Toronto Blue Jays officially release 2024 Opening Day roster

At long, long last, the 2024 regular season is upon us. The Toronto Blue Jays are getting set to face off against the division rival Tampa Bay Rays later on Thursday afternoon.

The Blue Jays took to social media (X link) to formally release their 2024 Opening Day roster. There were not very many surprises here, as most of the roster had already been unofficially confirmed from various Jays media outlets.

Before we get into it, here's a list of players who are scheduled to begin the year on the injured list:

• C Danny Jansen (right wrist fracture)
• RHP Erik Swanson (right forearm inflammation)
• RHP Alek Manoah (right shoulder inflammation)
• RHP Jordan Romano (right elbow inflammation)

Jays Journal's No. 14 prospect Yosver Zulueta has also been designated for assignment. More on that move to come.

Here's a look at what the Blue Jays will look like heading into the new campaign:

Blue Jays position players

Catchers: Alejandro Kirk, Brian Serven

Kirk, 25, had a healthy spring training and appears to be primed for a major bounce-back this season. His OPS+ dipped to 93 last year and his OPS down to .692. He's not too far removed from earning a spot in the All-Star Game and a Silver Slugger Award. Comeback trail begins now.

Serven makes the roster as an injury replacement for Jansen. Only just recently claimed off of waivers from the Cubs, Serven is a light-hitting, defensive oriented backstop who should see very little playing time in Jansen's absence.

Infielders: Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Ernie Clement, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Davis Schneider, Justin Turner, Daniel Vogelbach

Bichette has turned himself into one of the very best shortstops the game has to offer. He took tremendous strides in the right direction on defense last season and should be a dual threat in 2024. MVP votes should be in his immediate future.

Biggio figures to get playing time all around the diamond as he has in year's past. He finished last year with a 98 OPS+ and figures to impress this year if he's given enough playing time.

Clement had a red-hot spring and easily made his way onto the roster. He's a high-contact, versatile player who will see playing time at multiple different positions. Clement has one of the best batting eyes on the roster and will be a player to keep an eye on this season.

IKF, one of the top offensive additions of this past offseason, doesn't have much of a bat, but he's a defensive-oriented utility player who can play every infield and every outfield position. He fits the Blue Jays' bill of "defense wins games."

Guerrero is gaining momentum around the industry as a dark-horse MVP candidate this year. He showed up to camp looking sleek and has been mashing baseballs since the beginning of spring training. Like many others on this roster, he's due for a major bounce-back.

Schneider, a standout rookie from last year, comes with question marks about defense and his ability to hit for average, but he's got a ton of thump in his bat and is already a beloved figure amongst Blue Jays fans.

Turner and Vogelbach are a couple of aging veterans who will play key roles for the Jays. Turner should be in the lineup every day while Vogelbach is going to function as more of a power-hitting bench bat.

Outfielders: Kevin Kiermaier, George Springer, Daulton Varsho

Only three "true outfielders" made the roster, but Schneider, IKF, Biggio and even Clement could see time on the grass, particularly in the corners.

Kiermaier, one of the best defensive outfielders of his generation, is back for another year and will be in contention for yet another Gold Glove once all is said and done.

Springer is another player due for a bounce-back. He still was above-average at the plate in 2023 but he had a down year by his standards.

Varsho, another slick fielder, is due for an offensive breakout that many thought they'd see last year. He altered his swing a bit during this past offseason and experienced some spring success because of it. He could be dangerous if things click this year.

Blue Jays pitchers

Starting pitchers: Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, Bowden Francis, Kevin Gausman, Yusei Kikuchi

In Bassitt, Berrios, Gausman and Kikuchi, the Blue Jays are set to send out one of the best quartets in the game from last year.

Gausman in particular dealt with some injury concerns in spring training, but is expected to be good to go for the Blue Jays' second series of the year. Once he's back on his A-game, he'll lead the staff and undoubtedly find himself in contention for the Cy Young Award once again.

In Gausman's absence for the season-opener, Berrios will get the nod for his second Opening Day start with the Blue Jays. He had one hell of a bounce-back last season and is widely expected to get even better this year.

The biggest surprise in the rotation picture is the emergence of Francis. The 27-year-old dominated out of the bullpen last year but has long had a preference of starting games. Thanks to a very strong spring showing, he got his wish. He will open the season as the club's No. 4 starter and should only get better as he gains the ability to go deeper and deeper into games.

Relief pitchers: Genesis Cabrera, Yimi Garcia, Chad Green, Tim Mayza, Wes Parsons, Nate Pearson, Trevor Richards, Mitch White

Most of last year's squad is set to return in the Blue Jays' bullpen. In the absence of Romano and Swanson, Garcia and Green figure to get the majority of save opportunities. The former has experience as a full-time closer in the past, while the latter has functioned in a variety of different relief roles and excelled at every stop.

Parsons and Pearson both snuck onto the roster strictly as injury replacements. Their ability to go multiple innings was held in high regard by the Blue Jays, as they pair with White as a trio of multi-inning options. Richards also has extensive experience as a long reliever, so it's obvious that the Jays are just leaning for innings, innings, innings to kick things off.