Toronto Blue Jays: Despite Team’s Struggles, Justin Smoak Lights A Flame!
Despite the Toronto Blue Jays’ slow start to the season, first baseman Justin Smoak has stood out as a bright spot.
It’s been hard to say the least, to unleash optimistic comments on the Toronto Blue Jays‘ 2017 season so far. With a 3-11 record entering Thursday’s games, it’s so hard to look at the bright side with this team. But rest assured, there are some positive things to consider.
Lets look at Tuesday’s action against the Boston Red Sox. Although the Jays lost, Justin Smoak stood out.
Just like his name, Smoak provided power to the game. He doubled, and got a home run, scoring two RBI’s.
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Smoak is one of those players that has power. He can hit the ball hard, but in order for him to be successful he needs to be consistent.
Evidently, the 30-year old is what the Jays are going to need. Without Josh Donaldson and with the lack of home runs the team have been hitting, its nice to see Smoak stepping it up at the plate. (He also homered in the 6-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on April 14.)
The Numbers
According to CBS Sports, Smoak has shown improvement… “over his last four games, Smoak is 5-for-13 (.385) with a pair of round trippers, a double and just the second triple of his career. ” He could possibly be the key to solving the Jays’ struggles, so he will definitely be in the lineup more often.
Smoak being one of the best hitters for the Jays right now is a bit of a surprise for many fans, as expressed in this tweet:
https://twitter.com/HafizDoc/status/854499380287733762
However, the first baseman doing well shouldn’t be that much of a surprise. He is definitely an asset to the Jays.
For one, Smoak is a switch hitter, so that right there adds to his value as a player. He’s a big guy, so he brings a lot of stamina and he maintains patience at the plate.
Next: Josh Donaldson Adds to List of Concerns
The only downside to the Goose Creek, South Carolina native’s game, is that he tends to strike out a lot at times. However, Smoak has already shown fans he has improved, so if he can continue with consistency and help the Jays win games, then he will be Mr. Brightside.