Kevin Kiermaier Not Expected To Be Involved In Platoon
2 years agoToronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier said the team didn't talk of a platoon at all when they pitched him to sign with them. He signed to be the team's starting center fielder and expects to play every day. In Kiermaier's mind, the center field job is his to lose, with George Springer set to move to right field. It's a bit of a surprise with the 32-year-old coming off left hip surgery that cut his 2022 season short. Kiermaier is an elite defender when healthy, but his offensive production has really tailed off in the last five years while playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. In that time frame, he hit .232/.296/.382 with a .678 OPS. In 63 games for Tampa in 2022, Kiermaier slashed just .228/.281/.369 with seven home runs, 22 RBI, 28 runs scored and six stolen bases.
Source: The Toronto Star - Gregor Chisholm
Source: The Toronto Star - Gregor Chisholm