After winning the AL pennant and nearly winning Game 7 of the World Series vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Toronto Blue Jays enter 2026 with high expectations. Blue Jays spring training in Dunedin, however, centers on one player more than any other. Andres Gimenez steps in as the club’s shortstop following Bo Bichette’s departure, and his performance will shape the tone of camp.
Toronto’s leadership made a clear statement this winter. They handed Gimenez the keys to shortstop and committed to him as a core piece through 2029, with a 2030 option. That decision magnifies every at-bat he takes this spring. It also places him at the center of clubhouse and fan scrutiny in a way he has not experienced before.
Gimenez, 27, built his reputation as an elite defensive second baseman. He has already secured three straight Gold Glove Awards in 2022, 2023, and 2024 and consistently ranked among the league leaders in advanced defensive metrics. The move to shortstop demands even greater range, communication, and leadership. He has already taken the majority of reps there in Dunedin, signaling that the organization views him as the unquestioned answer at the position.
The challenge lies in his bat. The Platinum Glove recipient in 2024 hit .210 in 2025 with an OPS under .600. Those numbers created a sharp imbalance between glove and offense. In a lineup that lost a major force with Bichette’s exit, the margin for error shrinks. Toronto does not need him to carry the offense, but it cannot afford an automatic out near the bottom of the order.
The Blue Jays believe his struggles stemmed from swing decisions and contact quality rather than raw ability. Coaches have emphasized laying off breaking balls below the zone and driving more line drives to the opposite field. Early sessions in camp suggest a more controlled approach. He has shortened his load and worked counts with greater patience.
That adjustment matters because the shortstop position now represents more than defense. Bichette signed a three-year, $126 million deal with the New York Mets, leaving both a production gap and an emotional void. Fans associated the position with offense and swagger. Gimenez brings a quieter presence and a defense-first mindset. He must prove that identity can still anchor a contender.
The organization has doubled down on run prevention. By shifting the veteran headed into his seventh MLB season to shortstop, Toronto aims to reinforce the middle infield and support a pitching staff built on contact management. In that blueprint, his glove becomes a weapon every night. Still, modern contenders require balance. If pitchers sense weakness at the bottom of the lineup, they will exploit it in October.
Competition in camp adds another layer. Ernie Clement, who is projected to see regular time in the infield, along with younger options such as Leo Jimenez and top prospect Arjun Nimmala, is sharing the fields in Dunedin. None are pushing Gimenez for the everyday shortstop job at the moment, but their presence underlines a simple truth. The position is his in 2026, even as the next wave of infield talent continues to develop behind him.
What separates him from others with something to prove is the convergence of timing and expectation. Spring training in 2026 marks the first camp without Bichette in years. It also follows a season that ended just shy of a championship. The window feels open. Every projected starter carries weight, but no one carries a clearer mandate than Gimenez.
He does not need to replicate his 2022 peak, when he flirted with All-Star-level offense. He must, however, approach league-average production. A .250 average with consistent on-base skills would transform the narrative. Combined with elite defense, that profile makes him an asset rather than a question mark.
Teammates have praised his work ethic. Coaches note his early arrivals and extra batting cage sessions. The staff has structured drills around situational hitting to help him refine his two-strike approach. Those incremental gains can shift a season. In a division that punishes weakness, marginal improvement often separates first from third.
Gimenez understands the optics. Replacing the face of a franchise invites comparison. Yet he has resisted framing this as a battle with the past. Instead, he focuses on execution. If he stabilizes the position and provides steady at-bats, the clubhouse will respond. Winning teams rally around reliability.
The Blue Jays remain built to contend. Their rotation boasts depth, and the lineup features new middle-of-the-order power. However, over 162 games, baseball reveals its vulnerabilities. Spring training offers him a controlled environment to recalibrate before the spotlight intensifies.
The verdict will not come from Grapefruit League box scores alone. It will emerge from his process, the quality of his contact, and his defensive command. The Blue Jays have placed their trust in the Venezuelan native at a pivotal moment. This spring, he has the opportunity to justify that faith and define the next era at shortstop for the Blue Jays.
