After consistently running out a top three of George Springer, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. atop their lineup in 2023, manager John Schneider and the Toronto Blue Jays are swapping their two franchise cornerstones to open the 2024 season.
As Sportsnet’s Shi David reported Wednesday, Guerrero Jr. is sliding up to the two-hole and Bichette will be hitting third.
Guerrero Jr. has spent the majority of his career hitting third — including in 110 of Toronto’s games last season — but has hit second 138 times in his career. His production has been significantly better when batting third, posting a .781 OPS, compared to just a .781 mark when hitting second.
“I really like the way (Guerrero Jr.) is swinging the bat,” Schneider told reporters on Wednesday about the decision. “I think having him in between (Springer) and (Bichette) is a good thing. To me, there’s no real perfect way to slice it when you’re talking about those three guys.”
Bichette, meanwhile, has spent significant time hitting first, second, third and fourth, with his best at-bats coming out of the three-hole. He owns a 1.011 OPS in 35 games out of that spot in the batting order and should provide Guerrero Jr. with some protection in the new lineup structure.
Outside of the top three, the Blue Jays are slotting free-agent acquisition Justin Turner in the clean-up spot, coming off a season in which the 39-year-old drove in a career-best 96 runs and slashed .338/.395/.547 with runners in scoring position.
Returning players Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk will hit fifth and sixth after delivering strong spring training performances, and Kevin Kiermaier gets the boost to seventh after spending the majority of 2023 batting ninth for the Blue Jays.
Rounding out the lineup behind starter Jose Berrios are Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who appears primed to be the everyday third baseman to open the season, and Cavan Biggio, who will likely get the majority of time at second base when Toronto is facing a right-hander.
You can watch as the Blue Jays kick off their 2024 season against the Tampa Bay Rays at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
