Five At-Bats That Changed the Blue Jays Season

Over the course of 145 games to date (going into Wednesday) the Toronto Blue Jays have had some incredible and memorable moments. Especially in a year that started with less-than great expectations, even from the most optimistic fans. The fact they are now under double digits to clinch a post-season spot with still over two weeks to play is a position they wouldn't be in without many clutch moments over and over again.

So it's hard to narrow all of those moments down to just a handful of key at-bats. However, in these five instances, if the outcome had gone differently for Toronto, they may not be leading the AL East this late into the year.

Five At-Bats That Changed the Blue Jays Season

No. 1 - April 25, Alejandro Kirk vs Devin Williams

The Blue Jays were trailing 2-1 to the Yankees in New York as they entered the top of the ninth. Andrés Giménez led off with a single, then George Springer was hit by a pitch. Up to the plate came Alejandro Kirk who was struggling through the first month of the year. He was slashing .211/.250/.282 and had just three walks compared to 11 strikeouts in 76 plate appearances.

But he came through in that moment, hitting a deep double off Williams, driving in both runners and giving the Blue Jays the lead. They would go on to win that game which became huge for a number of reasons.

One, it got Kirk going. It became one of the most reliable and clutch hitters for the Blue Jays over the next two months. He slashed .347/.400/.483 and the Blue Jays went 29-20 over the 49 games he played in. Two, had the Blue Jays dropped that game to the Yankees, their current tiebreaker scenario in the AL East could have looked a lot different.

No. 2 - May 28, Bo Bichette vs Jacob Webb

A two-out, two-run, pinch hit home run in May might not make a lot of lists, but just like Kirks ninth inning double at the end of April, this home run for Bichette got the Blue Jays shortstop rolling on another level. Through the first 55 games, Bichette was having a fine season, slashing .271/.321/.407 with a .728 OPS. But when he stepped up to the plate against Webb with the score still deadlocked at 0-0, he hammered an 0-1 pitch deep into the stands and he never looked back.

That home run was the difference maker for the Blue Jays on that night, while Bichette went on to be a difference for the team from that point forward. Over the next 84 games, Bichette hit .336/.380/.533 with an OPS of .913. He's hit 13 home runs, driven in 67 RBIs and racked up 118 hits.

No. 3 - June 4, Alejandro Kirk vs Jordan Romano

Jordan Romano spent six seasons with the Blue Jays and put together a 7.7 bWAR with 105 saves and 285 strikeouts in 229.2 innings pitched. But his final season in Toronto did not go well in 2024 and he found himself as the Phillies closer in 2025. In his return to Toronto, the Markham, Ontario native entered the game in the bottom of the ninth, looking to get a 1-1 game into extras.

Romano got two outs, but two Blue Jays got on base. Facing his former battery mate in Kirk, he got the Toronto catcher into a 1-2 count. But Kirk has built a reputation for being an excellent two-strike hitter and and on the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Kirk smacked a fly ball to deep right field that went off the wall and scored the winning run.

No. 4 - July 1, George Springer vs Luke Weaver

Canada Day. In front of a sold out Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays were one game behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The 35-year-old veteran Springer was already having a terrfic season. But no matter what he did before, and depending on what he may do in the future, this might be Springer's signature moment as a Blue Jay.

The grand slam put Toronto ahead 9-4 in the bottom of the seventh, as they would go on to win 12-5 and eventually sweep the Yankees in that four game series to take over the top spot in the standings. A spot they have yet to relinquish.

No. 5 - August 31, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs Brandon Woodruff

This isn't a home run. It's not a walk-off. This is simply the face of the franchise coming through in a moment when the team needed him to. The Blue Jays and the Brewers series in August at Rogers Centre was billed as the two best teams in baseball going head-to-head. Some even called it a "World Series preview."

But the Jays dropped the first two games and their division lead was down to just a two game advantage. In the series finale, early in the contest, the Blue Jays had a chance to take the lead and they had their $500 million man at the dish with runners on first and third with two outs. Vladdy wasted no time and put the first pitch he saw into the hole and cashed the go ahead run.

Full credit to Brewers shortstop Andruw Monasterio who made this play look even remotely close, but the Guerrero putting the ball in play and making things happen in the clutch is something they have relied on him for all season and this was another instance where he changed the game with one swing. Not the prettiest hit, not the most majestic sky scrapping big fly, but just simply using his hands to put the ball in a good spot.