Nathan Lukes may finally be the Blue Jays fourth outfielder in 2025.

Lukes was selected in the seventh round of the 2015 draft by the Cleveland Guardians, spending his minor league days with them and the Tampa Bay Rays before finding himself with the Blue Jays in 2022.

Spending the entirety of the 2022 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, Lukes slashed .285/.364/.425 with 11 home runs in 484 plate appearances for a 111 wRC+, being added to the team's 40-man roster at the end of the season.

Lukes spent a significant portion of the 2023 season on the Blue Jays' big league roster, but only got 31 plate appearances with the team where he slashed .192/.290/.308 with no home runs.

He did have a massive go-ahead double in a game against the Detroit Tigers in July, though.

The 30-year-old saw limited play last season in the big leagues but made the most of his 22 major league appearances.

With the Blue Jays being sellers at the 2024 trade deadline, Lukes got an opportunity late in the season, receiving the call-up on Aug. 30.

In 91 plate appearances with the Jays, Lukes slashed .303/.371/.447 with his first home run for a 132 wRC+.

He had the same wRC+ in 243 minor league plate appearances with the Buffalo Bisons and Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays on a rehab assignment.

Lukes may have only made four appearances in centre field for the Blue Jays last season, but it's the position he's played the most in the minor leagues (315 of his 739).

Lukes has solid projections from Fangraphs. Steamer has him slashing .266/.328/.384 with two home runs in 99 plate appearances.

His best projection comes from ATC, as that model projects he'll slash .266/.325/.386 with three home runs in 195 plate appearances for a 104 wRC+, while OOPSY projects he'll slash .247/.303/.345 with one home run in 112 plate appearances for an 86 wRC+.

As most positional uncertainties go ahead of a season, Spring Training will play a large role in helping the team decide what to do here.

Competition for playing time alongside Lukes includes 2024 trade deadline acquisitions Joey Loperfido and Jonatan Clase, as well as the speedy Steward Berroa.

In terms of overall professional baseball experience, Lukes has all three beat. He's been playing since 2015.

Lukes' strong finish to the 2024 campaign seems to have him as one of the premier options for that fourth outfielder spot should his good hitting continue through this spring.

Backup outfielders are always valuable to have, especially ones that can play all three spots like Lukes can.

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