Blue Jays' manager John Schneider comments on Isiah Kiner-Falefa reunion
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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider spoke to the media postgame about the teams latest pick up Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
MLB.com's Keegan Matheson asked Schneider about the reunion and where IKF might fit into their plans.
John Schneider calls Isiah Kiner-Falefa «a gamer and a winner».
He won't directly impact the jobs of any regulars like Clement. Instead, Schneider says this will allow him to be more aggressive with things like pinch-hitting early in games, having IKF behind that.
He won't directly impact the jobs of any regulars like Clement. Instead, Schneider says this will allow him to be more aggressive with things like pinch-hitting early in games, having IKF behind that.
In 428 plate appearances with the Pirates in 2025, the 30-year-old has a .264 batting average, 35 runs batted in, and one home run.
It's a homecoming for Kiner-Falefa, who signed with Toronto prior to the 2024 season but was traded to Pittsburgh at last year's trade deadline.
In 281 plate appearances with the Blue Jays last season, the versatile position player recorded seven home runs, 33 runs batted in, with a .292 batting average.
Just over a year later, he's headed back to the Blue Jays to join the team's bench for the playoff push.
Unlike last year, Toronto is firmly in playoff position with a two-game lead in the AL East.
While Kiner-Falefa was a regular fixture on the club's infield during his first stint with the organization, that's unlikely to be the case this season given that Andres Gimenez has taken over the everyday second base job while Ernie Clement and Addison Barger have split time at the hot corner.
Kiner-Falefa was selected by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, making his MLB debut with the team in 2018.
The 5-foot-10, 195-pound infielder has played a combined 901 MLB contests over eight seasons between the Rangers, New York Yankees, Blue Jays, and Pirates, batting .262 with 129 doubles, 16 triples, 35 home runs, 281 RBI, and 100 stolen bases.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 31 | 191 ANSWERS Blue Jays' manager John Schneider comments on Isiah Kiner-Falefa reunion Do you agree with John Schneider's comments on IKF? | ||
| Yes | 151 | 79.1 % |
| No | 40 | 20.9 % |
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