Fastball

Toronto Blue Jays' Lack of Power to Open Season Reaches Historic New Low

After failing to hit a home run on Sunday, the Toronto Blue Jays tied a franchise record for their fewest bombs through the first 22 games of a regular season.

Sam Connon

Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder George Springer (4) breaks his bat grounding out against the Seattle Mariners in the fourth inning at Rogers Centre.
Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder George Springer (4) breaks his bat grounding out against the Seattle Mariners in the fourth inning at Rogers Centre. / Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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The Toronto Blue Jays spent big on their lineup this past offseason, giving big deals to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Anthony Santander and Alejandro Kirk on top of the cash they already had committed to George Springer and trade acquisition Andrés Giménez.

All that money hasn't led to very much pop at the plate, though.

Of the Blue Jays' four extra-base hits against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, none cleared the fence for a home run. They went on to lose 8-3, dropping the home weekend series in the process.

Giménez, a Gold Glove second baseman, actually leads Toronto with three homers on the season, while Springer and Santander are the only other players with more than one. On the whole, the Blue Jays have just 12 home runs in 22 games, ranking No. 29 in MLB in the key stat.

According to TSN's StatsCentre, the Blue Jays' 12 home runs are tied for their fewest through the first 22 games of a season in franchise history. They also achieved the lowly feat in 1981 and 1982.

Toronto is currently on pace for 88 home runs this season. The franchise low over the course of a full 162-game season is 95.

The Blue Jays will have a chance to turn things around against the Houston Astros on Monday. First pitch from Daikin Park is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer covering baseball for “Fastball on SI.’’ He previously covered UCLA Athletics for On SI’s All Bruins site, and is a UCLA graduate, with his work there as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for On SI’s New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Sam lives in Boston.

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