The ultimate fan’s guide to watching the Blue Jays for the rest of the 2024 season
Photo credit: Gerry Angus-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 13, 2024, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 13, 2024, 09:34 EDT
The Blue Jays have long been out of contention – this much was clear even before the trade deadline loomed.
Toronto is now 15 and a half games out of the division lead and 10 and a half games out of securing the last Wild Card spot after the trade deadline and has effectively shifted its focus to 2025 and beyond.
Believe it or not, Labour Day and back-to-school season are less than a month away and there are less than 50 games left in the MLB season. While a few summer and fall activities present welcome distractions from a disappointing Blue Jays season, there are still storylines to follow the Blue Jays’ for the remaining 43 games.
Daulton Varsho’s Gold Glove campaign
The Blue Jays may have had a frustrating season, but outfielder Daulton Varsho has been putting together an exceptional season for himself, especially in the defensive metrics. Varsho’s fielding skills were never questioned since he became an everyday outfielder with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After his trade to Toronto last season, Varsho has flashed his gloves on almost every occasion and somehow found ways to sharpen his defence. The outfielder leads the league with 24 defensive runs saved and comes in second in fielding run value after San Francisco Giants’ catcher Patrick Bailey. Varsho has split his time in left field and centre field this season, and it remains to be seen whether he will qualify to win a Gold Glove award at the end of this season. Regardless of his qualifications, Varsho is single-handedly solidifying his value on the Blue Jays team that needs more optimism than ever.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s resurgence
Three years ago, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally lived up to his potential and garnered the league’s attention by clubbing 48 home runs. Fast forward to the beginning of the 2024 season, the former MVP candidate-version of Guerrero Jr. seemed to have evaporated as the first baseman continued to slump. However, Guerrero Jr. eclipsed doubts and cynicism around himself with his hot stretch not long after his skid. Thanks to this promising resurgence, the first baseman has batting statistics that resemble his 2021 record. Guerrero Jr. has a .319 batting average (BA), .392 on-base percentage (OBP), .543 slugging (SLG) and 162 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) more than 100 games into the 2024 season and has the potential to rival his peak in 2021. Guerrero Jr. may not be able to hit closer to 48 home runs this time, but if his underlying batting statistics continue to stay hot, he has a chance to pull off a revival that could determine his future with the Blue Jays.
Hidden gems and 2025 hopefuls
So far, plenty of young Blue Jays have gotten a shot at the big leagues to learn and show off their talents. Below are seven players to keep an eye out for as they continue to receive chances this year and aim to put their names in the major league roster for next season:
- Addison Barger (OF): Barger has played with the big league team since this spring and has played in outfield and infield. While Barger’s defence isn’t his best skill set, he has demonstrated his skills at the plate from time to time. Unfortunately, Barger hasn’t been off to a great start as a whole with a .183 BA, .216 OBP and .312 SLG, there are still more chances for him to achieve more for the rest of this season and next year. However, Barger will have to fully show that he is able to keep up his offence and defence to become more than just a role player on the crowded Blue Jays roster.
- Jake Bloss (RHP): Bloss is one of the players Blue Jays acquired from their trade with the Houston Astros and was the headliner for this eye-popping trade. Promptly after the trade, Bloss became the third-best prospect in Toronto’s farm system and was projected to have a rather high upside. In Bloss’ debut on Saturday, August 10, with the Buffalo Bisons, Blue Jays’ tripe A affiliate, he threw 2.2 scoreless innings with a couple of strikeouts. The right-hander will have to throw more pitches with the Bisons to build up his innings and skills but the Blue Jays will likely call him up later in the 2024 season to see what Bloss has to offer as a starter as they build for 2025.
- Bowden Francis (RHP): Francis has had a roller coaster of a season in 2024. The right-hander’s start with the Blue Jays wasn’t smooth at all as he struggled mightily. Eventually, Francis played the role of a long man once again as he juggled starter and relief pitcher’s duty once again. But, with many injuries in Toronto’s pitching, Francis earned his chance to become a starter again and has lived up to his potential as the season winds down. For his start against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, August 12, the young starter pitched seven innings and allowed only one run while recording eight strikeouts. If Francis can continue to demonstrate his consistency, he could easily solidify his position as a fourth or fifth starter for the 2025 season.
- Spencer Horwitz (1B/2B): Horwitz has performed just as advertised. The infielder was supposed to be a high-floor player and has consistently gotten on base for the Blue Jays ever since his call-up this season. Currently, Horwitz has a .272 BA, .363 OBP and .408 SLG and his wRC+ is at a 120. Another encouraging showing from Horwitz is his ability to play a solid second base despite his training as a first baseman in Toronto’s system. The infielder’s consistency has earned him a regular spot in the lineup with the Blue Jays thus far and so long as he can provide value at the plate and on the field, he has the chance to become a mainstay once again next season.
- Leo Jiménez (IF): Jiménez got his chance with the Blue Jays once shortstop Bo Bichette’s injury leave extended. At first, the infielder was off to a slower start but then quickly put together a string of strong plate appearances. Jiménez now has .222 BA, .312 OBP and .320 SLG and is still working to find the best version of himself with the Blue Jays. He may not get as many chances on the big league roster if Bichette does return in the 2025 season. However, given the state of the 2024 Blue Jays, there is a world where Jiménez still finds his way back to the major league roster next season as a role player.
- Joey Loperfido (OF): Loperfido is also one of the players from the Yusei Kikuchi trade with the Astros. The outfielder has already shown off his defensive skills by making beyond-impossible catches but has struggled at the plate so far by recording strikeouts frequently. That being said, Loperfido still has time to work on this swing, plate discipline and plate approach and will inevitably earn more appearances with the Blue Jays given the lack of depth in the system. However, the outfielder profiles more as a role player in the long run, according to baseball insiders, and that’s the possible downside if Loperfido isn’t able to improve his offensive metrics next season.
- Will Wagner (IF): Wagner is the son of Billy Wagner and is the last player who was a part of the Yusei Kikuchi trade with Houston. The infielder started his time with the Buffalo Bisons first until the Blue Jays called him up for the away series against the Los Angeles Angels. In the first game of the series on Monday, August 12, Wagner had four at-bats in total and recorded three hits and one run batted in (RBI). With this excellent performance, the infielder became the fourth player in the franchise history to record a three-hit MLB debut. Wagner still has a lot to prove for the remaining 2024 season but if he can continue to produce at the plate while executing his defence splendidly, his playing time will gradually increase with the Blue Jays.