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Bad news announced for Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Davis Schneider
Photo credit: Yahoo Sports
Daulton Varsho's road to recovery has been a lengthy one, but he's nearing the finish line. Following shoulder surgery late last year, the Blue Jays outfielder is now entering the final stage of his rehab, which means important decisions will have to be made for Toronto in the near future.
As Varsho nears his return, Davis Schneider could find himself the odd man out for the Toronto Blue Jays moving forward.
Ian Hunter from Blue Jays Nation writes that the team is headed for a roster crunch. With six outfielders currently in the mix and spots essentially locked up for Anthony Santander and George Springer, that leaves Davis Schneider, Myles Straw, Nathan Lukes, and Alan Roden competing for limited opportunities.
"Fortunately, all four players have options remaining, so the Blue Jays won't need to risk exposing these outfielders to waivers, but if all goes well with Varsho's rehab assignment, the team will have a decision to make about which player will be sent down to the minor leagues to make way for Varsho." -Hunter
There's no doubt the Blue Jays are high on Davis Schneider, but his current production is hard to overlook. His .067/.333/.067 slash line paints a clear picture of his struggles at the plate.
Though he's meant to serve as a lefty specialist off the bench, he's managed just one hit in 17 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season. And in his limited chances against righties, just four plate appearances, he's yet to record a hit.
Hunter also writes that the sample sizes are undeniably small, but when the Blue Jays are forced to make tough roster decisions, there's little room for sentiment. Intangibles won't be enough to secure a roster spot.
Davis Schneider needs to rediscover the form he showed in the second half of 2023. If he doesn't turn things around soon, a trip back to Buffalo could be looming in the near future.
"The outfield and infield versatility makes Schneider a Swiss Army knife in John Schneider's toolbox, but the Blue Jays need a little more offense from their 25th and 26th men on the roster. That's why it's more than likely that Schneider is the first man to go upon Varsho's return." -Hunter
As demonstrated in 2023, Davis Schneider's strength lies in his hit tool, which could help him cement a spot as an everyday big leaguer. However, the Blue Jays haven't seen that consistent level of production since May 2024.
While his plate discipline remains intact, Schneider will need to rediscover his extra-base power to secure his place on the roster. A stint of regular playing time in Buffalo could be just what he needs to regain his form and keep his big-league aspirations alive.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 15 | 4500 ANSWERS Bad news announced for Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Davis Schneider Will outfielder Davis Schneider remain a Blue Jay by the end of this season? | ||
| yes | 800 | 17.8 % |
| no | 3700 | 82.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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