2 Blue Jays best taking advantage of 2025 auditions this year, 1 who is struggling

As the Toronto Blue Jays look to finish off the final two months of 2024 on a positive note, many may actually be looking ahead already to the 2025 season. For some core players, like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daulton Varsho, José Berríos and Alejandro Kirk, they have all but secured roster spots already as part of the Jays’ retooling for next year. However, for some others, their performances this season could ultimately have an effect on whether or not they will be in the long-term plans of the club.

Here, we will take a look at two Blue Jays players who have been best taking advantage of their audition for a roster spot in 2025 with the team and one Blue Jays player that has struggled in making that statement.

2 Blue Jays players who have best taken advantage of their 2025 auditions this year

Spencer Horwitz

For Spencer Horwitz, his time to become a mainstay in the big leagues has finally arrived in 2024. After spending years annihilating minor league pitching, Horwitz has taken full advantage of his promotion earlier this season and has ran with it. Since joining the offensively-challenged Jays back in early June amidst the team’s struggles, he has batted a solid .278 with a respectable .784 OPS, along with 24 runs scored, 10 doubles, 5 home runs and 20 RBI in 53 games played. In addition, Horwitz has demonstrated strong plate discipline, walking at about an 11% rate while striking out at just around a 17% clip.

More surprisingly, he has done fairly well with his defense at second base. Keep in mind that it was a position that he had just taken up this year to help give himself an alternate route to the majors. Horwitz had committed only one error in 106 total chances over 276 innings for a .991 fielding percentage. And when playing his usual first base position when Guerrero had the day off, Horwitz had been spotless in over 101.2 innings. Given his ability to hit MLB pitching, along with his positional flexibility to go along with his solid defense, it appears as though Horwitz has built a strong case to be part of the Jays’ core heading into 2025.