There’s no doubt that Alan Roden earned his spot on the Toronto Blue Jays this spring. In 27 at-bats, he slashed an impressive .407/.541/.704, and that was after he hit around the .300 average mark in back-to-back minor league seasons.

It was likely a no-brainer for a team that finished below league average in OPS last season. The only problem is fitting him into the defensive side of the lineup.

The Jays’ outfield is busy, especially after they signed Anthony Santander this offseason. Out there as of now are Santander, George Springer, Davis Schneider, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, and- when he returns from the IL– Daulton Varsho. When Varsho returns, one of Schneider, Lukes, Straw, and potentially Roden will likely be heading to triple-A, but the outfield is still busy to start the season.

As it gets busier, the solution isn’t as simple as moving one specific player to the DH spot. In 2024, Springer played 20 games there, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had 29 appearences, and with the Orioles, Santander had 25.

Putting Roden’s bat into the lineup will require some serious shuffling. Out of all of the aforementioned players, Springer had the worst spring, batting only .108, and is coming off a 2024 season marked with career lows. The Jays won’t just remove him from the lineup, as his glove is still an asset in the corner outfield spots and as a veteran, you have to believe a bounceback campaign is possible out of the gate. He’s also still on a massive contract, meaning the front office probably wants to see him get playtime rather than sitting on the bench.

Lukes and Straw will both likely see playtime as well out in centre field until Varsho’s return, but it makes more sense for Roden to take either Santander, Springer, or Schneider’s spot in one of the corner outfields anyway, as that’s his native position. Fortunately, Schneider has shown the flexibility to also play the infield, and both Santander and Roden can take some DH days to make things work.

Using those options, the team will have to get creative and find a way to get Roden into the lineup consistently, be that in the outfield or as the DH. If they don’t, it would probably make more sense to send him back down to triple-A, where he can continue to develop instead of riding the bench. It’s a similar move that fell on Addison Barger when the Opening Day roster was announced.

What will the Jays do with the DH slot if it’s overcrowded, though? The most likely option seems to be asking Guerrero Jr. to play fewer games at DH to free up the spot for Roden and Santander, similar to how Alejandro Kirk will be asked to take fewer rest days behind the plate this year as the team lacks catching depth. You won’t hear any arguments from the slugger, who has informed manager John Schneider he is not a fan of the spot.

In a way, the competition for playtime continues even though spring training is over. Roden’s first weeks in the Major Leagues will determine if he can hold down his spot. The same applies to Schneider, despite his solid spring, as his 2024 season was rough.

Expect to find out within the first month or two whether or not the Jays intend to keep their outfield prospect in the majors for an extended stay. As much as his play will be a key factor, with so many players battling for outfield and DH playtime, that could play a factor that’s out of Roden’s hands.