By: Brian Frank
Davis Schneider is looking forward to having a big season for the Blue Jays. The 26-year-old slugger broke onto the big-league scene with a bang in 2023. He became just the the fourth Blue Jays player in franchise history to homer in his first major-league at-bat when he drove a ball over Fenway Park's Green Monster. He then proceeded to become the first player in major-league history with nine hits and two home runs in his first three games. In 35 games with the Blue Jays that season he slashed .276/.404/.603 with eight home runs and a 1.008 OPS.
The Berlin, New Jersey native went into the 2024 season with high hopes for both himself and the team. Unfortunately, both he and the Blue Jays got off to slow starts, from which they were never able to fully recover.
“There were definitely a lot of ups and downs both personally and as a team,” Schneider said from Blue Jays spring training in Dunedin, Florida. “We definitely underperformed. The way we were going into the year, we felt like we had a good chance of going deep into the playoffs, but obviously that didn’t work out.”
“Personally too, the way I started out and the way I kind of finished were like two polar opposites to it,” he added. “But I learned a lot from it and hopefully I can go into this year and make sure when I am on the downside that I can get out of it a little bit quicker.”
Schneider posted a 1.008 OPS in 35 big-league games in 2023. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles
Schneider believes a big part of his struggles last season were from being unable to lay off pitches that he was typically able to during the previous season.
“It was mostly my swing decisions because I felt like I was swinging the bat a lot more than I usually do,” he explained. “I was trying to do a little bit too much. I was trying to get hits rather than putting together good at bats. I was kind of searching for hits.”
“I’m just kind of making sure I’m keeping my head still, being on top of the ball, and just swinging at good pitches. I feel like that’s the main thing. If I’m not swinging at good pitches, then I’m not giving myself as good a chance to do some damage. So, being more selective at the plate is a big thing I worked on this offseason. Just going back to my roots and what I do best – working the count and working the pitcher.”
After playing primarily second base in 2023, Schneider played more left field last season, in addition to continuing to get time in the infield. When asked about working with new Blue Jays special assistant Kevin Kiermaier on his outfield defense, Schneider noted that he’s already learned a lot from the four-time Gold Glove Award winner.
“Just seeing him play and being around him in the outfield, playing next to him, I feel like I’ve learned a lot from him already,” Schneider said. “Just the way he goes about the game, the way he thinks out there. Obviously, center field is a little different from left field, but he definitely gives a lot of insight on how to play the outfield and what works best for you as an outfielder, and to try not to do things that you’re not comfortable with. He preaches that a lot. But he also preaches that there are certain things to do the right way and things to do the wrong way. He’s definitely a big confidence guy and I like that about him.”
Taking infield in Dunedin. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles
Schneider is excited to be back with his teammates in Dunedin and is looking forward to putting last year behind him by getting off to a good start in the coming season.
“I feel like for the past couple months I’ve only seen one or two guys that are in the clubhouse, and just being around them every single day and going out on the field every single day with them is pretty cool,” he said.
“We have a really talented group and we can do great things with this team,” he continued. "Hopefully we can win some games starting in spring training and then follow that into the year.”
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