The player Blue Jays fans will be watching most on Opening Day

When you're fresh off a season that nearly concluded with a World Series title, there's not going to be a shortage of stars to pick from when making a list of the most exciting players to watch come Opening Day. Add to it that the Toronto Blue Jays added a number of marquee players via free agency in the offseason, and you'll find this exercise a true test of personal preference.

Kevin Gausman is finally getting his long-awaited Opening Day start in what could be his final season. Kazuma Okamoto will be making his MLB debut after coming over from Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. And Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in the midst of an all-time heater when factoring in the playoffs, spring training, and World Baseball Classic.

Any (or all) of those options would be fair answers to the question posed in the headline. But the player we're expect to draw the most eyes on Opening Day isn't one of the team's stars — it's someone who will be replacing one.

Ernie Clement facing huge expectations in 2026 as he takes over for Bo Bichette

Losing Bo Bichette sucks. There's no two ways around it. His dynamic presence atop the lineup was such a crucial part of what made the Blue Jays' offense sing last year. Then again, the team didn't need him during their march through the American League bracket in October. And upgrading over his porous middle-infield defense will be a boon in its own right.

But the real reason the Blue Jays will be okay is because they have Clement stepping in to fill the void at second base. The 30-year-old finally got full-time playing duty last year and responded well, hitting .277/.313/.398 (98 wRC+). Combine the things he does well — defense, baserunning, elite contact skills — with a solid offensive floor like that, and you'll come across a player who's been worth 5.3 fWAR over the past two seasons combined.

For reference, Bichette (who has about 80 fewer plate appearances) has been worth 4.1 fWAR in that same span.

Clement also got a chance to play with Team USA during the World Baseball Classic, which was surely a nice confidence boost after his record-setting postseason. He won't have to command the top of the lineup like Bichette once did, but anything remotely close to the .977 OPS he produced in October would go a long way toward replacing the team's former shortstop.

Clement's name falls under the radar on a roster loaded with stars, but don't be surprised if he's the one making the biggest impact against the Athletics come March 27.