One big reason behind the Toronto Blue Jays’ surge to the top of the American League East has been the breakout of Addison Barger. Barger has turned into an everyday player with his contributions at the plate. He has been playing with a lot of confidence and on Saturday provided the Blue Jays with a big walk-off hit in a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
The Blue Jays snagged two walk-off victories against the Angels in back-to-back games and are riding an eight-game winning streak. He is excelling as an everyday player through his utility role. Barger has been utilized in right field and at third base. While the Blue Jays don’t have a Gold Glove third baseman or right fielder, Barger has played both positions well, and this is a key difference between the recent fortunes of Toronto and the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays’ pitching has also stabilized, while the pitching collapse of the Yankees hasn’t been pretty, and their recent six-game losing streak has allowed the Blue Jays to steal first place in the AL East.
Addison Barger walks it off for YOUR FIRST PLACE @BlueJays!
That makes it 7 wins in a row! pic.twitter.com/L5h6h2knYN
— MLB (@MLB) July 5, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Addison Barger’s Success Helps Drive Blue Jays into First Place
Barger’s Recipe for Success
But what’s the secret to Barger’s success this season? The 26-year-old has returned to his natural swing, boosted his confidence, and has a more controlled approach at the plate. His technical adjustments, followed by a strong work ethic, have made him an enjoyable player to watch.
Return to Natural Swing
Barger’s struggles last season were partially linked to the Blue Jays trying to change his swing. This season, he’s returned to his natural swing, and he’s blossoming as a hitter.
Increased Confidence
Barger’s confidence at the plate and on the field has been apparent. This is evident in his aggressive but controlled approach at the plate. His hard-hit rate of 54.3 % ranks in the 95th percentile, per Baseball Savant. In addition, his solid bat speed of 75.8 mph, also ranking in the 95th percentile, has been helpful.
Barger comes to the plate looking to crush balls. But recently, he has taken a more selective approach. He uses more precision at the plate with pitch selection, which has led to better results.
Technical Adjustments
Hitting coach David Popkins has worked with several Blue Jays players this season, and the theme seems to be helping players succeed by returning to their previously successful approaches. He’s worked with Barger on some technical aspects, such as changing his stance and increasing his forward movement, which has allowed him to do more damage with the ball.
Improved Decision Making
Barger is now making smarter decisions at the plate, illustrating his ability to lay off pitches that are outside the strike zone and maximize on hittable pitches.
Consistent Performance
In his last seven games, Barger has hit .346 with three home runs, a stolen base, and 10 RBI. His .840 OPS has also been impressive with 11 home runs on the season, which ranks third on the team. He also has 31 extra-base hits on the season and is on track to put up career-best numbers for a single season. His arm strength defensively (97.8) ranks in the 100th percentile.
Main Photo Credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The post Addison Barger Making Huge Impact as Utility Player for Blue Jays appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.