Toronto Blue Jays: The future is Canadian with second generation players
If you recognize the names Biggio, Bichette and Guerrero, you were a big baseball fan in the 90’s, or are watching the Toronto Blue Jays trio of rookies teammates.
They may not be a great team, and they may be buried by the juggernauts in the American League, but perhaps the Toronto Blue Jays are the most exciting team to watch in the second half of the season.
The reason why is simple, and part of what is a big movement in today’s game of baseball; youth.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the first of a trio of second-generation big-leaguers to break into ‘the show’ for the Blue Jays.
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He put on his own worthy display of hitting and hitting for power within just his first month. It was headlined by a two-homerun performance against the San Francisco Giants in May of this year.
Shortly after, the Blue Jays called Cavan Biggio and he too made noise within his first month. His first big game was against the San Diego Padres where he collected three hits and his first major-league homer.
Since he has played all over the field and provides sparks of power at any part of the order.
The latest to add the magic that is the Blue Jays’ young core is Bo Bichette. Bichette is currently setting records with 9-straight games with a double; which matches the most consecutive games with extra-base hits as a rookie since Ted Williams.
Add to it four home runs and the 21-year-old shortstop is just 11 games into his MLB career; all of which he has recorded at least a base hit.
He not only has been a beneficial bat, but beneficial to the Blue Jays as a whole; who are 7-4 since the call-up of Bichette.
The trio is not alone as far as second-generation players. Though his dad never played in MLB, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is providing just as much spark to the young core as the big three.
Currently tied for the team lead in home runs, Gurriel has been just as valuable to the future Jays as the literal future Jays.
No, they aren’t going to the playoffs this year or maybe even next year, but the Blue Jays are exciting again.
Think back to the last time an exciting core of rookies dazzled like these three have. Well, you don’t have to go too far back.
The Atlanta Braves last year had two solid rookies in Ozzie Albies, who would go on to start the all-star game at second base, and Ronald Acuna Jr., who would go on to win Rookie of the Year.
Is this a new trend? Are rookies the answer to saving a season – at least from an entertainment value?
Yes, the Braves made the playoffs last year but they also had a great team in place prior to the start of 2018. The Blue Jays might have but they have been buried in their own division by the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
The disadvantage in reality for the Jays is payroll. The Sox and Yanks can throw money at anybody and even have guys be next men up and they still succeed.
dark. Next. Blue Jays Mount Rushmore
The Toronto Blue Jays don’t have that, but they do have a solid hitting core and plenty of reason to entice their fans to watch what may be the most exciting team in 2020.