Blue Jays' prospect Roden making an impact in Spring Training
Photo credit: https://www.thestar.com/sports/blue-jays
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Alan Roden is turning a lot of heads in Spring Training this season.
The 25 year-old outfielder, a third-round selection (98th overall) in the 2022 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Creighton University, has a real chance to produce in the Blue Jays' lineup this season.
"I think he's got the potential to be a 20-homer guy," manager John Schneider said on Wednesday morning.
Roden had a slow start to his professional career, slugging just .311 in 25 games in Single-A after being drafted.
The lefty outfielder improved to an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of .890 across High-A and Double-A in 2023 before he really turned it on last season.
In Triple-A Buffalo, Roden hit .314 with an OPS of .916 and nine home runs across 71 games with the Bisons - with seven of those home runs coming after Aug. 1.
In three games (one start) in Spring Training so far, Roden has produced - he has two doubles in five plate appearances with two walks, two runs and a run batted in.
He boasted a 14.9 per cent strikeout rate across Double-A and Triple-A last year, far ahead of the 22.8 per cent rate across the majors a year ago, and his ascension is causing excitement around the organization.
«Just a guy who has adjusted and he's getting better at everything really quickly,» Schneider said earlier in the week. «He's obviously a really bright kid, and everything we've asked him to tackle, he's done a really good job. It's cool to watch a guy go through the system, take everything that's thrown at him and apply it.»
«He has just done so much to put himself in a position to move through the system quickly,» general manager Ross Atkins said at the start of Spring Training camp. «The way he goes about his job, the contact rates, the shape of his offence, the fact that it's both sides of the ball, and baserunning, he plays defence at a solid level, very physical with upside, the power. He's an exciting piece.»
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 27 | 80 ANSWERS Blue Jays' prospect Roden making an impact in Spring Training Do you think Alan Roden has a shot at making the Blue Jays roster this spring? | ||
| Yes | 43 | 53.8 % |
| No | 22 | 27.5 % |
| Too early to tell | 15 | 18.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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