It is still very early on in the 2026 season, however that does not make the Toronto Blue Jays getting off to a 11-15 start any less disappointing. While it is too early to jump to any harsh conclusions (they started off 26-28 last season), they look very different from the team that won the American League pennant in 2025.
The Blue Jays have not seen nearly the same offensive output nor results from their pitching staff that made them one of baseball’s best in 2025. However, among the things that are a guarantee in life are death, taxes and the Blue Jays playing elite defense.
Despite the disappointing start, the Blue Jays have remained one of baseball’s best on the defensive side. So far, they are tied for fourth in FRV (8) after posting the best mark in baseball last year. While the defense has been great overall, one area has stood out amongst the rest.
The Gold Glove middle infield duo has kept the team in games
Ernie Clement and Andrés Giménez have done a fantastic job at holding down the middle infield for the Blue Jays this season, which has helped keep the Blue Jays somewhat afloat early on in the season. Their defensive mastery simply comes with the territory.
In 2025, Clement posted a combined 21 DRS, 15 OAA and 10 FRV across 1196.1 innings at second base, third base and shortstop in 2025, with the majority of his innings coming at third base. He was also nominated for a Gold Glove award at two positions last year.
Giménez was elite just as anyone expected in his first season with the club. He finished 2025 posting 9 DRS, 10 OAA and 7 FRV in 719.2 innings at second base. Despite missing time due to injuries, His OAA ranked 17th in all of baseball and second among second basemen in the league, while his FRV was also tied for second among second basemen.
But that was 2025. What about 2026?
The two are playing different primary positions than last year, as the new look of the team has shifted them to playing up the middle on an almost nightly basis. A shift in position has not hurt their defense much at all.
Different defensive metrics view Clement differently. He has posted 2 DRS but -1 OAA so far. These metrics should even out given Clement’s history of excellent defense and second base not being as demanding as third base or shortstop. His 2 DRS is tied for sixth among all second basemen so far.
Giménez definitely had a more difficult transition to make. Going from second base, one of the easier defensive positions on the infield, to shortstop, the hardest position on the infield was going to be tough.
Expecting defensive metrics right out of the gate that mirror his 2025 metrics at second base was always unrealistic. Despite the transition, Giménez is still tied for fourth in OAA among shortstops (2) and is tied for seventh for FRV among shortstops (1).
Both Clement and Giménez were nominated for gold glove awards in 2025. Clement was a finalist for the third base and utility gold glove but lost out on both awards, simply because Maikel Garcia and Mauricio Dubón are on another level. Meantime, Giménez led AL second basemen in many important and valuable metrics, and likely lost due to a lack of volume.
If Clement and Giménez continue to show out on the defensive side as expected, then the duo should find themselves in gold glove conversations once again.