After reaching Game 7 of the World Series last season and adding several win-now pieces during the offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays clearly have their sights set on a championship. While a string of tough injuries has made things difficult, anything short of a deep postseason run would be considered a failure. At the same time, the organization is quietly grooming its next wave of young talent to sustain contention for years to come.
Blue Jays’ Two-Way Prospect Sends a Message to Phillies’ Bryce Harper
One of Toronto’s most fascinating minor-league players has recently been given the green light to pursue a rare two-way role. Twenty-three-year-old Austin Smith, who played only as a position player last year, is now both pitching and hitting for the Class A Dunedin Blue Jays.
“It’s an ambitious goal that demands extra work, but his coaches say he welcomes the challenge,” Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote for Sportsnet. “For the Blue Jays, this is uncharted territory a chance to develop a promising young player while showing other recruits they’re open-minded and flexible.”
So far, the numbers haven’t been strong. Smith is batting just .162/.273/.216 over 37 at-bats and has allowed two earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched this season. Still, given his age and the long road ahead, he has plenty of time to improve both at the plate and on the mound.
In the meantime, he offered a reminder of one of MLB’s most influential stars by naming Bryce Harper as his model.
“I like his swagger,” Smith told Nicholson-Smith. “He carries himself like he’s the best and nobody’s better than him. That’s how I approach my game.”
Phillies’ Bryce Harper Faces ‘Elite’ Question
Though Harper has no shortage of admirers, the compliment arrives at a moment when his trademark mentality is facing extra scrutiny. The Philadelphia Phillies have stumbled out of the gate this season, and Harper has faced questions from the front office about whether he can still be considered “elite.”
“Harper was challenged by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski after the season ended,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal recently recalled on FOX Sports. “Dombrowski raised the question: Is he still elite? Harper doesn’t need extra motivation, but I expect him to try to prove he’s elite again.”
Even though a two-way prospect like Smith might naturally look up to Shohei Ohtani, his praise for Harper underscores how many young players still idolize the Phillies star. It also serves as a reminder that Harper’s confident mindset is unlikely to waver, even after Dombrowski’s public question.
