{"id":3890,"date":"2017-03-17T14:20:48","date_gmt":"2017-03-17T18:20:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/?p=3890"},"modified":"2017-03-17T14:20:48","modified_gmt":"2017-03-17T18:20:48","slug":"blue-jays-first-base-dilemma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2017\/03\/17\/blue-jays-first-base-dilemma\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Blue Jays First Base Dilemma"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coming into spring training it was clear to everyone that the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t have a primary option at first base. Early on,\u00a0all of the talk surrounded the confidence level the Blue Jays had in Justin Smoak<\/a><\/strong>. The team seemed to have a lot of faith that he would be able to secure his position as the team’s primary option, while the fans and media believed that Smoak would end up being a DFA candidate by the end of spring training.<\/p>\n

Toronto Blue Jays First Base Dilemma<\/h2>\n

Mid-way through camp it appears the latter is proving to be the case. Smoak has been awful (10 strikeouts in 27 at-bats) and the Blue Jays are frantically searching for options. Steve Pearce<\/a><\/strong> can get reps at first base, but then the Jays will have a left field platoon of Ezequiel Carrera<\/a><\/strong> and Melvin Upton<\/a><\/strong>, which is also worrisome. So the question begins to revolve around the Major League readiness of Rowdy Tellez<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So far in the spring, Tellez has performed well, hitting .269 and flashing excellent on-base skills with an OBP nearing .400. He has also just missed several times, and has battled deep into counts even when recording outs. Without a doubt, Tellez is the future of this team at first base. The question now is how soon does the future begin with the big club?<\/p>\n

Based off of spring performances of all possible candidates, Tellez seems to be the logical choice. The 22 year-old Tellez, like all young players, will experience bumps and bruises along the road, but he has the ability to become a cog in the middle of Blue Jays lineup for many years to come. Additionally, his left-handed power bat and strike-zone awareness would be a welcome addition to a predominantly right-handed hitting lineup.<\/p>\n

Right now, the Blue Jays lineup would look like this:<\/p>\n

2B-Devon Travis<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

3B-Josh Donaldson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

RF-Jose Bautista<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

DH-Kendrys Morales<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

SS-Troy Tulowitzki<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

C-Russell Martin<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

1B-Rowdy Tellez<\/p>\n

LF-Steve Pearce<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

CF-Kevin Pillar<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a lineup, when healthy,\u00a0that is one of the more balanced in baseball, despite the loss of Edwin Encarnacion<\/a><\/strong>. It also has the veteran presence where a young player like Tellez would own a less primary spot in the lineup. He would be able to grow and develop with little pressure on his shoulders.<\/p>\n

So the possibility remains that Toronto will begin the season with Justin Smoak<\/a><\/strong> at first base. However, with his track record, and at 30 years old, not having the “potential” label attached, it is\u00a0likely only a matter of time until the Tellez era begins in Toronto in 2017.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n