Spring training is underway, the season is fast approaching, and this is the time of year for everyone to make their crazy and bold predictions. Who doesn’t like making outlandish predictions before the season? Baseball is unpredictable, so if you predict correctly, you look like a genius, and if you’re wrong, you can just shrug it off because it may have been too far fetched to begin with. This season should be a very exciting one for the Blue Jays and their fans. They have had a busy offseason making lots of big moves to improve the club, and they are expected to be favourites to win the division, and possibly the pennant. With this in mind, I have come up with my five bold predictions for the Blue Jays season.
José Berríos wins 20 games.
Fresh off signing a 7-year, $131 million contract extension, I expect Berríos to have an excellent 2022 season. Berríos came to the Jays at the trade deadline in a blockbuster deal, and quickly became a fan-favourite. He struggled a little in a couple of early starts with his new team, but with the help of pitching coach Pete Walker, he tweaked some of his mechanics and was electric down the stretch. Berríos has been one of the most durable pitchers in the last four seasons as he made 32 starts in each of the last three full seasons. Winning 20 games is no easy feat, and there was only one 20-game winner in 2021 – left-hander Julio Urías of the Dodgers. The last 20 game winner for the Jays was J.A. Happ in 2016, and no pitcher has had more than 14 wins since. Berríos has shown flashes of brilliance and is a two-time All-Star, so if he can consistently have quality starts and keep his team in games, the Jays’ potent offence should be able to score enough runs to get him plenty of wins.
Teoscar Hernández hits 40 homeruns
Hernández has emerged as one the top offensive players in the league, winning a Silver Slugger in the last two seasons. Hernández tested positive for COVID-19 a week into last season and missed three weeks, as a result. He struggled for a couple of weeks after his return, but quickly turned it around and became a force in the middle of the Jays’ lineup. He became an All-Star for the first time in his career and finished the season with a career-high 32 homeruns and 116 RBI. There is no question that he has insane power as he has finished in the top 2% and 4% in maximum exit velocity in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Hitting 40 homeruns is an impressive yet difficult accomplishment, but I strongly believe Hernández has the ability to do it.
Bo Bichette has a 30-30 season
The 30-30 club consists of an illustrious group of players that hit 30 homeruns and steal 30 bases in a single season. In the last five full seasons, only five players have accomplished that feat. In his short major-league career so far, Bo has shown he can be one of the top players in the game. He hits for both power and average, as last season he had 29 homeruns and led the American League in hits. He is also a savvy base stealer as he knows when to pick his spots; he stole 25 bases last season and was only caught once. Bichette is still so young and as he continues through the prime of his career, I believe he is more than capable of having a 30-30 season. I think hitting 30 homers is more than doable for Bo, but stealing thirty bases may prove more difficult, only because stealing isn’t as prevalent in today’s game. However, Montoyo has given his guys the green light when it comes to stealing bags. If his players think they can take it, he has no issues with them attempting. Bichette has shown a strong ability to know when to steal, and I think he could steal 30 if the opportunities present themselves.
Jordan Romano Makes the All-Star Game
The Markham native is entering his age 29 season and is coming off a breakout year. In 2021, he pitched 63 innings and posted an ERA of 2.14 with 85 strikeouts and compiled 23 saves. He has solidified himself as the Jays’ closer and has become one of the top 10 relievers in the game. An argument could’ve been made for him to be named to the All-Star game last year, however, he did not get that honour – this year though, I believe he will. With an average fastball velocity of 97.6mph, and the ability to hit triple digits, he can blow hitters away and lockdown games. Unlike early on last season, where the Jays didn’t have a set closer, now everyone knows who is going to get the ball in a save situation in the ninth. This will allow Romano more opportunities to shine, which I believe will propel him to his first All-Star game in Los Angeles.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wins AL MVP
Okay, so this one may not be a “bold” prediction given what everyone saw him do last year, but I am including it because there are still a few things that need to happen for him to win it. Obviously, the first thing is that Vladdy must have another spectacular season. He has continued to work hard this offseason, has lost even more weight, and remember, he just turned 23 years old. Is it crazy to think he may have just been scratching the surface on what he can do? He has all the tools to be an elite hitter, and there is no reason to believe that last year was just a flash in the pan. Will he hit 48 homeruns again? Probably not, but then again, he could hit more. The main obstacle that is likely to prevent Guerrero from winning the AL MVP is the man that won it last year, Shohei Ohtani.
What Ohtani did last year was something no one has seen in over 100 years; he was a pitcher AND a hitter, and did them both at an exceptional level. He pitched to a record of 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA with 156 strikeouts in 130.1 innings. He also hit 46 homeruns and had 100 RBI. It’s really not even a question of whether Guerrero can have an MVP-calibre season, it’s more of, will Ohtani do what he did again? If Ohtani has a similar season again, it doesn’t matter what Vlad or anyone else in the league does, Ohtani will win the MVP. Even if Ohtani makes 20 starts with a 3.50 ERA and only hits 30 homers, he will still likely win the MVP, just because he is an above-average player in nearly every aspect of the game. However, despite Ohtani currently being the favourite to win the award, I think Guerrero will put together another exceptional season and win his first MVP. Will he have to hit 60 homeruns to get it? Maybe. Can he do it? Possibly.
Baseball is a long season, and anything can happen. After winning 91 games a season ago, and with the additions they made in the offseason, there are some high expectations for the Blue Jays. My predictions involve certain players achieving things they have never accomplished in their careers, but I believe each one of them is capable of reaching such milestones. We will see if any come to fruition.