7 Blue Jays players taking advantage of their spring training opportunities the most

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As the Toronto Blue Jays pass more than the halfway mark through spring training, the heated battles for potential spots on the Opening Day roster is in full flight. Prior to the start of training camp, there may have been some early favourites that were expected to secure major league roles heading into 2024. However, there have been some surprising candidates that have taken full advantage of their opportunities and are making a serious case to be taken into consideration as well.

Here, we will take a look at seven players that have made quite the impression so far this spring. In doing so, it could force the Jays’ hand to make some tough roster decisions going forward, whether in the coming weeks or during the 2024 season.

C Brian Serven

When Tyler Heineman was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets back in December, it left the Jays without a serviceable third-string catcher in the system. They resolved that problem by claiming a catcher of their own in Brian Serven from the Cubs in January. However, with only 73 games of MLB experience along with just a career .195 batting average, it made one wonder if he would be up for the task.

Serven had certainly put some of those doubts to rest so far this spring, as he has batted .308 with a 1.323 OPS, along with 4 runs scored, a pair doubles, a couple of home runs and a team-leading 10 RBI in 8 games played. He had held his own defensively as well, throwing out one of three runners attempting to steal, along with no errors committed in 32 total chances over 24 innings of work behind the plate. If he can keep this up, he has more than solidified his role as the team’s third-string catcher and perhaps could even turn out to be a significant upgrade over Heineman from last season.

INF Ernie Clement

At the start of training camp, it was expected that the likes of Davis Schneider, Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal and Isiah Kiner-Falefa had the upper hand in securing roles in the infield. However, an unexpected run from Ernie Clement thus far has suddenly put him into the picture as well. Last season, Clement performed admirably in his brief stint up with the Jays when he compiled a strong .380 batting average, .885 OPS, along with 7 runs scored, a home run and 10 driven in over 50 at-bats and 29 games.

Clement has picked up where he left off in 2023 by bursting out of the gate this spring with an astounding .400/.423/.720/1.143 slash line, with 3 runs scored, a triple, a pair of home runs, 7 RBI and has yet to strikeout in 9 games played. He doesn’t look like he'll be stopped any time soon and he is currently outplaying all of his competitors. Don’t look now, but if Clement continues to convince management he can get the job done, it might just be enough to land him a spot on the 26-man roster for Opening Day.

OF Nathan Lukes

It may seem like déjà vu for the incumbent Nathan Lukes, as just last year he won a role out of spring training as the fourth outfielder on the team. However, due to limited usage and playing time during the regular season, Lukes never really had the chance to showcase his talents and was sent back down to the minors for the majority of 2023.

Apparently Lukes is at it again this year, as he had been hitting at a torrid pace since the start of spring training. In 9 games to date, he is hitting a whopping .500 with a 1.208 OPS, along with 4 runs scored, 3 doubles, a triple, 5 RBI and a stolen base. He is also sporting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 49 innings in the field as well. Barring any sudden regression in the next two weeks, Lukes looks to be on track to win the fourth outfielder spot once again, and hopefully this time around, he will finally get a fair opportunity to show what he can bring to the team.

OF Daulton Varsho

It may sound perplexing to say Daulton Varsho needs to take advantage this spring to show what he can do offensively, but he is doing exactly that right now. In 10 games so far this spring, Varsho has amassed a solid .364 batting average, .938 OPS, with 4 runs scored, 2 doubles, 7 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. More significantly, he has demonstrated improved plate discipline with 6 walks compared to only one single strikeout to date.

Why is this important for both Varsho and the Jays? It is because heading into 2024, the Jays had plans to utilize Varsho in a potential platoon in the outfield due to his struggles at the plate last year. However, if he can prove that his breakout in spring training is no fluke but instead an actual developmental improvement in his game, it should convince management to give him back his everyday starting status.

P Zach Pop

Zach Pop had his worst season of his career last year with the Jays when he pitched to a 6.59 ERA and gave up 10 earned runs including 4 home runs in just 13.2 innings of work. A right hamstring injury, together with the constant struggles in his performance during his rehab assignment ended up keeping Pop in the minors for the rest of the season, as he lost his place on the big league squad.

Hoping to put his nightmarish season behind him in a quest to regain his spot on the major league roster for 2024, Pop has gotten off to a solid start so far. In 5 appearances, he has yet to give up a single run, along with 4 hits, a couple of walks and 3 strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched. More importantly, he is starting to look like the Pop of old in 2022 where he shined for the Jays down the stretch, pitching to a stellar 1.89 ERA. With spots in the bullpen being up for grabs, Pop appears to have the inside track for one of them if he can keep performing the way he has been.

P Paolo Espino

In what seemed to be just an unimportant depth signing at the time, the Jays picked up Paolo Espino on a minor league deal a few months back. Expectations for Espino weren’t particularly high, as he has spent the majority of his career in the minor leagues. In addition, when he did get his chance in the majors, he compiled a 5-14 record with an ERA over 5.00 and a WHIP of 1.35 over five seasons.

However, as a non-roster invitee, Espino is certainly making the most of his chances. In 4 games to date, he has given up only 5 hits and 2 earned runs over 8 innings while walking a pair and striking out 12 for a 2.25 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. He likely won’t be starting the season with the Jays when the regular season rolls around, but with his impressive showing this spring, he has demonstrated that he could be a reliable pitching option that the Jays can turn to going forward.

P Connor Cooke

For someone that somehow flew under the radar to end up being drafted in the 10th round in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Jays, Connor Cooke has certainly turned some eyes in rapid growth and development in his game. In just a span of two seasons, he has moved through four levels from A-ball all the way up to Triple-A. With a plus fastball in the high-90s and a superb strikeout rate of 13.8 batters per nine innings throughout his minor league career, he is developing into a weapon that the Jays can surely use in the near future.

As a non-roster invitee to training camp, Cooke has continued to put his flamethrowing dominance on full display this spring as he has put together a 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, .188 OBA, with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts in 5 innings pitched thus far against some major league hitters. At this rate, his rapid progression can no longer be overlooked by the organization as they should conscientiously prepare for his eventual arrival in the majors. And in the case for Cooke, that may end up coming sooner than expected.

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