The Blue Jays could have their next outfielder as soon as next season.
Back in July 2016, the Blue Jays signed outfielder Steward Berroa in the International Free Agency with a signing bonus of $10,000. After several good seasons in the late ‘10s, the Dominican Repbulic-native has started to make a name for himself in recent seasons.
In 2021 with the Dunedin Blue Jays, Berroa slashed .245/.361/.399 with a career-high seven home runs in 333 plate appearances, along with a 15 BB% and a 22.8 K% for a 112 wRC+. The following season in High-A, he slashed .219/.331/.409 with six home run and a 12.9 BB% and a 26.3 K% for a 106 wRC+. In an additional 60 plate appearances in Double-A, Berroa hit a home run with the Fisher Cats.
However, something evidently clicked for Berroa in 2023, as he slashed .272/.380/.414 with seven home runs in 396 plate appearances for the Fisher Cats. He once again hit seven home runs, while posting a very strong 14.4 BB% and a 26.8 K%. His 123 wRC+ was the highest of his career as well.
Like the season prior, Berroa struggled moving up a level, as he slashed .156/.283/.222 with no homers in 54 plate appearances for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, posting a 13 BB% and a 24.1 K% for a 35 wRC+.
But once again, Berroa adjusted, and has torn up Triple-A this season, slashing .369/.469/.559 with four homers in 82 plate appearances. Once again, Berroa has a high BB% of 14.6% with a K% in the mid-20s (25.6%).
There are a few common trends for the 24-year-old over the past few seasons. He does well at the level he starts at, but after a promotion to the next level, he struggles. This happened in 2021 and 2022 when he went up to Double-A briefly, as well as Triple-A in 2023. However, the season after he figures it out.
Another common trend is that Berroa walks, like a lot. There’s only been one season at any level with 50 or more plate appearances where he had a BB% below 10%, when he went to Double-A in 2022 and had an 8.3 BB%.In fact, his career walk rate in the minor leagues is 13.6%.
Will he hit for power in the major leagues? Probably not, as he stands at just 5’9”, 178 lbs according to his Fangraphs page. However, the eye at the plate is real, leading to many walks, which also leads into something I’ve omitted throughout the article so far. Berroa’s speed.
If you walk Berroa, there’s a good chance he heads to second base. Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Berroa has by far stolen the most bases in the organization, stealing 176 in 206 attempts, or a 85.4% success rate. It is worth noting that Cam Eden is the only other player with 100+ steals, stealing 128 in 140 attempts for a 91.4% success rate.
On top of being absolute menaces on the bases, both players use their speed to their advantage in the outfield, as both can track down fly balls with their strong defence. This season, Berroa has yet to make an error or pick up an assist, but in 822.1 innings in centre last season between Double-A and Triple-A, he assisted on eight plays making just four errors.
Like Eden last season, Berroa may get a call up in September to be that base-stealing threat that can be a defensive replacement. However, with Kevin Kiermaier’s contract expiring at the end of the season, if Berroa can keep up his hot start, there may be a pathway to the big league team in 2025.
me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.
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