Blue Jays’ Josh Kasevich Sees Results With Simplified Approach

Shortstop Josh Kasevich learned a lot during his first full pro season, and one of the key lessons was on the balance between trying to exploit a scouting report and trusting what he does well. 

“You go from college where you can have these intricate approaches to pro ball, and guys have really good stuff, so you really have to simplify it,” said Kasevich, a 2022 second-rounder from Oregon.

“In the middle of the year, I went back to just sticking to my strengths, getting on time to one pitch in one zone. That gives me the best chance to adjust to the other pitches that (the pitcher) might throw in that at-bat. (It’s) just giving yourself the most room for error.”

The adjustment was working. The 23-year-old Kasevich hit .327/.374/.421 through his first 25 games for Double-A New Hampshire. With one home run and seven doubles, he already was nearly halfway to his total of 19 extra-base hits at High-A Vancouver last year. 

Kasevich paired that tweak in game-planning with work on “cleaning up bat path” that took hold toward the end of 2023. He continued with it over the winter and through this spring, in search of gains in “contact quality, increasing my hard-hit rate.”

The obvious end goal is more damage at the plate to complement his strong bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline, though Kasevich is more focused on process than outcome right now.

“I know the kind of player I am. I’m confident in that,” he said. “I think that’ll come with time and hitting the ball hard is always positive. So I’m really focused on just consistently barrelling balls right now.”

The more Kasevich does that, the more he’ll be able to leverage defensive abilities that led Blue Jays farm director Joe Sclafani to call him “the best the defender we have at short in the system.”

Kasevich continues to work on improving his range and making throws from different arm angles, determined to meet all of the position’s demands.