… MLB’s best outfield defence,

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The Blue Jays made run prevention a priority this off-season and put together what might be the best defensive outfield in baseball, and definitely the best in franchise history.

They’ve had great outfielders in the past, to be sure. Devon White’s name jumps off the page. Jesse Barfield. Vernon Wells. Kevin Pillar. But they never put together a trio like Daulton Varsho, Kevin Kiermaier and George Springer.

“Knowing that any fly ball to the outfield has a legit shot at being caught is a really good feeling as a pitcher,” said reliever Anthony Bass, expected to be one of closer Jordan Romano’s main setup men.

He’s not exaggerating. This is an elite group.

Varsho was the best defensive outfielder in the game last season by outs above average, and secondbest by defensive runs saved. Kiermaier might just be the best defensive centre-fielder of all-time. Springer is a centre-fielder playing right.

The green space at the new-look Rogers Centre is going to be a place where a lot of fly balls go to die.

“That’s the plan,” Springer said on this week’s episode of the Star’s “Deep Left Field” podcast. “We’ve got guys out there who can go get it.”

Kevin Gausman fell victim to poor defence behind him last season on a historic scale. No pitcher has ever allowed a higher batting average on balls in play than the .364 he gave up.

“I’ve played against Kiermaier enough to know what he brings to the table,” raved Gausman about his three-time Gold Glove centrefielder. “(So) many times when I was with the Orioles, a guy would hit a ball that you thought was really going to break the game open and he came out of nowhere and makes a great play.

“I think people forget how good Varsho is in the outfield, one of the best outfielders in baseball. And then having George moving to right, to have that calibre of centrefielder that going to move (to a corner), that just shows you how deep that outfield is. Those singles that maybe turned into doubles last year …”

There won’t be many of those this season, if at all.

Kiermaier takes pride in controlling the running game from the outfield.

“It’s so important,” said the longtime Tampa Bay Ray, who signed a one-year deal with the Jays in December. “Let’s just say runner on first, one out, ball hit to me in centre field. I keep them at first and second. When you’re hitting and you’ve got a runner on third (with less than two out), all you’ve got to do is put the ball in play. When you keep (runners) at first and second, now that hitter has to be better than our pitcher. They have to get a hit and (the runner) still might not score then.”

Kiermaier especially doesn’t like runners stretching singles into doubles, or going first to third.

“I take offence when guys take the extra base on me,” Kiermaier said on “Deep Left Field.” “Vlad Junior actually went first to third on me last year. I did not think he was going to go. He caught me with my head down, he advanced. That was great baserunning on his part, and one of the few times where I was assuming (and it) bit me in the butt. I won’t let that happen again. He took the extra base, I think about that the rest of the day.”

The rest of the day is an understatement. Kiermaier has been thinking about since it happened in the third inning of the Jays’ 7-3 loss to Tampa Bay on July 3 last season. In fact, one of the first things he did when he got to Dunedin was talk to Guerrero about the play.

“At the beginning (of spring, Kiermaier) asked me if I remembered going first to third (on him),” Guerrero recalled as the Jays headed to St. Louis for Thursday’s season opener. “I said, ‘Of course. You gave me a little chance when you got down on one knee and I took off for third and hey, that’s what happens.’ ”

At least Kiermaier isn’t still upset about it.

“He’s very happy now that we’re teammates,” smiled Guerrero, who helped anchor the infield defence last season and won a Gold Glove at first base.

Along with Matt Chapman (the third baseman with two Platinum Gloves as the league’s best defensive player at any position) and one of Whit Merrifield, Santiago Espinal or Cavan Biggio (all plus defenders) at second base, the Jays have above-average defence at every position but one.

That one position is pretty important, and shortstop Bo Bichette ranked near the bottom in both key defensive statistics.

“I’m not worried about the metrics,” Bichette said.

“I think for me it’s just about taking care of the ball, understanding where I’m at in the game, what kind of runner’s up there. I’m pretty confident that I will make those adjustments.”

He looked a lot better this spring, and if he can maintain those adjustments not only will there be no holes in the Jays defence, but it’ll be the best group the team has ever put out on the field.

“I think it’s awesome,” said Alek Manoah, who makes his first career opening-day start Thursday. “I can just go out there and compete knowing that there’s eight guys behind me who can make plays (on) any part of the field.”

Including the best outfield we’ve ever seen around these parts.