SEATTLE -- Addison Barger can make you stop and stare.
All he needs is a moment to do it. One night, he’ll hit a ball harder than anyone in baseball. The next night, he’ll throw the ball harder than anyone on the diamond -- pitchers included. Every knob on Barger is turned up to 10. He’s an espresso machine with Red Bull in the water tank.
His moments have been just that, though … moments. Friday night in Toronto’s 6-3 win in Seattle, we saw again what it looks like when Barger can string a few of those moments together into a complete game, and it’s why the Blue Jays continue to be captivated by him.
Now, after a handful of peeks and glances, it’s Barger’s turn to take an opportunity and run with it.
“There are so many underlying things,” said manager John Schneider. “He swings the bat fast. He hits the ball hard. He can throw the ball hard. There are a lot of things that should add up to success at this level. It’s a matter of getting consistent reps and trusting his ability, really.”
First came Barger’s bat. He opened the scoring by ripping a bases-loaded double into right field, a ball hit so hard that the first baseman couldn’t flinch in time to knock it down. His next trip to the plate, he shot another double to the opposite field at 113.4 mph, his second of three doubles on the night. You could almost hear it hissing through the air as it kept carrying and carrying.
Exit velocities on Barger’s doubles: 109.7 mph, 113.4 mph, 116.5 mph
Barger feels more confident now, which comes from “knowing I’m not going to get beat”. He doesn’t make things sound terribly complicated. Barger says that he’s unlocking his power to all fields by “just chilling out”, which he admits doesn’t come easily in the big leagues. The secret to that process, according to Barger?
“Just trying to convince yourself that you don’t care that much,” Barger said, breaking into a laugh. He’s just letting it rip.
On the other side of the ball, Barger shut down an early Mariners rally in the third inning when he jumped and caught a 111.1 mph rocket off the bat of Julio Rodríguez , which would have scored at least one run with runners on the corners.
Even the routine plays had a little spice to them. When Dylan Moore rolled a grounder down the third-base line in the fifth, Barger turned and casually threw a 94.9 mph dart across the diamond to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first. Only Elly De La Cruz (95.8 mph) has made a harder infield throw this season.
These are the things Barger is physically capable of, but his tools have never been in question. He’s always been a linebacker in a room full of baseball players. He’s always had those “wow” moments, but everything that happens in between has needed some work. Over his extended, 69-game audition in 2024, he hit just .197 with a .601 OPS. There weren’t enough moments.
Now, there has to be.
The Blue Jays were already giving Barger an extended run as a near-everyday player, but when Andrés Giménez hit the 10-day IL prior to Friday’s opener against the Mariners, Barger essentially became a regular. Ernie Clement will be handling second base plenty in Giménez’s absence, and when he’s not, Barger can still play a corner outfield spot or DH. He’s going to play.
“When he’s playing regularly, that’s when he’s at his best,” Schneider said. “Addie needs to play. Hopefully he can get rolling here. He hits the ball as hard as anyone. He’s as talented as anyone. This is a big shot for him.”
Barger’s career has come with a few false starts already, including that prolonged look in 2024. This spring, he was one of the best players in camp, but lost out to Davis Schneider and Alan Roden for the last roster spot, both of whom are now in Triple-A. He hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire in his return to the big leagues, either. Coming into play Friday, Barger had hit just .171 with a .488 OPS, nowhere near what the Blue Jays need.
After Friday’s win, though, Barger was beaming in front of the camera. Hitting lights him up. He knows better than anyone that he needs to string all of these moments together, and Friday night reminded everyone how incredible that can look.