3 Blue Jays players that are no longer worth defending

The Toronto Blue Jays have had various players enduring some struggles to start their 2026 MLB campaign this year. For the bulk of them, they have found ways to turn things around recently and have started to make more significant contributions on a daily basis.

However, for a few select Blue Jays players, they have yet to exude the confidence that they have found their game and have continued to struggle despite receiving valuable opportunities to show their worth.

The persistent struggles have been worrisome for these three Blue Jays players

C Tyler Heineman

Tyler Heineman was certainly a valuable member of the Blue Jays squad in 2025 that made it all the way to the World Series. However, Heineman has been struggling immensely so far with Toronto in 2026. Serving as the Blue Jays main backup catcher, the 34-year-old has batted a putrid .150 with a .340 OPS, along with just four runs scored, zero home runs, three RBIs, one walk and 14 strikeouts in 67 total plate appearances spanning 25 games (going into May 20).

More importantly, in a time where starting catcher Alejandro Kirk had been on the sidelines for a significant period of time with a thumb injury, Heineman had all the opportunities to prove that he could step up into a starting role and hold the fort down until Kirk returned. But instead, it has been rookie catcher Brandon Valenzuela rising to the occasion and has likely surpassed Heineman now on the depth chart at catcher. When Kirk does comes off the IL, it really should be Valenzuela staying as the main backup.

P Jeff Hoffman

When the Blue Jays didn’t go out to get a traditional closer this past offseason to serve as insurance to Jeff Hoffman in the event that he faltered in 2026, it showed that Toronto management really believed in his ability to get the job done.

Blue Jays fans' ultimate fear came to fruition when Hoffman started to implode following a strong start to the season. In the end, the former All-Star reliever was removed from his closer’s role as Toronto hoped that he could rediscover his form in slightly lower leverage situations as the seventh or eighth inning guy.

However, things haven’t gotten any better for Hoffman in his new role as he has given up runs in three of his past four outings (going into May 20). For the season, he has compiled a 2-3 record with three blown saves, a 5.75 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 22 appearances.

Despite all of that, Hoffman and his 35 strikeouts in 20.1 innings of work has been the most impressive. Nevertheless, if he isn’t able to get the outs that the Blue Jays need from him, all of the whiffs won't mean a thing. The future deployment of Hoffman by Blue Jays manager John Schneider should be done very carefully due to his erratic play and unreliability.

OF/2B Davis Schneider

Finally, the Blue Jays have given Davis Schneider bundles of opportunities to break out this year. Even when Schneider had a miserable spring showing in which he posted a .132 average, .409 OPS, along with just one run scored, zero home runs, two RBIs and 12 strikeouts in 38 total at-bats, Toronto gave him the benefit of the doubt from his previous proven track record to make the Opening Day roster.

However, now close to two months into the 2026 season, those struggles by Schneider has painfully persisted. In 35 games to date, he has batted .136 with a .540 OPS, together with just three doubles, one home run, eight RBIs and 29 strikeouts in 66 total at-bats.

As much as Schneider is getting a long leash by Blue Jays management, it might be the right time to give him some time to reset and re-establish his prior form with a stint in the minors given he has still options remaining. Especially with rookie outfielder Yohendrick Pinango impressing the Blue Jays brass since his promotion, he can confidently hold the fort while Schneider works things out. That way, Toronto can eventually get back the Schneider of old that could come up with the big hits and be a force once again in the Blue Jays lineup.

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