Do you know where the Toronto Blue Jays sit now? Smack dab in a pickle jar!
Their franchise cornerstone, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., didn’t mince words, as he mentioned the talks between him and the team are done. The result? He is heading to free agency for now when 2026 arrives. And for a player of his caliber, the big fishes in the sea, especially the two New York teams, would be on the lookout for him. For the Jays, this is a nightmare.
Making things tougher for Toronto is the fact that their offense lacks firepower. While a replacement for Vladdy is yet to be found, someone who has power in his bat is: Orelvis Martinez. He was once the Toronto Blue Jays’ most promising prospect. But his journey to the Major League Baseball took a rather dramatic U turn last year.
His bat was always a weapon, but his defensive struggles along with his suspension left everyone shell shocked. A shadow of doubt has come in of whether he can be the cornerstone of the franchise. But it’s a new year, and Martinez wants to prove that he belongs here.
Let’s rewind to last year a little. Orelvis Martinez was finally getting his shot at the majors, making his debut right when Bo Bichette was injured. But—BOOM—the Toronto Blue Jays top prospect got suspended. He violated MLB’s PED policy. So two days into his big break in MLB, he was on the outs, and that too for a huge 80 games.
The issue was a positive test for clomiphene, a banned substance often found in fertility treatments. Martinez had insisted that it was all an accident. Orelvis Martinez explained that he and his girlfriend were trying to start a family, which had led to use of that substance.
“We wanted to keep this matter private, even within our family, and trusted the doctor who assured us this treatment did not include performance-enhancing drugs. Therefore, I made the mistake of not disclosing this to my team or the MLBPA,” Martinez revealed in a statement.
But with that, he also took responsibility for the mistake, “I took full responsibility for my negligence and accepted my suspension.” And now this season Martinez is trying to put this past behind and just focus on the game.
Martinez said through the Toronto Blue Jays club interpreter, “Once I found out what happened, I talked with everyone and let them know what happened. After that, everything was normal. I’ve put that behind me, and I’m going for this year.” Well, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as good as gone, the team will have their hopes that Martinez is the perfect replacement for Vlad, at least for now.
A prove it spring for Martinez in Toronto
If Orelvis Martinez is going to prove that he belongs in Toronto’s plans in the future, he needs to prove himself. And even though his bat talks, he has a weak spot—his defense. But while the Toronto Blue Jays would love for him to develop into a good infielder, his real value seems to be crushing baseballs outside of the orbit. And he already showcased his power recently!
In the Grapefruit League opener in spring training, Martinez blasted a 390-foot opposite-field home run. It was everything you’d think—a smooth yet explosive swing. It’s the hit that people notice. And Martinez ensured that he followed that up with a ground rule double the next day. He showed everyone that his bat is still as dangerous as it was. And he is only 23 years old right now. Plus, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider knows Martinez’s bat could be the difference maker even if the defense still needs some work.
“If he’s swinging the bat with authority and being a threat every single time, I think that with what else we have on the roster, there’s always room for a guy that can hit a home run. The defensive part is important. That’s never going to stop, but if it gets to that, it gets to that,” said Scheider. Now, while the Jays might want to play him at third, moving him to first could be the smart play. Especially more so if Guerrero Jr. really leaves in free agency.
Do you think Martinez has what it takes to fill in Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s shoes in the team? Let us know in the comments.
The post With Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s Replacement Looming Large, Blue Jays Rookie Hopes to Revive Tainted Reputation appeared first on EssentiallySports.
