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Back from his latest Triple-A stint, Davis Schneider finding his identity again
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Photo credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Thomas Hall
Jun 17, 2026, 12:30 EDTUpdated: Jun 17, 2026, 12:16 EDT
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When the Toronto Blue Jays optioned Davis Schneider to Triple-A Buffalo for the second time in as many seasons last month, the primary objective behind that move was to get him right again. They wanted to see the right-handed slugger rediscover his ability to hunt damage.
In three games since being recalled, he’s done precisely that.
After blasting his first home run since Mar. 30 in Sunday’s 8-3 loss to the New York Yankees, Schneider enjoyed another encouraging performance against an AL East rival on Tuesday night, recording a multi-hit performance versus the Boston Red Sox — his second in as many games — that featured a pair of extra-base hits, including his third round-tripper of 2026.
“I got down to Triple-A and I didn’t really swing as much as I should have,” Davis Schneider told reporters post-game, including MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. “I swung less, I think, but I felt that I was swinging, I was making good contact. It helped a lot.”
Since returning from Buffalo, the 27-year-old is now 4-for-9 — three of those hits have gone for extra bases — and has driven home three runs, while walking once and striking out just twice. That’s already more than half of the hits he produced during his 14-game stint with the Bisons, a span that also included 24 walks in 60 plate appearances.
Schneider admitted to being a little “too passive” at the plate earlier this year, but now feels he’s in a much better spot compared to even a few weeks ago. And perhaps a road trip to Fenway Park arrived at the perfect time, too, considering it’s the birthplace of his historic major league debut.
Almost three years ago, Schneider etched his name into baseball history, becoming the first rookie to compile nine hits with a pair of home runs through his first three big-league games. Following Tuesday’s 419-foot blast and his RBI double, he’s now a 12-for-32 (.375) career hitter in Boston with two more games to play in this three-game series.
Walks have pretty much always been a prominent facet of Schneider’s hitter profile. Even when the hits weren’t falling this season, the free passes remained consistent — as evidenced by his 100th percentile walk rate (18.2 per cent). But those aren’t as meaningful when, at the same time, you’re hitting under .200 and slugging well below .400.
We witnessed him at his best last summer, slashing .249/.364/.468 with 11 home runs, 30 RBIs and a 135 wRC+ (100 league average) in 72 games after returning from Triple-A, walking 15 per cent of the time and striking out at a 25.2 per cent clip. This is his identity in a nutshell, and the type of damage-hunting hitter he’s attempting to revive.
“He’s being a little more aggressive, being more intentful on these pitches he can handle in the zone,” manager John Schneider said. “He was just hunting a pitch down there on the changeup for the homer.”
The sample size may still be minuscule here, but Davis Schneider’s resurgent approach and game plan are what have the Blue Jays hopeful that he can turn this momentum into something bigger as his sample size increases.
They’re betting on his personality and character, too. He’s handled the last few months incredibly well, all things considered, earning himself another opportunity to regain a part-time role on a team that’s struggled to find consistency from the right-handed batter’s box thus far.
“He’s a 28th-round draft pick who was almost released a few times in the Minors. He’s had to work for everything he’s gotten,” John Schneider said. “When we’ve optioned him down this year and last year, he’s understood it. He hasn’t [complained] about it. He hasn’t cried or asked why. He understands and he’s attacked it the right way.
“I’m happy for him. A lot of guys will put their tails between their legs and say, ‘This sucks’. That’s not him. That’s not the way he’s built.”
The Blue Jays’ lineup is at its strongest when it’s able to maximize the platoon advantage, matching up right-handed hitters with left-handed pitchers and vice versa. But between Davis Schneider’s woes — despite an impressive start to the season that featured a .250/.400/.458 slash line and a 145 wRC+ over his first 11 games — and Myles Straw’s reverse splits — he’s hit righties (102 wRC+) better than lefties (62 wRC+) thus far — they’ve had to pivot from last season’s identity.
That’s resulted in more left-on-left at-bats for the likes of Jesús Sánchez, Yohendrick Piñango and Andrés Giménez than anticipated. Since none of those three have fared well in these less-than-ideal matchups, it’s no surprise that Toronto’s offence enters Wednesday’s slate sitting 28th as a team in wRC+ (84) versus left-handed pitching.
Therein lies the value of Schneider’s return. He can help alter that entire situation by doing what he does best: hunting damage.

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