Blue Jays’ Jordan Groshans Learns The Value Of Routine

Jordan Groshans feels like he’s back on level ground again after a foot injury and the pandemic shifted him from the fast lane into catch-up mode. 

The 22-year-old shortstop, drafted 12th overall in 2018, began making up for lost time at Double-A New Hampshire last year, where he batted .291/.367/.450 with seven home runs in 75 games before a bout with Covid ended his season early.

Considering that he had managed just 71 games the previous three seasons, none above Low-A, he handled the jump relatively well. 

“It was tough at the beginning,” Groshans said. “It took me a minute to kind of get going again and get used to playing nine innings every day and getting back in that routine.”

Within those crucial reps, Groshans found growth in all areas of his game, but “mostly mentally.” He got off to a slow start and rode through “ups and downs” that forced him “to grow up a lot and mature a lot, which was really good,” he said.

The 22-year-old product of Magnolia (Texas) High also found himself playing about one out of every three games at third base instead of shortstop, a split that helped him separate the demands at the two positions.

Part of his offseason work was aimed at increasing his mobility to help improve his body positioning and range at both positions.

At the plate, Groshans trained regularly with his father Thomas, ensuring his bat and attack angles were on point using a swing tracker. 

“A lot of it is getting to a consistent spot in my back leg, in my load,” Groshans said. “Whenever that’s not working, whenever I don’t get to that spot, my numbers are off . . .

“Staying in that back hip, staying through the ball, those numbers are generated where they need to be. That’s a reminder of your swing is good, your swing plays. Now, it’s being as consistent as you can getting into my spot and working from there.”