Blue Jays: Charlie Montoyo’s first look at a batting lineup

The Blue Jays are playing their first spring training game on Sunday, which also gives us a first look at this year’s batting lineup.

There were a lot of different ways that Charlie Montoyo could go, and it’s been one of the popular topics of the offseason for Blue Jays fans. There was a time a few years ago that the Blue Jays needed to find anyone who could serve as the lead-off hitter, and now they have three or four options that you could make a solid argument in favour of.

I’m sure it’s a look that will change throughout the season, but here’s the first lineup that Montoyo will utilize in Spring Training anyway.

1- Cavan Biggio (3B)
2- Marcus Semien (2B)
3- Bo Bichette (SS)
4- Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (LF)
5- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B)
6- Rowdy Tellez (DH)
7- Danny Jansen (C)
8- Josh Palacios (RF)
9- Jonathan Davis (CF)

There are at least two key names that won’t start on Sunday, and they’ll have an effect on the look of the lineup when they’re in there. That would be George Springer, who will hit somewhere among the top three, and Teoscar Hernandez, who is likely the leading candidate for the clean-up spot. There’s a very good chance that Randal Grichuk will see playing time as well.

What’s interesting about this first look is that Cavan Biggio has remained at the top of the lineup, and in my opinion, that’s where he should stay. You could make a good argument that Springer should continue as the leadoff hitter as he has for the majority of his career, but he could be equally or even more effective in the two or three hole.

For the most part, the Blue Jays are going with their starters in the first game of their spring season, but we’ll also get a look at Palacios and Davis, who will both battle for a spot on the bench, should the Blue Jays carry four role players rather than an extra reliever.

Any way you look at it, baseball is back, and that’s a very good thing.