Since the Toronto Blue Jays acquired Josh Smith from the Texas Rangers for left-handed pitcher Adam Macko, he has been a solid addition. The deal also had the Rangers ship off minor league right-handed pitcher Josh Stephan. 

Across 20 games, Smith has gone 12-for-40 while slashing .275/.375/.650 with five home runs and a 1.025 OPS. His power surge has been a significant upside for the clubhouse, as it has lacked power production. 

A new environment has allowed him to bounce back following struggles with the Rangers, where he batted .213 with one home run, eight RBI and 29 hits across 45 at-bats. In addition, he also held a poor .571 OPS, adding to his tough start that inevitably required a reset on a new team. 

The Blue Jays have been fortunate in getting timely hits from the utility player, and this was present in their 4-2 victory over the Athletics on Tuesday. Both Smith and Kazuma Okamoto went back-to-back in the top of the second inning, with two solo shots to provide the team with an early 2-0 lead. 

Blue Jays' acquisition of Josh Smith has paid off in a big way 

His offensive output has helped the Blue Jays battle and remain within one game of a final AL wild-card spot behind the Rangers in a tight wild-card race.   

With the offensive tear he's been on, he deserves more playing time as he adds significant value with both his bat and his versatility as a utility player. He has allowed manager John Schneider to utilize him in both the infield and outfield, where he's seen time at left field, second base and third base. 

His revamped plate discipline has been refreshing for the Blue Jays as it has provided a much-needed spark amid a critical remaining stretch for the team. 

He's hit four home runs in his last eight games, and he also reached base three times on Tuesday. But his power surge comes as no surprise, as he won the Silver Slugger Award in 2024 with the Rangers. The 29-year-old remains under club control until 2029, which adds more appeal to the Blue Jays' future roster.