The Blue Jays adopted a contact-first offensive approach after hiring David Popkins in the offseason. The plan emphasizes creative offense: surrounding power hitters who can hit home runs with contact-oriented players who control the zone and put the ball in play. Core players Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and George Springer have improved contact numbers, and role players such as Myles Straw, Tyler Heineman, and Nathan Lukes are fulfilling defined roles. The team leads the league with the fewest strikeouts (865 as of Aug. 22) and the highest batting average (.267). Uncertainty remains whether the approach will sustain postseason success.
The Blue Jays contact rates are up above the board this year. Core players including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and George Springer have all bought in and are putting up some of the best contact numbers of their careers. As a team, they have the fewest strikeouts in the league sitting at 865 (entering Aug. 22 game) and the highest batting average of .267. Schneider says it's not just the core guys, but also the 'role players' who are following that philosophy.
"You look at the under-the-radar guys, Myles Straw, Tyler Heineman, Nathan Lukes, these guys know what they are good at and what we are asking them to do day-in-and-day-out. It was really that series against Texas where we kind of knew what we had," says Schneider pointing the the games in May against the Rangers in which Bichette came through with a pinch hit go ahead home run in the ninth.
Collection
[
|
...
]