It's funny, with the Jays not making the playoffs this year and pawning off Jansen, Kikuchi and Biggio, it gave the idea that the Junior Jays era was coming to an end, and that the dynasty that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette were trying to build didn't exactly pan out. And yet one of the biggest rookie sensations in Toronto in the last month has been Will Wagner, a contact machine who, get this, happens to be the son of Astros closer extraordinaire Billy Wagner.
Yep, that's right, yet another second generationer, and yet another son of a truly great player. And this one's really good too. So here we go again, I suppose...
Will Wagner, in his first 17 games, is hitting .345 with 20 hits, 8 RBIs and 2 home runs. The hope is that Wagner will become the everyday 2nd baseman over time, but...y'see, that's what people said about Davis Schneider last year when he went on a similar tear. Schneider, for the record, is hitting under .200 and playing left field for the most part. I wanna believe that Wagner keeps it up, but considering that his main competition is Spencer Horwitz, who also had a hot streak but has cooled down immensely, who's to even say at this point. It's nice that second generationers are still leading the narrative in Toronto. I think about the fact that the Jays originally had Griffin Conine as well, and traded him to Miami, which, to be fair, makes for a sweeter outcome anyhow. There's probably other future second generation players in the Jays' system at this rate. Wouldn't shock me is all.
It is helpful that as all this has elapsed with Wagner, the original second-generation Jay is holding court still. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is turning in a classic season this year, hitting .324 with 27 home runs and 89 RBIs. I think for a while we were playing the game of 'where's the old Vlad Jr.', but he's turned things around and is back to what he was doing in 2021, and in spades. I have no idea if the Jays are gonna hold onto him after the season or trade him to a competitor, but if they do this'll be a great sendoff for the slugger in Toronto. I know they loved the guy there, and I know he'll do well wherever he lands.
But, of course, if Vlad does leave does this mean the rebuild is on? Does this mean it's gonna be on people like Will Wagner, Leo Jimenez and Joey Loperfido to play more crucial roles in this team, just a year after coming up? Are they gonna get a gradual descent, sort of like they did in 2018 [when I was in town], where they had enough good players to not completely fall on their ass but weren't exactly competitive anymore? They've got options, and they could look like a variety of things next year. I don't think they'll be fully competitive, though. Unless....something big develops.
Coming Tonight: A rare power producer still left in Miami.
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