The Toronto Blue Jays are still hanging around the American League wild card race, and the reason is getting harder to ignore: the rookies.
After a season full of ugly offense and a staggering injury pileup, especially in the starting rotation, Toronto finds itself tied for the final wild card spot. The AL’s overall mediocrity has kept plenty of teams in the mix, but the Jays have also gotten a real boost from a wave of young players delivering when the pressure has been highest.
That doesn’t erase what Louis Varland and Dylan Cease have done this season, or the impact of first-time All-Star Ernie Clement. But without several rookies stepping in and producing, Toronto would not be anywhere close to the postseason picture.
The names at the center of it lately are McAdoo and Bateman. Both have made the most of their recent major league chances, and both have already come through in key moments.
They’ve gotten attention for their immediate impact, but they’re not alone. Valenzuela, Miles and Yesavage have all played important roles for much of the season.
Yesavage entered the year as one of the Rookie of the Year favorites, though injuries have slowed that path. Even so, his 3.65 ERA and the way he has held opponents below a .200 batting average have helped Toronto win games.
Valenzuela has cooled off a bit offensively, partly because he hasn’t been getting everyday at-bats with Alejandro Kirk back in the lineup. Still, his work behind the plate has been impossible to miss. His ability to throw runners out has been a major weapon, and he leads the leaderboard for runs saved at catcher.
Miles has been one of the more surprising success stories. As a Rule 5 Draft pick, he has been forced into a big role because Toronto’s pitching staff has been hit so hard all year.
He was pushed into a starting job early, then shifted into a high-leverage bullpen role. Among relievers, only Varland and Tyler Rogers have a better ERA.
His stuff has been sharp, and his confidence keeps climbing.
Toronto has now won six straight series after Saturday’s win over the New York Yankees. If the Blue Jays can get through the next tough stretch against AL opponents, their playoff position will be theirs to lose - and the rookies will have played a huge part in getting them there.
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Blue Jays Suddenly Need Ricky Tiedemann More Than Ever
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The timing matters now more than ever, because the Blue Jays have pushed themselves back into the American League race by winning 12 of their last 17 games. With the standings tightening and every available arm carrying more weight, Tiedemann's long road back to this point gives the club another intriguing option at exactly the moment it needs one. [Read more 🡒]