Diagnosing the Blue Jays’ surprising first-half defensive decline

Clement’s defensive metrics have also been uncharacteristically poor this season, as evidenced by his minus-five DRS and OAA each and a minus-three FRV across nearly 400 innings at second base. He’s no longer a full-time utility player — whose infield defence earned a plus-15 OAA last season, placing in the 98th percentile — and has taken over the everyday role at second with Giménez moving over to shortstop.

That was supposed to improve Toronto’s middle-infield duo after Bo Bichette endured a miserable ’25 defensive performance, posting career-worsts in OAA (-13) and FRV (-13) at short. It was shaping up to become a pitcher’s dream tandem, and while there’s still time to evolve into that, they’re currently a long way off from reaching that scenario.

The most glaring issue that Clement must correct is his throwing decisions, the culprit behind three of his five errors on the campaign. This is where some of that earlier-mentioned sloppiness has reared its ugly head.

You may have also noticed that Clement’s arm strength has fallen significantly, averaging a career-low 76.6 m.p.h., down almost four ticks from last year. He hasn’t made any throws above 81 m.p.h. this season, either, also a career-low, though that’s likely a byproduct of being an everyday second baseman. He doesn’t need to let it loose as often anymore, like he used to at third or short.

In any case, the Blue Jays need Clement to play cleaner, and soon.

Key injuries

Alejandro Kirk, one of baseball’s best all-around catchers, has only played five games this season due to a fractured left thumb — and the Blue Jays haven’t been close to the same team without him, in the batter’s box or behind the plate.

Defensively, Kirk is as elite as they come for a catcher. Last year’s Gold Glove finalist, an award won by Detroit’s Dillon Dingler, entered this season trailing only Patrick Bailey for first in DRS and FRV with 48 and 60, respectively, since the start of ’22. There’s simply no replacing that production, despite the Blue Jays’ best efforts with Brandon Valenzuela and Tyler Heineman.

Those two aren’t Kirk, but they’ve done an exceptional job filling in for Toronto’s All-Star catcher on defence, combining for 10 DRS and 12 FRV over 485.1 total innings. That duo has held their own when blocking and framing pitches, and they’ve also been extremely efficient at throwing out baserunners — each ranking in the 86th percentile or higher in caught stealing above average.

There have been some learning curves, though, and those have been the moments when the Blue Jays miss Kirk the most. He brings a certain steadiness behind the plate that’s been absent from this team for nearly two months.

Enduring extended stretches without Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger, the club’s two most dependable corner outfielders, has also contributed to Toronto’s defensive decline from last season. Outside of Myles Straw, those two patrol the left and right corners better than any other players on this roster.

But because of a left hamstring strain and a bout with vertigo, Lukes — who accounted for 10 DRS, one OAA and a plus-five FRV in 909.1 innings split across all three outfield positions in ’25 — has logged fewer than 200 innings in the field this season. Likewise for Barger, who’s compiled just over 50 innings thus far and hasn’t been around to help minimize the running game against the Blue Jays’ outfielders.

When the former third baseman, turned right fielder, is playing, baserunners have to be on full alert, or else they’re liable to be gunned down. And that sense is rapidly growing around Lukes, too.

Corner outfield woes

Without the services of Barger and Lukes, their absences have magnified Jesús Sánchez and rookie Yohendrick Piñango’s performances, neither of whom has performed well in the corners.

Sánchez has played more right than left as a Blue Jay, struggling to minus-four DRS, OAA and FRV each through just over 250 innings. There’s been a noticeable decline in both his initial reactions and bursts, each falling to the worst of his career. And he’s also posted a career-low average arm strength of 86.7 m.p.h., down two ticks from a season ago.

Piñango’s defence has laboured in his brief time with the big-league club, mostly in left, where he’s registered minus-two DRS and minus-one OAA and FRV each over 155 innings. He doesn’t possess a strong arm or quick reactions within his first few steps, areas he’s attempting to make up for with his route efficiency — which also remains a work in progress.

The Blue Jays have needed to sacrifice a bit of outfield defence for offence in recent weeks, and that’s also meant playing Straw less than they’d probably prefer. However, the 31-year-old veteran’s results also haven’t been spectacular, albeit over a fairly limited sample size of 210.2 combined innings between all three outfield spots, as he sports minus-two DRS, one OAA and a zero FRV.

The trio of Sánchez, Piñango and Straw have to take a step forward. But they need more help, too, from those nearing returns from the injured list.