Spring Training C’s: Week 1
Spring Training is in full swing for the Blue Jays down in Dunedin. While the reigning Grapefruit League champs have only two wins to show for their first nine games, each of those nine have featured large contingents of former Canadians. 41 C’s alums have taken the field thus far,
Spring Training is in full swing for the Blue Jays down in Dunedin. While the reigning Grapefruit League champs have only two wins to show for their first nine games, each of those nine have featured large contingents of former Canadians. 41 C’s alums have taken the field thus far, and these four are off to an excellent start to 2026.
INF Josh Kasevich (2023): 7 G, 6-13 (.462), HR, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Kasevich, 25, came into Spring Training with two competing sets of expectations. On one hand, his 2025 season was so hampered by injury that he only appeared in 42 games and posted career low numbers in every impactful category. On the other, he’s long been considered one of the top infield prospects in the organization and, after Bo Bichette departed via free agency, a potential heir to the most important position on the infield. He has certainly given Blue Jays brass plenty to be excited about after the first week of action. The Palo Alto, CA native has a hit in all but one of the games he’s played in, including a tape measure home run in his third at-bat of the spring. If he keeps up this production, there’s a real chance we’ll see the former Oregon Duck wearing a different bird this summer.
UTL Rafael Lantigua (2021): 8 G, 6-11 (.545), 3 R, RBI, 3 BB
If you’re looking for a feel-good story from Spring Training, this very well could be it. Lantigua, 27, is a career minor leaguer who signed with the Blue Jays a decade ago and played for seven seasons in the system – including parts of three in Triple-A – before his contract expired. He bounced over to the Phillies in 2025 on a one-year deal but is back with the organization that started it all. His odds of making the big league roster at the end of this month are small, but he’s doing everything right over the first week of Spring Training. He’s reached base nine times in eight games and has put together quality at-bats every time he’s in the lineup. A long-awaited MLB debut at some point this year could be in the cards for the Puerto Plata, DR native should he continue to make noise like this.
RHP Grant Rogers (2024-25): 2 GS, 0-1, 5.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1 BB, 4 K
The man they call Big Bird has been spreading his wings. Rogers, 24, bounced back from a so-so spring debut against the Yankees – when he plunked Aaron Judge, of all people – with one of the best showings of any Blue Jays pitcher in a Grapefruit League game. The 6-foot-7-inch righty outdueled Tarik Skubal and baffled Tigers hitters with three perfect innings that included three Ks on March 1. With 2026 set to be his third season as a pro and without any Triple-A experience, Rogers is likely headed for the Buffalo rotation but could find himself in a Blue Jays uniform before the season is out.
RHP CJ Van Eyk (2021): 2 G, 1-0, 5.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 4 BB, 4 K
Since making his pro debut with the C’s in 2021 after he was selected 42nd overall in 2020, Van Eyk, 27, has had his fair share of ups and downs. Once considered one of Toronto’s top MiLB arms, a combination of middling performance and injuries – including Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2022 – has seen his prospect stock crater. But after a pair of superb outings this spring, the former Florida State Seminole may very well be pitching himself back into the conversation for a shot at the big leagues sooner rather than later.
The 2026 season celebrating 75 years of Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium begins on April 3 and Opening Night at The Nat is set for April 7. For tickets and more information, call 604-872-5232, visit CanadiansBaseball.com or follow the C’s on social via @vancanadians.