Toronto Blue Jays prospect Addison Barger will make his MLB debut Wednesday after the 24-year-old utility player was recalled from Triple-A to replace center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, who was placed on the 10-day injured list due to inflammation of the left hip flexors. .
Barger will play left field and bat eighth against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Barger, ranked No. 5 among Keith Law’s Blue Jays top 20 prospects, is a power left-handed hitter. This season, Barger is off to a strong start with the Buffalo Bisons, hitting .314/.435/.586 with 10 doubles and three home runs in 19 games. For a while now, Barger has been on the cusp of the major leagues, but with the Blue Jays’ roster full in MLB, his best chance to join the big club seemed to be as an injury replacement.
LET’S GO BOYS!
2 home runs for BARGER pic.twitter.com/cYzmVzDxQy
– Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) April 20, 2024
Drafted by the Blue Jays in 2018 as a shortstop, Barger has adjusted to a utility role in recent seasons, playing a mix of second, third, shortstop and right field. This season in Buffalo, Barger split his time between third base (87 innings) and right field (40 innings). Barger has yet to play left field at the professional level.
“He played short, third and right, and has useful value due to his versatility and power, although he is not a shortstop unless in an emergency and will have to work at third goal as he grows,” Law wrote about Barger. “If he stays there, he could be a 20-homer, low-OBP guy who plays every day. I think a utility role is more likely, as he doesn’t really have a position and the stick might not play every day on the right or left.
Kiermaier landed on the IL after being knocked out in the sixth inning of the Blue Jays’ 3-2 loss to the Royals on Tuesday with what was initially described as left hip flexor discomfort. according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. While with the Tampa Bay Rays, Kiermaier underwent left hip surgery during the 2022 season.
With Kiermaier on the IL, the Blue Jays will turn to Daulton Varsho, who will handle the primary duties in center field. Although the loss of Kiermaier is a major blow to Toronto’s outfield defense, the Blue Jays have the luxury of two elite center fielders, so Varsho can capably replace Kiermaier. Varsho has also been one of the Blue Jays’ hottest hitters of late, hitting .333/.391/.857 with four doubles, six homers and 13 RBIs over his last 13 games.
As for left field, Barger and Davis Schneider will be the main candidates to earn the most playing time there in Kiermaier’s absence. Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ernie Clement can also play left field, while George Springer is also capable of moving to center field, although the Blue Jays may avoid this defensive scheme since they like Springer in right field.
(Photo of Barger during spring training: Kim Klement Neitzel / USA Today)