What’s Behind the Blue Jays Sudden Success in 2025?

Coming into the 2025/26 season, Jays fans were higher on the team than they had been in years. They’d watched the most exciting offseason in recent memory. Toronto made Vlad Guerrero Jr. the highest-paid first baseman in the league. It also picked up two former All-Stars in Anthony Santander and Max Scherzer. Those moves haven’t defined the Jays’ season, though. Santander has only managed to suit up for 50 games this season, and after being blown up in his first start, Scherzer spent the first three months of the season on the IL. Scherzer’s last five starts have been excellent, and he’s probably the most popular choice among Jays fans as their number one starter, but Toronto’s regular-season success cannot be attributed to their two biggest signings.

Instead, I look toward the multitude of depth transactions Toronto made. Andres Gimenez, Miles Straw, Jeff Hoffman, and Eric Lauer have all been defining figures this season. Gimenez is the Jays’ best defensive infielder, Myles Straw has been an effective depth piece through a multitude of injuries to the outfield, and Jeff Hoffman and Eric Lauer are core parts of Toronto’s pitching staff. Eric Lauer leads the starting squad in WAR and ERA. He’s also the only left-handed starter in Toronto, making him an all-important asset for matchups. Jeff Hoffman has also been an integral part of the team since his signing. After taking over the role of closer, Hoffman leads the team in SO/9 and sits sixth in the MLB in saves.

These acquisitions aren’t leading the Blue Jays, but it’s a sure bet that Toronto wouldn’t be where it is without them. This offseason, management looked at the holes in their roster and assembled a supporting cast capable of insulating the core that was already present in Toronto. This is what Toronto-based teams have been trying to do for years, with little to no success; the Jays just might be able to break the mould set by their counterparts on the ice and the hardwood.

If you had asked me two years ago what the Blue Jays’ biggest strength was, I would have said pop. Vlad was just a year removed from a 48-bomb season, Bo and Springer seemed to be locks for at least 25 a year, and Matt Chapman and Brandon Belt were both power hitters. This season, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Toronto’s power has indeed started to pick up over the last few weeks, but it still doesn’t change the fact that this team is hitting for contact, not power.

Toronto’s offensive success has not been defined by power this year, but by an approach at the plate. The Blue Jays lead the MLB in four offensive categories: hits, strikeouts, batting average, and on-base percentage. Those stats tell a story. Toronto is stepping up to the plate with one ideology: get on base. Bo Bichette leads the MLB in hits, and Vlad is close behind in sixth. The two hitters have combined for almost 300 knocks this season but have just 37 home runs between the two of them. Don’t forget, in 2021, the two players combined for 77 dingers; this year, they’re projected to hit fewer than 50. It’s easy to look at that and come to many negative conclusions, but I choose to see it in a positive light. To me, it’s clear that these players have bought into the approach being peddled by John Schneider – and it’s working.

Vlad and Bo have set the standard, and the rest of the team has stepped up.The Blue Jays have four players with more than 100 hits this season, and every starting position player has a positive offensive WAR. Toronto doesn’t dominate because of the top of its lineup. Instead, it smothers you with runners on base, driving in runs throughout the lineup.

I’m not saying that the power won’t appear. Vlad has been picking up lately, and if Anthony Santander can return in good health, they’ll even have a power bat off the bench that can hit from both sides of the plate. That being said, playing the small ball has undoubtedly been a key part of Toronto’s success this season.

On the stat sheet, Toronto’s pitchers don’t shine when compared to the rest of the league. Their reliever core combines for some of the best swing-and-miss statistics in the league, but other than that, statistically, the Jays’ pitching core is just mediocre.

What the stats don’t show, though, is the reliability that Toronto’s pitchers give to the team. When you look at the starting five without Shane Bieber, Toronto has four pitchers that can act as (at least) a #3 on most teams in the league. If you add Shane Bieber to the list, then Toronto theoretically has five pitchers above league average. In total, Toronto has ten pitchers with more than 20 innings pitched that have a positive WAR; seven of them have an ERA below 4.0. These are fantastic numbers, and one of the biggest reasons Toronto has found consistent success over the last three months. The Blue Jays have five relievers they can rely on to pitch in important innings, and it will be a crucial asset in the playoffs.

In my opinion, the Jays are built for postseason success. The only thing this roster is missing is a true ace, and if Shane Bieber is healthy, he represents a legitimate #1 pitcher. When I analyze whether a team is a pretender, I look for a few telling signs: flashy top-of-the-lineup hitters that carry the offence, streaky regular seasons, and unsustainable statistical trends. Toronto has none of that. The Jays are deep, consistent, and defensively sound, with enough talent to shine. It’s clear that something special has happened in Toronto this season. Players and management are in tune, and everyone has bought into the same mentality. The Blue Jays are gearing up for a deep playoff run, and they’re the best they’ve been in over a decade.