The Toronto Blue Jays have a diverse lineup. At their best, Ernie Clement and Nathan Lukes provide relentless contact. Addison Barger and Daulton Varsho can slug homers.<\/p>\n
But it wasn\u2019t exactly clear which bucket Kazuma Okamoto fell into when the Jays signed him to a four-year, $60 million deal this winter.<\/p>\n
He hit .322 in his final season in Japan, and Jays coaches lauded the third baseman\u2019s contact during spring training. But he also posted six consecutive seasons with 30-plus homers in Nippon Professional Baseball. Now, amid his hottest stretch since joining the Jays, it\u2019s clear Okamoto can be a power provider. His homer potential may have an impact on the rest of Toronto\u2019s lineup.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he can continue to do what he\u2019s doing and progress a little bit,\u201d manager John Schneider said after a game last week, \u201cthat\u2019s kind of what we\u2019re hoping for. He continues to make strides and kind of has a knack for driving in some runs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The third baseman bashed four homers in a four-game series split against the Minnesota Twins this weekend, and has six dingers in his last 10 contests. On top of the obvious (scoring runs), Okamoto\u2019s big power could help insulate the middle of Toronto\u2019s lineup.<\/p>\n
Last year, the Jays had Bo Bichette hitting behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for most of the season and, after he returned from injury, in Game 7 of the World Series. Bichette backstopped Guerrero with regular contact and elite production with runners in scoring position, spraying balls around the outfield. The Jays haven\u2019t had a consistent cleanup hitter this year, rotating through guys like Jes\u00fas S\u00e1nchez, Barger and Okamoto.<\/p>\n
Without a consistent threat behind the top slugger, Guerrero has seen fewer pitches in the heart of the zone (21.5 percent) than at any point in his big-league career. Opposing pitchers are wasting more pitches (11.2 percent) against the first baseman. It\u2019s certainly part of why Guerrero has brought more on base (.421 OBP), than power (two homers) this season.<\/p>\n
Through 32 big-league games, Okamoto is on pace for nearly 40 homers. Expecting him to continue that pace is a big ask. But if he does, the third baseman may find a home behind Guerrero.<\/p>\n
Opposing pitchers are always going to be careful with Toronto\u2019s first baseman. Guerrero is the name they circle in pre-series scouting meetings. But it\u2019ll be much harder for pitchers to nibble against Guerrero if a 40-homer threat waits behind him. That\u2019s the sort of power the Jays haven\u2019t had protecting him since Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez was traded after 2022. Perhaps not coincidentally, that\u2019s the last time Guerrero hit more than 30 homers.<\/p>\n
Why was Tyler Heineman removed from Sunday\u2019s game?<\/p>\n
With the bases loaded in Sunday\u2019s sixth inning, Tyler Heineman swung at the first pitch he saw. It was arguably a pinch-hit spot for Toronto, with a chance to chip away at Minnesota\u2019s lead. But Schneider trusted the 34-year-old catcher and sent out Heineman. The backstop sent a lazy fly ball to left field, ending the inning and run-scoring opportunity. After the first-pitch chase, Heineman was replaced at catcher by rookie Brandon Valenzuela the following half-inning.<\/p>\n
Heineman was not hurt. The move was a \u201cmanager\u2019s decision,\u201d Schneider told reporters in Minnesota after the game. Heineman told Sportsnet\u2019s Shi Davidi<\/a> it was \u201cjust situation and everything that\u2019s been going on,\u201d alluding to his poor play lately.<\/p>\n \u201cThat at-bat was pretty trash,\u201d the catcher told MLB.com\u2019s Keegan Matheson<\/a>. \u201cI popped up on a pitch I should have drove. I\u2019ve been pretty crappy the past 10 games or so. He probably saw something he shouldn\u2019t have seen or that I did wrong. He made a decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Heineman, who said he supported the manager\u2019s choice, is hitting just .176 after a breakout year in 2025. He entered Sunday\u2019s contest with two hits in his past eight games. Before a game last week, Schneider specifically recounted a discussion with Heineman about swinging at better pitches while talking about the team\u2019s offensive strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s what are you actually swinging at,\u201d Schneider said last week. \u201cWe know that a lot of these guys make contact. OK, so are you just making contact? Or are you making quality contact? Are you in a hurry to make contact?\u201d<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s sixth-inning at-bat doesn\u2019t appear to be a great example of that narrow approach, though, according to Davidi<\/a>, Schneider declined to elaborate on exactly why Heineman was removed.<\/p>\n While Alejandro Kirk (thumb) could return at some point in May, he\u2019s still weeks away. Toronto\u2019s catching tandem of Heineman and Valenzuela \u2014 thrust into larger-than-expected roles \u2014 hasn\u2019t brought much production in Kirk\u2019s absence. But with not much depth behind them, the pair remain the club\u2019s best options at catcher before the All-Star starter returns. When Kirk comes back, Toronto\u2019s catching can become elite again.<\/p>\n George Springer dings toe again<\/p>\n George Springer rolled on the ground in the early innings of Saturday\u2019s win over the Twins. The designated hitter, who returned from the injured list on April 29, took a pitch off the same injured foot that sent him to the IL weeks ago.<\/p>\n