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Blue Jays: Keep an eye on RJ Schreck this Spring
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Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Aidan Sinclair
Jan 29, 2026, 19:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 29, 2026, 15:04 EST
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As Spring Training approaches, the Blue Jays outfield appears set. Daulton Varsho and Anthony Santander are currently slated as part of the Opening Day starting trio, leaving some form of Myles Straw, Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider, Jonatan Clase, Kazuma Okamoto, and Joey Loperfido looking for playing time, creating a logjam that may block prospects from squeaking through to the Major League roster.
One exception exists to this group from the internal depths: RJ Schreck.
Schreck was drafted by the Seattle Mariners out of Vanderbilt in the ninth round of the 2023 draft, though he spent less than a year in their system before being dealt to Toronto at the 2024 trade deadline for veteran Justin Turner. Before the trade, Schreck posted an .865 OPS with 12 home runs for Seattle’s single-A affiliate, earning a promotion to AA, where he saw eight games of action.
Toronto saw enough potential in the then 23-year-old outfielder to have him finish out 2024 with New Hampshire at double-A, where he impressed in a 28-game sample, registering an .898 OPS. Come 2025, it was time for Schreck to make another leap in his development.
Through 41 games to start the year with New Hampshire, he hit nine home runs to pair with a .914 OPS, warranting a promotion to Buffalo. To end the season, he would slash .242/.392/.435/.828 across 58 games, setting himself up to be a candidate to make the Major League roster in 2026. 
Schreck’s profile is eerily similar to that of former Blue Jays top prospect Alan Roden, who struggled initially with the big league squad before he was dealt for Louis Varland at last year’s trade deadline. Both outfielders are sound defensively, can hit for power, and have displayed exceptional on-base skills. Roden got the call and made the Opening Day roster out of Spring Training last season, after posting the highest OPS on the team with a mark of 1.245. 
Schreck faces a similar conundrum. With the current outfield depth at the Major League level, playing time appears slim to none for the now 25-year-old. On the bright side, two factors do play into his favour: injuries and poor performance.
The Jays brought in Anthony Santander last offseason, expecting tremendous power numbers. He effectively brought no value to an eventual World Series roster, and players such as Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw were relied upon to fill in his void. Last spring, Daulton Varsho was recovering from shoulder surgery, paving the way for Roden to make his debut with the big league club. 
Injuries and poor performance are, unfortunately, a harsh reality in sports, though they could play into Schreck’s hands if he plays his cards right. Recently, Schreck was added by the Jays as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training and will have an opportunity to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster if he performs. At 25, he is no longer a young player developing his skills at the lowest levels of the minor leagues. A 166 WRC+ and a 129 WRC+ at AA New Hampshire and AAA Buffalo, respectively, last season, suggest that with a solid Spring Training, he could find himself playing in Toronto very soon. 
There is also a chance that the Jays trade away a player or two before early April rolls around, clearing up some of the outfield logjam that’s there. That may not necessarily open up playing time for Schreck, but it at least creates an easier path in the short term.
Beyond 2026, George Springer and Daulton Varsho could both be playing elsewhere as they enter their final years of control this season, which would likely mean a shift to DH for Anthony Santander long term. Extension talks with either are unclear at this point, and he is likely to test the market should he put up a career year, leaving multiple outfield spots up for grabs come 2027 and beyond. 
2026 will be a put-up or shut-up year for Schreck, as he could face a similar scenario to the aforementioned Roden, either becoming a solid Major League piece or trade bait at the deadline. His overall well-rounded offensive profile suggests that he could find sustained success with the Jays, and Spring Training will be a huge indicator as to how his future with the organization will look. 

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