New Approach, Different Eyewear Fuel Danny Jansen's Recent Power Surge

Danny Jansen has struggled this season, but since switching up his prescription glasses, it appears he's rediscovered his power stroke.

© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

On May 1, Danny Jansen entered a game against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning as a defensive replacement. He sat in his usual crouch behind the plate, but his appearance was just a bit different.

Instead of his regular sport goggles, Jansen was wearing a more traditional pair of glasses with thick frames, which he later called his "Soggie Specials."

Danny Jansen told me yesterday, he is wearing ‘Soggie Specials’ because his eye prescription changed and his new athletic frames haven’t arrived yet. He hates contacts. So, he’s rocking a traditional set of specs, like former teammate, Eric Sogard. #NerdPower, in numbers. 🤓

— Ben Wagner (@benwag247) May 2, 2021

Before May 1, Jansen was ice cold at the dish. For players with at least 40 plate appearances in the month of April, Jansen ranked dead last in OPS (.211) and wRC+ (-35), according to FanGraphs. He had also already tied Ed Sprague for the longest hitless streak in franchise history with a tough 0-for-35 stretch. 

But baseball is a funny game and, since donning his new prescriptions, Jansen looks like he's rediscovered the power stroke that got Jays fans so excited when he debuted in 2018. Before a two-strikeout-game on Sunday, Jansen homered in three straight and looked much more comfortable in the batter's box. 

"My approach has taken a change for the better," Jansen said Friday, according to Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun.

👓 448 Feet 👓

The LONGEST homer of Jano's career! pic.twitter.com/eTFWUEu5CJ

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 8, 2021

Jansen wasn't lying when he said he felt more confident. On Saturday, now wearing his regular athletic glasses, the Jays catcher connected on a Cristian Javier fastball for an absolute missile that literally left the stadium at Minute Maid Park, travelling 448 feet – a career long home run. 

Since May 1, his splits – albeit in a small sample size – have improved dramatically. Whether it’s the glasses or his newly discovered confidence, Jansen has already recorded more hits in May than he did the entire month of April. Jansen's batting average and OBP are still low, but his three home runs helped raise his month-of-May OPS to a respectable .791. 

Stats courtesy Baseball Reference

Jansen's had a bit of luck on his side as well. His home run on Friday traveled a mere 353 feet – Statcast estimated the ball would’ve only been a home run at Minute Maid Park and no other major league stadium – but sometimes a player only needs a break or two to get things going. 

The recent three-game home run streak was quite a feat, but Jansen still has work to do. His BAbip this season still sits at a league worst .083 for qualified players, but he’s shown some more promising swings at the plate lately, Sunday's o'fer aside. 

With Alejandro Kirk on the 60-Day IL and unlikely to return before July, Toronto has limited catching depth beyond current backup Reese McGuire and rookie Riley Adams.

The lack of legitimate starting catching options and Jansen's chemistry with starting pitchers – notably ace Hyun-Jin Ryu – make him the number-one option for the near future. Still, Jansen would be wise to continue refining his approach at the plate if he wants to see regular playing time once Kirk returns.