Blue Jays: Five Players Who Need to Have Career Years

Dalton Pompey

Dalton Pompey needed a successful preseason to really prove to the Blue Jays brain trust his true value and that he could handle the next level of competition on a regular basis. Unfortunately for Pompey he suffered a concussion representing Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic.

The speedy outfielder injured himself sliding into second base when he did a face plant in what appeared to be a harmless play. The injury has all but derailed the Canadians chances of making the squad out of camp now.

In a year where the left field position was open for the taking as Melvin Upton struggles and Ezequiel Carrera profiles as a fourth outfielder, Pompey had a real chance with a strong spring. The 24-year old has spent parts of three seasons and 170 games at the Triple-A level and needs an opportunity sooner than later on a full-time basis.

Defence and speed are the not the issue for Pompey who needs to prove he can hit major league pitching on a regular basis. His speed is breathtaking as we have all witnessed in the postseason and he would add an element to the roster that not many players can replicate.

Pompey is a career .222 hitter with a .291 on-base percentage and 8 stolen bases in 59 games at the major league level with the Blue Jays.

Hopefully, he gets the chance to prove what he can do north of the border in 2017.