Davis Schneider optioned to AAA Buffalo

Davis Schneider will have to shuffle off to Buffalo after a slow start to his season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Schneider, 26, is batting .067 with one hit and one RBI through 15 at-bats to begin the year.

The Berlin, N.J. native has played mostly in a platoon role this season, getting the majority of his plate appearances against left-handed pitchers while Will Wagner and Nathan Lukes took at-bats against righties.

The utility player was sent to the triple-A team on Thursday, the MLB squad announced.

The Blue Jays recalled Addison Barger on Tuesday, while putting Nathan Lukes on the paternity list.

Sending down Schneider gives Toronto the roster spot for Lukes to return as soon as Thursday when the Blue Jays open a series against the Seattle Mariners.

Schneider, who has started 79 games in left field and 56 at second base in his MLB career, figured to be bumped off the roster by the impending return of Daulton Varsho from the 10-day IL.

The Gold Glove-winning centrefielder will add another body to an already-loaded outfield group with the Blue Jays. Seven players have worked in the outfield already for the Blue Jays this season.

The off-season addition of Gold Glove-winning second baseman Andres Gimenez in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians blocked Schneider from getting reps in the infield, leaving the utilityman with few paths to the lineup.

The Blue Jays hold a record of 11-8 to this part of the season, just a half game back of the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East.

After a very productive run following his initial call-up in 2023 (he had nine hits, including a home run in his first at-bat, in his first three games), Schneider cooled off last season.

A 28th-round pick in 2017, Schneider hit .191 last year with 13 home runs in 387 at-bats.