Jays Journal Roundtable: Predictions for the 2023 Blue Jays
Now that 2023 it's everyone's (well...not everyone) favorite time of year: prediction season.
Everyone over at Jays Journal came together to come up with how they think the 2023 season will go for the Toronto Blue Jays, including who is going to improve the most in the upcoming season and who is going to come back down to earth.
Let's jump into it.
Eric Treuden
Opening Day rotation: Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, Yusei Kikuchi
Rotation when Hyun Jin Ryu returns: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Ryu, Berríos
Surprise player of the year: Kevin Kiermaier
Most improved: José Berríos
Who goes backwards: Santiago Espinal
Who makes the All-Star Game: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daulton Varsho, Manoah, Matt Chapman
Win-loss record: 98-64
Nick Prasad
Rotation: Gausman, Manoah, Bassitt, Berríos, Mitch White
When Ryu returns: Gausman, Ryu, Manoah, Bassitt, Berríos
Surprise player: Espinal
Most improved: Whit Merrifield
Who goes backwards: Alejandro Kirk
All-Stars: Guerrero Jr., Varsho, Manoah
Record: 98-64
Charles Kime
Rotation: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Berríos, Michael Wacha
When Ryu returns: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Ryu, Berríos
Surprise: Ryu
Most improved: Varsho
Who goes backwards: Kirk
All-Stars: Guerrero Jr., Varsho, Manoah, Gausman
Record: 96-66
Evan Gignac
Opening Day rotation: Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, Yusei Kikuchi
Rotation when Hyun Jin Ryu returns: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Berríos, Ryu
Surprise player of the year: Whit Merrifield
Most improved: José Berríos
Who goes backwards: Santiago Espinal
Who makes the All-Star Game: Gausman, Jordan Romano, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer
Win-loss record: 96-66
David Salituro
Rotation: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Berríos, Kikuchi
When Ryu returns: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Berríos, Ryu
Surprise: Merrifield
Most improved: Daulton Varsho
Who goes backwards: Manoah
All-Stars: Guerrero Jr., Bichette, Manoah
Record: 94-68
Graeme Wallace
Rotation: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Berríos, Kikuchi
When Ryu returns: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Berríos, Ryu
Surprise: Kevin Kiermaier
Most improved: Berríos
Who goes backwards: Alejandro Kirk
All-Stars: Guerrero Jr., Bichette, Gausman, Romano
Record: 95-67
Michael Fisher
Opening Day rotation: Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt, Yusei Kikuchi
Rotation when Hyun Jin Ryu returns: Gausman, Manoah, Bassitt, Berríos, Ryu
Surprise player of the year: Whit Merrifield
Most improved: Danny Jansen
Who goes backwards: Alejandro Kirk
Who makes the All-Star Game: Manoah, Gausman, Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daulton Varsho
Win-loss record: 95-67
Henry Wright
Rotation: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Berríos, Kikuchi
When Ryu returns: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Berríos, Kikuchi, Ryu
Surprise: Nate Pearson
Most improved: Kikuchi
Who goes backwards: Kirk
All-Stars: Guerrero Jr., Bichette, Manoah, George Springer
Record: 93-69
Miguel Mike Medina
Rotation: Manoah, Gausman, Berríos, Bassitt, Kikuchi
When Ryu returns: Manoah, Gausman, Berríos, Bassitt, Ryu
Surprise: Santiago Espinal
Most improved: Varsho
Who goes backwards: Kirk
All-Stars: Guerrero Jr., Bichette, Bassitt, Espinal, Manoah, Varsho
Record: 94-68
David Corcoran
Opening Day rotation: Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, Yusei Kikuchi
Rotation when Hyun Jin Ryu returns: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Berríos, Ryu
Surprise player of the year: Zach Pop
Most improved: Cavan Biggio
Who goes backwards: Santiago Espinal
Who makes the All-Star Game: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manoah, Bo Bichette
Win-loss record: 97-65
Travis Aylward
Rotation: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Berríos, Kikuchi
When Ryu returns: Manoah, Gausman, Bassitt, Ryu, Berríos
Surprise: Biggio
Most improved: Bichette (on defense)
Who goes backwards: Espinal
All-Stars: Manoah, Guerrero Jr., Bichette
Record: 100-62