One month into the 2025 season, the Toronto Blue Jays once again find themselves stuck in the middle. Aaron Rose gives us the lowdown.
The Blue Jays are hovering around .500, grinding through a tough schedule, and trying to stay afloat in a crowded American League. There have been a few clear positives: the bullpen looks legit, some veterans have come out hot, and the organization finally locked up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a long-term deal. But the same issues that held them back last year are still hanging around. The power isn’t there. The lineup is thin. The rotation is already showing signs of strain.
Here’s a look at what’s worked, what hasn’t, and where things stand as April becomes May.
What’s Good?
The Back End of the Bullpen: Hoffman & Garcia Delivering
Letting Jordan Romano walk in favour of Jeff Hoffman might turn out to be one of the Blue Jays’ shrewdest offseason decisions. While the Canadian closer has stumbled out of the gate with the Phillies, Hoffman has been electric in Toronto. The former Jays prospect has returned as a dominant late-inning force, helping to transform what was a struggling bullpen in 2024 into a genuine strength.
Add in Yimi Garcia whose return has been fantastic for Toronto, and the Blue Jays suddenly have a two-headed monster at the back end that stacks up with any tandem in the majors. So far, when Toronto has taken a lead late into games, the outcome has felt inevitable. The only challenge now is getting the game to them.
Bo and Springer Leading the Way
Bo Bichette and George Springer have both delivered vintage performances to open the 2025 season. Bichette has rebounded from a disappointing 2024 and once again looks like a legitimate contender for the American League hits crown, spraying line drives and anchoring the top of the order with consistency. After an underwhelming year last season and a sluggish spring, Springer has seemingly turned back the clock and found new life at the plate. He’s already been bumped up the lineup with how hot he’s been to start this year.
Together, they’ve been crucial in keeping the offense afloat and preventing a complete collapse for a Jays lineup that has struggled to generate much of anything beyond them.
The Vladdy Era is Official
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500 million extension has provided a sense of stability early this season, officially cementing the 26-year-old as the face of the franchise for the next decade and beyond. It’s the second-largest contract by present-day value in MLB history and sends a clear signal: the Blue Jays are committed to building around their homegrown star.
While Guerrero’s start hasn’t delivered the power fans have expected, his underlying metrics point to better days ahead. The long-term deal not only helps to secure Toronto’s core but also offers a steadying presence as the team approaches what could be a pivotal trade deadline this summer.
Bassitt Elite, Gausman Bouncing Back
Chris Bassitt has been nothing short of outstanding to open the season. He’s pitching like a true ace, using a remarkably deep arsenal to keep hitters off balance and prevent hard contact with impressive consistency.
Kevin Gausman, meanwhile, looks like he’s turning a corner. After a rough start, his splitter showed signs of life in his most recent outing, generating eight whiffs, and his fastball velocity is up compared to last season. There’s growing optimism he’s on his way back to the high-end form he showed in his first two years in Toronto.
What’s Bad?
Power Outage: A Home Run Drought and Sluggish Bats
The Jays came into the season knowing they wouldn’t lead the league in slugging, but second-last in home runs per game and 26th in slugging percentage is far worse than anticipated. They’ve hit just 13 homers through 25 games and their ISO ranks among the worst in baseball. That lack of pop isn’t just bad luck too, they also rank dead last in bat speed, per MLB tracking data.
When Andres Giménez, a contact-first second baseman hitting below the Mendoza line, is batting cleanup on opening day, something is clearly wrong. Alejandro Kirk has been nearly invisible at the plate, and save for Springer and Bichette there hasn’t been much to get excited about.
Santander’s Slump Continues
A notoriously slow starter, Anthony Santander is once again stumbling out of the gate, slugging below .300 with only two home runs through the first month. His lack of impact has been one of the more glaring issues for a lineup that was already light on power to begin with.
While his history suggests he typically heats up as the weather does, the Blue Jays are feeling the weight of his slow start more than usual. In an offense desperate for production, Santander’s early struggles are impossible to ignore.
Scherzer’s Ongoing Thumb Saga
The Blue Jays weren’t expecting Max Scherzer to anchor the rotation, but three innings and a nagging thumb injury have left their lack of pitching depth exposed. What was meant to be a savvy, low-risk addition has turned into a prolonged rehab with no clear timeline for return. Scherzer is essentially starting from scratch in his ramp-up. In the meantime, the Blue Jays are relying on a four-man rotation with limited backup options. Whether he can return to form remains unclear, but the larger concern is the team’s thin depth. Without a steady fifth starter, the workload on the front four continues to grow and the offense has not done enough to ease the pressure.