<p>While Alan Roden <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-told-alan-roden-and-others-theyve-made-the-opening-day-roster">earned his spot</a> on the Toronto Blue Jays to start the season with an excellent spring training performance, he started to struggle as the days wore on, as opposing pitchers also adapted.</p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
<p>His .298 spring training average didn&#8217;t hold as the MLB season began, and he hit .178, well below the Mendoza line. He was then <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-make-roster-moves-optioning-alan-roden-and-selecting-braydon-fishers-contract">sent back down</a> to the Buffalo Bisons, where he spent the majority of the 2024 season.</p>
<p>He collected his first hit with the team in his first game back, going 1-5 on May 8th, but his next game the following day was a true showing of what his bat is capable of.</p>
<p>Roden pummeled the St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins affiliate), collecting four hits in five tries, including a home run and five RBIs, as the Bisons won 17-3.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">HOT RODEN SUMMER <a href="https://t.co/IEwVSvjK2j">pic.twitter.com/IEwVSvjK2j</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1921030121730781205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>His excellent play continued through his next two games, as he racked up seven total bases between the two, pushing his average through the four games to a staggering .526. He&#8217;s collected a hit in each game back in Buffalo, and three out of the four were mult-hit contests, while also striking out three times with one walk. While his batting lines may not be a maintainable number, it&#8217;s a promising sign that he was able to bounce back so quickly in the minors from his rough major league stretch.</p>
<p>In 2024, he posted a .314/.406/.510 slashline. The difference between those 71 games and his run in the majors was how often he was hitting balls hard. In his 28 MLB games, he tallied only 19 total bases, as he struggled to hit balls on a line (6th percentile in <a href="https://www.mlb.com/glossary/statcast/barrel">barrel%</a>) like he did consistently in the minor leagues.</p>
<p>A focus on increasing the power and bat speed of his swings could be in order to try and keep up with the better pitches he&#8217;ll face should he return to the Jays later this season or in 2026.</p>
<p>Roden&#8217;s fight to get back to the majors will be a tough one, barring any injuries or very poor runs by a player on the Jays. The team has deep outfield depth, including Anthony Santander, Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, and George Springer, as well as players like Addison Barger, who has been on a <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/a-consistent-addison-barger-might-be-the-spark-plug-the-blue-jays-need">tear lately</a> and can play third base. The likelihood is that when Roden returns, he will be used in a full-time capacity instead of a bench player, given his age and future development.</p>
<p>Regardless, Roden has the skills to make it back to the majors and likely will eventually. The big question remains whether or not he can make the right adjustments in the minors to remain on the big stage in his second try.</p>
<hr />
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>


While Alan Roden <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-told-alan-roden-and-others-theyve-made-the-opening-day-roster">earned his spot</a> on the Toronto Blue Jays to start the season with an excellent spring training performance, he started to struggle as the days wore on, as opposing pitchers also adapted.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
His .298 spring training average didn't hold as the MLB season began, and he hit .178, well below the Mendoza line. He was then <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-make-roster-moves-optioning-alan-roden-and-selecting-braydon-fishers-contract">sent back down</a> to the Buffalo Bisons, where he spent the majority of the 2024 season.

He collected his first hit with the team in his first game back, going 1-5 on May 8th, but his next game the following day was a true showing of what his bat is capable of.

Roden pummeled the St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins affiliate), collecting four hits in five tries, including a home run and five RBIs, as the Bisons won 17-3.

https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1921030121730781205

His excellent play continued through his next two games, as he racked up seven total bases between the two, pushing his average through the four games to a staggering .526. He's collected a hit in each game back in Buffalo, and three out of the four were mult-hit contests, while also striking out three times with one walk. While his batting lines may not be a maintainable number, it's a promising sign that he was able to bounce back so quickly in the minors from his rough major league stretch.

In 2024, he posted a .314/.406/.510 slashline. The difference between those 71 games and his run in the majors was how often he was hitting balls hard. In his 28 MLB games, he tallied only 19 total bases, as he struggled to hit balls on a line (6th percentile in <a href="https://www.mlb.com/glossary/statcast/barrel">barrel%</a>) like he did consistently in the minor leagues.

A focus on increasing the power and bat speed of his swings could be in order to try and keep up with the better pitches he'll face should he return to the Jays later this season or in 2026.

Roden's fight to get back to the majors will be a tough one, barring any injuries or very poor runs by a player on the Jays. The team has deep outfield depth, including Anthony Santander, Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, and George Springer, as well as players like Addison Barger, who has been on a <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/a-consistent-addison-barger-might-be-the-spark-plug-the-blue-jays-need">tear lately</a> and can play third base. The likelihood is that when Roden returns, he will be used in a full-time capacity instead of a bench player, given his age and future development.

Regardless, Roden has the skills to make it back to the majors and likely will eventually. The big question remains whether or not he can make the right adjustments in the minors to remain on the big stage in his second try.

<hr />

<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>

Alan Roden’s bat ignites after demotion to Buffalo

Throwback Thursday: Looking at Blue Jays trades with Guardians since the start of the Ross Aktins era

Instant Reaction: Kevin Guasman pitched eight scoreless innings in Blue Jays’ 6-0 victory over Guardians

Report: Blue Jays promoting prospect Johnny King to single-A

Blue Jays GDB – 80.0: Toronto looks to win the series in Cleveland following last night’s walk-off loss

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates his solo home run in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.

Recent articles from Trevor Fitzpatrick

Breaking News