TORONTO -- The Blue Jays have optioned Davis Schneider to Triple-A Buffalo, making room for the return of Nathan Luke (hamstring) from the 10-day IL.
This decision had been looming for the past couple of weeks, and the Blue Jays will be facing another one soon as Addison Barger begins his rehab from an elbow injury.
On a roster that’s heavy on outfielders already, particularly left-hitting outfielders, these decisions have been complicated. The Blue Jays have stuck with Schneider through the first two months of the season because of his right-handed bat and ability to slide in to play second base, but his numbers simply haven’t been there. Schneider was batting just .127, and while his 17 walks kept him above water at times, there wasn’t enough power to offset that many empty at-bats at this point in the season.
This could be a valuable opportunity for Schneider to reset in Triple-A, and there’s a reason the Blue Jays have continued to believe in him throughout any struggles he’s had in the big leagues. Really, the 2025 version of Schneider is a perfect fit for this roster. Last season, Schneider hit 11 home runs with a .797 OPS over 82 games, the Blue Jays’ coaching staff targeting specific pitching matchups for him along the way.
The move leaves the Blue Jays’ infield awfully thin. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr at first, Ernie Clement at second, Andrés Giménez at short and Kazuma Okamoto at third, that leaves Lenyn Sosa as the lone reserve infielder. Sosa hasn’t taken a single walk in 109 plate appearances this season, though, and comes into Monday .196 with a .484 OPS between the Blue Jays and White Sox. This could continue to be a position the Blue Jays look to address, including prospect options in Triple-A with Charles McAdoo (No. 26) and Josh Kasevich (No. 13).
The Blue Jays’ outfield will now feature Daulton Varsho in center on a near-daily basis with a rotation of Lukes, Myles Straw, Yohendrick Piñango and Jesús Sánchez in the corners. The rookie Piñango has made a great impression this season, driving the ball with authority, while Sánchez is finally coming on strong after a slow start. Straw is the only righty in the group, though, which remains fairly lopsided.
Prior to hitting the IL with his hamstring injury, Lukes had battled vertigo early in the season, which contributed to his slow start at the plate. He was just heating up, though, and if he can return to his 2025 form, that’s a valuable bat who can hit anywhere from the top two spots to the bottom third of the Blue Jays’ lineup.