Spring Training C’s: Week 2 

Week three of Spring Training began today, and while the Blue Jays had a well-deserved day off – they were riding a 32-inning scoreless streak since Friday at the time of this writing – the entire organization has been busy tuning up every department in advance of Toronto’s home opener on March 27. With scores of C’s alumni popping up – or featuring prominently – in spring games, we check in on four old friends who have been making some noise in the Grapefruit League over the last week.

UTL Addison Barger (2021-22): 9G, .273/.360/.636, .996 OPS, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 10 RBI, 3 BB

Nobody in the organization appreciated the coming of March like Barger. The 26-year-old started spring with a .083 batting average – that’s one hit in 12 at-bats across five games – but a switch flipped once the calendar did. Barger blasted a grand slam on March 2, had a pair of doubles with two RBI on March 5 then belted another homer as part of a two-hit showing on March 8. He owns a .996 OPS (read: four points below elite) and his 10 Grapefruit League RBI are third most in all Major League Baseball.

OF Eddie Micheletti Jr. (2025): 5G, 3-7, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB

A caveat to start for our look at the 2025 Fan Favorite Award winner – the sample size is very, very small (only seven at-bats). But the pride of Wilmington, DE has taken advantage of the few chances he’s had with the big club this spring; he doubled in his first game on February 22 and homered on March 6.

LHP Javen Coleman (2025): 5G, 0-0, 3 HLD, 1 SV, 4.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 H, 2 BB, 5 K

The southpaw is turning heads – and earning some serious buzz in the media – down in Dunedin this spring, but we’re proud to say “we knew him when.” So far, Coleman has yet to allow a run in 4.2 innings of relief work and has been asked to come into some tight (for as tight as a Spring Training situation can get) spots to work out of a jam. Same old Javen; he posted a 1.40 ERA in 18 relief outings with the C’s and struck out 40 in 25.2 innings of work.

RHP Lazaro Estrada (2024): 3G, 1-0, 6.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 BB, 3 K

C’s fans may remember Estrada from two years ago, when he logged a 1.96 ERA in nine starts – including a seven-inning no-hitter – while notching 53 Ks in 41.1 frames. Since then, the Cuban righty has made 37 appearances between Double-A and Triple-A and is considered one of the “next up” arms in the system. His success in the early parts of the season could directly affect the big league rotation down the stretch this year.

The 2026 season celebrating 75 years of Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium begins on April 3 and Opening Night at The Nat is set for April 7. For tickets and more information, call 604-872-5232, visit CanadiansBaseball.com or follow the C’s on social via @vancanadians.