February 28, 2021

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

An early five-run lead stood up as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 6-4 in a seven-inning contest at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., in the clubs’ Grapefruit League opener on Sunday.

Southpaw Anthony Kay got the start for the Blue Jays and turned in two innings of perfect ball. Seventeen of his 25 pitches on the afternoon went for strikes and he struck out two batters. A pair of ground balls and two fly outs accounted for the other four outs Kay recorded.

"I just wanted to get ahead of everyone," said Kay via a Zoom call from Tampa on Sunday. "I'm working on throwing more strikes this year, getting ahead with fastballs, curveballs, and just making as quick of work as possible with everyone."

The former first-round draft pick (31st overall in 2016) also said he worked the cutter into his repertoire, a pitch he used in just one start last season.

"I showcased it a little bit against the Yankees in my last outing of the year," said Kay. "I only threw it two or three times, so that was definitely one of the main focal points this offseason. Getting a good feel for that pitch."

Though he sees himself as a starter, Kay said that the team has yet to confirm his role with the club this season.

"They definitely said they want to stretch me out, but as far as how they are going to use me, I'm not exactly sure."

TEO'S ADJSTMENTS

Teoscar Hernandez credits a change in approach for helping him experience the offensive breakout he had in 2020.

In his fifth MLB season, the 28-year-old posted career highs in batting average (.289), on-base percentage (.340), and slugging percentage (.579). His OPS of .919 through 50 games was the second among all American League outfielders and the 21st highest mark in the majors.

"It was a different plan. Before, I'd swing a lot. Last year, my swing percentage was high, but I took a lot of pitches," explained Hernandez. "I put a lot of effort into that, taking more pitches than usual and trying to look for one spot in the strike zone and stay with it."

The change in approach began after he was sent down on May 16, 2019. At that point, he was batting .189 with 42 strikeouts over his first 39 games on the season.

"That's when I changed everything in my approach, everything in my mentality, and the way I think about my at-bats. When I got sent down to triple-A, that's when I started to work on my patience and tried a different plan. I knew I had to change something, and I tried to take more pitches. I started to be more selective and not be scared to strikeout. Since then, everything has gone well."

In 136 games since returning from his last stint in Buffalo, Hernandez has hit .310 (127-for-410) while drawing 46 walks. The strikeouts (174) are still there, but that part of his game remains a work in progress.

Entering 2021, Hernandez has put an emphasis on believing in himself and what he can bring to the team.

"For me now, everything is about trust. I just try to trust in myself, trust in the things I know I can do, and just go out there and have some fun.

SHORT HOPS

- Kay topped out at 97 mph with his fastball on Sunday. His average on that pitch in 2020 was 93.4, per Baseball Savant, suggesting a slight uptick in velocity.

- Former first-rounder Logan Warmoth went 2-2 with a pair of extra-base hits on the afternoon. Statcast had his double off Adam Warren in the fifth inning clocked at 107 MPH off the bat, which went for the hardest-hit ball in this one.

- Bo Bichette drew a pair of walks, both of which came in two-strike counts. Combined, he saw 16 pitches over his first two spring at-bats.