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.

Brendon Little

Back at the start of the 2023-24 offseason, one of their very first moves involved the trade for left-handed pitcher Brendon Little from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. But what seemed to be just a depth acquisition at the time is suddenly turning out to be quite the solid pickup made by Jays’ management.

Having appeared in just one game in the majors prior to joining the Jays, the 26-year-old has made the most of his opportunities with his new club this season. With his current 3.90 ERA, believe it or not, Little actually sports the team’s fourth best ERA among relievers in 2024. Overall, Little has complied a 1-1 record with a 1.34 WHIP, along with 24 strikeouts in 27.2 innings pitched over 29 games played. More importantly, he has gotten better and better as the year progressed as in his last 15 appearances, he had posted a solid 2.25 ERA with 9 strikeouts in 12 innings of work. 

With the Jays having a huge exodus of bullpen arms at the trade deadline, along with the massive struggles of those than remained not named Chad Green or Génesis Cabrera, the consistent performance by Little has opened the door for him to have a potential increased role with the club for next year. Added to the fact that the Jays’ arms in the minor league system had been decimated by injuries this season, Little should be able to get a legitimate shot in making their 2025 roster when the competition in spring training heats up.