The Contestants
Teoscar Hernandez
Teoscar Hernandez had some difficulty with the defensive aspect of CF, as well as being consistent in the batter’s box for the long haul of the season. The past two seasons have seen his defensive runs saved (DRS) reach -24, and his bat just isn’t consistent enough to be considered an everyday player.
His 26 home runs do prove that he has the power to hit the long ball, but his .230/.306/.472 slash line is tough to look at, along with his awkward routes to fly balls defensively. He has his moments where he will hit 2 home runs in 1 game, and then go on a ten-game streak where he can’t buy a hit.
Hernandez will factor into the competition in right field, but he will most likely be suited for a bench role as an extra outfielder, as well as a possible designated hitter scenario if he can find some consistency at the plate.
Anthony Alford
If I were a betting man, I would most likely be putting a few chips on Anthony Alford.
Charlie Montoyo has already said that Alford is going to get a lot of playing time this spring, and the Toronto Blue Jays will most likely find him a spot on the roster considering he is out of options this year (whether starting or on the bench).
He holds his own defensively with a 0 DRS (albeit the small sample size) and does have average to above-average speed when on the diamond, but his bat has just never been able to make the jump from the minor leagues. Over the past three seasons, Alford has played in 33 games with the big league club and has amassed a .145/.203/.218 slash line with 1 home run, 2 RBI’s and 23 strikeouts.
If Alford can find a way to break out and put the barrel to the ball this spring and summer, the position might be just his to lose.
Derek Fisher
Another strong candidate for the right field starting role, Derek Fisher was acquired by the Blue Jays last season that saw Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini end up in Houston.
Many Blue Jays fans were a bit peeved to see fan favorites Sanchez and Biagini go, but Fisher also had a less than stellar debut with the club, taking a routine fly ball off the face and being sent to the hospital on just his third game with the club. To make matters worse, both Sanchez and Biagini would pitch in a combined no-hitter with the Astros squad the next day, making the trade a little more painful to swallow.
Lebanon County native Derek Fisher has been traded from the Houston Astros' organization to the Toronto Blue Jays as part of a deal that sends pitcher Joe Biagini to Houston, sources say. https://t.co/2bX4z3SVS7
— FOX43 Sports (@FOX43Sports) July 31, 2019
Nevertheless, Fisher is also out of options, and will most likely make the team opening day whether being a starter or on the bench. His career slash line of .191/.279/.369 over the past three seasons is a bit cringe-worthy, but his plus speed is the difference maker between him and the other candidates for the right field position. He also has the highest DRS out of the two previously mentioned players at 6, with experience in all three areas of the outfield.
If Derek Fisher can find a way to put the ball in play and keep the ball in his glove and off of his face, a strong spring could leapfrog him into the starting role. The Toronto Blue Jays management team is very high on Fisher, and a strong showing at the plate could be the difference maker between being a starter or a bench player.
Billy McKinney
Billy McKinney was also acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays via trade, being sent over with Brandon Drury by the New York Yankees in 2018 in exchange for J.A. Happ. His .227/.288/.435 is one of the stronger slash lines out of the bunch, and he does have the above-average speed to go along with some power in his bat (12 home runs last season). His DRS as a right fielder over the past two seasons sits at 1, and he seems very comfortable in the position.
The unfortunate scenario for McKinney is that he still possesses a player option this season, so he could be sent packing to AAA even if he has a strong spring.