March 7, 2021

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

With 2021 representing his ninth season as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays organization, outfielder Jonathan Davis has been around long enough to witness the development of Toronto's talented young core.

From Rowdy Tellez to Nate Pearson, the 28-year-old has played with them all. Although their talent on the field is remarkable in its own right, Davis says it's not the only thing he's impressed by.

"The thing that stands out the most is how they are maturing. They're growing to be men," said Davis via Zoom on Sunday.

"They always knew that they were good. When you look at Bo (Bichette), Cavan (Biggio), Lourdes Gurriel Jr.), and Vlad (Guerrero Jr.), they don't act like kids anymore. They've grown and matured. It's exciting to see all those guys be who I always knew they would be."

It's hard to quantify the value of teamwork and camaraderie in a clubhouse. Though there’s no metric for gauging the impact of cohesiveness, Davis understands that a driven mentality is a key component to any successful team, and that's exactly what he sees this spring.

"When you have a group of guys who aren't concerned about themselves, it makes everything fun and enjoyable," said Davis. "I believe without a doubt that if you prepare yourself the right way, the opportunity will present itself."

Along with being on the same page as his peers, Davis says playing alongside some of the organization's top young talent has elevated his game.

"Just being around those guys, you have no choice but to level up. That's what I've had the opportunity to do over my career, playing with those guys," he said. "Seeing them go about their work and learning from them day-to-day. We've learned from each other, and I've had the opportunity and the privilege to learn from them."

With the addition of George Springer, playing time in the Blue Jays' outfield will be hard to come by in 2021. Still, Davis is preparing to contribute in any way he can.

"I know that I'm here to help the team win," he said. "When my name is called, that's what I want to do. Whether it's laying a bunt down, stealing a bag, playing defence, and making sure I can contribute at the plate. That's pretty much my role."

SHORT HOPS

-Sidelined with a groin strain, RHP Nate Pearson long tossed for the second straight day on Sunday. He'll receive treatment over the next two days and be re-evaluated on Wednesday.

-Robbie Ray started on Sunday and allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings. The Blue Jays' lefty struck out six batters and threw 33 of his 55 pitches for strikes. He's now whiffed eight of his 18 batters on the spring.

-Claimed off waivers from Detroit in the off-season, Anthony Castro fired an 1 2/3 innings of no-hit ball on Sunday. His fastball maxed out at 96.3 mph, per Baseball Savant.

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