Alan Roden is proving he’s up for the challenge. Myles Straw is showing he also can hang on the big-league level.
The Toronto Blue Jays outfielders have been within the highlight for various reasons in recent weeks and their strong pre-season play has left team brass with some tough decisions to make ahead of the club’s season opener.
Roden and Straw, each non-roster invitees, have posted impressive numbers in Grapefruit League play and have made the battle for the fourth outfielder spot an interesting one.
George Springer, Anthony Santander and Daulton Varsho are expected to be the regular starters with Joey Loperfido, Davis Schneider, Jonatan Clase, Steward Berroa and Nathan Lukes also in the combination.
Varsho has been limited to designated hitter duties as he builds up his throwing arm after shoulder surgery last September. It stays unclear if he’ll be ready for the March 27 opener against the visiting Baltimore Orioles.
That uncertainty has left the door open for potential opportunity.
Roden, 25, was singled out by Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins during a media availability firstly of coaching camp. Atkins said he’d put some pressure on him for this yr and listed the outfielder’s many attributes.
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“It’s cool to be recognized by him and it’s a wonderful opportunity,” said Roden, who’s listed as Toronto’s fifth-ranked prospect by MLB. “I’ll do probably the most that I can to make the most.”
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He has done just that within the pre-season, showing solid range within the outfield and making consistent contact on the plate. Roden is hitting .409 with two homers and a whopping 1.336 OPS (on-base plus slugging).
“(I’m) just developing as a hitter when it comes to approach and the things that I would like to do within the box to provide me the perfect likelihood to have success,” he said in a recent interview. “I would like to proceed with that and proceed learning.
“Hopefully that results in the (best) results possible.”
A 3rd-round draft pick in 2022, Roden hit .293 over 125 games last yr t the Double-A and Triple-A levels. His numbers improved after he made the jump to Buffalo.
Over 71 games with the Bisons, he hit .314 with nine homers, 48 RBIs and a .406 on-base percentage.
“It’s cool to look at a man undergo the system, take the whole lot that’s thrown at him and apply it really quickly,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider.
Straw, meanwhile, was within the headlines in January after an unexpected trade with Cleveland.
The Blue Jays acquired the minor-league outfielder – and took on about $10 million on his contract over the following two years – together with $2 million in international bonus pool space for a player to be named later or money.
Securing the bonus pool space seemed to be the team’s final push in an effort to land Japan’s Roki Sasaki, however the star pitcher as a substitute selected the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I used to be shocked, needless to say,” Straw said of the trade. “But coming to this organization, I’ve heard nothing but great things. I definitely think it’s cool which you could play for a rustic.”
Primarily known for his speed and defensive ability, the 30-year-old won a Gold Glove with the Guardians in 2022. His offensive numbers have declined since and he spent just about all of last season at Triple-A Columbus.
This spring, nonetheless, Straw has impressed with an eye-popping .462 average and 1.137 OPS.
“There’s numerous alternative ways he can impact our team, whether it’s late in the sport, on the bases or defensively, moving a man (over), getting a bunt down, he can run,” Schneider said. “Just a reasonably cool skillset.”
Straw made his big-league debut with Houston in 2018 and have become an on a regular basis player for the Astros in 2021. He was dealt to Cleveland that summer in a deadline deal.
“It’s a fresh start,” Straw said of joining his third big-league team. “That’s an actual thing sometimes.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
