The Toronto Blue Jays have big plans for Addison Barger
Photo credit: Blue Jays Nation
Ian Hunter a BlueJaysnation reporters states that 25-year-old Addison Barger has a golden opportunity to have a breakout season as last year was a mixed bag of results in his first year with the Blue Jays.
After being promoted to the Blue Jays after Kevin Kiermaier was ailing, he had several chances with the big club to try to secure a regular roster spot but failed to do so as he produced less than ideal results.
New Season for Barger presents a New Opportunity
Barger Has some intangibles that will help him secure a spot this season. According to baseball savant's arm strength leaderboard, Barger his sixth strongest in the majors in 2024.
Which puts him in the 99th percentile for arm strength. He also has an incredible swing with tremendous bat speed which puts him only behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Happy New Year to Addison Barger
With his ferocious swing and tremendous bat speed, Barger ranked second
only behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the highest average bat speed on the team in 2024. When Barger makes contact, watch out. However, combined with that 26.7% strikeout rate, he is a feast-or-famine type hitter. - Ian Hunter BlueJaysnation
only behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the highest average bat speed on the team in 2024. When Barger makes contact, watch out. However, combined with that 26.7% strikeout rate, he is a feast-or-famine type hitter. - Ian Hunter BlueJaysnation
He possesses a flaw in his game that needs to be corrected which is the ability to hit the ball into the ground which is also another problem for Guerrero Jr.
ADDISON BARGER WALK OFF BOMB. KEEP THE CHANGE WHAT A WIN
One of Barger's fatal flaws earlier in the season is something that Guerrero struggled with at various points in his career, which is pounding the ball into the ground. At the beginning of the season, Barger hovered around a 50% ground ball rate, but he trimmed it down to 43% by the end of September. - Ian Hunter Bluejaysnation
Jays management may give him long look after disappointing offseason
This offseason has been one of the most disappointing ones for the Blue Jays in recent memory.
The team has failed to secure some help in the form of free agents or even trade and with that being said, it's likely Ross Atkins and Blue Jays manager John Schneider likely will give Barger a longer look as he could secure a spot on the
roster which would give a solution internally for the Blue Jays.
roster which would give a solution internally for the Blue Jays.
There is room for Barger to grow, but depending on how much more aggressively the front office moulds the Blue Jays into a contender in 2025, they may not have the bandwidth to give Barger the benefit of the doubt again. - Ian Hunter BlueJaysNation
It remains to be seen on how he will do in spring training which is on the horizon and the Blue Jays will find out quite quickly if he is what he could be or could be heading back to Buffalo when the season begins in April.
Source: Bluejaysnation
How Addison Barger can secure everyday AB's with the Blue Jays
How Addison Barger can secure everyday AB's with the Blue Jays
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