Young Blue Jays players stepping up provides hope for 2025 rebound

If the Toronto Blue Jays are truly committed to contending in 2025, it will take a lot to make that a reality. In the division and league the Blue Jays reside, the margin of error is simply too small. Even in the National League, Toronto would still find itself double-digit games out of a playoff spot with multiple teams to climb over. The point is that Toronto is far behind right now and every part of the 2025 equation must contribute. Can the young players provide something for the future and keep fans engaged during the slog of meaningless baseball?

Start with Will Wagner, the son of former All-Star closer Billy Wagner, acquired in the trade with Houston for Yusei Kikuchi. His arrival is conjuring up memories of Davis Schneider's debut in Boston last summer because of the rapid success and fanfare surrounding it. When opposing team broadcasts are mentioning your name during their out-of-town scoreboard segments, you know things are going swimmingly. Wagner's impact was felt immediately. Jays fans will remember where they were when Will Wagner had an unbelievable debut in Anaheim with three hits and a solid defensive effort to boot. The game in Anaheim was a coming-out party of sorts and showcases the immense haul Toronto claimed from the Astros. The best part? Wagner has an all-fields hitting approach and a contact swing that should play at the major league level for a long time. He is currently slashing .344 in 32 at-bats with a .801 OPS and five RBI. Of course, baseball is a tough game and adjustments will be made by pitchers to get him out. The question becomes whether he can make adjustments, just like Davis Schneider has been trying to do. In any event, Wagner is a huge reason to still watch this baseball team!

It hasn't stopped with Wagner. One of the worst parts of the 2024 season has been the complete lack of contribution from Bo Bichette. Who saw this coming? Not only is the two-time All Star seemingly stuck on the injured list, but he is also turning in the worst season of his professional career. That void has allowed Leo Jimenez to run with the position and there are positive signs. Jimenez has displayed an underrated power aspect to his game, belting his first career home run in Anaheim and showcasing strong defense and speed too. The 99 OPS+ may not get you excited, but he has the right approach that will work in the future. It's a simple approach in which he told Sportsnet, "Just show up at the ballpark every day, and do the best you can do".

Providing the Blue Jays with more options in the outfield is Joey Loperfido. That is a good thing because the incumbent options aren't optimal and a lot of observers feel they need more power on the grass. Loperfido can provide that and his addition to the roster is a feel-good story. Still only 25 years old, Loperfido definitely struggled during his opening moments in a Jays uniform. A lot of strikeouts and not putting the ball in play enough. His home run at Wrigley Field in the right field bleachers may have temporarily calmed all of that panic, however. What about the triple he lined to the center field wall at Yankee Stadium? It all provides optimism. Fans should know that he really cares and his emotional press conference after the trade with the Astros shows that this guy has a heart.

Obviously, the 2025 Blue Jays need to improve offensively and start hitting more. The above players will hopefully contribute to that. Shifting away from the position player side, however, the Blue Jays will have questions on the pitching staff. To that end, a positive aspect of this rough Blue Jays season has been the re-emergence of Bowden Francis in the starting rotation. Francis had a wonderful spring in Dunedin and hopes were high that he could become a big piece. It simply didn't play out that way early in the season. He was banished to Buffalo on account of a 8.59 ERA in the season's first month. Returning to the Blue Jays, Francis has developed a lot of more confidence and is making a strong case for next season. How does a pair of seven inning outings with one run allowed sound? How about AL Player of the Week and almost achieving pitching greatness? It's all positive for Francis as he will be given plenty of opportunities to audition for future roles alongside youngster Jake Bloss, another rotation piece acquired at the deadline.

Coming full circle is the elder statesman of this young core. Yariel Rodriguez has actually been on this roster since opening day! Sure, an injured list stint interrupted his debut season in Canada, but Rodriguez is an important member of this team's core. A starting pitcher being paid like a relief pitcher, Rodriguez has looked much better in the rotation as his role is being crystallized. The righthander has been serviceable as he carries a 4.40 ERA through 59.1 frames. The best part is that he prides himself on going deep in games, typically pitching into at least the fifth inning. Anything to stay away from an absolutely horrid bullpen. He is gaining invaluable experience in an atmosphere when the games do not matter as much and hopefully that will continue to bode well in the future.

Toss all of this good news into the pot and can the the Blue Jays actually be a championship contender next season? Pump the brakes! Of course, let's see what this team does as it relates to the front office and coaching staff. Additionally, how active will this franchise be in the winter to supplement an intriguing core? At the same time, it's nice to have a solid foundation and the Blue Jays will need everything they can to sell seats after the amount of money they poured in to the Rogers Centre. Those seats won't sell themselves. In short, it will be fascinating to measure how the fan base reacts to the performances of these young players and how that translates to next season.