The Blue Jays’ most proven player in spring training

After winning the AL pennant and almost won Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays enter 2026 with high expectations. Blue Jays spring training in Dunedin, however, the focus is on one player more than any other. Andres Gimenez steps in as the club’s speedster The departure of Beau Bichetand his performance will set the tone of the camp.

The Toronto leadership made a clear statement this winter. They handed Gimenez the keys to shortstop and committed to him as a key piece through 2029, with an option in 2030. That decision magnifies every at-bat he takes this spring. It also puts him at the center of the clubhouse and fan scrutiny in a way he hasn’t experienced before.

Gimenez, 27, built his reputation as an elite defensive player at second base. He has already secured three straight Gold Glove awards in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and has consistently ranked among the league leaders in advanced defensive metrics. The transition to short-term work requires even greater outreach, communication and leadership. He has already taken most of the reps there in Dunedin, signaling that the organization sees him as the unquestioned answer at the position.

The challenge lies in his bat. The 2024 Platinum Glove recipient hit .210 in 2025 with an OPS below .600. Those numbers created a stark imbalance between the glove and offense. In a lineup that has lost a lot of strength with Bichet’s exit, the margin for error is shrinking. Toronto doesn’t need him to commit the offense, but they can’t afford automatic relegation at the bottom of the order.

The Blue Jays believe his struggles stemmed from swing decisions and contact quality rather than raw ability. Coaches emphasized putting away breaking balls below the zone and running multiple lines in the opposite field. Early camp sessions suggest a more controlled approach. He shortened the load and worked with more patience on the numbers.

That adjustment is important because the short position is now about more than defense. Bichet signed a three-year, $126 million contract with the New York Mets, leaving both a production gap and an emotional void. Fans associated this position with attacking and showing off. Gimenez brings a quieter presence and a defensive-first mindset. It must prove that the identity can still anchor the candidate.

The organization doubled down on run prevention. By moving the veteran, entering his seventh MLB season, to the shortstop position, Toronto aims to bolster the middle line and shore up a pitching staff. In that draft, his glove becomes a weapon every night. However, modern candidates require balance. If pitchers sense a weakness at the bottom of the lineup, they will exploit it in October.

Camp competition adds another layer. Ernie Clementwho is projected to see regular time in the outfield, along with younger options such as Leo Jimenez and top prospect Arjun Nimmala, share the pitches in Dunedin. Right now, no one is pushing Gimenez for the day job, but their presence underscores a simple truth. His position is in 2026, even as the next wave of infield talent continues to develop behind him.

What separates him from others with something to prove is the convergence of timing and expectations. Spring training in 2026 marks the first camp without Bichet in years. It also follows a season that ended just after the championship. The window is open. Every projected starter carries weight, but no one has a clearer mandate than Gimenez.

He doesn’t need to repeat his 2022 prime, when he flirted with an All-Star-level offense. He does, however, have to approach league average production. A .250 average with consistent on-base skills would transform the narrative. Combined with elite defense, that profile makes him an asset, not a question mark.

Teammates praised his work ethic. Trainers notice his early arrivals and extra sessions in the cage. The staff structured drills around situational hitting to help him perfect his two-strike approach. Those incremental gains can change a season. In a division that punishes weakness, marginal improvement often separates first from third.

Gimenez understands optics. Replacing the face of the franchise invites comparison. Still, he resisted framing this as a battle with the past. Instead, he focuses on execution. If he stabilizes the position and provides stable clubs, the club will respond. Winning teams rally around reliability.

The The Blue Jays remain built to fight. Their rotation boasts depth, and the lineup contains new middle-order strength. However, in 162 games, baseball reveals its vulnerabilities. Spring training offers rather a controlled recalibration environment before the spotlights are turned on.

The verdict won’t come based on Grapefruit League box scores alone. That will come from his process, the quality of his contact and his command of the defense. The Blue Jays trusted the Venezuelan at a crucial time. This spring, he has a chance to live up to that faith and define the next era at shortstop for the Blue Jays.