“I don’t know if that’s what Stat Cast had it at.”
On a team littered with star power, Schneider says Barger is earning his place among them.
“I think he’s there,” said Schneider post-game. “I think he’s been there for a while. He’s playing pretty regularly, he’s doing a lot of damage, he’s hitting the ball hard. He’s usually in the top five (hitters in the lineup). So, yeah, I think he’s there.”
Barger’s breakout has now led to his manager trusting him, a left-handed batter, to face off against left-handed pitchers, a rarity for a rookie with as little experience as Barger has. With lefty starter Robbie Ray on the mound on Sunday, Barger remained in the starting lineup, batting sixth.
“I think it’s an approach and having a plan,” Schneider said of Barger facing left-handed pitching. “Sometimes, it’s sitting on a pitch. Sometimes, it’s taking some shots. Sometimes, it’s letting the ball travel and hitting it a little deep. But I think, with his skills, you trust that something good is going to happen.
“And I think, too, with his preparation, that’s kind of what separated him a little bit. Not being afraid to go against a tough lefty.”
Barger credits much of his success to Blue Jays hitting coach David Popkins and his staff.
“They come up with most of the plans,” explained Barger post-game.
“We come up with our own plans based off of reports and video. It’s a combination of us working with them. And they’re open to certain things and there’s a lot of back and forth. So, they’re extremely important.”
Now set to host division rival New York Yankees for a three-game series on Monday, the Blue Jays will need Barger to continue his impressive offensive breakout with important divisional implications on the line.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2025.
Mike Stephens, The Canadian Press