4 Blue Jays players who may have peaked in 2023

A season with high expectations has come to an end, and there's plenty of reason to be disappointed in how the Blue Jays performed. While this is a talented roster, there's no getting around the reality they under-performed in 2023.

Simply qualifying for the playoffs is not enough, and you have to imagine there will be some significant changes in Toronto. This team is capable of so much more.

Despite the overall feeling of not playing to their full potential, there are some individuals who went above and beyond. Along these lines, here's a look at four players who may well have peaked this season.

Yusei Kikuchi

When the Blue Jays signed Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year, $36 million deal ahead of the 2022 campaign, you had to wonder if he had already peaked. Consider his previous season in Seattle, with the Mariners

During the first half of the 2021 season Kikuchi was excellent, leading to his first ever All-Star selection. Through 15 games, he'd produced a 6-3 record, 3.18 ERA and 1.029 WHIP.

However, the situation fell apart for the 32-year-old over the remainder of the season. In the final 14 games, he had a 1-6 record, 6.22 ERA and 1.743 WHIP.

Any hope for Blue Jays fans that they would get the first-half of 2021 edition soon disappeared. He struggled immensely during 2022, as evidenced by a 5.19 ERA, 5.62 FIP and 1.500 WHIP.

As a result, expectations were low for the Japan native entering this past season. So of course, he turned things around with the strongest campaign of his five years in the Majors.

Kikuchi set career bests with 11 wins, a 3.86 ERA and 1.270 WHIP in 32 starts. In a season when Alek Manoah imploded, he proved to be an invaluable fourth option in the rotation.

The southpaw even had the opportunity to see action in the playoffs (albeit only because of the baffling decision to pull José Berríos after just one batter in the fourth inning). Not that it turned out well, as he allowed three hits, a walk and one run in just 1.2 innings.

Ultimately though, it can't take away from what was the best season of Kikuchi's Major League career. However, Blue Jays fans should be prepared for the real possibility he won't be as good in the final year of his contract with the team.

Danny Jansen

When it comes to professional sports, there are players who just can't stay healthy no matter what they do. They can often be referred to as soft, which is unfair a lot of the time - it's not in an athlete's psyche to not want to compete.

In respect of Major League Baseball, you could almost refer to these players as the anti-Cal Ripken Jr. Examples include the likes of Mike Trout, Giancarlo Stanton, Jacob DeGrom and Noah Syndergaard.

Closer to home, one example who comes to mind is Danny Jansen. This guy is the definition of unlucky. Even taking into account sharing playing time with other catchers, he's played in less than 54 percent of all possible regular season over the previous five years.

Ailments include a hamstring strain, an oblique injury and a finger fracture. Every time Jansen seems to be getting on a roll, another injury sets him back.

And really, these issues with durability are part of the reason why Blue Jays fans should worry the 28-year-old might have reached his peak in 2023. Consider that in some respects, this was his best offensive season yet in the Majors.

More specifically, Jansen set single-season highs with 17 home runs, 53 RBI and 15 doubles. He also had his second-highest ever figures for hits, runs, slugging percentage and OPS.

However, the Elmhurst, Illinois native also only played in only 86 regular season games, which sadly is also the second-most of his six-year Major League career. His injuries in 2023 included a groin strain, a forearm contusion, wrist inflammation and a season-ending fractured finger.

The point is, Jansen had one of his best seasons yet at the plate, but continued to be compromised by an ever-growing list of injuries. Combine this with the wear and tear of being a catcher, and we might have to accept we've seen the best of an extremely solid player and excellent teammate.

Kevin Kiermaier

With Kevin Kiermaier only signing a one-year deal prior to this season, the Blue Jays were always going to get his best effort. However, even they couldn't have anticipated just how good he was going to be.

Kiermaier is statistically regarded as one of the best outfield defenders of all time. He continued in this vein during 2023, to help make the Blue Jays one of the best defences in the Majors.

The three-time Gold Glove Award winner finished second on the Blue Jays with a 2.2 dWAR, his best since 2017. He also finished second among all centre fielders with 18 Defensive Runs Saved.

However, where Kiermaier really stepped it up was with his bat, with him at one point on course for the best offensive season of his 11 years in the Majors. At the end of May, he had a slash line of .319/.365/.521 and a .886 OPS.

The 33-year-old did subsequently cool off a bit, but still had a strong offensive season overall. His batting average was the second-best of his career, while he had his best slugging percentage and OPS since 2017.

One of the biggest travesties was that Kiermaier didn't get selected for his first-ever All-Star Game, despite being entirely worthy. Even allowing for every team needing at least one representative combined with voting often being a popularity contest, something just felt wrong about the snub.

Taking everything into account, it really does seem that the former Tampa Bay Ray peaked in 2023. However, at least the Blue Jays were able to benefit from his experience and excellent play.

As per Kiermaier's message on social media after the Blue Jays were knocked out of the playoffs, it sure seems like he is one-and-done in Toronto. If so, fans can feel satisfied he gave it his all.