BALTIMORE — In simple terms, the Toronto Blue Jays want their hitters to hunt pitches in danger zones early in counts and get their best swing off with intent, adjusting with two strikes to battle using their contact skills to put the ball in play. 

They did far more of the latter than they did of the former throughout a lost 2026 at the plate, as entering Thursday’s play, they were eighth in the majors at 1,327 hits and had the second-fewest strikeouts at 1,129 but sat 26th in slugging percentage at .382 and dead last in both home runs at 150 and average exit velocity at 87.5 m.p.h.

Their lineup lost thump before spring training started when Anthony Santander blew out his shoulder and was further depleted in the first month when Addison Barger hurt both his ankles, Alejandro Kirk broke his thumb and George Springer fractured a big toe on a foul tip. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daulton Varsho, Jesus Sanchez and Davis Schneider, among others, didn’t provide the power expected, which exacerbated those absences and ultimately undermined the pathways to production.

All told, “our philosophy this year was not able to withstand the adversity we were facing,” lamented hitting coach David Popkins. “A good identity can withstand any adversity that a season brings and I did not do a good enough job of getting that to stay and make the appropriate adjustments throughout the year to be able to handle that adversity. 

“Injuries aside, we have players that really post and when guys post, sometimes they're dealing with a broken toe, a hamstring, whatever, things that are going on,” he continued. “But sometimes that has physical limitations on stuff that has worked in the past. Our job as coaches is to find solutions for them, regardless of how they're feeling or whatever they're going through physically and I think that's where we fell short. Moving forward, that's the No. 1 thing that we're going to be focused on, is being able to withstand that adversity, being ready to have those solutions.”

The task, of course, is easier said than done and repairing the offence is clearly the Blue Jays’ top priority this off-season. From a contractual perspective, minimal turnover on the position-player side looms, with Springer the only pending free........

© Sportsnet