Toronto Blue Jays utilityman Davis Schneider has struggled through the first three weeks of Spring Training. He’s batting just .103 (3/29), with no extra-base hits through 13 spring games. The fan favourite was expected to break camp with the Jays after a solid 2025 campaign, where Schneider slashed .234/.361/.436 with 11 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .797 OPS (119 OPS+) in 82 games.

With how he has performed this spring, his spot on the bench might not be as guaranteed as we once thought.

The former 28th-round draft pick showed the kind of consistency that was missing over his first two seasons. He saw a bit of a decline across his first full season in 2024, posting a.625 OPS across 135 games. This was after putting up a 1.008 OPS in 35 starry games in 2023.

While Schneider has struggled, non-roster invitee and former Chicago White Sox stud Eloy Jiménez has been hitting the ball as hard as anyone in camp.

Jimenez is batting .297, with three doubles, two homers, three RBIs, and a .891 OPS over 15 games. The hulking outfielder is trying to get his major league career back on track after spending most of last season in the Tampa Bay Rays farm system. 

From 2019-2023, the Santo Domingo native was a powerful, but oft-injured force for the White Sox, blasting 89 homers. Things have unravelled for the slugger over the past few years. He was traded to the Orioles in 2024, struggled in 33 games (1 HR, .586 OPS) before signing a minor league deal with the Rays. Jiménez was signed by the Jays late last summer and got into six games with the Bisons before his loud re-emergence over the past few weeks.

Schneider was a favourite entering camp to be part of a busy outfield group, with the ability to fill in as needed at second base. However, he’s done little to earn his spot, while Jiménez appears to be refreshed and motivated to break camp with the Blue Jays. Schneider will need to prove his worth over the next week to earn his spot on this World Series-contending team. If he plays well enough in the final week of Spring Training, Schneider can still make the Opening Day roster and be counted on as a powerful bat off the bench.

The Jays may decide to go with the hot bat in Jiménez, who, even as a part-time player, could help the team be one of the most prolific home run-hitting teams in the majors. Schneider has two minor league option years remaining and, like last season, could start the year at Triple-A Buffalo amidst the busy outfield core.

Whoever is on the initial roster will need to get off to a quick start to avoid being demoted. Jiménez has opened eyes with his strong play and has given the Blue Jays another legitimate power bat and increased roster depth. He deserves to be rewarded for his strong spring with an opening day roster spot.

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