Blue Jays MVP Rankings: Picking 5 Toronto standouts so far
The Toronto Blue Jays are one of the top teams in Major League Baseball this season and a number of players have helped them on their path to success.
Over the next week, theScore will make the case for Blue Jays players who have the best chance to become the team's 2022 MVP. Here's a list of the top candidates this season.
Kevin Gausman, RHP
| IP | FIP | K/9 | HR/9 | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117.2 | 1.98 | 10.54 | 0.46 | 4.2 |
Gausman has lived up to expectations after getting the very tall order of replacing reigning Cy Young winner Robbie Ray in the Blue Jays' rotation. The right-hander owns the highest fWAR in the AL among starting pitchers. He also has the best FIP out of any qualified hurler in baseball. The 31-year-old showed why he should be considered the team's MVP with a sparkling performance against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 2. Gausman surrendered just one hit with 10 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings against the division rival.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
| PA | HR | RBI | R | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 463 | 23 | 68 | 63 | .511 |
Guerrero may not be putting up the same Herculean numbers as he did in 2021 when he finished runner-up to Shohei Ohtani for AL MVP, but Vladdy has still been pretty good for Toronto. The 23-year-old leads the Blue Jays in homers, runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, and wRC+, and is playing terrific defense at first base. Guerrero is tops in the AL and second in the bigs in defensive runs saved among first basemen, while ranking third in outs above average among players at his position.
Alejandro Kirk, C
| PA | AVG | OBP | wRC+ | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 360 | .298 | .383 | 140 | 2.9 |
The emergence of Kirk as the best offensive catcher in baseball has been the most surprising storyline for the Blue Jays this season. He started the All-Star Game for the Junior Circuit and leads all qualified AL backstops in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and batting average while owning a 140 wRC+. His excellent plate discipline has resulted in him walking more (41) than striking out (37) in 2022. Kirk now regularly hits in the No. 3 spot in Toronto's potent offense, ahead of the likes of Teoscar Hernandez, Bo Bichette, and Matt Chapman.
Alek Manoah, RHP
| IP | W | ERA | HR/9 | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 132 | 12 | 2.45 | 0.82 | 2.6 |
Manoah has not only emerged as an ace on the Blue Jays' staff, but the 24-year-old has blossomed into one of the premier arms in the majors in just his second season on a big-league hill. The Florida native is tied for fifth in the bigs in wins, sixth in ERA, eighth in innings pitched, and barely allows homers (0.82 per nine). He's also one of the more entertaining hurlers on the mound (see his All-Star Game appearance), bringing a joyful element to his starts.
Jordan Romano, RHP
| IP | ERA | WPA | K/9 | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41.2 | 2.59 | 1.69 | 9.9 | 25 |
Toronto's closer has been exceptional this season, giving the Blue Jays a shutdown reliever in the ninth inning. Romano owns a 2.59 ERA, ranks fourth in the bigs in saves, and strikes out roughly 10 hitters per nine innings. The 29-year-old is quickly climbing his team's historical ranks, sitting ninth in franchise history in saves despite only pitching two full seasons in the majors.