Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen showcased his powerful blocking skills against the Cleveland Guardians. His efforts helped the Blue Jays win their fourth straight game in a row. With wrist inflammation, Jansen missed the last two games of their weekend series against the Boston Red Sox. Despite the short absence, Jansen continues to show spectacular catching behind the plate.
Danny Jansen Showcases His Blocking Abilities
Jansen’s Strong Performance In Cleveland
Blocking 101 with Danny Jansen…great clip? #clinic https://t.co/8bCLiBDcMs
— Joe Siddall (@SiddallJoe) August 8, 2023
Hyun Jin Ryu kept the Blue Jays in the game until he left after the fourth inning after taking a line drive off the leg. Although, if it weren’t for Jansen’s stellar blocking performance in the ninth inning, Toronto wouldn’t have earned their fourth win in a row. The 28-year-old continues demonstrating why he is so vital to the Blue Jays lineup and their success this season. He blocked not one, not two, but three wild pitches from Jordan Hicks. There’s nothing more that a pitcher could ask for when his catcher has his back. You could tell how ready and on his toes he was as he wanted to secure this win for his team. We’ve seen so much prime offense from Jansen that we sometimes forget how significant he is behind the plate. According to Statcast, Jansen has faced 2,223 block opportunities this season.
The fact that he did not panic while staying focused shows how strong his composure is. Toronto HAS had many similar situations where they were caught in jams, but they have been able to escape them. This exemplifies strong defense that we haven’t seen from the Jays in previous years. As the old but classic saying goes, “”Offense sells tickets. Defense wins championships.”” Football coach Paul Bryant stated this quote.
The Most Underrated Player on the Team
Danny Jansen.
His 15th of the season ties a career high. On a team that needs timely hitting, Jansen has been just incredible. #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/XlHyOf6Tlv
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) August 1, 2023
As both a catcher and offensive player, Jansen is undoubtedly one of the most underrated players in baseball. He has made headlines all season and put on quite a show for fans. In 250 plate appearances this year, he’s hitting .226 with 15 home runs and 49 RBI. He was on a roll in July, hitting .275 in 14 starts with four home runs. He deserves way more credit and respect than he is getting.
Jansen is becoming a fan favorite this season for the Jays, and his strengths as a player continue to prevail. Calling him the blocking artist should stick as a nickname, as blocking pitches is not easy to do as a catcher. He is recognizing his efforts as a strong athlete and his ability not to lose focus in challenging situations. This says a lot about a player. If it were up to the fans, they would have given Jansen the save instead of Hicks.
Jansen Is Unforgettable
Overall, Jansen should be very proud of himself and his stellar blocking of pitches. When a player goes beyond their expectations and sacrifices their body for the greater good of their team, this indicates a star quality in them. He resembles a similarity to Kevin Kiermaier, where the aggressive play is so pervasive. This blocking artist shall not go unnoticed for his stellar skills behind the plate. From blocking pitches to clutch hits, Jansen is becoming a player that can role-model leadership for the youngsters on the team.
Danny Jansen deserves a Gold Glove for these last 2 batters alone.
— JABO Vancouver (@jabo_vancouver) August 8, 2023
Jansen is still in his prime as a player, and it will be exciting to see what he can do for the rest of the season and, hopefully, in the playoffs. He is putting smiles on Blue Jays fan faces as everyone is anxiously awaiting what October baseball will bring. It won’t be long until we see more highlights focusing on Jansen’s impressive display of blocking.
Photo Credit: © Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
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