Leading into this week's four-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays, Kevin Kiermaier told reporters that he said "I’m gonna make you guys (Rays) miss me,” when he found out that the club wasn't going to pick up his option.
Since becoming a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, he has certainly played the part of the one that got away. Kiermaier has posted career-best offensive numbers and remains an elite defender with Toronto.
Kiermaier isn't the only "ex" putting together a strong season in a new situation, as some of the now-departed Jays have found seemingly perfect fits with their new partners.
After a pair of roster-shifting off-season trades and several players recently leaving via free agency, here's a look at how some of Toronto's exes are faring to start 2023.
44 GP | 8 HR | 27 RBI | .317/.372/.557 | 153 OPS+
Currently the author of a 16-game hit streak, Gurriel Jr. is putting together one heck of a contract year.
The 29-year-old has seemingly rediscovered his power stroke. Gurriel Jr. has already surpassed his career-low five home runs in 2022 through the early stages of this campaign, while registering career-best totals in almost every offensive category.
His success at the plate has been a major addition to a Diamondbacks team that currently has the third-best record in the National League.
38 GP | 2 HR | 19 RBI | .304/.341/.400 | 105 OPS+
The other part of the return sent to Arizona in the Daulton Varsho deal, Moreno has been no slouch with his new club either.
Formerly Toronto's top prospect, touted for his bat-to-ball skills, excellent approach and sky-high potential as a catcher, the early returns are pretty encouraging for the 23-year-old backstop.
While the power still remains a question — he's currently on pace for six home runs — Moreno is hitting for average and grading out as one of the top defensive catchers in MLB.
Moreno is tied for second among qualified catchers in defensive runs saved and comes in atop the list in Baseball Savant's new caught-stealing above-average stat. With that said, he still has room to improve behind the dish, ranking as a below-average framer and blocker.
48 GP | 8 HR | 24 RBI | .235/.275/.401 | 89 OPS+
After spending six seasons in a Blue Jays uniform, developing into a fan favourite and consistent force in the middle of the lineup, Hernandez has struggled in his new threads.
The two-time Silver Slugger is tied for the major league lead in strikeouts and is posting the worst walk rate of his career.
Hernandez got off to such a slow start but has played better as of late, slashing .273/.313/.364 in May.
9 GP | 7.24 ERA | 32.1 innings | 26 strikeouts | 10 walks
Stripling was quietly one of the most important members of the 2022 Blue Jays, starting the season as a swingman in the bullpen and ending it as the third-most-valuable pitcher on the team by WAR.
The 33-year-old righty took his career year, in which he posted a 10-4 record with a 3.01 ERA, and leveraged it into a two-year, $25 million deal that includes an opt-out after 2023 with the Giants.
This season hasn't quite gone as well for Stripling, who was placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a lower-back strain. He has worked as both a bulk reliever and starter in San Francisco.
He has been snake bitten by the longball, ranking last out of all pitchers to throw at least 30 innings, allowing 2.78 home runs per nine.
48 GP | 7 HR | 39 RBI | .301/.377/.490 | 139 OPS+
The $175 million man in Texas is putting together an excellent bounce-back season for the AL West-leading Rangers.
Coming off a moderate drop in production from his record-setting season with Toronto, Semien struggled out of the gate after signing his new contract. But in 2023, he's back as one of the premier second basemen in the game.
The 32-year-old is walking more and striking out less in 2023 than he did a year ago, helping him to the third-highest WAR total among all position players.
1 GP | 8.10 ERA | 3.1 innings | 3 strikeouts | 5 walks
The 2021 AL Cy Young winner is done for the season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery earlier this month.
Ray made just one start for the Mariners this season, allowing five runs — only three earned — over 3.1 innings before leaving with a forearm injury. The timeline for recovery has him projected to return around the middle of 2024.
44 GP | 12 HR | 26 RBI | .255/.348/.539 | 141 OPS+
Since being moved to the Brewers in the 2021 trade that brought Bowden Francis and Trevor Richards to the Blue Jays, Tellez has been a fixture in Milwaukee's lineup.
The 28-year-old has slugged 54 home runs as a member of his new club, including a team-best 35 blasts in 2022.
Tellez has picked up right where he left off this season, posting better numbers in each of the triple-slash categories and is on pace for over 40 home runs.
Next week, he will make his first trip back to the Rogers Centre for a three-game series against the Blue Jays, starting on May 30.
26 GP | 3 HR | 7 RBI | .184/.205/.316 | 47 OPS+
One of the main pieces heading west as part of the Matt Chapman deal, Smith hasn't been able to put it all together in the big leagues.
He broke camp in 2022 with the MLB club, playing 47 games before being demoted to triple-A. While he seemed to hit his stride with the Las Vegas Aviators in September and through the early part of 2023, he struggled once again after being recalled in April.
The 26-year-old infielder was sent back down on May 14 and has continued to thrive in the minors, slashing .300/.375/.780 over 11 games.
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