years (103 and 143) weren’t far off that level of production. Mulliniks was the type of player who might be even more appreciated in today's game, where versatility and on-base ability are highly valued. Pair that with the ability to play multiple positions, and it's exactly the type of player that fans and managers love to have on their team. Mulliniks also made his mark in the 1985 postseason, going 4-for-11 with a home run in Game 3 of the ALCS against two-time Cy-Young winner Bret Saberhagen. Mulliniks battled injuries and inconsistencies in the final stretch of his career and retired after the 1992 season, going out as a World Series champion. Off the field, Mulliniks is still very much in the Blue Jays world. He served as part of the Rogers Sportsnet broadcast team from 2005 to 2010 and still appears on Blue Jays podcasts from time to time to discuss the team. He now offers partial coaching and public speaking, which you can book online through his personal website. Mulliniks's Blue Jays career: Games played - 8th (1,115)* Hits - 21st (853) Home runs - 36th (68) RBI - 20th (389) WPA - 10th (8.1) Bases on balls - 8th (416) *Upshaw and Mulliniks both finished with exactly 1,115 games played, tied for eighth place in franchise history No. 31: Shannon Stewart Outfield 1995-2003, 2008 Blue Jays Career Stats: .298/.360/.440, 115 HR, 580 RBI, 196 SB A true all-around player, who combined batting average, defence and speed, Shannon Stewart was a staple for the late '90s/early 2000s Blue Jays. Stewart was one of those players whose value you didn't fully appreciate until you watched him every day. Using his speed and contact skills, he was a mainstay at the top of the Blue Jays' order for several years. From 1998-2003, he averaged .305/.370/.452 with 13 home runs and 25 stolen bases per year. In 2001, he became just the fourth Blue Jay to record 200+ hits in a season, and he remains one of only five to accomplish the feat. His best performance came in that ‘03 campaign, when he posted an .823 OPS and finished fourth in AL MVP voting. Stewart has always been a personal favourite of mine, as he hit the first big league home run I ever remember seeing in person, which holds a special place in every baseball fan's heart. After his original stint with the Blue Jays, he spent some time with the Twins and Athletics. He returned to the Blue Jays as a 34-year-old and got into 52 games before calling it a career. Post-playing career, he has stayed out of the public eye, but according to his Instagram page, he’s a husband and father of three kids, which likely keeps him plenty busy these days. While Stewart was a steady presence at the top of the lineup during the late 1990s and early 2000’s, the next group in our countdown will feature players whose peaks left an even bigger imprint on franchise history. Stewart's Blue Jays career: Games played - 19th (907) Hits - 7th (1082) Home runs - 32nd (74) RBI - 22nd (370) Batting average - 4th (.298) Doubles - 6th (222) Stolen bases - 5th (166) View full article

Spring training can feel sluggish at times. The initial buzz of pitchers and catchers reporting is long gone, and the euphoric high of finally getting game action has faded. Opening Day is still more than two weeks away. If spring training had its own version of the regular season's “dog days,” we’d probably be in them by now. The good news is that competitive baseball is still on TV. With the World Baseball Classic underway (go Team Canada!), and with 13 players from the Blue Jays organization away representing their countries, opportunities have opened for players still in Blue Jays camp who normally wouldn’t receive an extended look. As always, the usual spring training caveats apply. Players might be experimenting with new mechanics or just simply focused on preparation rather than results. It's almost impossible to learn much from one game or one week of baseball games, and that's especially true in March. Still, strong performances and struggles are worth noting. Last week, we noted some observations from the first week of spring, and now that the sample has grown a little, it's time for another check-in. One young infielder has been impossible to ignore, while a familiar face on the roster is still searching for his first real swing of the spring. Stats updated prior to split-squad games on March 8. Who's Hot? Max Scherzer: Early velocity suggests the veteran might have more in the tank than expected. Don’t look now, but he’s doing it again. Scherzer made his spring debut for the Blue Jays on Saturday and looked like he was already in midseason form. He faced 12 batters, retired 11, and the only runner to reach base was promptly erased on a double play. The key number in this start: 95.6 mph. That was the velocity of a fastball he threw in the first inning, and it's a mark he didn’t reach at all in the spring of 2025. It’s only one outing, but he passed his first test, as the future Hall of Famer prepares for his 19th big league season Josh Kasevich: The young prospect has been turning heads in all aspects of the game. Every spring training, there is one player who forces you to take notice. That player for the Blue Jays has to be Josh Kasevich. Kasevich (Jays Centre's No. 11 prospect) has been impressive in all aspects of the game. At the plate, he’s hitting .389 with a .450 on-base percentage and has yet to strike out. He’s showing his skills on the basepaths with two stolen bases, tied for the team lead this spring. He’s flashed the leather as well, including a diving stop up the middle against the Phillies on Saturday. While he’s currently not on the 40-man roster, he’s checked every box this spring, and if the Blue Jays were strictly building their best 26-man roster based on spring performance, Kasevich would have a compelling case. Opening Day is still a long shot, but his odds of making an appearance with the team this summer have increased dramatically with his performance this spring. Brendon Little: New pitches and big velocity are turning heads early in camp. The last time we saw Brendon Little on a major stage, he allowed Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run in the 18th inning of Game 3 of the World Series. Naturally, there were questions about what Little might look like coming into 2026. So far this spring, the answer has been encouraging. He has yet to allow a hit and has struck out 46.2% of the batters he’s faced. It also appears he’s expanded his arsenal, adding a slider and a four-seam fastball that touched 98.1 mph to go along with his sinker and knuckle curve. Command has always been the question with Little, but early results suggest the wipeout stuff is still very much there. Who’s Not? Gage Stanifer: The results haven’t been pretty, but the sample size is tiny. Stanifer (Jays Centre'S #6 prospect) was exceptional in 2025, posting a 2.86 ERA and 13.17 K/9 in 110 minor league innings. This spring provided an early look at the 22-year-old, but the results have been rough so far. He’s recorded just five outs and carries a 16.20 ERA. Command has been the main issue, with two walks and one hit batter. Stanifer’s ceiling remains sky-high, but this spring has also highlighted some of the development areas he’ll need to address this season. Arjun Nimmala: The tools remain exciting, but the bat hasn’t gotten going yet. Nimmala (Jays Centre'S #3 prospect) entered his second big league camp with plenty of attention. Unfortunately, the first handful of games haven’t gone the way he would have hoped. After a 2025 season that featured flashes of high-end talent mixed with extended slumps, the bat hasn't heated up this spring. In 16 plate appearances (prior to his game on Sunday), he had just two hits and seven strikeouts. The tools are still very obvious; he remains a top-100 prospect for a reason. Yet, his development is still very much in progress. Davis Schneider: One of the quietest cold streaks in camp so far. It hasn’t been much discussed, but Davis Schneider is having a rough spring. His 22 plate appearances are tied for second on the team, but he has just one hit, a single, to show for it. Schneider's roster spot appears relatively safe as a right-handed option who gets in against left-handed pitching, but with Eloy Jiménez and Kasevich having good spring trainings of their own and making their own cases for roster spots, it's worth keeping an eye on how Schneider finishes camp. In spring, these things can change quickly; a two-home run day by Schneider or Nimmala changes the narrative rapidly, and there is still plenty of time for players to get hot. We will see how things look in a week's time, or more importantly, by Opening Day. View full article

Today was a great day for baseball. To be fair, every day is a great day for baseball, but Tuesday afternoon in Dunedin felt different. Blue Jays spring training was well underway, but this time it wasn’t just “root, root, root for the home team.” Team Canada was in town for the first of their two exhibition games ahead of the World Baseball Classic, with their tournament opener set for Saturday, March 7, at 11 a.m. against Colombia. There was plenty of Blue Jays blue in the crowd, and just as much red and white, but this wasn’t a case of two separate fan bases showing up to watch a game; this was an irregularity. Fans at the ballpark were cheering for both teams. Former Blue Jay and long-time manager of Team Canada, Ernie Whitt, led his team onto the field with numerous fellow former MLB players and Team Canada alumni on the coaching staff. Most notable was Russell Martin, who spent four seasons with the Blue Jays from 2015 to 2018. He was spotted pregame giving handshakes and hugs to several players on the Blue Jays bench with a massive smile on his face. Once he took his spot in the first base coach's box, it was game on. Team Canada sent out a lineup full of MLB players, led by captain Josh Naylor, paired with his younger brother Bo, and full of young but talented players, all with MLB experience. Their first task wasn’t going to be easy, as the Blue Jays handed the ball to Kevin Gausman, the two-time All-Star and 13-year MLB veteran. Canada went quietly in the first against Gausman, who looked sharp in his second start of the spring. Tyler Black flew out to begin the game, and aside from a Josh Naylor walk, that's all Canada could muster in the top of the first. Toeing the rubber for Team Canada was the left-handed throwing Logan Allen. He’s a veteran of five MLB seasons with four teams and has recently pitched in Korea for the NC Dinos. He struggled with his command in this one. After a hard lineout from George Springer, he walked Nathan Lukes, which was followed by a Daulton Varsho infield single. Addison Barger walked, and two batters later, Jesús Sánchez smoked a two-run single, and Canada found themselves down early. After Gausman struck out two and allowed just a soft single to Otto Lopez in the top half of the second, things really unravelled in the bottom of the frame. After three straight walks to start the inning, Allen’s day was done. Cambridge, Ontario’s Noah Skirrow entered in relief, but by the time he escaped the inning, the damage had been done, and Canada was losing 7-0. Or, depending on your allegiance, the Blue Jays led 7-0. But Canadians don’t just quit, and neither does Team Canada. From there, things got better. Skirrow came back out for the third and struck out the side, including Springer. The next three pitchers, Adam Macko (who was facing his own teammates), Eric Cerantola and Indigo Diaz combined to pitch three innings while allowing just one hit. It showcased one of Team Canada's strengths: bullpen depth. Maybe that was the change of momentum Canada needed, as then the bats woke up. In the top of the sixth, Longueuil, QC native Abraham Toro smoked a single to centerfield. Then, Mississauga, ON native Josh Naylor ripped an even harder single (110.4 EV) to right field, and Team Canada had runners on the corners with no out. After the elder Naylor stole second, the national team was able to drive both runners in on a Tyler O’Neill sacrifice fly and an Owen Caissie RBI single. Just like that, the score was 7-2, and suddenly, there was life. Canada added a third run in the seventh via a Jared Young sac fly, and then in the eighth, the bats exploded off of Jays Centre's #6 prospect Gage Stanifer. London, ON, native Jacob Robson led off the inning with an opposite-field home run, which started a run of four straight hitters reaching base, capped off by Athletics center fielder and Toronto native Denzel Clarke, who ripped a double. Black then proceeded to hit a sacrifice fly, and just like that, Canada had erased a seven-run deficit to tie things at 7-7. Team Canada was alive. The lead was short-lived, as in the bottom half, Canadian right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn gave up a three-run home run to Blue Jays first baseman Riley Tirotta. That proved to be the difference in the ballgame, as the Blue Jays defeated Team Canada 10-7. Overall, it was a good start for Team Canada, as they did what they set out to do. The offence showed life, scoring seven runs and recording three sacrifice flies, a sign of unselfish situational baseball, and they actually outhit the Blue Jays 10 to eight. Canada still has work to do. Allen’s five walks won’t win many baseball games, and the two defensive errors Canada made will need to be cleaned up if this group hopes to advance to the knockout round for the first time in tournament history. Team Canada will get another warm-up game against the Phillies at 1:05 p.m. this afternoon before their tournament opens on Saturday against Colombia at 11 am ET. Now, allegiances are split no longer. There's no more cheering for both teams – it’s all red and white from here on out. Ahead of a short tournament where anything can happen, Canada showed it has the talent to make things interesting, and if the breaks go their way, there’s a real opportunity to do something this program has never done before. From the Notebook Adam Macko (Stony Plain, AB) was in a precarious position as he got to pitch against his own team. Macko has pitched three scoreless innings for the Blue Jays so far this spring, and on Tuesday, he came in to face a pocket of three lefties. After a single to Nathan Lukes, he got Daulton Varsho to hit into a double play and Addison Barger to ground out to get out of the inning. Blue Jays prospect Je’Von Ward ended up playing for Team Canada in this game. Seems like the Blue Jays were lending a helping hand to the national team, since Ward is from Cerritos, California. He did play for the Vancouver Canadians this past season, and just for one day, he was an honorary Canadian. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout. Josh Naylor not only stole a base, but he also had the two hardest-hit baseballs in the game: a 110.4-mph single in the sixth and a 108.6-mph double play ball in the third. Hitting coach Justin Morneau revealed that Team Canada is planning on bringing some mini-sticks to Puerto Rico so they can play during any downtime at the WBC. View full article

On Saturday afternoon, I found myself in an all-too-familiar situation: genuinely excited to watch TV. It wasn’t reruns of Parks and Rec or Sportsnet’s Misplays of the Month. It was Blue Jays baseball. And for a moment, it was pure euphoria. It felt like I was sitting on a baseball-shaped cloud, with the voices of Ben Shulman and Madison Shipman ushering in another season. Once the first pitch was thrown, my baseball brain was back. I started watching the radar gun after every pitch, tracking Eric Lauer's pitch mix, and watching Alejandro Kirk frame pitches like the maestro he is. In the bottom of the first, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped in for his first professional at-bat since Game 7 of the World Series. He looked locked in immediately. He took a Bryse Wilson cutter inside for ball one. Wilson came back with a curveball that just missed the outside edge, a pitch close enough that Phillies catcher Rafael Marchan challenged via the ABS system. Vlad won. It was ball two. That's when Shulman said this: “Part of Guerrero’s success has been this, he just is not going to expand, he’s going to make you come after him.” When the plate appearance ended, Vlad had worked a five-pitch walk. He took four balls out of the zone, and took a healthy cut at the only one he got in the zone and fouled it back: It’s exactly the type of approach you want to see from any player, but especially Vlad. Swing at the pitches you can do damage with, and take the ones you can't. I got curious and wanted to look deeper into what Guerrero’s approach at the plate looked like under new hitting coach David Popkins. After doing some digging, I found it was still phenomenal, but different. Let me explain. My main takeaway was that Vladdy was swinging less often than ever before: What's more fascinating, though, is that swinging less didn't dramatically change his results. From 2019-2024, he swung at 48.5% of the pitches he saw and produced a .367 wOBA. In 2025, he swung at a career-low 42.2% of the time and posted a .366 wOBA. On the surface, nothing changed. The production was nearly identical. But the way he got there was different. First things first, it's plate discipline that matters. Swinging less is good, as long as you’re swinging less at pitches out of the zone, but swinging less at the ones you should be swinging at can be a problem. To evaluate swing decisions, I like to use Baseball Prospectus’ SEAGER metric (named after Corey Seager). It measures the value of a hitter's decision to swing or take based on count and pitch location. It rewards hitters who attack pitches they can do damage with and who lay off the unhittable ones. Guerrero's career SEAGER is 22.4, and in 2025, it dipped slightly to 20.4. The dip wasn’t about chasing more. It was about attacking less. In 2024, Vlad punished pitches in the heart of the zone. In 2025, he let more of those go by. When you pass on pitches you can drive, even elite hitters like Guerrero are leaving production on the table: Compare this to his wOBA per zone from 2024 and 2025: Now we can dive even deeper into his 2025 season and find more information. Here is a chart that shows Guerrero's Swing% and wOBA over the 2025 season: The data shows something fascinating: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. actually does more damage when he swings less. This doesn’t mean he needs to become more passive. It doesn't mean taking more strikes just for the sake of it. Passivity can be dangerous. Once pitchers learn that you’re unlikely to swing, they attack the zone and count leverage moves in their favor. So, for Vlad, it's not about passivity. It’s about eliminating the swings that don’t lead to damage. When he trims his swing decisions, he avoids weak contact and forces pitchers back into the zone. And when pitchers are forced into the zone against him, he attacks. When he attacks, he’s special. October was another sign of this philosophy. His Swing% dropped to 42.9%, and the wOBA rose to a stunning .517, showing that when Guerrero was swinging less, the damage was coming with him. It nearly led to a World Series banner being hung in Toronto. There’s more to it than just swinging. Vlad, like many others on the roster, was swinging harder than ever before, especially when he was ahead in the count. So, what does this mean entering 2026? Well, it seems like it's going to be more of the same. On MLB Network's "30 Clubs, 30 Camps," Guerrero explained his shift in philosophy: “In the season, if I see a man on second and no outs, I try to hit the ball the other way, and now [the Blue Jays] told me let's go to home plate and do damage, and that’s what I do this spring training… they tell me to bring him in, so I bring him in.” That sounds like a hitter who learned something in October. With Bo Bichette gone, there's no more debate. This is Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s team now, and manager John Schneider has the utmost confidence in his superstar, saying, “[Bichette's departure] allows Vlad to have a louder voice, and to understand this has been his team and will always be his team.” Guerrero hit just 23 home runs last season, but if he can maintain the changes he made into the postseason and the selective, damage-first version of Vlad carries into 2026, then the 48 home runs he hit in his MVP-caliber 2021 season don't seem out of reach. And that sounds much more like must-watch television than any Parks and Rec rerun could ever be. View full article

It's amazing what exercise, quality sleep, and good nutrition can do for an athlete. Very happy the Blue Jays are prioritizing this. They'll be a better baseball team for it

Rejoice, Blue Jays fans, spring training is finally here. It’s a truly wonderful time on the baseball calendar. Every team comes into camp at 0-0, and with that comes optimism that this could be the year that everything clicks. That, at the end of a long 162-game season, you could be the team left celebrating, having outlasted every opponent and achieved World Series glory. An outcome that the Blue Jays almost tasted in 2025. There is a long time between the first pitch in spring and the last pitch of the World Series, and any baseball team will look significantly different between now and then. The Blue Jays are no exception. But here’s the tricky part about spring training. Most of what you see doesn't matter. Batting averages, ERAs, and RBIs can all disappear by mid-May, and beyond the small sample size issue, there are structural reasons for that volatility. Hitters are often testing new swings, stances, or approaches at the plate. Pitchers experiment with new grips, pitch mixes, and release points. Early in camp, competition levels can fluctuate. Some days, you're facing a lineup full of MLB regulars; other times, it's minor league players one through nine. Because of this, the box score rarely reflects the real objective, and yet, underneath all that noise, some signals do matter. Let’s flash back to spring training 2025. The team was coming off an upsetting 74-win season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had set a date for a contract extension that had come and gone without one, and the team was left with more questions than answers. Then the games started. The Blue Jays ended up being the best team in the Grapefruit League. Alan Roden was the talk of camp, hitting .407 with four extra-base hits and more walks (6) than strikeouts (4), but by midseason, he had just two barrels and was traded at the deadline. Richard Lovelady and Jacob Barnes were good in the spring and made the team out of the bullpen, but neither player lasted more than three weeks on the roster. George Springer had a 52 wRC+ in spring, but then ended up with his best offensive season ever. Baseball is a game where small samples can mislead, and in spring training, those small samples get even smaller. So, if a player hits .400 in spring training, is it because of a change they made? Is it because they ran a high BABIP, or because they faced more minor league pitchers, or because of defensive chaos? Whatever the case may be, take every spring stat with a grain of salt. But that's not to say spring stats don’t matter; you just need to know what to look for. For example, a pitcher's walk and strikeout rates stabilize much more quickly than his ERA. On the hitting side, a stat like isolated power also has some predictive value. Looking at stats like these, it should be easier to predict when a breakout is coming. Here are three metrics to pay attention to this spring that matter more than basic stats: Velocity K-BB% Swing decisions/quality of contact Let’s take Daulton Varsho, for example. At the end of the 2024 season, he went through shoulder surgery, and although he wasn’t quite ready for Opening Day, he ended up making some changes to his approach, appeared in some spring games as the designated hitter, and he raked. He ended up with a .455 ISO, and even though his .242 average didn't jump off the page, the power did. The power surge in March wasn't a mirage. Not only was his regular season ISO a career high, but he also slugged 20 home runs in 71 games played. He homered once every 12.4 at-bats, a rate that would have ranked sixth in baseball had he qualified. Critically, his spring wasn’t predictive because of the home runs he hit; it was predictive because the underlying batted-ball profile had changed. Here's another recent Blue Jays example: 2021 Robbie Ray. Ray always had excellent stuff. His fastball/slider combination from the left side was great at generating swings and misses; he had a 12.1% career swinging-strike rate entering the 2021 season (per FanGraphs), well above league average. So his issue was never the stuff. It was consistently throwing strikes. After coming into camp and sitting down with Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker, Ray made some changes and improved his strike-throwing and attacked the zone more confidently. *No Statcast data available for Ray in spring 2018 The changes worked. His zone rate jumped to 50.8% in the 2021 regular season, the highest in any season of his career. The improved command unlocked the full potential of the swing-and-miss stuff he always had, which led to a Cy Young Award. Now, let’s go back to Springer, who, as mentioned earlier, was dreadful last year in spring training. Were there any signs that the bounceback was coming? The surface stats would say no: He went just 4-for-37 at the plate, with a sub .300 OBP and a dreadful .216 slugging percentage. But Springer wasn’t worried. He said in an interview with MLB’s Keegan Matheson last March, “I feel great, actually. For me, it’s about the process. It’s not about the results. I want to make sure that I’m swinging at the right pitches and getting my swing off. Yeah, obviously everyone would like to see the ball hit the grass, but for me specifically, I’m working on the mechanical side of it.” If the results didn’t show progress, did the underlying swing metrics tell a different story? It's hard to say for sure – public spring training Statcast data is still limited – but even the partial data hinted at a meaningful change. Here are some key stats: Season Pull% Swing% SwStr% 2023 39.5% 49.3% 9.8% 2024 39.8% 43.3% 11.3% Spring 2025 57.1% 38.0% 8.0% It looked like he began swinging less, but also missing less at the pitches he did swing at, and he was hitting the ball to his pull side more than ever. All of which pointed to a deliberate mechanical adjustment that Springer had made. If we had bat speed and more public Statcast data for spring training, then an increase in bat speed and in-zone swing rate may show more evidence of his adjustments in action. But seeing how his fast swing rate rose to 40.3% in 2025 (up from 22.4% and 24.4% the two years prior), and if you compare his 2024 regular season swing rate by zone to 2025 (as shown below), then it's fair to assume that the adjustment started in spring training. This zone breakdown shows he wasn’t just taking a more passive approach at the plate. Springer became more selective and attacked the pitches he knew he could handle. In 2024, he expanded more to the outer edges, but in 2025, his zone tightened. He forced pitchers back into the heart of the zone because he stopped chasing at the edges. When they did challenge him, he did damage. That kind of zone discipline shift doesn’t happen by accident. Now, what does this mean going into spring training 2026? Well, first things first, it's important not to dive too deep into surface-level spring stats. If Vladdy. hits .200, then ask these questions: Is the BAPIP unusually low? Are his swing decisions consistent? Is the hard-hit rate staying steady? You should also listen for some quotes from either Guerrero or the coaching staff; is he trying something new and still working out the kinks? Until all those questions have been answered, the concern level for any hitter should be low. The same is true if Kevin Gausman or Trey Yesavage get their splitters hit around a bit, as long as the velocity and movement profiles remain intact. Dylan Cease has been playing around with a kick-change, and his spring training results may look quite different than usual if his main focus is getting repetitions on that pitch. Look for pitchers, too, with big velocity jumps. If a young reliever comes into camp throwing harder than ever before, it could be a sign that they’ve unlocked another level and are ready to take another leap, even if the end of spring stat lines look a tad discouraging. The storylines will write themselves. Someone we expect to have a good spring is going to struggle, and someone that no one is expecting much of right now will make headlines, but take everything with a grain of salt. Spring training isn’t about the box score; it's about signals. The marathon doesn’t start in March, but the first hints of who is ready often do. View full article

The rosters are finalized, the stadiums are prepped, and the stage is set for the biggest and brightest World Baseball Classic yet. On Thursday, MLB Network revealed the official rosters for all 20 teams, and the picture became more complete as to who would get the honour of representing their countries in the tournament. Although there were a few notable omissions from Team Canada (e.g., Freddie Freeman, Nick Pivetta, Matt Brash), on paper, the roster looks like one of the best the country has ever brought to the tournament. The squad is headlined by former All-Stars Josh Naylor and Michael Soroka, and it includes young players with exciting tools. It's a tantalizing mix. For Canadian baseball fans, the roster reveal confirmed something they had been quietly hoping for: the most balanced and competitive team Baseball Canada has ever assembled for the World Baseball Classic. However, advancing in the WBC won't be easy. In previous tournaments, Canada hasn't had much luck. In the five they’ve competed in, they’ve gone winless twice. While they came into a win-and-move-on situation the other three times, they lost each one. Canada has come close before, but now they have a path that doesn’t directly run through the United States or Mexico. Success for Canada doesn’t require perfection, but surviving the pool and getting past the first round would be a win for the program. Canada has been placed in Pool A, and that means they will face Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Even though they won’t have to contend with the Americans, there is still a lot of talent on these teams, and Canada will still have to play well to advance. Canada’s schedule is front-loaded with opportunity and back-loaded with pressure. Here’s the schedule and days to know for Team Canada: Saturday, March 7th vs. Colombia 11:00 AM EST Sunday, March 8th vs. Panama 7:00 PM EDT Tuesday, March 10th vs. Puerto Rico 7:00 PM EDT Wednesday, March 11th vs. Cuba 3:00 PM EDT Canada will rely heavily on its depth and major league experience in the tournament, but in baseball, anything can happen. In a small tournament like this one, randomness and chaos are amplified even more, meaning every play, every swing, and every pitch matters exponentially. Canada will have to handle all the fundamentals, be smart on the bases, and cash in runs when the opportunity presents itself. With that context in mind, Canada’s path forward hinges on a few very specific things going right. Here are four roads that, if Canada travels, can lead them to World Baseball Classic glory. 1. Bank Early Wins Against Panama and Colombia This may seem obvious in any short round robin tournament, but the best way to advance is to win early and often. Team Canada should have a good chance to do that; they open their schedule against the two “softer” teams in the pool, Colombia and Panama. Taking care of business in those games will put immediate pressure on the rest of the group. Colombia has talent, particularly on the mound, with former MLB All-Star Jose Quintana anchoring their staff. However, an offence led by Donovan Solano, Gio Urshela, and Elias Díaz doesn't overwhelm. If Canada’s lineup can apply consistent pressure and avoid falling behind early, this is a game they should feel confident about controlling. Panama presents a slightly different challenge, with more pop in the lineup. Iván Herrera is coming off a 2.2 bWAR season for the Cardinals, and he is supported by other big leaguers like José Caballero and Edmundo Sosa. Cleveland Guardians pitcher Logan Allen will lead the staff, with former major leaguers Jaime Barria and Paolo Espino behind him. Canada’s pitchers will need to be sharp, but if the offence shows patience and capitalizes on mistakes, a 2-0 start is firmly in reach 2. Take Advantage of a Vulnerable Puerto Rico Team This will be Canada’s toughest opponent in the pool. Baseball in the Caribbean is electric, and when Team Canada takes the field on Tuesday, March 10, they’ll be stepping into a stadium fully aligned against them. Puerto Rico has dealt with some pre-tournament controversy due to several of their star players being denied insurance coverage. Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and current Toronto Blue Jay, José Berríos, will not be competing in the WBC. At one point, this led to speculation that Team Puerto Rico would withdraw from the tournament entirely. Yet, even without Lindor, Correa, Berríos, and other omissions, Puerto Rico is still the favourite to win the pool. Eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado will lead the team, along with major league regulars like MJ Melendez, Heliot Ramos, and Willi Castro. On the mound, former All-Star Seth Lugo will lead the rotation, while high-leverage bullpen options include Fernando Cruz, Jorge López, and one of the most dominant relievers in the world, Edwin Díaz. For Team Canada to have success in this game, managing the early innings will be paramount. A fast start can keep the Puerto Rican team (and fans) at bay and potentially keep Díaz out of the game entirely. Staying composed in a hostile environment and forcing Puerto Rico to play from behind could swing the game heavily in Canada’s favour. 3. Rely on the Coaching Staff In a tournament in which there are stricter pitching rules (a 65-pitch limit in the first round and a mandatory rest day after a pitcher throws 30+ pitches), having versatile arms in the bullpen will be key. Unlike some teams that are built around one or two frontline arms, Canada’s pitching staff is constructed to survive chaos. Multiple pitchers on this roster should be capable of throwing meaningful innings on short notice, and in a tournament with unpredictable game flow, that flexibility is a real advantage. That's where experience matters most. Ernie Whitt has managed Team Canada in all five of the country's WBC appearances. Knowing how long to let a pitcher throw, when to pull the plug, and how to navigate the bullpen within the rules can be the difference between winning a game and an early exit from the tournament. Beyond Whitt, the coaching staff contains some of Canada’s baseball legends. Former MVP Justin Morneau is the hitting coach, and all of Russell Martin, Stubby Clapp, and Paul Quantrill have worn the red and white in previous classics. For a team that has its share of young players, having these veterans to rely on can steady the group when the tournament begins. 4. Win Through Depth, Not Stars With no offence to Josh Naylor or Tyler O’Neill, Team Canada doesn’t have its own “superstar” on the roster, but that's perfectly fine; the team is built around balance, depth and adaptability, all of which are traits that have defined the Canadian international teams in any sport. Work long at-bats, get the opponent's pitch count up, and rely on your depth to outclass the other team. This can work extremely well against a team like Cuba, particularly with Canada and Cuba facing off on the last day of the round robin. Cuba has quality pitchers, but their depth doesn’t compare to Canada’s. If the final game against the Cubans turns into a winner-take-all matchup, Canada’s ability to spread responsibility across the entire roster could be the deciding factor in who moves on to the knockout round and who heads home early. Baseball is wild, and this year’s tournament is going to be more of the same. This sport is already built on small samples, and in a tournament so short, every pitch will matter that much more. Sometimes, chaos is going to be what it takes to win a tournament like this, and getting hot at the right time matters more than who has the most talent. If you're looking for an underdog story, then why can’t it be this scrappy, talented, hungry team? Oh, Canada indeed. View full article

While much of Canada’s sporting attention is focused on the Winter Olympics, the World Baseball Classic is quickly approaching, bringing together much of the game’s best talent on the international stage. On Thursday evening, Baseball Canada announced its official 30-man roster for the 2026 WBC, revealing that Canada is bringing some of its best and brightest talents to the world stage. The strength of the team is going to be its young position player core. All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor will provide some middle-of-the-order thump, coming off a 20-homer, 30-steal season with the Diamondbacks and Mariners in 2025. Joining him will be another power threat in Tyler O’Neill, who has eclipsed 30 home runs twice and has a pair of Gold Glove Awards to his name. It will be the third straight WBC appearance for O’Neill. Team Canada has a chance to exceed expectations, as there are more young players full of high-end potential on the roster that could provide elite production. Owen Caissie is a former top-100 prospect who has already reached the big leagues, Denzel Clarke is already one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball, and Edouard Julien, who is entering his fourth big league season, went 7-for-13 with four extra-base hits in the 2023 tournament. Beyond the headliners, the rest of the lineup is filled with major league contributors. Josh Naylor's brother Bo will be behind the plate, Otto Lopez just put together a 3.5 bWAR season with the Marlins, and Liam Hicks, Tyler Black, Abraham Toro, and Jared Young all spent some part of the 2025 season in the major leagues. Canada’s pitching staff leans heavily on experience, blending proven major league veterans with depth arms capable of soaking up innings in a short tournament. The rotation will be led by 2019 All-Star Michael Soroka, who has a career 3.85 ERA and will be making his WBC debut in 2026. Jameson Taillon has over 1,200 major league innings under his belt and will provide some quality innings for the team, as will Cal Quantrill, a veteran of seven MLB seasons. Canadian baseball fans will recognize some other names on the roster, most notably James Paxton (a.k.a. the Big Maple), who will be coming out of retirement to pitch for the team. Logan Allen, who has five years of big league experience, will join Team Canada after throwing 173 innings in the KBO in 2025. Rob Zastryzny, Jordan Balazovic, and Phillippe Aumont all have previous major league experience as well. The Canadian coaching staff can't be overlooked either. Ernie Whitt will manage the team for a record sixth straight WBC, and joining him will be former AL MVP Justin Morneau as hitting coach, former All-Star and Blue Jay Russell Martin as the first base coach, Paul Quantrill, Cal Quantrill’s father, as the pitching coach, and Stubby Clapp, who was a key part of the 2006 WBC team, rounds out the staff as the third base coach. For as good as Team Canada looks, some notable names were eligible but won't be playing. Former MVP and nine-time All-Star Freddie Freeman wanted to participate but withdrew due to “personal reasons” back in January. Kingston, Ontario native and Seattle Mariners flamethrower Matt Brash was a late withdrawal, while fellow major leaguers Nick Pivetta, Cade Smith, Erik Sabrowski, Jordan Romano, Jonah Tong, and pitching prospect Mitch Bratt were all left off the roster. With the roster finalized, attention now turns to pool play, and for the first time since the tournament began, Team Canada won't have to deal with Team USA in their pool. Canada is in Pool A, with games being played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico. Joining Team Canada in the pool will be Cuba, Panama, Colombia, and the hosts, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico will likely be the favourite, and while all five rosters feature major league talent, Canada has a clear path to success. If the Canadians can finish in the top two in their pool, it would mark the team's first trip to the knockout round in tournament history, and this roster has the talent to make that dream a reality. Team Canada will have a chance to tune up when they play against the Blue Jays in an exhibition game on March 3 in Dunedin, Florida. They'll play another the next day against the Phillies in Clearwater. The tournament gets underway on March 5, with Canada’s first game taking place on March 7 against Colombia. The full roster for Team Canada in the 2026 World Baseball Classic can be found here: Pitchers LHP Logan Allen, West Palm Beach, Florida LHP Micah Ashman, Salt Lake City, Utah RHP Phillippe Aumont, Gatineau, Quebec RHP Jordan Balazovic, Mississauga, Ontario RHP Eric Cerantola, Montreal, Quebec RHP Indigo Diaz, North Vancouver, British Columbia LHP Antoine Jean, Montreal, Quebec RHP Carter Loewen, Abbotsford, British Columbia LHP Adam Macko, Bratislava, Slovakia LHP James Paxton, Lander, British Columbia RHP Cal Quantrill, Port Hope, Ontario RHP Noah Skirrow, Cambridge, Ontario RHP Michael Soroka, Calgary, Alberta RHP Jameson Taillon, Lakeland, Florida LHP Matt Wilkinson, Vancouver, British Columbia LHP Rob Zastryzny, Edmonton, Alberta Catchers C Liam Hicks, Toronto, Ontario C Bo Naylor, Mississauga, Ontario Infielders 1B/DH Tyler Black, Toronto, Ontario 3B/DH Matt Davidson, Yucaipa, California 2B/SS Adam Hall, London, Ontario 2B Edouard Julien, Quebec City, Quebec 2B/SS Otto Lopez, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 1B Josh Naylor, Mississauga, Ontario 2B/3B Abraham Toro, Longueuil, Québec 1B/DH Jared Young, Prince George, British Columbia Outfielders OF Owen Caissie, Burlington, Ontario OF Denzel Clarke, Toronto, Ontario OF Tyler O’Neill, Burnaby, British Columbia OF Jacob Robson, London, Ontario Coaching Staff Manager: Ernie Whitt, Detroit, Michigan Hitting Coach: Justin Morneau, New Westminster, British Columbia Pitching Coach: Paul Quantrill, London, Ontario First Base Coach: Russell Martin, East York, Ontario Third Base Coach: Stubby Clapp, Windsor, Ontario View full article

As the calendar flips from January to February, the countdown is on to February 11th, when pitchers and catchers report to Dunedin, Florida. That's when opportunity quietly opens for players on the fringe of the roster. The Blue Jays have extended invites to 27 players from the minor league system or as minor league free agents, and they will all have an opportunity to impress and potentially make their way onto the big league roster at some point this summer. That was the case for Alan Roden, who was a minor league invitee in 2025 and found his way onto the Opening Day roster. As well as Myles Straw, Brandon Fischer, Mason Fluharty, and Lazaro Estrada, all of whom found some playing time in Toronto over the season. Here is an overview of all the players invited to camp, and what they may bring to the team. Blue Jays Pitchers RHP Jorge Alcala RHP Chad Dallas RHP Ryan Jennings RHP Fernando Perez RHP Yariel Rodriguez RHP Connor Seabold RHP Gage Stanifer RHP CJ Van Eyk RHP Chay Yeager LHP Javen Coleman LHP Michael Plassmeyer The list of pitchers offers a mix of youth, MLB experience, and notable arms in the Blue Jays system. Yariel Rodriguez is the name most Blue Jays fans will recognize, as he’s thrown 159 2/3 IP over the past two seasons in a mixture of starts and relief appearances, before he was outrighted off the 40-man roster earlier this offseason. Connor Seabold, 30, appeared in 27 games for the Colorado Rockies in 2023, but just like most Rockies pitchers, the results weren’t pleasant. He pitched to a 7.52 ERA that season. Still, he has experience as both a reliever and a starter and could see time in the swingman role if things break well for him this season. Jorge Alcala, 30, is a veteran of seven MLB seasons, who has spent the majority of them pitching out of the Twins' bullpen. His 2025 season was one to forget, as he posted a 6.22 ERA across the Twins, Red Sox, and Cardinals. He has had success in the past, as shown by a career 4.29 ERA and a fastball that averages 97.4 mph. If injuries or poor performances occur ahead of him, Alcala may have a chance to be in the big league bullpen at some point this summer. Other names on this list have already been in the Blue Jays farm system. Gage Stanifer (Jays Centre #6 prospect) leads the pack. He soared through the farm system in 2025, with 161Ks over 110 innings across three levels. He’ll be a player to watch this spring. Fernando Perez (JC’s #19 prospect) provides intriguing upside, and Yeager, Jennings, and Coleman are young players who could impact the big league team a few years from now. Blue Jays Catchers Robert Brooks Edward Duran Aaron Parker Geovanny Planchart CJ Stubbs The list of catchers also provides some intrigue. Stubbs was the most recent addition, signing as a minor league free agent on Jan 24th. Despite limited big league time, he can provide some depth should the Jays have injuries at the catcher position. Edward Duran, 21, may be the most intriguing player of the group. He was the player to be named later in the trade that sent Anthony Bass to the Marlins. He’s a good framer and has good bat-to-ball skills, and there is hope that some power may develop. Aaron Parker has some power from the position (8 HR in 249 AB’s), where Planchart and Brooks have struggled offensively, but can hold their own behind the plate. Blue Jays Infielders 3B/SS Cutter Coffey SS Josh Kasevich 1B/3B Sean Keys 2B Rafael Lantigua 3B Charles McAdoo 2B/OF Carlos Mendoza SS Arjun Nimmala SS Josh Rivera 1B/3B Riley Tirotta In the infield is where the real bread and butter of this class is. Highlighting this list is Arjun Nimmala (JC’s #3, prospect), a consensus top 100 prospect in all of baseball, who is looking to have another impressive spring, after hitting a massive home run against the Pirates last spring. Josh Kasevich (JC #11) is another name to watch. Bo Bichette’s departure means there is just one fewer name above him in the depth chart. After an outstanding 2024 stint in Triple A (120 wRC+ in 41 games), his 2025 was riddled with injuries and poor performance. Last month, we took a look at Kasevich and what his path to the big leagues would look like. A strong performance this spring would be a good start. Aside from the top prospects there is a lot of talent in this group, Coffey and McAdoo (JC’s #14) were brought over in separate trades at the 2024 trade deadline and both have hit well in the minors, Keys has 60 grade raw power from the left side, Tirotta just had a 112 wRC+ in AAA last season, Mendoza, Lantigua and Rivera provide positional flexibility. Blue Jays Outfielders Eloy Jimenez RJ Schreck Out of all the names mentioned, Jimenez has by far the most big league experience. He has just shy of 2000 big league at-bats with the White Sox and Orioles from 2019 to 2024. He won a Silver Slugger in 2020, hit 31 home runs in his rookie 2019, and finished ahead of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio in rookie of the year voting that season. Jimenez found himself in the Blue Jays system late in 2025 and hit just 3-18 with one extra-base hit in that time. Although it feels so far in the past now, the talent is in there somewhere, and giving Jimenez a chance to work with the big-league coaches this spring could help him unlock something. Schreck, 25, was another name acquired at the 2024 deadline, this one from Seattle in the Yimi Garcia trade, and he looks big league ready. A 143 wRC+, getting on base 39% of the time, and has shown power with 18 home runs over 105 minor league games. The outfield picture on the big league roster seems set, but as long as Schreck continues where he left off, he's incredibly likely to see big league time in Toronto this summer Performance in spring training doesn't always mean much in the long run, but history suggests that at least one of these names will matter by August, and a strong spring training will be exactly what opens that door. View full article

My nostalgia meter is full, what a good read. Imagine if Adrain Gonzalez became a Blue Jay that would have been wild

Anthony Santander’s 2025 season will be one to forget. Fresh off signing a five-year, $92.5 million contract (with deferrals and an opt-out sprinkled in), he was supposed to provide the Blue Jays with some much-needed power as a middle-of-the-order bat. He was coming off a season in which he hit 44 home runs, made the All-Star team, and won the Silver Slugger Award, and the Blue Jays were expecting big things. Things didn’t go as expected. He started with just one extra-base hit through his first 14 games, and it didn’t get much better from there. Santander played regularly through the end of May, until a left shoulder injury caused him to miss the next four months. Aside from four games at the end of the regular season and a few playoff appearances, his season was essentially over. On the whole, his season line reads .179/.273/.304 with six home runs and a 61 wRC+ in 54 games played. The injury certainly was a part of that, but it wasn’t everything. Small sample caveat applied, his strikeout rate rose to a career-high 27.6%, his barrel rate dropped to a career-low 4.5%, and his xBA, xSLG, and xwOBA all fell to career lows. Even when he was playing, he was not up to par. Now, to find a way to get Santander back to his 2024 levels, we have to learn from what he did so well. The 44 home run total pops off the page, especially so because he doesn't typically hit the ball that hard (62nd percentile average exit velocity in 2024). What he does do well is hit the ball in the air to his pull side frequently. His pull air rate in 2024 was 28%, which had him 12th in baseball. Pair that with a career high 17.1% HR/FB ratio, and Santander was able to break into his home run trot fairly regularly. In 2025, things were different. The HR/FB ratio regressed to just 10%, well below his 14.2% career average, and while the pull air rate actually rose again (31.3%), he ended up putting a lot more of his batted balls on the ground. In 2024, his 0.56 GB/FB ratio ranked second in baseball (min 200 PA), behind Mookie Betts. In 2025, that number fell all the way to 75th. For a player who has never been a fast runner, hitting balls on the ground more often is likely to lead to more outs. Here are Santander's GB% and FB% in each portion of the strike zone in 2024 (per Baseball Savant). Keep in mind, the red sections represent a higher rate in the flyball graphic and a lower rate in the groundball graphic: And in 2025: In 2024, Santander was elite at turning pitches in almost all quadrants of the zone into fly balls and limiting groundballs. As you can see from the second set of charts, that trend faded in 2025. One of the main draws of Santander was that he was a switch-hitter who hit fairly evenly from both sides of the plate (career 116 wRC+ as a righty and 111 as a lefty entering 2025). He makes good contact, and coming into this past season, he hadn't struggled much against any one particular pitch type compared to the others. In 2025, that last point changed as well. Santander really struggled against four-seam fastballs in his first season with the Blue Jays, posting a .449 OPS and a career-low .207 wOBA on the pitch. Nearly half of his strikeouts (29 of 61) came against four-seamers, and pitchers responded by attacking him with more velocity, particularly at the top of the zone: via FanGraphs Compounding the issue, Santander’s bat speed declined across the board, limiting his ability to do damage even when he made contact: via Baseball Savant Bat speed decline is typically one of the first signs of aging, and one could look at this as an indication that the now 31-year-old is beginning the decline phase of his career. If it is anything like his 2025, that's a scary thought. There’s more to factor into this. Santander historically has always caught the ball out in front of his swing, hence why he has been able to hit the ball to his pull side so much. This is why he hits so many foul balls (Davy Andrews of FanGraphs wrote a great piece on that last offseason). His swing was even more out in front in 2025, as you can see here: via Baseball Savant The average intercept point in baseball is -2.3 inches. Santander was almost a full foot in front of that in 2025. We can't rule out the shoulder injury portion of this. As I said at the top, it likely had a lot to do with why Santander struggled. A condition known as a "batter's shoulder" can cause a hitter to lose bat speed on his swing. It makes sense; hitters are far less likely to swing aggressively when they know that a miss will cause pain. The good news is, there could be a fix to this. Arizona Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll has also dealt with shoulder injuries, one of which caused him to see his exit velocities drop in his sophomore season. However, he was able to make some swing adjustments. He reworked his swing, adding tilt and using a more vertical bat angle, which helped his numbers rebound. That could be Santander's path back to being the power-hitting monster we know he can be. The good news is, not all hope is lost for Santander. The Blue Jays have already seen a similar rebound internally. Just last year, George Springer added bat speed, improved against fastballs, and posted his lowest GB/FB ratio since arriving in Toronto. A healthy offseason to rest and recover, and some small swing tweaks in spring training, could be the difference between a player who hurts the team more than he helps, or one who goes back to being the middle-of-the-order power threat he used to be. Either way, whether it's due to health, a slight swing change, or maybe just a vote of confidence, the Blue Jays are banking on Santander to bounce back in a big way, and with the right touch, they just may get what they're wishing for. View full article

Turns out Mitch Bannon clarified this, He was a minor-league free agent this fall and elected to re-sign with the Blue Jays, So he will be at MLB camp just wasn't included in this list. Shout out to Simon who turned me onto that as well.