Blue Jays: Five Surprise Players in Spring Training

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Feb 15, 2017; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons (5) talks as he watches pitchers and catchers warm up before the first workout at Cecil P. Englebert Recreation Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The Grapefruit League season has rounded into the home stretch and meaningful baseball is in the not so distant future. Here is a look at five Toronto Blue Jays players who have turned some heads with their preseason play this spring.

The Toronto Blue Jays as a team have not exceeded expectations in the win column this spring as they sit perched only ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the Grapefruit League standings with an uninspiring 7-14 record. Their .333 win percentage is also the worst of any American League team thus far in preseason play.

However, if you have been a baseball enthusiast for any amount of time you have learned through trials and tribulations not to put too much emphasis on the spring win count. This year in particular as a handful of players left camp to represent their respective countries at the World Baseball Classic.

The Blue Jays were also without slugger Josh Donaldson until earlier this week and Devon Travis who is still rehabbing from an injury. While players like Troy Tulowitzki had their workloads dramatically reduced as they were eased into spring action.

Regardless, whether or not it’s for keeps, it is always interesting to see what players have come from under the radar and impressed and who may unexpectedly challenge for a roster spot. Take it for what it’s worth but here is five Blue Jays who have undoubtedly caught the eye of their skipper John Gibbons this spring in Dunedin.

Darrell Ceciliani

Darrell Ceciliani presents an interesting case for the Blue Jays brain trust and their question marks surrounding the left field job. The batting-gloveless outfielder has had a very respectable spring training and could force his way onto the roster with the injuries to Ezequiel Carrera, Melvin Upton, and Dalton Pompey.

The Jays acquired Ceciliani last offseason from the New York Mets in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

The burly left-hander has compiled the most at-bats of any player with 48 tries this spring batting .272 with 13 hits and a .723 OPS with one home run. Cecilliani leads the team with seven runs batted in, however, he is also tied for second with 13 strikeouts.

Ceciliani saw action in 13 games last season for the Blue Jays batting .111 in 29 plate appearances. The 26-year old had a .266/.323/.441 slash line with 10 home runs in 82 games last season with the Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons.

More than likely Ceciliani will be outfield depth in Buffalo but depending on the severity of the injuries to the outfield trio, he may break camp with the big club. However, with the left field position in flux and the underachieving and expected short leash placed upon the free-swinging Upton, Ceciliani will no doubt get another long look from the big club at some point during the 2017 campaign.

Kevin Pillar

Initially, I was not going to include Kevin Pillar as a spring surprise seeing he is an everyday regular. However, Pillar seems to have made significant adjustments to his approach and although a small sample size appears to have rounded the corner offensively.

Pillar is batting .350 with 14 hits, 6 doubles and a triple in 40 at-bats. The real kicker is that Pillar has walked five times while only striking out four times all spring. The defensive highlight reel only walked a total of 24 times all last season. His 15 game spring slash line is All-Star worthy at .350/.422/.550, however, Pillar has only swiped one base in four attempts, a surprisingly low success rate thus far.

If Pillar can actually put it all together offensively he would absolutely solidify an already potent attack. If Devon Travis is healthy and presumably in the leadoff spot, Pillar could slot as the number nine hitter in the lineup offering some speed on the bases before the lineup turns over to the big guns.

The 28-year old volunteered to play in a minor league affair earlier this week just to work on bunting, he bunted in seven consecutive at-bats attempting to reach for base hits each time. Pillar is poised to add that element to his repertoire this season which would be a welcomed addition to compliment his speed.

This season could be an exciting one for “KP” if his spring training numbers are any indication.

Jon Berti

Jon Berti has been “Steady Eddy” all spring, a consistent hard-nosed utility player who plays the game the way it is meant to be played. It would appear that Berti has climbed the infield depth chart this spring and is a good bet to make his major league debut at some point during the 2017 season.

The 27-year old is batting .297 with 11 hits, 5 runs batted in and a team-leading 8 runs scored while swiping 2 bags in 4 attempts in 37 at bats. Berti has the capability to play second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield positions which make him an invaluable asset to any manager.

Last season Berti hit .256 with 80 hits, 4 home runs and 36 stolen bases in 45 attempts between three minor league levels. Berti owns a professional career .262/.350/.354 slash line with 249 stolen bases in 689 minor league games,

Berti will more than likely begin the season in Triple-A with the Bisons however with the health issues surrounding Devon Travis and Ryan Goins inability to make consistent contact, Berti’s MLB debut may not be far off.

The former 18th round draft pick of the Blue Jays in 2011 will look to build off his solid spring campaign and wait for the call from the big club. Sooner or later Gibby will require a speedy multi-positional player to fill a hole on the MLB roster.

Mike Ohlman

I will admit I was not very familiar with Mike Ohlman when the Blue Jays inked the catcher to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. However, Ohlman has done nothing but impress me everytime I get the opportunity to see him in Grapefruit League action. This big man is no slouch with the lumber, he can hit.

The 6’5″ Ohlman is batting .250 with a .958 OPS with 4 hits and 5 runs batted in in 16 spring at-bats. Ohlman is tied with four other players with 2 round trippers this spring. The 26-year old split time between Double-A and Triple-A last season for the St.Louis Cardinals batting .287 with 7 home runs in 78 games.

Ohlman was drafted in the 11th round of the 2009 amateur draft by the Baltimore Orioles. The backstop is a career .264 minor league hitter with 56 home runs in 722 professional games. Ohlman has also played 42 games at first base starting 13 of them during his career.

The native of Bradenton, Florida will presumably take his tools of ignorance to Buffalo and start the season with the Bisons as Jarrod Saltalamacchia is the odds-on favorite to back up Russell Martin. Ohlman should be the first option called upon if an injury should arise with the big club behind the dish.

Get to know Mike Ohlman as you will be seeing him at some point in 2017.

Jose Bautista

Joey Bats is back and back with a vengeance, I would be remiss to omit Jose Bautista from the list after many people had written the slugger off after an injury-riddled 2016. The Bat Flip King was putting up video game numbers before leaving for the World Baseball Classic Tourney.

The slugger was batting a team-leading .563 with a 1.674 OPS in 18 at bats. Bautista has 9 hits including 2 doubles, 2 walks, 2 home runs and 6 runs batted in so far in Grapefruit League action.

Bautista also hit .333 with 6 hits and a home run in 5 games for the Dominican Republic contingent at the WBC. The outfielder sat out the elimination game for precautionary measures with a stiff back, however, is expect to be back in action with the Jays this week.

The 36-year old appears poised to return to his old home run swatting form after struggling last season due to a couple ill-timed freak injuries. The Blue Jays offense needs a Bautista resurgence to compensate for a certain first baseman who left via free agency during the offseason.

Bautista’s spring performance tops the list of pleasant surprises but then again nobody should ever question the abilities he possesses or his knack for coming through in the clutch.

Expect big things from a healthy Mr. Bautista in 2017.

Next: Blue Jays bold predictions for 2017 season

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