Toronto Blue Jays 2018 Season Preview: Looking at the Infield
By Austin Owens
Kendrys Morales, First Baseman/Designated Hitter
The Blue Jays were quick to alleviate the crushing loss of Encarnacion in free agency with the signing of Morales.
With 30 homers and nearly 100 RBI’s in 2016, Morales was expected to excel while playing in the hitter-friendly AL East ballparks.
While Morales managed to hit 28 home runs and get 85 RBI, he also set his career high in strikeouts with 132 in 150 games.
He served as the Jays Designated Hitter for the majority of 2017 while making sparse appearances at first base.
With the improved play of Smoak, the Jays don’t have to worry about relying on Morales out in the field.
The projections have Morales going down in both homers and RBI a bit. If he can manage to bring down the number of strikeouts this season, the Jays will be happy with 80 RBI out of anyone in the middle of the lineup.
Morales is one of the Jays switch-hitters that will be relied on as the Jays still boast several righties in the lineup.