DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The first inning of Tuesday¡¯s 9-2 win over the Yankees at TD Ballpark was a big-budget commercial for what this Blue Jays lineup is capable of.
It started with George Springer?, who opened his Spring Training debut with an opposite-field single. Then it was Bo Bichette?¡¯s turn, with a single of his own to left, followed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.?, who singled home Springer.
The exit velocities? 109.7 mph, 105.9 and 110.8. Laser show.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. added a hard-hit double to the right-field wall before Matt Chapman finally recorded an out, but his was the loudest contact of all, a 111.6 mph sacrifice fly that was run down in the left-center alley by Ender Inciarte. Add in a Cavan Biggio single and stolen base, and the Blue Jays finished their three-run first with five hits, cutting short Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery¡¯s outing. Sure, it¡¯s March, but one of baseball¡¯s best lineups from 2021 looks just as strong now -- and this was without Silver Slugger Teoscar Hern¨¢ndez.
¡°On paper, it looks pretty good,¡± said Springer, fresh off a 2-for-3 spring debut. ¡°Obviously, you¡¯ve still got to go play the games, but I know the guys in there. To lose a guy like [Marcus Semien], who hit 45 homers as a second baseman, which I¡¯m pretty sure set a record -- that¡¯s a lot of production. He was huge for us as a team, but it¡¯s up to guys to step up and not try to be Marcus, but understand who we are as a team and go out and play.¡±
Springer battled multiple injuries in 2021, his first with the Blue Jays after signing a six-year, $150 million deal, but he played great baseball when healthy. He hit .264 with 22 home runs and a .907 OPS over just 78 games, so replacing Semien¡¯s value could be as simple as a full season with Springer¡¯s bat atop the lineup.
¡°I¡¯m trying to be smarter,¡± Springer said. ¡°Understanding my body, knowing when to use 100% and when not to. I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s injury-related or if it¡¯s just me hopefully being smarter, but I¡¯m just understanding when to slow down. Play at 100%, but be smarter.¡±
Kikuchi sharp in Blue Jays debut
Yusei Kikuchi threw two scoreless innings for the Blue Jays on Tuesday, striking out four with one walk over 35 pitches. It was a fine first step, and the Japanese lefty clearly grew more comfortable as his outing went on.
¡°I was a little bit nervous early in the game, that first inning,¡± Kikuchi said through interpreter Kevin Ando. ¡°I wasn¡¯t quite able to settle down in that first inning, but overall and in the second inning, I was able to come back. I got into a nice rhythm and my control was pretty good for the most part. I do believe my command is going to be a big part of this year, and I understand how important it is to go out there and command my pitches in certain areas of the zone.¡±
Kikuchi averaged 94.6 mph with his fastball, which is narrowly below his 2021 average, a good place to be at this time of year. Velocity is another key for Kikuchi, as it will help him attack the zone with his fastball, but it all starts with getting into 0-1 counts for the veteran who just signed a three-year, $36 million deal.
Good news for Garc¨ªa, Moreno
?Yimi García? and No. 1 prospect Gabriel Moreno have been delayed from arriving to camp by visa issues, but manager Charlie Montoyo said following Tuesday¡¯s game that they¡¯ve received some good news and could be present Thursday or Friday. Garc¨ªa projects to be a key piece of the Blue Jays¡¯ bullpen this season, while Moreno, who was just named the No. 7 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, is the club¡¯s catcher of the future and a potential star.
A scare, but no stitches, for Chapman
After making a couple of smooth defensive plays, ?Matt Chapman?, who earlier in the day signed a reported two-year, $25 million extension, took some spikes to the left forearm on a slide. He was cut open and left the game with blood on his arm, but it did not require stitches and he is not expected to miss any notable time.