The Toronto Blue Jays have announced their starting lineup for opening day of the 2023 MLB season. As the Jays look to build on their playoff run last year, there are some familiar faces taking the field as well as some new additions to the squad.
The Starting Pitcher
Taking the mound on opening day for the 4th straight year is veteran ace Alek Manoah. After finishing 3rd in AL Cy Young voting in 2022, Manoah will look to get the Blue Jays off to a strong start in 2023. The 24-year-old had a breakout season last year, posting a 16-7 record with a 2.24 ERA over 196.2 innings pitched.
Player | Position |
---|---|
Alek Manoah | Starting Pitcher |
The Starting Lineup
1. George Springer – Center Field
Leading off and playing center field is George Springer. The veteran outfielder is heading into his 3rd season with the Blue Jays after signing a 6-year deal in 2021. Springer batted .267 with 25 home runs last season and will look to ignite the offense from the top of the order. His experience and leadership make him well-suited for the leadoff role.
Player | Position |
---|---|
George Springer | Center Field |
2. Bo Bichette – Shortstop
Hitting second and playing shortstop is young star Bo Bichette. Entering his 4th MLB season at just 24 years old, Bichette has quickly become one of the top shortstops in baseball. He was named to his first All-Star team in 2022 after hitting .290 with 24 home runs and 93 RBI. The Jays will count on him to be a key run producer in the middle of the lineup.
Player | Position |
---|---|
Bo Bichette | Shortstop |
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – First Base
In the 3-hole and playing first base is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The 23-year-old slugger has already established himself as one of the most feared hitters in baseball after hitting .274 with 32 home runs and 97 RBI last season. With his rare combination of power and hitting ability, Guerrero is the centerpiece of the Blue Jays lineup and one of the early MVP favorites entering 2023.
Player | Position |
---|---|
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | First Base |
4. Teoscar Hernandez – Right Field
Batting clean-up and occupying right field is Teoscar Hernandez. The veteran slugger belted 25 home runs and drove in 77 runs out of the heart of the order in 2022. Hernandez provides excellent power protection for Guerrero in the lineup. His right-handed bat will be relied upon to continue producing RBIs.
Player | Position |
---|---|
Teoscar Hernandez | Right Field |
5. Matt Chapman – Third Base
Hitting fifth and playing third base is Matt Chapman. Acquired in a trade from Oakland last offseason, Chapman delivered solid power numbers in his first year with Toronto, hitting 27 home runs with 76 RBI. Regarded as one of the best defensive third basemen in the game, Chapman brings stability to the hot corner while providing pop to the bottom half of the order.
Player | Position |
---|---|
Matt Chapman | Third Base |
6. Santiago Espinal – Second Base
Slotting in sixth and playing second base is Santiago Espinal. The 28-year-old had a breakout 2022 season, his first as a full-time starter. Espinal hit .267 while playing solid defense up the middle. He’ll look to take another step forward this year and bring speed on the base paths from the bottom third of the order.
Player | Position |
---|---|
Santiago Espinal | Second Base |
7. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. – Left Field
Batting seventh as the left fielder is Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Although he struggled with injuries last season, Gurriel demonstrated 30+ home run power in 2021. If he can stay healthy, Gurriel provides another dangerous left-handed bat to complement the righty power bats in the heart of the order. The Jays will look for him to get back on track in 2023.
Player | Position |
---|---|
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. | Left Field |
8. Alejandro Kirk – Catcher
Hitting eighth and starting behind the plate is Alejandro Kirk. Despite missing time with injuries last season, the 24-year-old catcher showed why he’s considered one of the best young backstops in baseball. In 118 games, Kirk batted .285 with 14 home runs and an .820 OPS. His elite batting skills and pitch framing make him a key contributor both at and behind the plate.
Player | Position |
---|---|
Alejandro Kirk | Catcher |
9. Cavan Biggio – Designated Hitter
Rounding out the order as the designated hitter is Cavan Biggio. The versatile 27-year-old is still looking establish himself as an everyday starter, but should get plenty of at-bats as the DH. Biggio has shown patience and emerging power at the plate, which could be useful from the 9-hole. He’ll split DH duties with others but will handle it opening day.
Player | Position |
---|---|
Cavan Biggio | Designated Hitter |
Keys to Success
With this talented lineup taking the field opening day, the Blue Jays have the pieces in place to make another postseason push in 2023. If Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette continue developing into superstar talents, the offense could be among the most potent in baseball. There are no evident weak spots in the order on paper. The biggest key will be staying healthy, as injuries hampered the team last season. If the likes of Springer, Hernandez, Gurriel and Kirk can avoid the injured list, it allows the batting order to reach its full potential. The Blue Jays boast an exciting mix of power, speed and high batting averages. With Manoah fronting the rotation, Toronto has the ability to hang with the top teams in the American League.
Potential Lineup Changes
While this projects as the opening day lineup, there will inevitably be changes as the season progresses. Top prospect Gabriel Moreno could take over as the primary catcher at some point, especially if Kirk struggles with injuries again. Moreno raked at Triple-A last season and appears ready to make an impact as a 22-year-old rookie. In the outfield, backups like Raimel Tapia, Bradley Zimmer and prospect Otto Lopez could all see increased playing time if injuries arise or performance dictates change. On the infield, versatile veteran Whit Merrifield will push for at-bats at multiple positions. The lineup will evolve, but this looks to be the configuration manager John Schneider will roll out to start 2023.
Final Thoughts
The Blue Jays are banking on the development of young stars like Guerrero, Bichette, Manoah and Kirk to take the next step forward this season. The lineup lacks any major holes 1 through 9 and has the balance of speed, power and contact skills needed to produce runs consistently. Toronto’s biggest challenger in the division will once again be the Tampa Bay Rays, while the Yankees and Red Sox shouldn’t be overlooked either. With their sights set on a deep playoff run, this talented group will look to get off to a fast start out of the gates opening day. The Blue Jays enter 2023 with sky-high expectations, and this starting lineup is prepared to meet them.