PUT 'EM IN COACH: Schneider, Vogelbach, Clement solidify spots on Blue Jays roster
Article content
CLEARWATER, Fla. — With one more pre-season game remaining until the first of 162 that count takes place down the road in St. Petersburg, Fla., the sculpting of the Blue Jays roster is rounding into shape.
Manager John Schneider is as ready as his players to get things moving and on Sunday confirmed that Ernie Clement, Daniel Vogelbach and last year’s sensation, Davis Schneider, have all made the team.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
PUT 'EM IN COACH: Schneider, Vogelbach, Clement solidify spots on Blue Jays roster Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
And while the pitching staff still has some massaging to do, Schneider also informed reporters that Kevin Gausman will start Monday’s finale against the Pirates in Bradenton, Fla., with an eye to opening the season at the back end of the rotation.
“A lot will depend on how he does, how he feels, what his stuff’s doing, things like that,” Schneider said following a 2-0 loss to the Phillies at BayCare BallPark. “All signs point to him being good. Looking forward to seeing where he is.”
Gausman will look to throw 55 pitches against the Pirates and if all goes well the team will decide where he will fit in the rotation — either for the end of the four-game series against Tampa Bay or for the opener of three against the Houston Astros a week from Monday.
“We’ll see,” Schneider said of his 2023 American League Cy Young Award finalist. “It’s kind of depending if everything goes well where we initially slot him. So we’ll be in touch and kind of see how he’s feeling.”
As for those who made the team, there were no surprises. Vogelbach slots in as a left-handed DH or pinch hitter and his spot was all but guaranteed when Joey Votto rolled his ankle a week ago. Davis Schneider has shown his versatility and was likely to return, while Clement flat out earned his spot.
“I think he swung and missed at one pitch all spring,” John Schneider said half-jokingly of Clement. ” I mean, everything. His game has evolved so much in the last year. Hitting the ball with authority, defensive versatility.
“He really turned the corner last year in Buffalo and never really stopped. He forced our hand. He’s played really well.”
Meanwhile, Jays players are ready to get on with it.
“Everyone is ready to get the heck out of here and be in big-league ballparks and do that,” said starter Chris Bassitt, who allowed five hits over five innings of work in his final spring tune-up on Sunday. “I’ve been ready for, like, two weeks. I’m happy with how spring went, but I’m ready.”
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.