Toronto Blue Jays: Players who have impressed in spring training
Teoscar Hernandez
It is clear that Hernandez is putting himself in a position to earn the first call from the team if there is an injury in the outfield. There is the potential that Randal Grichuk might not be ready for the start of the season which would open the door for Hernandez.
The 25-year-old has shown a lot of potential at the plate since being called up last September. One knock was the high strikeout rate with 36 strikeouts in 88 at-bats. Most were impressed with the eight home runs and 20 RBI in those 26 games but it was clear that Hernandez needed some adjustments to his approach at the plate.
So far in spring, the power is still there with four home runs, 13 RBI and a slash line of .348/.380./674 in 46 at-bats. However, he also racked up 17 strikeouts which shows that there is work to do but it might be something the team might have to live with.
Other than the high strikeout rate, there is not much to point out in Hernandez’s game that would be a problem going forward. Manager Gibbons even told Sportnset‘s Ben Nicholson-Smith that he expects a big future for Hernandez but is not sure when he gets that chance.
It makes more sense for Hernandez to join the strong outfield in Triple-A Buffalo and get regular playing time then to sit on the bench with the big club.
The team should be fortunate with the young crop of outfielders including Hernandez, Anthony Alford, Dwight Smith Jr. and Dalton Pompey who are ready to make the jump. It is one of the few areas that has a wealth of major league ready talent.
Next: Braden Halladay has memorable performance
Which player has impressed you the most in Spring Training? Did we leave somebody off the list? Let us know in the comments below.