For the second time in spring training, the Blue Jays split the split squad games.

In the televised game, they beat the team from Atlanta 3-1, while they lost 6-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays in the untelevised game.
Let’s start with the win.
<h1>The Blue Jays&#8217; 3-1 win against Atlanta:</h1>
It was nice to get off the schneid with a win on National TV. There were quite a few players that deserved the player of the game, but I went with…
<h2>Blue Jays Nation’s player of the game: Nathan Lukes</h2>
There were two homers in this game (which we’ll get to), but today we’re going to go with the 28-year-old Nathan Lukes as the player of the game.
His impact on the game was immediate, as he registered the first out of the game on an outstanding catch in centre field.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Nathan Lukes (<a href="https://twitter.com/nathan_lukes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nathan_lukes</a>) with an incredible catch to start the game and get the first out.
Very good defender.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/HTBPb7hXTL">pic.twitter.com/HTBPb7hXTL</a>
&mdash; Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633894513935544321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Lukes also went 2-3, with all three of the batted balls registering an exit velocity of over 95 mph (hard hit). Furthermore, his ground out had an exit velocity of 110.1 mph a game-high. Moreover, he could have easily been his third hit of the game had the first baseman not been positioned perfectly.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Nathan Lukes (<a href="https://twitter.com/nathan_lukes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nathan_lukes</a>) may mess around and win the Blue Jays Nation player of the game award.
2-2 today, along with an outstanding catch in centre field.
95.9 mph exit velocity here.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/kZpqJvyQgH">pic.twitter.com/kZpqJvyQgH</a>
&mdash; Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633908163563929616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Added to the 40-man roster in November, Lukes is looking for his first MLB plate appearance, and there’s a good chance he gets that this season.
<h2>Things worth mentioning:</h2>
Kevin Gausman looked more comfortable in his start this afternoon. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowing two hits, but struck out two. He has yet to allow an earned run this spring training, and his splitter has been nasty so far.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Batter.exe has shutdown, as he stares at this 93.6 mph fastball, which gives Gausman his second strikeout of the game <a href="https://t.co/9rbl8yDceH">pic.twitter.com/9rbl8yDceH</a>
&mdash; Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633898685980393474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Cavan Biggio briefly led the Blue Jays in spring training hits, as he hit a mammoth homer, the first of his spring training. As we progress, it’s looking like Biggio may have found his 2019-2020 form, which would be huge for the Jays.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Stay hot Cavan Biggio (<a href="https://twitter.com/doinitBIGgio23?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@doinitBIGgio23</a>)!
Eight hits in spring training for Biggio now, this being his first homer.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/d0DmCJQFrJ">pic.twitter.com/d0DmCJQFrJ</a>
&mdash; Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633904025392279552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Anthony Bass continues to look as if he’s improved. On Thursday afternoon, he pitched a clean inning with a strikeout. That brings his total to five in just three innings pitched. His splitter is going to be a huge weapon for left-handed batters as well.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Here&#39;s Anthony Bass (<a href="https://twitter.com/AnthonyBass52?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnthonyBass52</a>)&#39;s strikeout (thread?) from this evening.
85.8 mph slider, according to baseball savant.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/K1Egtz7yOY">pic.twitter.com/K1Egtz7yOY</a>
&mdash; Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633912526285971458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
George Springer went deep for the first time this spring training. This home run was the game-winner, as it brought the score to 3-1. This batted ball was 102.1 mph off the bat.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
George Springer (<a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeSpringer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeorgeSpringer</a>) with his first home run of spring training!
Gives the beloved Blue Jays the 3-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/K1Tm7cRKg5">pic.twitter.com/K1Tm7cRKg5</a>
&mdash; Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633917861713281024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bowden Francis pitched a clean inning and a third, generating a whiff on a nasty curveball. I’m not too sure what his role will be this season, but whether they run him out as a starter, a bulk reliever, or a one inning guy, the 26-year-old righty should have a good season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Gross curveball from Bowden Francis (<a href="https://twitter.com/Bowdenpoint0?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bowdenpoint0</a>)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/3TvWdXp0Si">pic.twitter.com/3TvWdXp0Si</a>
&mdash; Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633907379904364571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Santiago Espinal leads the Blue Jays in hits this spring training, as he went 2-3 Thursday afternoon. The battle for second base continues to look like a dogfight, but right now I believe it’s Espinal’s to lose, while Biggio will slot in nicely as the fourth outfielder.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Santiago Espinal (<a href="https://twitter.com/santdr13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@santdr13</a>) retakes the base hit lead, as this is his ninth hit of spring training.
53 mph off the bat.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/TLeTYgURgl">pic.twitter.com/TLeTYgURgl</a>
&mdash; Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633913625063596032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h1>The Blue Jays&#8217; 6-1 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays:</h1>
The win (which took only two hours and five minutes) was short-lived, as the Jays fell in the other split-squad game. Let’s look at the player of the game, along with things worth mentioning.
<h2>Blue Jays Nation’s player of the game: Drew Hutchison</h2>
The former Blue Jay pitcher that came back in the off-season only had a 14.7 K% with the Detroit Tigers in 2022. Moreover, his career K% only sits at 19.2%.However, he found something in this game, as he struck out four over 2.2 innings pitched. Sadly, no video exists of this game, but Hutchison generated five whiffs, only one behind the game leader.
I’m not sure if Hutchison will pitch for the Blue Jays&#8217; big league team in 2023, but it’s nice to have the 32-year-old back in the organization.
<h2>Things worth mentioning:</h2>
Bo Bichette continues to stay hot. In his three plate appearances, he struck out once, but had two hits and was the most influential Blue Jays’ position player on the day. He now has seven hits in spring training, which ranks tied for third (with Kevin Kiermaier and Otto López). Stay hot, Bichette.
Nate Pearson ran into some trouble on Thursday afternoon. In his first inning of work, he allowed two earned runs (three total), while walking a batter. He bounced back in his second inning of work, as he struck out two batters before being pulled due to his pitch limit. This was his first “bad” outing, but with the depth, it may push him back a bit.
Daulton Varsho continues to heat up. On Thursday afternoon, he registered his first Blue Jays RBI, the only run that the Blue Jays scored. It was a single that came in at 70.1 mph. They don’t ask how!
Paul Fry had a rough start to his spring training, but has bounced back over his last three appearances. In Thursday afternoon’s game, he pitched an inning, allowing a hit, but also striking out a batter. It’s likely he starts the 2023 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, but could potentially pitch for the Jays this season.
Davis Schneider had the highest exit velocity from any Jays player in this game. He went 1-1 with a double, with that double having an exit velocity of 101.6 mph. <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2023-preseason-top-50-22-davis-schneider">He’s a prospect worth monitoring this season, as he ranked as Blue Jays Nation’s #22 prospect heading into the season</a>.
The next Blue Jays game will take place at 1:05 PM on Friday afternoon against the Boston Red Sox. No better way of getting out of a funk than by smashing the Red Sox again.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @Brennan_L_D.
<hr />
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For the second time in spring training, the Blue Jays split the split squad games.



In the televised game, they beat the team from Atlanta 3-1, while they lost 6-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays in the untelevised game.

Let’s start with the win.
<h1>The Blue Jays' 3-1 win against Atlanta:</h1>
It was nice to get off the schneid with a win on National TV. There were quite a few players that deserved the player of the game, but I went with…
<h2>Blue Jays Nation’s player of the game: Nathan Lukes</h2>
There were two homers in this game (which we’ll get to), but today we’re going to go with the 28-year-old Nathan Lukes as the player of the game.

His impact on the game was immediate, as he registered the first out of the game on an outstanding catch in centre field.

https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633894513935544321

Lukes also went 2-3, with all three of the batted balls registering an exit velocity of over 95 mph (hard hit). Furthermore, his ground out had an exit velocity of 110.1 mph a game-high. Moreover, he could have easily been his third hit of the game had the first baseman not been positioned perfectly.

https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633908163563929616

Added to the 40-man roster in November, Lukes is looking for his first MLB plate appearance, and there’s a good chance he gets that this season.
<h2>Things worth mentioning:</h2>
Kevin Gausman looked more comfortable in his start this afternoon. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowing two hits, but struck out two. He has yet to allow an earned run this spring training, and his splitter has been nasty so far.

https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633898685980393474

Cavan Biggio briefly led the Blue Jays in spring training hits, as he hit a mammoth homer, the first of his spring training. As we progress, it’s looking like Biggio may have found his 2019-2020 form, which would be huge for the Jays.

https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633904025392279552

Anthony Bass continues to look as if he’s improved. On Thursday afternoon, he pitched a clean inning with a strikeout. That brings his total to five in just three innings pitched. His splitter is going to be a huge weapon for left-handed batters as well.

https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633912526285971458

George Springer went deep for the first time this spring training. This home run was the game-winner, as it brought the score to 3-1. This batted ball was 102.1 mph off the bat.

https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633917861713281024

Bowden Francis pitched a clean inning and a third, generating a whiff on a nasty curveball. I’m not too sure what his role will be this season, but whether they run him out as a starter, a bulk reliever, or a one inning guy, the 26-year-old righty should have a good season.

https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633907379904364571

Santiago Espinal leads the Blue Jays in hits this spring training, as he went 2-3 Thursday afternoon. The battle for second base continues to look like a dogfight, but right now I believe it’s Espinal’s to lose, while Biggio will slot in nicely as the fourth outfielder.

https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1633913625063596032
<h1>The Blue Jays' 6-1 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays:</h1>
The win (which took only two hours and five minutes) was short-lived, as the Jays fell in the other split-squad game. Let’s look at the player of the game, along with things worth mentioning.
<h2>Blue Jays Nation’s player of the game: Drew Hutchison</h2>
The former Blue Jay pitcher that came back in the off-season only had a 14.7 K% with the Detroit Tigers in 2022. Moreover, his career K% only sits at 19.2%.However, he found something in this game, as he struck out four over 2.2 innings pitched. Sadly, no video exists of this game, but Hutchison generated five whiffs, only one behind the game leader.

I’m not sure if Hutchison will pitch for the Blue Jays' big league team in 2023, but it’s nice to have the 32-year-old back in the organization.
<h2>Things worth mentioning:</h2>
Bo Bichette continues to stay hot. In his three plate appearances, he struck out once, but had two hits and was the most influential Blue Jays’ position player on the day. He now has seven hits in spring training, which ranks tied for third (with Kevin Kiermaier and Otto López). Stay hot, Bichette.

Nate Pearson ran into some trouble on Thursday afternoon. In his first inning of work, he allowed two earned runs (three total), while walking a batter. He bounced back in his second inning of work, as he struck out two batters before being pulled due to his pitch limit. This was his first “bad” outing, but with the depth, it may push him back a bit.

Daulton Varsho continues to heat up. On Thursday afternoon, he registered his first Blue Jays RBI, the only run that the Blue Jays scored. It was a single that came in at 70.1 mph. They don’t ask how!

Paul Fry had a rough start to his spring training, but has bounced back over his last three appearances. In Thursday afternoon’s game, he pitched an inning, allowing a hit, but also striking out a batter. It’s likely he starts the 2023 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, but could potentially pitch for the Jays this season.

Davis Schneider had the highest exit velocity from any Jays player in this game. He went 1-1 with a double, with that double having an exit velocity of 101.6 mph. <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-2023-preseason-top-50-22-davis-schneider">He’s a prospect worth monitoring this season, as he ranked as Blue Jays Nation’s #22 prospect heading into the season</a>.

The next Blue Jays game will take place at 1:05 PM on Friday afternoon against the Boston Red Sox. No better way of getting out of a funk than by smashing the Red Sox again.

As always, you can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @Brennan_L_D.

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