2 Blue Jays players who've earned more playing time, 1 who deserves less

The Blue Jays have undergone a tremendously turbulent start to the 2024 campaign. Still only a week into regular season action, it cannot be overstated how important a strong start is for a club that resides in the (once again) hyper-competitive AL East. Sitting within spitting distance of the New York Yankees for first place, the Blue Jays can’t leave anything to chance. The pitching has been fine even if it absorbed some early-season injury concerns. On the other hand, this offense hasn't really been able to hold a candle to the Tampa and Houston pitching staffs they have faced in the batch of games.

Of course, it's very early and the early trends can still evolve as the long season winds on. We are still barely 5% of the way through the season with so many other variables to consider. Players will get hot and others will cool off, but leave it to the underwhelming Blue Jays to get no-hit by a pitcher making his eighth career start in the major leagues. It couldn't have happened to a more talented group of offensive players!

Eight games into this most consequential season, there are plenty of dynamics to observe as some players are clearly proving themselves worthy of more playing time and others are not. With that in mind, let's take a look at two players who have earned their spot and one who has most certainty not, shall we?

Justin Turner is off to a great start and should be in this lineup frequently.

Justin Turner is proving everyone right about his veteran leadership and talents. On the doorstep of 40-years old, Turner had a solid showing for the Boston Red Sox in 2023 and is carrying that over to the new season. In 146 games with Boston last year, Turner posted a slash line of .276/ 345/.455 with 23 home runs and 96 runs batted in. The Californian got off to a (slowish?) start and came off the bench in the Blue Jays' 5-1 loss in the third game of the season, failing to reach base in two plate appearances.

All that early season angst was arrested in relatively short order, however, when Turner carried the team on his shoulders in the finale in St. Petersburg, FL. Smacking his first Jays home run and driving in four runs, Turner harkened back to his long ball prowess of last season.

What may be even more understated is his ability to get on base as evidenced by his crucial walk against fireballer Josh Hader in the ninth inning to set up the go-ahead two-run home run from Davis Schneider. Turner only walked in 8.2% of his plate appearances a season ago, still right in line with the MLB average. If Turner can add that to his offensive repertoire, it shows the depth of skills Turner can bring to this lineup, with a keen sense of knowing the situation and doing his job. In that game, he doubled twice and singled in a really strong effort.

The broadcast has alluded to this numerous times and it bears repeating. Justin Turner is a player who has been in the league 16 years and seen almost everything one can see on a baseball diamond. For a player with that much experience still getting it done on the field, his message may carry more weight than anything from the coaching staff. At this rate, the one-year free agent deal is looking like a steal for a much-maligned front office.

True to form, Turner has already logged three starts at designated hitter even with the one start at third base in the finale of the Rays series. He should continue logging most of his playing time at the DH spot, with an occasional start in the infield. He may have committed a throwing error in that game, but who's counting?

Alejandro Kirk is not doing much to justify his playing status.

This is a player who Jays fans have been rightfully spotlighting as needing to get off to a good start. To this point, it just hasn’t been happening for the burly catcher. Kirk didn’t offer much at the plate a season ago and his exhilarating introduction to the major leagues during the COVID season (.375 in 9 games) feels a like a lifetime ago. An All-Star and Silver Slugger winner in 2022, his game took a major step backward last year. In 123 games he slashed .250/ .334/ .358 with almost no power and a 93 OPS+.

Kirk needs to step it up fast. At the same time, he has looked decent on the other side of the ball. I will commend Kirk for his catching as he has thrown out a handful of baserunners trying to steal on him in the young season. A moment that particularly stood out was gunning down Jose Altuve trying to steal home in a close game.

On a sour note, it always feels like Kirk comes up with either runners on base or in scoring position. In the seventh inning of the middle game in Houston, Kirk grounded into a double play that ended a potentially promising inning. In the next game, he was finally pinch hit for by Brian Serven, a player who may soon be occupying a lion’s share of Kirk's playing time before long.

Serven became a player to watch during spring training and may be getting more playing time soon. Danny Jansen should be returning in relatively short order from another injury and when healthy is a more dynamic option than Kirk. Fans have been saying for a long time that any improvements on offense need to come internally. Kirk is typically the player cited as an example and he must make more strides as the season goes along.