FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Each time Daniel Vogelbach steps up to the plate is an opportunity for something magical.

That statement goes as much for the batting practice balls he tattooed Thursday as it does his recent walk-up music, which had everyone howling last week as Kelis¡¯ ¡°Milkshake¡± blared over the speakers.

Each side of Vogelbach is equally important in terms of what he has to offer after signing a Minor League deal on Feb. 18. The bat makes him an attractive add, with a .752 career OPS, 80 homers and 238 RBIs during his eight-year MLB career. The discipline and approach behind those numbers mean Vogelbach can lead by example in a younger clubhouse, too. The baseball smarts are unparalleled.

And the music choices? Vogelbach didn¡¯t even know the Blue Jays¡¯ ballpark team was going to bring back the tune that made him so popular in 2022 with the Mets. Still, it drew rave reviews.

¡°We all got a little chuckle out of it,¡± manager John Schneider said. ¡°[Vogelbach is] a very recognizable guy. Just from where he's been, personality and performance, obviously. That was funny. I love what he brings.¡±

Those lighter moments are crucial during a spring grind that often includes uncertainty, competition and pressure as rosters take shape. This rings true for Vogelbach, as the role he signed on to pursue three weeks ago might change dramatically depending on how quickly Joey Votto -- who signed a Minor League deal on Saturday -- comes along.

Vogelbach¡¯s been around long enough to know he can only control so much, so instead of wasting time worrying how Votto¡¯s playing time will affect his, he¡¯s content focusing on things like intensity, power and energy.

And a dose of the lighter side as the situation warrants.

¡°You choose every day to be a good teammate, it¡¯s something you can control, and you can¡¯t control a lot in this game,¡± Vogelbach said after Toronto¡¯s 5-1 win against the Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex. ¡°Being a good teammate and playing with a smile on your face is something you can control. Some times are tougher than others, but I try to be the best I can at that.¡±

Espinal still in the thick of things
Santiago Espinal might be fighting an uphill battle for a roster spot, but it¡¯s not because he¡¯s lacking. Toronto¡¯s versatile 2022 All-Star continued to state his case against Minnesota with a leadoff double that came off his bat at 103.7 mph in the first inning. He also drew a walk and finished 1-for-3.

¡°We've asked him to play great defense, his at-bats have been really good [and he] has a really good understanding of where he handles pitches that kind of started last year in the second half,¡± Schneider said. ¡°So ¡­ he's doing everything that he can.¡±

Our most recent Opening Day roster projection had Espinal as the outside man looking in due in large part to his remaining Minor League options. His chief competition, Ernie Clement, is not only having a heck of a spring, he¡¯s out of options, meaning if he doesn¡¯t break camp with Toronto, he¡¯ll have to clear waivers before accepting a Minor League assignment.

Rotation, rotation
Bowden Francis' mindful approach has all but cemented himself in the No. 5 starter spot. In case Toronto needed any more convincing, the righty -- whose spring ERA is 1.93 through four outings (three starts) -- trotted out another smart start against Minnesota, holding the Twins¡¯ A-lineup to one unearned run on four hits over six innings.

Of note on Thursday was how Francis responded when things got sticky during his second trip through the lineup. When a fielding error from second baseman Eduardo Escobar put runners at the corners with one out in the second, Francis handled himself well.

Losing the shutout on the ensuing RBI knock, Francis rebounded with a smooth pickoff move at second and then eventually coaxed an inning-ending popout from Carlos Correa to end the frame.

¡°[The pickoff] just kind of flipped the whole energy,¡± said Francis, who said his work with a shaman in Arizona in 2020 helped him slow down the game. ¡°Stuff can snowball right there, when guys are on.

¡°... [I just try to] lower the heart rate. You make better decisions when you're not freaking out, so just go back to the breath. It definitely comes from kind of slowing down and making the right decisions.¡±