The new-look Blue Jays have been fun; even if the season is a lost one

While there may still be over a month left in the 2024 season, the Blue Jays year has been done for what feels like an eternity. A season that started with hopes of a playoff run has turned into one of the biggest disappointments in recent memory and a near-complete retooling of the roster. The retooling has led to the Jays fielding a group of guys that just a few months ago would have seemed ridiculous, and while they may not be the most competitive group in the Majors, they've certainly been fun.

Fans began to get a glimpse of a new "new-look" Jays in the latter parts of 2023, when Davis Schneider, Ernie Clement, and Spencer Horwitz all spent time with the club down the stretch, but it wasn't until things began to go south this season that this new roster really took over. Of the 13 batters on the team's active roster, six of them began the season in the minors. Five of these players started in the Jays' 4-2 win over the Angels on Monday, highlighted by Will Wagner's three-hit debut.

That isn't to say there haven't been growing pains, because there absolutely have been. Addison Barger, Leo Jimenez, Joey Loperfido, and Steward Berroa, who make up four of the six previously mentioned batters, have struggled to the tune of a .184/.253/.302 slash line in 270 combined plate appearances.

Spencer Horwitz, who's been with the team since early June has been the only one of these rookies to make a real impact offensively, posting a 123 OPS+ in 223 plate appearances so far this season. These struggles haven't mattered all that much though. When the likes of Bo Bichette and George Springer fail to deliver offensively, it's frustrating because these are players who are expected to perform well. In the case of these newer guys, this is a chance for them to get Major League experience and for the front office and fans to get a good look at the potential future of the franchise. Of course, it would be great to see one of these hitters go on a run like Davis Schneider did when he debuted last year, but the reality is that most rookie hitters tend to struggle out the gate.

The production may not quite be there, but the influx of youth has provided a much-needed change of pace to the team as a whole. Earlier in the year the Blue Jays roster was riddled with underperformance and expiring contracts that needed to be shed for this team to truly turn the page. Now, with a team completely out of playoff contention, the vibe has begun to shift. The disappointment of a lost year has started to be replaced with optimism for the future as the rookies show flashes of talent. This "new-look" group certainly haven't been racking up wins, and is far from the best roster the team has fielded, but for a fanbase just trying to get through the final stretch of the season, they've certainly made watching the Blue Jays a lot more fun.