Who would your Blue Jays April player of the month be?
Toronto's had a mediocre month but some players stepped up when it mattered most.
We've made it through the first month of the 2024 regular season and the Blue Jays currently sit 4th in the AL East with a sub-.500 record (15-16) and are 5 games back of the Orioles (19-10) in 1st. Despite the tough start the Blue Jays have endured, there have been some bright spots, so which players have impressed the most?
José Berríos
Berríos has exceeded expectations thus far. He currently leads MLB in ERA, (1.23) and has a 0.88 ERA through April even with his start against Kansas City last Thursday, which he gave up 2 earned runs and pitched a 'complete game' loss. He has 28 strikeouts so far, with a WHIP of 1.04, which is his lowest since 2021. With Kevin Gausman resurging, Berrios' dominance leading a rotation which ranks 16th in ERA is exactly what the Blue Jays needed.
Yimi García
One of the most underrated relief pitchers in the league, Yimi García has excelled during the opening month of the season. He filled in as the closer whilst Jordan Romano was on the injured list and he's continued to dominate in high-leverage situations. He's ranked in the 99th percentile for chase rate, 94th percentile in K% and he's increased his velocity on all of his pitches. With a bullpen that's suffered some key injuries, with Chad Green and Bowden Francis each on the injured list, García has shined.
Justin Turner
When the Blue Jays signed 39-year-old Justin Turner, the fanbase was divided. Fortunately, Turner has been proving those doubters wrong, especially with the three at the top of the lineup underperforming. The $10.5M man is off to a great start with 4 home runs, (including 2 Monday night against the Royals), 15 RBI and a .311 AVG. How long he will keep these numbers up is another question but so far he has thrived out of the clean-up spot.
Daulton Varsho
A player who's excelled on both sides of the field, He's credited George Springer with whom he worked with in the offseason on his swing and the results have paid off, with 14 RBI's and 6 home runs to his name, which leads the team.In the outfield he's been the perfect replacement for Kevin Kiermaier at CF, notably making an outstanding catch to rob Shohei Ohtani of a double and has continued to impress in left field even before Kiermaier went on the IL. Having been robbed of a Gold Glove last year, will 2024 be the year he wins one as a Blue Jay?