One of the more exciting things about the onset of a new baseball season is imagining how the season will unfold. There are plenty of questions surrounding the Blue Jays as we get closer to spring training, namely what kind of numbers some of the team's key contributors will put up once the season gets started.
Last year Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led the way in terms of individual statistics, as he led the team in hits (199), home runs (32), and RBI (103). José Berríos had a career-high (and team-best) 16 wins, while Chad Green led the team with 17 saves (also a career-high). Chris Bassitt led the pitching staff with 168 strikeouts.
With that in mind, here's a look at who could lead the team in those categories this year.
Home Runs
Guerrero has led the Blue Jays in home runs in each of the past four seasons, but he now has some serious competition with the addition of Anthony Santander, who hit 44 bombs last season. That said, that was a career-high for Santander, while Vladdy has averaged 29 dingers per season since his breakthrough ’21 season. We're still picking Santander to win this race, but it should be a close battle.
Pick: Anthony Santander
Tony Taters #Walkoff!
— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024
The @Orioles win it on Anthony Santander's 42nd home run of the season! pic.twitter.com/DhmIZXT8TF
Hits
On the other side of that coin is Bo Bichette, whose production dropped off last season after leading the team in hits from 2021 to '23. Bichette struggled with injuries last year and didn’t come close to looking like his best in the 81 games that he ended up playing in. Bichette will enter spring training healthy and motivated to show he can return to form.
Pick: Bo Bichette
Bo Bichette crushes a 419-foot home run. 💥 pic.twitter.com/f9zhyZH4Pn
— MLB (@MLB) May 27, 2024
RBI
Despite hitting 12 more homers than Guerrero, Santander finished 2024 with one less RBI (102) than his new teammate. The two sluggers are the favorites to lead in this category, and, barring the Blue Jays adding another bopper, there should be some disparity between them and the third-highest run-producer. Bichette did notch 102 RBI in 2021 and 93 in '22, but Guerrero’s ability to come up with impactful hits with men on base gives him the edge here.
Pick: Guerrero Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. just launched his 29th home run of the season and he enjoyed watching it fly. #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/hKDVgvFb6l
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) September 19, 2024
Wins
There's no denying the value of the win has dipped among baseball evaluators. And while we now know that there are several factors that can determine a starter's value, pitching at least five innings and leaving with the lead is still important. Last year Kevin Gausman went 8-4, with a sub-3.00 ERA over the final three months of ’24 after struggling out of the gate, and should carry some of that momentum into this season. The Blue Jays' front office prioritized the bullpen this season, so Gausman should also benefit from less blown leads after he leaves the game.
Happy birthday, @KevinGausman!
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) January 6, 2025
We hope your day is GAUSome 🥳 pic.twitter.com/uibxU4UuKX
Saves
Before last season, Jordan Romano had the ninth inning on lock for Toronto, as he led the squad in saves from 2021-'23 and notched 36 in the latter two seasons. Last year, the wheels off as injuries limited the Markham, Ontario native to 15 appearances, eight saves, and a 6.59 ERA. This winter, the 31-year-old was non-tendered and signed to the Phillies roster while the Blue Jays moved on to Jeff Hoffman. Expect to see the 2014 first-round pick close out games early and often.
Pick: Jeff Hoffman
Here’s everything I know about Jeff Hoffman’s deal with the Blue Jays and what happened after his physicals were flagged by the Braves and Orioles. pic.twitter.com/S7BMtw30aF
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 15, 2025
Strikeouts
It was weird not seeing Gausman's at the top of the Jays’ strikeout leaderboard at the end of last season. After topping 200 K’s in his previous three campaigns, Gausman reached 162 last year, which was six less than Chris Bassitt's 168. Gausman also averaged less than a strikeout per inning for the first time since 2018. His ability to generate whiffs may decline, but he has a resurgent season ahead of him that will feature a team-high 200 strikeouts.
Pick: Gausman