The Toronto Blue Jays have officially announced their finalized Opening Day roster for the upcoming 2023 season. This announcement comes as the team prepares for its exciting season opener against the Oakland Athletics, scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. ET on Sportsnet. As part of this announcement, the team also revealed several roster moves addressing player injuries and assignments.
As of March 22, the Blue Jays have placed four pitchers—Jose Berrios, Shane Bieber, Yimi Garcia, and Trey Yesavage—on the 15-day injured list due to elbow and shoulder issues. Additionally, outfielder Anthony Santander has been placed on the 10-day injured list for his shoulder condition. These moves highlight the medical challenges the team is facing as they start the season.
In light of these injury setbacks, the Blue Jays have made several roster adjustments. Right-hander Chase Lee has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, while fellow right-hander Angel Bastardo and infielder Leo Jimenez have been designated for assignment. These changes are aimed at optimizing the roster and ensuring that the team can perform at its highest capacity despite the injuries.
This year's roster features several new faces, particularly highlighted by the addition of starting pitcher Dylan Cease. Cease, who recently signed a franchise-record seven-year, $210 million contract in free agency, is expected to bring substantial talent and experience to the lineup. He is scheduled to make his debut for the Blue Jays on Saturday against the Athletics, further raising fan expectations for the season.
In addition to Cease, the team has welcomed pitchers Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, and Spencer Miles, who was acquired as a Rule 5 pick from the San Francisco Giants. The lineup also hopes to bolster its offensive capabilities with new position players, including third baseman Kazuma Okamoto and outfielder Jesus Sanchez. This revamped roster aims to build on the team's impressive performance last season, where they advanced to Game 7 of the World Series.
Below is the complete breakdown of the Blue Jays' 26-man roster for the start of the season:
Pitchers (13):
- Dylan Cease
- Braydon Fisher
- Mason Fluharty
- Kevin Gausman
- Jeff Hoffman
- Eric Lauer
- Brendon Little
- Spencer Miles
- Tommy Nance
- Cody Ponce
- Tyler Rogers
- Max Scherzer
- Louis Varland
Catchers (2):
- Tyler Heineman
- Alejandro Kirk
Infielders (4):
- Ernie Clement
- Andres Gimenez
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Kazuma Okamoto
Outfielders (7):
- Addison Barger
- Nathan Lukes
- Jesus Sanchez
- Davis Schneider
- George Springer
- Myles Straw
- Daulton Varsho
As the Blue Jays gear up for their season opener, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how the combination of returning stars and new acquisitions will impact the team’s performance on the field. With the roster now set, the team will look to overcome early-season challenges and make a strong push for another successful campaign in the 2023 MLB season.
