Photo credit: Nicole Hester / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
Keep your eyes glued to RJ Schreck this spring, because the "throw-in" from the Justin Turner trade is quietly looking like the steal of the century.
Most fans wrote off the Turner deal as a salary dump, a forgettable transaction in a season we all want to forget.
But Ross Atkins might have pulled a fast one on the Mariners.
Schreck (Drafted 9th Round, 2023 by Seattle) isn't just another body in camp; he is a professional hitter with a plate approach that screams "big leaguer."
He slashed .249/.395/.459 across four levels last year, finishing at Triple-A Buffalo with 18 home runs and more walks than you usually see from a guy with his pop.
This is a 25-year-old who knows exactly who he is at the plate.
He doesn't chase bad pitches, he grinds out at-bats, and he has sneaky pull-side power that plays perfectly at Rogers Centre.
In a crowded outfield picture, he is the dark horse who could force the issue.
The Blue Jays have been looking for a new left fielder this off-season and it looks like their best option as of right now might be Schreck.
He is the left-handed bat this lineup needs
Think about it: The Jays are desperate for polished left-handed hitting to balance out the lineup.
Schreck fits that profile to a tee.
He isn't a raw project like some of the other prospects; he is a mature, high-IQ player who could step in tomorrow and give you quality ABs.
Watching him fight for a spot against established veterans is going to be the most underrated storyline in Dunedin.
If he tears it up in the Grapefruit League, he goes from "depth piece" to "legitimate option" very quickly.
It is rare to find a guy this advanced who flew under the radar, but that is exactly what makes him so exciting.
This isn't about hype; it is about production, and Schreck has done nothing but produce since arriving in the system.
Don't be shocked if we look back at the Turner trade as the moment we found our next fan favorite.
Also read on Toronto Baseball Insider :
Seranthony Domínguez blatantly states why he wanted to leave the Toronto Blue Jays
Seranthony Domínguez blatantly states why he wanted to leave the Toronto Blue Jays