The Blue Jays plan to promote Davis Schneider before tomorrow’s game in Boston, as first reported by Johnny Giunta (Twitter link). Toronto will need to create a vacancy on the 40-man roster to select his contract.
Schneider, 24, has spent six seasons in the minors. The Jays selected him in the 28th round of the 2017 draft out of a New Jersey high school. Schneider moved slowly up the ladder, first reaching Double-A last season. He had a solid .253/.366/.457 showing between a trio of minor league levels in 2022 but was nevertheless left unprotected in the Rule 5 draft.
After going unselected, he remained in the Jays’ system and was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. Schneider has been one of the better hitters in the International League this season. Over 392 trips to the plate, he’s hitting .275/.416/.553 with 21 home runs. The 5’9″ hitter has walked at a huge 18.4% clip against an average 21.9% strikeout rate. While this year’s Triple-A environment has been very offense-heavy, that production still stands out.
Schneider ranks eighth among 88 International League batters (minimum 300 PA’s) in on-base percentage. He leads the league in walk rate and ranks 10th in slugging output. That breakout showing led Baseball America to slot him 15th among Toronto prospects in their recent farm rankings — the first time he’d made an organizational top 30 list at BA. The outlet points to a jump in Schneider’s minor league exit velocities and strong strike zone awareness.
Defensively, he bounces between second base, third base and left field. He’ll bring some flexibility to the bench but is regarded as more of a bat-first utility type. The Jays have Santiago Espinal, Cavan Biggio and Ernie Clement on the big league bench with a primary middle infield duo of Paul DeJong and Whit Merrifield while Bo Bichette is hurt.
Wow, this kid has raked in AAA so far this season. 21 doubles, 21 home runs with an excellent .416 OBP. With all of Toronto’s offensive struggles at 2nd base, I wonder why it took them so long to give him a shot. I just hope his MLB coming out party happens after the Boston series is over. The Red Sox have a chance to overtake the Jays if they can somehow manage a series sweep.
Takes a lot for somebody who was never considered a prospect to earn a chance.
Merrifield has not struggled offensively at 2nd base and got an Allstar nod to prove it. The Jays just haven’t had the injuries to allow for callups.
Yea but the offense has been lackluster lately… We need a sparkplug. Hope he rakes.
True, but they had been using Merrifield in the OF more than 2B, until their recent rash of injuries.
He gets used in left when they pull one of Varsho or KK for a pitch hitter. He doesn’t typically start there.
Anyone else have an initial curiosity, though you knew it was so unlikely, whether he was related to Blue Jays manager John Schneider?
No
Yes
Yes. I saw a Bisons game in Buffalo a few weeks ago and immediately googled it. No relation. Can confirm the top tier ‘stache though. Comparables would be a cross between Tom Selleck and Joe Dirt. 70 grade at least.
they claim they aren’t related, but I think we know better 😉
I mean, what are the odds that a Jays position player is related to a former major leaguer?
Would not be the least bit upset to see them cut bait with Espinal . His defense has fallen off a cliff this year cost us a few games in limited playing time, his bat have been on a downslide since the All-Star game last year.
@MarkoRock68
While it’s true his defense has fallen off, he has a -1 DRS to Merrifield’s -3.
I suppose Espinal could NEVER return to form.
Meanwhile DeJong is an absolute zero at the plate and the Jays have little after that at shortstop. But yeah, cut bait with Espinal because defense “fell off a cliff”. Guy is still the best bench option at shortstop defensively. Second to none.
Espy’s bat has been terrible since after the All star hame last year, a full year now. He is the worse hitter on the team. He has made base running and fielding blunders in the past few weeks that have cost them games- a no no for a part time player. Biggio since early June has been one of the better Jays hitter and has actually won games with his bat ( including tonight and he had the big game winning homer a while ago. ) Biggio is also left handed. So yea Bo comes back Espy optioned to AAA.
I’d prefer to move Biggio before Espinal.
@1 Goose Man
Biggio has a -5 DRS. I would prefer Biggio, be off the team.
Team needs a backup shortstop. Cavan is not it. Biggio is the first to go.
@its_happening
I don’t know how he made it onto the roster at the beginning of the year. I don’t think rather likely he’s non-tendered a contract this offseason given his poor defense and weak bat.
No mystery here. Jays do not need him. The apologists look deep in the analytics without understanding the basics: Cavan has no glove, no arm, little contact ability and brings nothing significant to Lee him and his rising salary.
Funny thing, the guy with no glove , little contact ability just won the game with his bat AND glove. You talk about understanding the basics do you even watch the games? Espy’s fielding blunder cost them a game against the Dodgers and a few weeks before that a base running mistake cost them a game. Not the kind of ” basics” that will keep him on the team. He has no power, and offers little in the way of contact all year.
@MarkoRock68
In university, my stats prof told a story about flipping a coin a couple of hundred times and noticing it came up heads about 60% of the time. With the true 2 event outcome with everything being equal, why wasn’t it 50-50. Try flipping the coin a couple of thousand times and it’ll move to the 50% outcome.
The moral, sample size matters. You keep picking out the “What-about” events. All that proves is you’re a Biggio fan boy. I’ll take the larger sample of his career and draw my conclusions from that.
Not a Biggio ” fan boy” however if you look at this year Biggio has contributed more and cost them less the Espy. No power, light hitting, mental blunders on the bases and field point to a guy who needs a wake up call with a demotion to AAA . (Notice I did not call you an Espinal Fanboy.)
Espinal has 300+ ABS since the AS last year , that is hardly a small sample size.. Suggest you do some reading on what is considered a suitably large sample size for various hitting metrics.
You can make all the excuses for him you want but a part time player who contributes nothing with the bat, a declining defense who makes mental blunders that cost you games does not deserve a position over a guy who has actually contributes on a part time basis.
As for your University ProF something he failed to mention or you have forgotten is the chance of 60 heads in 100 tosses is only 2.8%. As you increase the sample size the chance of 60% outcome shrinks closer to 0.
Moral of the story for many Hitting metrics 300Abs is of sufficient size to make projections within an acceptable margin of error.
One game? One game against the 11th best AL team and you’re trying to make a case?
Unless Cavan is good enough to start, which he isn’t, Espinal is the guy to keep because he is the backup 3B and SS. Two positions Cavan can’t play.
Did you watch Cavan try and run into DeJong’s throw to end last nights game?
I do not understand your anger or hostility over two non-starters. Despite Espinal’s blunders, he’s the only one of the two players who can play the left side of the infield. That is a fact. Until the Jays can have enough left side depth to cut Espinal loose, you can stop the Cavan fanboy stuff and keep conversations civil.
Arm: Espinal
Glove: Espinal
Left side infield: Espinal
Higher salary: Biggio
Davis Schneider can replace Cavan. Neither Davis or Cavan are capable of playing the left side.
I suggest you stop taking digs at people who disagree. Why resort to petty behaviour if you truly believe you have facts on your side?
Thing is it is not just one game. Look back to 1st of June and Biggio has been one of the better Jays hitters and Espinal has been the worse. Plus Biggio has not made glaring mental blunders that cost games like Espinal has.
Not sure where you get my being angry. It is amusing you calling me a Biggio Fanboy while you ignore the facts but I am the angry one . ( Maybe take you own medicine? )
Once Bo is back the Jays will have Bo and Dejong making Espinal expendable. ( demotion to AAA ) Dejong can back up SS and both he and Schneider back up 3rd. You are also ignoring the fact that Biggio is a left handed bat. Following your suggestion would leave us with all right handed utility guys.
I suggest you take your own medicine and not try and make a slur by calling me a Biggio fanboy because I disagree with you. Whole lot of projection on your part. .
What exactly did I say that was a “dig” other then asking if you actually watched the games as you are ignoring or glossing over the blunders Espinal have made of late. Those are not just errors but complete mental lapses.
They traded 2 prospects for Dejong and he and Espinal fill exactly the same roles once Bo is back. Dejong makes Espinal redundant. Espinal has options, stash him in AAA .
Once Bo is back Dejong, Espinal and Schneider are ALL right hand bats. What about that is so difficult to understand? They are not going to drop a leftie bat in favor of 3 right-hand utility types.
Bat- Biggio
Power- Biggio
Left Handed- Biggio
Mental blunders- Espinal
You call people ” fanboys” and make statements like “The apologists look deep in the analytics without understanding the basics” yet I am the one being insulting. UNREAL. One word- Projection- Look it up.
Not ignoring Espinal’s blunders. He’s been a disappointment. Much like Biggio.
Now unless you are prepared to say Biggio should start over Varsho, and move Whit to LF, you have no argument. Espinal can play 3B and SS, Cavan and Schneider can’t. Even with Bo back. The organization’s 2B depth is fine. Left side? Not so much.
Cavan is much easier to replace than Espinal within the organization. What is so difficult to understand?
Interesting that you would choose your starting point after the ASG. How about we go back to the start of 2021. Lots of PA’s there (AB’s are inferior to PA’s because they omit areas of offensive production).
Biggio: 91 wRC+, 780 PA’s, 1.1 fWAR total, 0.8 fWAR/600.
Espinal 98 wRC+, 909 PA’s, 3.9 fWAR total, 2.6 fWAR/600.
Offensively, since 2021, Espinal has been better than Biggio with a near league average bat. Biggio’s fWAR total and scaled on 600 PA’s is inferior to Espinal’s.
Defensively, innings/DRS/OAA
Biggio
1B, 350/2/0
2B, 650/-6/1
3B, 420/0/-3
OF, 300/-4/-1
Espinal
2B, 1200/3/6
3B, 680/6/3
SS, 100/0/-1
Even defensively Espinal is the better player.
How about roster manipulation. Biggio plays 1B, so does Belt and Vlad. No room. Biggio plays 2B, Merrifield and Espinal play it better. Biggio at 3B, Espinal is better. Biggio in the OF. He’s only going to sub for Springer. Not enough to hold a active roster spot.
Espinal plays a better 2B that Biggio. Espinal plays SS, Biggio can’t. Espinal plays 3B, Biggio can’t.
Roster manipulation. Espinal is next after Merrifield at 2B. Espinal is next after Bichette at SS. Espinal is next after Chapman at 3B. Biggio is not next after anyone.
Cost. Biggio is making 2.8M in his first year of arb, Espinal 2.1M
Since 2021, Espinal has been better offensively, defensively, for roster manipulation, and has a higher value and lower cost than Biggio.
No fandom for either. Just the numbers.
You have valid points but with respect to the numbers you have to have a starting point otherwise you’d just look at overall career in addition over the past calender year of play Espinal’s bat fell off a cliff. Basically Espinal has been tale of 2, First part of his MLB experience very positive, last half not so much. What a player does in the recent records weight more then what he did in the past or over his career. Don’t forget Biggio has topped 800OPS in his career, Espy has not.
What killed me on Espy was that play in LA, i had been a fan of his up until around end of August last year when his slump became more then just a 50 AB slump . His mental blunders of late have solidified how i feel. He almost seems to be zoned out on some plays. His mind is Def not fine tuned to the game.
@MarkoRock68
The start of a season is a good starting point because it’s not arbitrary. Most of not all sports collect and disceminate data at the start of seasons. I went back to 2021 to get a sufficient sample size. 600 PA’s is accepted full season for a hypothetical starter.
I’ll agree that newer data is better data if you concede that newer data in smaller samples is subject greater variance and less predictable. Since both are bench players, both are going to have lower event occurances. Therefore it’s more prudent to use a greater event history to draw conclusions.
The Jays won’t part with Biggio because he’s buddies with Bo and Vladdy. They all came up together, sons of superstar players and they don’t want to upset the teams chemistry. What the front office has failed to recognize(and it baffles me to no end) is upsetting the teams chemistry is exactly what needs to be done. First of all they have got to get rid of that stinking pitching coach Paul Walker. Next they need to jettison Biggio because he is not getting any better and you could make a case he’s declining every year. Thirdly, trade Vladdy before he comes looking for a 10 year $300 million contract that will cripple the franchises ability to make moves down the road. Then the next thing they have to do is cut bait on Springers contract and replace him with someone who doesn’t go 0 for 34 before lacing a single and snapping the streak. As soon as I saw the Jays passing around that stupid home run jacket last year I knew this team wasn’t going anywhere…..fast. And the fifth thing they need to do is get Alek Manoah committed to a real of season training program and make sure he isn’t huffing and puffing after the second inning. He’s looking sharper since he came back from the minors but he’s a long way from being the staff ace he was. When the Jays hired Shapiro and Atkins a lot of fans were against them but I believed in them to do things right. They started off great but lost their grip along the way. If they don’t turn this thing around quickly with a strong off season and take back control of the clubhouse I would fire them both. I like John Schneider but there’s only so much a manager can control in this day and age of massive contracts with the power the players have.
Biggio has hit 308/438/346 over the last month. But you stick with your buddies theory
Yet Biggio isn’t starting.
@Ducey
36 PA’s really isn’t a lot.
TL:DR
I ain’t reading all that. I’m happy for you tho. Or sorry that happened
So if I understand it correctly, outside of the Manoah implosion, the pitching has been an asset this year – including the resurrection of Kikuchi’s career as a SP – so your first inclination is to fire the pitching coach ahead of a hitting coach that seems to have not adjusted his strategy for the non-shift pitch clock era?
Darth I like some of your thinking. I have been calling since 2015 that Shapiro/Atkins would never win anything due to incompetence. They have done a lot of good stuff but lots of terrible too, not a championship level Management calibre like Gillick or Drombrowski.
As far as your points go:
Biggio needs to go: Agreed. There are lots of Biggio’s around for cheap.
Pete Walker: Needs to stay, he rescued Kikuchi from the scrapheap and has helped others. Terrible management of Manoah though. Manoah needs a strict diet and training regimen from Walker.
Vladdy: needs to stay but put on a strict diet and training regimen. The buffet has turned a superstar into a star.
John Schneider: Stay. It will be another year before he is a championship caliber manager at the big league level; he is still learning.
Schneider is nowhere close to being a championship caliber manager.
Manoah has Manoah to blame for his troubles.
Add Kirk to the diet list. Fact that 3 players needs to lose weight says Schneider isn’t getting through to his players.
You always insinuate that you have inside information when in comes to the Jays with yours scoutseyes but you still think it is the pitching coach or hitting coach that are responsible for conditioning. This is what the strength and conditioning coach is for, every team has one including the Jays.
Man that guy is dumb
Use names so we can exploited your baseball ineptitude.
Soo mad online lmao
Consistently incorrect, sport.
Consistently smarter than you’ll ever dream of.
Wow
Play Davis at 2B or LF, with Merrifield taking the other position, put Varsho on the bench and bring him in late in games for defense. Let’s find out if Schneider can hit at the major league level. He has earned this promotion.