The Toronto Blue Jays finalized their <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/numerous-former-blue-jays-involved-in-last-minute-roster-decisions-as-teams-finalize-their-lineups-for-opening-day">Opening Day roster</a> over the weekend. With only a few spots up for grabs, there was little mystery about the results, and yet fans were still left with some questions when the dust had settled. 
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Outfielder <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-40-man-roster-review-nathan-lukes-may-finally-get-a-long-awaited-opportunity-in-2025">Nathan Lukes</a> was included on the active roster despite a middling performance in spring training, and he beat out ascending prospect <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/addison-barger-positional-versatility-could-help-him-make-the-blue-jays-roster">Addison Barger</a>, who had been swinging a hot bat in Dunedin. Lukes served as the fourth outfielder for much of the 2023 season but didn’t see much of the field, getting into 29 games and logging 26 at-bats. He had a chance to have a bigger impact in 2024, but thumb surgery delayed his potential promotion until late August. 
Once given steady at-bats, Lukes responded well, hitting .303, with seven extra-base hits, 10 RBI, and an .818 OPS over 91 plate appearances. That was on a team playing out the string of a painfully disappointing season, and Lukes knew he had to earn his spot again in 2025.
His inclusion on this year’s initial roster is puzzling. It’s not that he had a poor performance in the Grapefruit League; he picked up eight hits in 44 AB’s (.222), with a home run, two doubles, and four RBIs. He had almost as many walks as strikeouts (7 BBs, 8 SOs) and provided his usual reliable defense in the outfield. It&#8217;s just that, comparison-wise at the plate, Barger had the upside.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Making An Impression ‼️
Nathan Lukes is 8-for-16 (.500) this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpringTraining?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpringTraining</a> 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/PtJSK1krNM">pic.twitter.com/PtJSK1krNM</a>
&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1766187045372723334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Barger hit .367 (11/30), three homers, six RBIs, and an 1.162 OPS in 15 spring games and appeared to have earned a job with the big league club. He’ll start the year at triple-A Buffalo and be one of the first players to be called up if needed.   
The way the Blue Jays have used their 26th man in recent years is a window into why they may have chosen Lukes over Barger. Manager John Schneider has been in the habit of only using three bench players, as Lukes, Bradley Zimmer, and Jordan Luplow can attest. All three were used as depth outfielders over the past few seasons but were in the lineup so sparingly that their impact was stifled. 
As well-liked as Lukes is, he’s in his age-30 season and has mostly served as a bench piece for the most part. Barger could help this team in multiple ways, splitting time between the corner outfield spots while slotting in at third base. His left-handed power bat is also a bonus.
With six primary outfielders on the roster, it’s hard for the Jays to guarantee at-bats for anyone, and that may be the biggest reason they opted to go with Lukes. They know he’s fine with getting minimal at-bats, being used as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement, and being one of the guys but he can also handle centre field, and with Daulton Varsho out of the lineup to start the year, the team opted to bring both Lukes and Straw to Toronto to cover the gap. Barger was just the odd-man out, and when Varsho returns, Straw and Lukes will likely be in the same boat (well &#8211; at least one of them will be). 
The front office must believe the best thing they can do for Barger is give him consistent playing time in Buffalo and ensure he’s ready for when his time comes. He will be back with the Blue Jays in 2025, the biggest question will just be when. 
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The Toronto Blue Jays finalized their <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/numerous-former-blue-jays-involved-in-last-minute-roster-decisions-as-teams-finalize-their-lineups-for-opening-day">Opening Day roster</a> over the weekend. With only a few spots up for grabs, there was little mystery about the results, and yet fans were still left with some questions when the dust had settled. 
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Outfielder <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-40-man-roster-review-nathan-lukes-may-finally-get-a-long-awaited-opportunity-in-2025">Nathan Lukes</a> was included on the active roster despite a middling performance in spring training, and he beat out ascending prospect <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/addison-barger-positional-versatility-could-help-him-make-the-blue-jays-roster">Addison Barger</a>, who had been swinging a hot bat in Dunedin. Lukes served as the fourth outfielder for much of the 2023 season but didn’t see much of the field, getting into 29 games and logging 26 at-bats. He had a chance to have a bigger impact in 2024, but thumb surgery delayed his potential promotion until late August. 

Once given steady at-bats, Lukes responded well, hitting .303, with seven extra-base hits, 10 RBI, and an .818 OPS over 91 plate appearances. That was on a team playing out the string of a painfully disappointing season, and Lukes knew he had to earn his spot again in 2025.

His inclusion on this year’s initial roster is puzzling. It’s not that he had a poor performance in the Grapefruit League; he picked up eight hits in 44 AB’s (.222), with a home run, two doubles, and four RBIs. He had almost as many walks as strikeouts (7 BBs, 8 SOs) and provided his usual reliable defense in the outfield. It's just that, comparison-wise at the plate, Barger had the upside.

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Barger hit .367 (11/30), three homers, six RBIs, and an 1.162 OPS in 15 spring games and appeared to have earned a job with the big league club. He’ll start the year at triple-A Buffalo and be one of the first players to be called up if needed.   

The way the Blue Jays have used their 26th man in recent years is a window into why they may have chosen Lukes over Barger. Manager John Schneider has been in the habit of only using three bench players, as Lukes, Bradley Zimmer, and Jordan Luplow can attest. All three were used as depth outfielders over the past few seasons but were in the lineup so sparingly that their impact was stifled. 

As well-liked as Lukes is, he’s in his age-30 season and has mostly served as a bench piece for the most part. Barger could help this team in multiple ways, splitting time between the corner outfield spots while slotting in at third base. His left-handed power bat is also a bonus.

With six primary outfielders on the roster, it’s hard for the Jays to guarantee at-bats for anyone, and that may be the biggest reason they opted to go with Lukes. They know he’s fine with getting minimal at-bats, being used as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement, and being one of the guys but he can also handle centre field, and with Daulton Varsho out of the lineup to start the year, the team opted to bring both Lukes and Straw to Toronto to cover the gap. Barger was just the odd-man out, and when Varsho returns, Straw and Lukes will likely be in the same boat (well - at least one of them will be). 

The front office must believe the best thing they can do for Barger is give him consistent playing time in Buffalo and ensure he’s ready for when his time comes. He will be back with the Blue Jays in 2025, the biggest question will just be when. 

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Blue Jays: Should Nathan Lukes have made the Opening Day roster?

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