Toronto Blue Jays manager faces tough call on fan‑favourite player

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider has a difficult roster decision looming.

With Addison Barger expected to return from the injured list for this weekend's home series against the Los Angeles Angels, the Blue Jays will need to clear a spot on the 26-man roster, and it could mean temporarily saying goodbye to a fan favourite.

Davis Schneider has become a popular figure among Blue Jays fans over the past two seasons thanks to his trademark moustache and personality, but he has struggled to hit a baseball as of late.

With Barger returning to the mix and Toronto already carrying several outfield options, the likely decision appears to come down to Schneider or Yohendrick Pinango. Right now, Davis Schneider looks like the odd man out.

Schneider has been up with the Blue Jays since halfway through the 2025 season, and he delivered one of the biggest moments in Game 5 of the World Series with a clutch solo home run. Since then, he hasn't found a way to hit the baseball.

Schneider celebrates after hitting a solo home run during Game 5 of the World Series. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)

In the last two weeks, he's gone an astonishing 1-for-19 at the plate, which has lowered his batting average this season to .132.

Pinango, on the other hand, has been the best hitter on the team since he was called up to replace an injured Nathan Lukes two weeks ago. He has 10 hits in his first 25 MLB plate appearances, which is more than any Blue Jays player in the last two weeks.

John Schneider has repeatedly emphasized the importance of defensive flexibility on the Blue Jays roster, and Davis certainly fits that mould. But with Toronto needing offensive production, it makes more sense to keep the hotter bat on the roster.

Plan is for Addison Barger to be active Friday vs. Angels.

TBD which position player goes down for Barger, but mgr John Schneider expects it to be a tough decision.

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) May 6, 2026

Optioning Schneider to AAA Buffalo would also be manageable from a roster standpoint. Doing so now would use his third (and final) option year, allowing the Blue Jays to continue moving him between the majors and minors freely for the remainder of the season.

After 2026, however, the Blue Jays would need to place the 27-year-old on waivers before sending him down again, which would potentially open the door for another team to claim him.

As difficult as the decision may be for fans, the Blue Jays need to prioritize production, and that could mean sending Davis Schneider to Buffalo.