2023 Blue Jays mid-season report cards with letter grades: Position players

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As much as the All-Star Break provides a lot of entertainment, it's still not the same as watching your own team in action. In this respect, Blue Jay fans are eager to see what their team will do during the second half of the season.

Before we look too far ahead though, it seemed like a good time to review how the team has done so far in 2023. As such, here is a review of how the Blue Jays' position players have performed up to this point, complete with grades:

NB - We will not be reviewing or grading Nathan Lukes, Tyler Heineman, Spencer Horwitz, Ernie Clement and Jordan Luplow. This is out of fairness and respect, due to their lack of playing time up to this point of the season.

Bo Bichette: A

This just in - Bo Bichette is really good at hitting. He is well on course to lead the AL in hits for a third consecutive season, and has a legitimate shot at leading the Majors as a whole by season's end.

As a result, Bichette is unsurprisingly on course to set single-season personal bests in hits and batting average. He also leads all Blue Jays player in home runs, OPS and WAR.

The only reason we're not giving the two-time All-Star a A+, is due to issues at times with his defence, which include a team-leading eight fielding errors. By the same token however, it should be noted he does lead his team in assists and is currently projected to have a single-season personal-best fielding percentage of 0.972.

George Springer: C

George Springer arrived in Toronto with an impressive array of accolades, highlighted by being named MVP for the 2017 World Series. He's arguably underachieved during his time with the Blue Jays, albeit not helped by injuries and just not being as young anymore.

For this season specifically, Springer has overcome a poor April, is putting together a fine season with the bat and is currently fifth on the team with a 1.7 WAR. He's been relatively healthy, which gives him a shot to have his most home runs and RBI in his three years in Toronto.

The four-time All-Star has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in right field, although his -0.4 DWAR is certainly noteworthy. Overall, he might not be the same player he was in Houston, but his veteran savvy will still help in the Blue Jays' pursuit of postseason glory.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: C+

You know the ceiling is high, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can be called a disappointment through the first half of the 2023 season. In this respect, he has been a bit too inconsistent to date for someone with his talent level.

In fairness to Guerrero Jr. though, he has stepped it up of late. He has a genuine chance to record the second-best single-season totals of his five-year Major League career in hits, RBI, batting average and OBP.

Regardless, more is (and it should be) expected of one of the best pure hitters in the game. Combined with the three-time All-Star's play at first base -- which will likely never be anything special -- this is reflected in his underwhelming grade, although we predict it will improve by season's end.

Matt Chapman: B

At one point it seemed as if Matt Chapman was on course for a career year offensively. He's cooled down a lot more of late, but keep in mind we are grading players based on the first half of the season as a whole.

In this respect, Chapman leads the Blue Jays with a 3.6 WAR and he's first in the AL in doubles (second overall in the Majors). For what it's worth considering his recent slump, he's also still projected for the second-best batting average and OBP of his career, although it will (clearly) help if he rediscovers even a little bit of his previous consistency moving forward.

The third baseman might be second on the team with seven errors, but this aside he is one of the Blue Jays' best defenders. This is highlighted by the three-time Gold Glove winner being second on the team in assists and third with a 1.3 DWAR.

Daulton Varsho: C

Daulton Varsho's first season in Toronto has been a bit of a mixed bag. He so far has just a .218 batting average and his .645 OPS is projected to be a career-low, although he does still have nearly half a season to rectify this.

On the positive side, Varsho is tied for the third-most home runs on the team, is also third in steals and fifth in walks. Despite not appearing to be particularly impressive on offence, he is also fourth on the team with a 1.9 WAR. (In fairness, he has been compromised by ongoing back spasms.)

The 27-year-old has proved reliable in the outfield, with a 0.995 fielding percentage, just one error and the third-most full innings on the team. He's tied first on the Blue Jays with a 1.5 DWAR and is second in the Majors with 16 Defensive Runs Saved.

Whit Merrifield: B-

This may seem like a strange way to describe someone with Whit Merrifield's resume, but he's been one of the feel-good stories of the season in Toronto. The consummate professional, he also adds invaluable leadership in the Blue Jays locker room.

Whitfield might not have the most explosive bat, but he is on course for his best batting average and OBP since 2019. This helps, as he has a team-leading 19 stolen bases, which includes a Major League second-best six steals of third base.

The three-time All-Star also offers versatility defensively, albeit mostly playing at second base and in left field, with a little right field sprinkled in. He is reliable enough and is third on the team in assists, although his -0.2 DWAR is one of the worst on the roster.

Kevin Kiermaier: A-

We recently wrote about how Kevin Kiermaier should have been selected for his first All-Star Game. One of the best outfielders statistically of all time, he's continued in this vein in 2023.

From a Blue Jays' perspective, Kiermaier has a 0.988 fielding percentage and is tied for the team lead with a 1.5 DWAR. For the Majors as a whole, he leads all centre fielders with 13 Defensive Runs Saved, is tied for the second-most Outs Above Average at +10 and also second with a 18.1 UZR/150.

The 33-year-old hasn't been too shabby with his bat either, including being projected for the second-best batting average of his career and being third on the Blue Jays with a 2.7 WAR. Overall, as long as he can remain healthy, he has a big part to play for the team the rest of the way.

Alejandro Kirk: C-

The pressure was always going to be on Alejandro Kirk, after last year's All-Star season influenced the decision to part with top catching prospect Gabriel Moreno. Offensively at least, he has struggled up to this point in 2023.

Last year, Kirk set a whole host of offensive single-season bests, which resulted in him winning the Silver Slugger Award for AL catchers. While he still has what it takes to be a good offensive player, it is telling he is on course for the worst slash line and OPS of his four years in the Majors.

Interestingly, this decline is in stark contrast to improved play behind the plate, with the 24-year-old developing into a fine catcher. Blue Jays pitchers have a lower overall ERA with him compared to Danny Jansen, he is better at framing pitchers compared to his teammate (+3 to +1) and is tied first among all catchers with nine Defensive Runs Saved.

Brandon Belt: C+

Brought in to add pop at the DH position, Brandon Belt started this season poorly. However, following a disappointing April, he looked more like the player the Blue Jays hoped he would be when they signed him.

Belt's biggest issue is his strikeout rate which, at 37.3 percent, is easily on course to be the highest of his 13-year Major League career. There is also a concern his bat has gone cold again recently, since his return from hamstring inflammation.

Of course this leads to the question of how productive the 35-year-old will be for the remainder of this season? While no one expects his All-Star form of 2016 or something resembling his career-high 29 home runs in 2021, it's still fair to request more consistency and reliability moving forward.

Danny Jansen: C+

There have been some calls recently for Danny Jansen to take over as the Blue Jays' everyday catcher, but it's arguably better to continue the platoon situation for now. This doesn't mean the 28-year-old hasn't had a decent season so far - just not quite good enough to take over behind the plate on a full-time basis.

Offensively, while Kirk makes contact with the ball more, Jansen has better productivity, i.e. more homers and RBI, as well as a slight edge in WAR (0.8 vs. 0.7). Jansen has proven to be particularly effective with runners in scoring position, which is a valuable commodity when considering the team's struggles as a whole in this scenario.

Defensively, we've already touched on where Kirk has had an edge, but Jansen does provide veteran experience and confidence for the pitchers, including usually calling a good game. Overall, Jansen has been solid enough but, like his fellow pitcher, is capable of more.

Cavan Biggio: C-

This has been a strange season for Cavan Biggio, more so on offence. He's currently projected to have some of the worst statistics of his five-year Major League career, but this doesn't tell the full story.

Consider that if you combine April and July (to date), Biggio has a .129 batting average along with two home runs and six RBI, compared to .250, five and 12 respectively in May and June. April was particularly poor and brings his overall numbers down considerably, but in truth he has hit well at times, especially in May.

On defence, the 28-year-old's main attribute has been his versatility, seeing playing time at all three infield bases and in right field. He's solid enough and doesn't make many mistakes, but overall he is a depth player on the roster at this point, which is disappointing considering his talent.

Santiago Espinal: D+

As much as Santiago Espinal's All-Star selection last year was unexpected, the same applies to his dramatic decline in offensive productivity in 2023. This is particularly highlighted by a slash line and OPS which are easily on course to be the worst of his time in the Majors.

Admittedly, it doesn't help that Espinal has only been limited to 45 games, with a recent two-week absence due to hamstring inflammation. Regardless, one home run isn't going to cut it, especially when he's capable of more (both literally and talent-wise).

Defensively, the 28-year-old has seen most playing time at second base this year, mixed in with a bit of third base and shortstop. There's certainly worse defenders on the team, but we appreciate this isn't exactly an endorsement (and nor should it be mistaken for one, with six fielding errors to his name).

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