Improving remains focus for Smoak
He’s now one of the oldest players in the Blue Jays clubhouse, but that’s about all that has changed for Justin Smoak heading into a new season.
The 32-year-old first baseman says he’s preparing for his 10th year in major-league baseball the same way he always has — by looking for ways to improve.
“Whatever it is, you’re always trying to get better,” the 2017 all-star said recently. “I feel like it’s just preparing yourself mentally to play every day. That’s always the goal. To be able to do that, you’ve got to stay healthy … get worked on when you need to get worked on, but more than anything just be ready to go.”
Smoak has been one of the club’s most reliable contributors, at the plate and with the glove. He led the Jays with 25 home runs and 77 RBIs last year, and was near the top among American League first basemen with a .350 on-base percentage and .808 OPS.
He is expected to play everyday — his solid production, steady glove and cool head setting an example for an otherwise young infield. At the plate, he plans to be aggressive — after a season in which he drew 83 walks but struck out 156 times.
“You don’t know where you’re at unless you’re swinging the bat,” said Smoak, entering the final year of his contract. “You can stand up there all you want and take pitches and feel like you’re seeing it well until you start swinging the bat. It’s always being aggressive. I’d rather swing at the ball in the dirt than not swing at all.”
RAINED OUT: Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox was washed out, after a hard late-morning rain, delaying starter Matt Shoemaker’s Blue Jays debut. The right-hander is slated to start Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, Fla. Left-hander Ryan Borucki will make his second start of spring on Thursday, at home against the Philadelphia Phillies. On Friday — the first of three split-squad days this spring — righty Aaron Sanchez will make his first appearance, at home against the Pirates, while righty Sean Reid-Foley will take the ball for a second time against Josh Donaldson and the Atlanta Braves in Orlando. GO FOR MO: On a roster with several versatile options, Blue Jays designated hitter Kendrys Morales stands out as a onetrick pony. That doesn’t seem to bother new manager Charlie Montoyo.
“He’s a good bat,” Montoyo said. “I’ll take it. He’s fine. That helps. He hits. He’s a switch hitter, so he’s fine.”
Morales — who also played 18 games at first base in 2018 — hit .249 in 130 games last season, both numbers his lowest in four years. Montoyo hopes the 35year-old’s fortunes are about to change.