6 players the Blue Jays are holding back this year

After a solid start to the 2025 MLB season, the Toronto Blue Jays have fallen back to the middle of the pack in the league in just a matter of weeks. That slump, along with some injuries, has led to the making some moves to kickstart the team like the additions of Spencer Turnbull andJosé Ureña to hopefully bolster the pitching staff.

But part of the Blue Jays' disappointing start can be attributed to the team misusing some of the players on the roster. While they've contibuted to some success, it's not hard to imagine the team being a bit better if they used some of the players on the roster more.

With that in mind, here's a look at six players the Blue Jays have held ack this year.

6 players the Blue Jays are holding back this year

INF Will Wagner

Wagner was one of the Blue Jays' pleasant surprises last year after he came over to the team from the Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi trade.

Wagner amassed a .305 batting average with six doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs before a knee injury ended his season prematurely after 24 games.

The 26-year-old infielder entered 2025 as a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate even if his roster spot got a little murkier after the team traded for Andrés Giménez in the offseason.

And while he had a promising start to the season, he ended up struggling for most of April. He posted a .186 batting average with just two RBI in 20 games this year before being demoted to Triple-A at the end of the April when Daulton Varsho was added to the roster.

One of the keys to success for a prospect like Wagner is to get everyday playing time to help with the growth and development of their game. But Wagner got sporadic playing time in MLB due to the Blue Jays' middle-infield logjam before being demoted to Triple-A.

That lack of everyday playing time likely played a role in his lack of success this year — and also held his development back. While it's good that he's getting everyday at-bats in Triple-A, the Blue Jays should have made more of a point to get him playing time in MLB prior to his demotion.

C Tyler Heineman

The Blue Jays brought Heineman back for his third stint with the organization last year in the hopes that he could be a steady backup catcher behind Alejandro Kirk for the 2025 season. He entered 2025 with a .212 batting average in 111 career games in MLB.

Heineman has been off to a hot start this year and has put up numbers way beyond his typical averages.

I the 33-year-old veteran has compiled a stellar .406 batting average with three doubles, one home run and six RBI in 13 games.

Heineman's been a monster against left-handed pitching, as he's hitting .643 with a 1.600 OPS in 13 at-bats against southpaws. In comparison, Kirk's hitting .260 in 26 games this year.

Heineman's only had one start since the calendar turned to May, however, and his numbers have dipped a bit due to that sporadic playing time. The Jays have been desperate for any kind of offense, and it would be wise for Jays’ manager John Schneider to deploy Heineman just a bit more to capitalize on his hot bat.

RHP Andrew Bash 

Bash has been in the Blue Jays organization since they signed him as a minor league free agent in 2021, but he's never been closer to MLB than right now. He posted an ERA under 3.00 in both 2023 and '24, and was named the Buffalo Bisons' Pitcher of the Year last year. Those stats weren't enough for him to earn an MLB callup, however.

Bash has impressed this season with Buffalo after being in spring training as a Non-Roster Invitee. He's posted a 3-0 record with a sparkling 1.96 ERA along with 15 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings over nine appearances (two starts).

While the Jays have cycled through plenty of uninspiring pitchers this year like Jacob Barnes, Richard Lovelady, Josh Walker, Casey Lawrence and Easton Lucas, they still haven’t given Bash a look at the major league level.

Yes, it may be a hassle to add Bash to the 40-man roster, but the Jays need quality pitching. It's a surprise that the team hasn't given him a shot to make a mark with the big league team. It’s time for the Blue Jays to seriously consider him as an option, especially if veteran arms like Eric Lauer and Dillon Tate don’t pan out.

INF Orelvis Martinez

Martinez is one the best hitting prospects in the Jays’ system, so plenty of fans were awaiting his arrival to MLB, since he has the skills and tools needed to become a bonafide 30-homer, 100-RBI man in the majors. That moment didn't last long last year, however, as he played in one game with the Blue Jays last year before being hit with with an ill-timed PED suspension that ended his year.

had an outside shot of making the Opening Day roster with the Jays this spring, but he was sent to Triple-A at the start of the year He then had a dreadful start to the year in Triple-A, as he managed just a dismal .056 average with one home run and a whopping 19 strikeouts in just 36 at-bats.

Martinez has looked a lot better, since then, however, as he's hit .400 since the calendar turned to May. That's part of a strong turn-of-form for Martinez, who is hitting .324 over his last 10 games.

The Blue Jays are still struggling to score runs, and Martinez could help with those struggles. While he strikes out more than you'd like, the Blue Jays' infielders have largely been underproducing, so Martinez's addition could help jumpstart a struggling unit.

INF Ernie Clement

It was just last year when Clement had his breakthrough season as the Jays' everyday third baseman. Not only did he set career highs in runs scored (48), doubles (21), home runs (12), RBIs (51) and stolen bases (12), he finally proved that he could be a legitimate and productive major leaguer.

It seems like that solid performance wasn't enough for Clement a starting role this year. as he's started just 21 of the 34 Blue Jays' games so far this year.

That lack of playing time can make it difficult for anyone get into a groove, but it seems like that's something that Clement really benefits from, as most of his success last year came after he became a fixture in the lineup.

As a result, the 29-year-old infielder has really struggled at the start of the season, as he hit a lowly .097 with a .323 OPS in his first 14 games of the season. 

But he's done better as of late, which is due in large part to him locking down the everyday third baseman role after the team sent Wagner to Triple-A. Clement's hit .240 over his last eight games with two doubles.

Clement's the heartbeat of the bottom of the Jays' order, and the Blue Jays should keep doing everything they can to keep him in the lineup.

OF Myles Straw

Straw ended up in Toronto this winter when the Blue Jays acquired his contract from Cleveland along with $2 million in international pool money to help their chances of signing Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki. And while they didn't end up with Sasaki, Straw's been a key piece for them this year.

Straw had a strong spring training showing where he hit .400 with one home run and six RBIs in 19 games, which helped him earn a spot on the Blue Jays' roster on Opening Day.

While Straw likely would have earned a spot on the roster thanks to that showing alone, he also benefitted from Daulton Varsho starting the season on the injured list.

Straw's never been an offensive powerhouse in his career (he entered the year with an OPS+ of 76 in 566 career at-bats), but he's off to a great start this year.

That start could be even better if the Blue Jays gave him more playing time.

Straw's hit .269 in 27 games this year, but only 15 of those have been starts. It doesn’t make sense that the Blue Jays have given more playing time to struggling players like Alan Roden (.178 average, .522 OPS) and Addison Barger (.139 average, .427 OPS). 

Straw may not be your ideal power hitter, but he has a profile that allows for him to have success at the plate and on the base paths.

His best season came in 2021 when he scored 86 runs, had 48 RBI and stole 30 bases while hitting a solid .271 split between the Houston and Cleveland. And that's not even including the fact that he's a former Gold Glove winner.

He deserves more playing time, and the Blue Jays should give it to him.