What To Do With The Blue Jays’ Leadoff Spot

It’s time to have the leadoff talk.

We’re a month into the 2024 season and George Springer is hitting .212 with an OBP below .300 and an OPS that almost starts with a five.

Around this time last year, the Jays took Springer out of the leadoff spot for a short spell and they made need to pull the lever once again. It’s not like the lineup behind the top guy is the greatest show on turf, but the Blue Jays need to think about finding themselves a new table setter — at least in the short term.

Here’s what Toronto can do in the leadoff spot, going forward:

Stay With George Springer

There is a pretty reasonable argument to stick with Springer through these downs. For starters, we saw this same slow start last year, with the outfielder posting a .225 average and .599 OPS in March and April, before OPSing near .800 for the rest of the year.

I think we throw around ‘track record’ a little too much in the sports world, but Springer also has that in the leadoff spot, too. The vet has 938 games hitting first with a career .355 OBP and .837 OPS in that slot. He’s got more leadoff homers than any other active player.

There’s a pretty easy counter to all that, too. Springer is 34 years old and has seen basically all his offensive numbers decline the last three seasons. The production certainly isn’t there to start 2024 and when he started out this bad last year, John Schneider took Springer out of the leadoff spot in favour of a hot Whit Meriffield — which worked, at least for a while. As well, Springer’s plate discipline is getting worse and worse. His pitches per plate appearance have dropped in each of the last three seasons, falling down to 3.64 to start this year.

He’s just not providing on-base, plate discipline, or even power from the leadoff spot this year. I’m sure Springer will find his way back to his old role at some point this season, but it’s time to give somebody else a shot.

Move To Bo Bichette

Bichette certainly isn’t playing up to his standards to start the year either, but maybe a lineup shuffle that moves everyone around is exactly what this Toronto offence needs.

Bichette slid up to the leadoff spot for nine games (38 at-bats) last year, and was amazing. The shortstop hit .342 with a .917 OPS in his brief shot atop the order.

I think the perception of Bichette as a free-swinging player would turn a lot of people off on him as a leadoff option. But, what if I told you Bo saw the exact same number of pitchers per plate appearance as George Springer last year (3.70)?

Try Out Davis Schneider (Or A Platoon)

If the Blue Jays want to find a more traditional leadoff man to try in the top spot, Davis Schneider is the best choice. His .338 OBP isn’t incredible but it ranks fourth on the team and his .779 OPS is good enough to warrant the extra at-bats the first batting position will get, too.

As well, Schneider has seen 4.39 pitches per plate appearance this season, third on the Jays behind Justin Turner and Danny Jansen. What teams want in a leadoff guy has changed a lot over the years, but getting on base and seeing a lot of pitches is still plenty valuable from that top spot.

Another player built in a similar mold to Schneider is Cavan Biggio. The INF/OF has a .345 OBP on the season, runs with some speed, and sees over four pitches per plate appearance. I like the idea of a consistent top three or four in a batting order, regardless of platoons, but maybe a Biggio vs RHP and Schneider vs LHP tandem for the leadoff spot is the solution.