Blue Jays: Things to keep an eye on in Spring Training

Catchers

Catcher may not be a position you would consider a strength of the team, but the Blue Jays actually have a pretty loaded catching room. As of now, the starting spot is Danny Jansen‘s to lose, but with Alejandro Kirk nipping at his tail, things could change. Add in Reese McGuire, who started the most games for the team at catcher in 2021, and their number one prospect, Gabriel Moreno, and catcher is looking like it could be the most interesting position in Spring Training.

While Jansen will likely be the starter on opening day, a strong Spring Training at the plate from Kirk could put some pressure on Jansen. For Reese McGuire, a roster spot is no guarantee and he will have to show that he can at least compete to avoid going back to Buffalo. Gabriel Moreno is perhaps the most interesting of the bunch given how many different paths he has.

Some believe that Moreno is such a good hitter that he should move to third to save his knees (similar to what happened with Josh Donaldson and Bryce Harper) and if he shows out at the plate, this could gain even more traction. Aside from just competing to make the team though, his name is one that often comes up in trade talks, and if he has a good performance in Spring Training, he could be the main piece of a big trade (like the aforementioned third basemen).

A lot is riding on Spring Training for these catchers, so expect them to all put their best foot forward once the games begin.