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Blue Jays: Will the Return of Hernandez Help with the RISP Issues?

By Miguel Mike Medina |
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2022 in New York City. The Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 6-4. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2022 in New York City. The Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 6-4. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Toronto Blue Jays have high expectations for this season. Everyone is looking at their offense, which can be a nightmare for any pitcher on any given day with how potent the lineup is. Although, their output hasn’t looked so great when it comes to runners in scoring position. What’s missing to lift this offense when there are men on base?

Teoscar Hernandez.

He’s the missing ingredient to turn this offense around and cash in those runs.

Hernandez is very vital to the Jays’ batting order. Since June 2019, Hernandez has hit .282 with 72 home runs and is an underrated home run hitter. He is one of the big reasons why the Blue Jays were hot in the second half of the 2021 season alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.

There is good news for Jays fans: Hernandez is back. After being out of action for three weeks with a left oblique strain, he’s coming to the rescue.

With outfielder Teoscar Hernandez returning from the IL this past weekend, how will he impact the Toronto Blue Jays RISP issues?

On May 7th, he made his return to the lineup. Did he produce?

No, he went 0-for-3.

What about the next day? Did he produce? Yes, he did.

He had one hit and two RBI against the Cleveland Guardians. Hernandez did also strike out four times in seven at-bats, but here’s something to remind everyone: it will take some games to get back to form when you come back from injuries. When you’re playing in the first few games in return, you feel rusty and out of sync and Hernandez is experiencing that right now.

Hernandez hitting fourth or fifth in the lineup after Springer, Bichette, and Vlad Jr could work as the potential start of a team to put the ball in play and drive in runs more frequently.

Next. It’s never too early to dream on the next big trade. dark

The Jays are hitting .187 in Runners in Scoring Position (RISP) and rank 16th in Batting Average on Balls in Play (BABIP). Not the numbers you want to see from such a talented offense, but these are the early trials and tribulations the team is going through. The Blue Jays are going to be okay and Hernandez will hopefully be better than ever.

It’s May, and there are a lot of baseball games left to play in the season.

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