After being selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Addison Barger’s major-league dream finally came true on Wednesday night.
The 24-year-old from Bellevue, Wash. has spent the past seven seasons working his way through the Blue Jays’ farm system, making stops at every level along the way.
Ranked as Toronto’s No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 5 by Baseball America, Barger played 395 games and logged 1,471 at-bats in the minors before making his MLB debut in Kansas City.
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While Barger went hitless to begin his career, the left-handed hitter offers an element of slug that the Blue Jays lineup is currently lacking.
Here’s a closer look at what he can bring at the major-league level.
Age: 24
Position: Third base/Outfield
Swings: Left | Throws: Right
Height: Six-foot | Weight: 210 lbs.
2024 Stats (triple-A): AVG: .314 | 3 HR | 21 RBI | .435 OBP | .586 SLG
Big hacks and a big arm
When you watch Barger play, there’s no mistaking what he’s trying to do.
When he’s at the plate, he’s trying to hit the ball as hard and as far as he can, and in the field, he’s not going to pass up an opportunity to showcase his arm.
At triple-A Buffalo this year, Barger owns a maximum exit velocity of 111.8 m.p.h. and an average exit velocity of 90.6, both of which would rank second on the Blue Jays.
Barger showcased some of that power in his debut, hitting a ball 105.3 and 397 feet that was swallowed up by the cavernous outfield at Kauffman Stadium.
“I’m aggressive. I take hacks. It’s just the nature of me,” Barger said after the game. “It’s hard for me to tame it sometimes, but it’s going to be about being relaxed and looking for a good pitch to hit.”
As comes with any player swinging as hard as Barger, there is some swing-and-miss risk, but he has actually improved his strikeout rate year-over-year, culminating in a 17.6-per-cent mark through 19 games at Buffalo this year.
Not only has he been striking out less, Barger has been walking more. He posted a full-season career-best 13.1-per-cent walk rate in 2023, which he bumped to 16.5 per cent in 2024.
In addition to his big swing, Barger could immediately step in with one of the best outfield arms in MLB.
According to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, in spring training this year, Barger unleashed a 103.8-m.p.h. throw from right field, a number that hasn’t been topped by any major leaguers so far this season.
On the 20-80 grading scale, MLB Pipeline places a 55 on his power and a 65 on his arm, meaning that both tools are expected to be above average to well above average.
Baseball America described him as “a versatile lefthanded hitter who has improved his hit tool while learning to play right field. He is a super-utility type with above-average hitting ability.”
Natural righty
Speaking of his swing, Barger’s current setup at the plate is actually inspired by Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki.
“I decided when I was probably seven or eight, I’m going to start taking swings and BP left-handed,” Barger said while appearing on Blair & Barker last year. “I wanted to hit left-handed because I really liked Ichiro.”
Barger also added his big leg kick to mimic the 10-time All-Star.
Despite digging in from the left-handed batter’s box, Barger has done well against pitchers throwing from either side. In 2024 with the Bisons, he owns a .882 OPS in 55 at-bats against right-handers and a 1.217 OPS, with two of his home runs against lefties.
Barger fared well in same-handed matchups over the past two years, posting an OPS north of .730 every season since 2021.
Defensive utility
Like many current members of the Blue Jays, Barger has the ability to line up all over the diamond.
Of course, he made his first-ever appearance in left field to begin his MLB career, misplaying the first fly ball he saw, then making a leaping catch against the wall an inning later. He made four total putouts in the game.
“I’ve never played left field in my life … but it’s the same game. I’ll figure it out,” he said before the game.
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Despite the second-inning adventure, Barger is more than used to trying out new spots. Throughout his time in the minors, he spent time at all four infield spots and in right field.
Barger was drafted as a shortstop and played the majority of his innings there until the 2023 season, when right field became his primary spot.
To begin 2024 with the Bisons, he had played 87 innings at third and 40 in right.
With Kevin Kiermaier on the injured list and Daulton Varsho and George Springer seemingly entrenched in centre and right field when they’re in the lineup, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported that the Blue Jays largely expect Barger to play left field. However, he would be able to help out at third base and right field when needed.
