The Toronto Blue Jays had an overall productive day at the office despite a 14-13 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. New Blue Jays Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Justin Turner had their debuts for Toronto and they made the most out of their minimal at-bats. Toronto also had some stand-outs on the pitching side, despite the total 13 runs yielded. Overall, the Spring Training debut for the Toronto Blue Jays was one of many ups and downs.
The Bright Spots on the Rubber
Chad Dallas started things off for Toronto, pitching one inning while gathering 2 strikeouts. He started off the game getting Whit Merrifield to ground out to third base. Dallas proceeded to strikeout Johan Rojas on a slider with excellent vertical movement down and away and get Edmundo Sosa swinging at a high fastball. The righty’s fastball hovered around 92 MPH, while topping out at 93.5 MPH. Dallas threw a first-pitch strike to each batter he faced while giving Toronto a much-needed zero in the first frame.
Along with Chad Dallas, RP Brendan Little also showed his worth in the first game. Little’s one of the more intriguing players fighting for a bullpen spot. His four-seam fastball sits at around 92-93 MPH, while the sinking fastball comes in at 96-97 MPH. The slider still needs to gain consistency in the location department, but that can certainly improve as Spring Training progresses. Little generated 3 whiffs while striking out a batter. As a sinker-ball pitcher, the southpaw is prone to giving up ground balls. Little forced 2 GBs in his lone inning of work. Little is certainly in the running for the final bullpen spot up for grabs.
Paolo Espino was another one of the bright spots in the Jays’ contest against the Phillies. Espino struck out the side in order in the 6th inning. The 37-year-old used his curveball to perfection down in the zone, tallying 4 whiffs on just the curve itself. The rest of his swing-and-misses arose from the cutter, which sat at 87-88 MPH. Despite not having elite velocity, Espino was able to strike out the side and will serve as solid depth for the rotation in 2024 for Toronto.
Pearson and Zulueta Have Rough Outings
Unfortunately, ex-first round pick Nate Pearson had a poor outing in his Spring Training debut. Pearson’s velocity wasn’t an issue, as the fastball sat around 96-97 MPH, while maxing out at 99.6 MPH. Pearson gave up two home runs on pitches that caught too much of the plate while also walking a batter. However, Pearson struck out Phillies OF David Dahl on a splitter low and away. The recently-added pitch should be utilized more throughout the spring and is a crucial complementary pitch to Pearson’s 97 MPH fastball.
Along with Pearson, Yosver Zulueta had some struggles in his minimal action. The young righty yielded 6 earned runs on 7 hits. His sinker sat around 95-97 MPH, an encouraging sign as Spring Training continues. Zulueta struck out a batter with a well-located slider on the outside corner of the dish. The 26-year-old generated 4 ground balls, a positive sign that could be beneficial with an infield containing multiple gold glovers. SS Leo Jimenez did not help Zulueta due to poor throws from shortstop that lengthened the wretched 5th inning. Zulueta will hopefully rebound in future Spring Training contests.
Will Espinal Make the Jays Opening Day Roster?
With the Blue Jays looking to fill their roster, the performances in Spring Training are crucial for position players. 2B Santiago Espinal had a poor game amidst his contest with other infielders to make the 26-man roster. Espinal went 0-3 with a strikeout and two weak groundouts. His inability to pull the baseball or hit it in the air at all makes him a complete liability offensively. If Espinal continues to sputter throughout the spring, it’s highly unlikely that he makes the Opening Day roster.
Blue Jays Have Explosive Day on Offence
Meanwhile, newcomers Justin Turner and Isiah Kiner-Falefa had impactful plate appearances in their limited time at the dish. Turner went 1-1 with a walk and an RBI single, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa went 2-3 with an RBI single. Kiner-Falefa was close to capping off his day with a stolen bag, but he was caught due to a late jump and accurate throw from Phillies catcher Aramis Garcia. Turner and Kiner-Falefa should continue to be in action for Spring Training to add up their reps with Toronto.
Bo Bichette, Daulton Varsho, Danny Jansen, and Brian Serven were essentially the Jays MVPs offensively against Philadelphia.
SS Bo Bichette: 2-3, 2 Runs, SB
OF Daulton Varsho: 3-3, Run, 3 RBIs
C Danny Jansen: 1-2, 2 Runs
C Brian Serven: 1-2, 3 RBIs
Bichette continued to hit as he tagged a 104.4 MPH single back up the middle for a single. Daulton Varsho had a solid start to his spring, as he tallied a 2-run double that went off the first-baseman’s glove. The left-handed outfielder also looped a single to right field in the third inning to score another run. The two catchers in Danny Jansen and Brian Serven also had productive days. Jansen’s ability to pull the baseball was crucial. Jansen roped a 105 MPH double down the left-field line. Serven also doubled to deep centre field, clearing the bases for a 3-run base hit.
Toronto had an explosive game offensively on Saturday, a preview to what Blue Jays fans hope to see in the 2024 regular season.
The Blue Jays are Back!
Despite the loss, Toronto caught a glimpse of the depth they have and the inevitable options they will have to make when rounding out the 26-man roster. The most intriguing battle will likely be the fight for the final bullpen spot. After Nate Pearson’s struggles Saturday, the position seems to be wide open. Either way, Blue Jays baseball is officially back. Game 2 of Blue Jays Spring Training goes on Sunday, February 24th, against the New York Yankees.