Jose Bautista got the call to start the festivities for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday.
The former Toronto Blue Jays slugger celebrated his 45th birthday by tossing a strike to manager John Schneider in front of a sold-out crowd at the Rogers Centre.
Toronto is facing a do-or-die matchup with the Seattle Mariners as they send rookie Trey Yesavage to the mound to fight for their season and a trip to the World Series.
The right fielder was inducted into the franchise’s Level of Excellence in August of 2023 after spending 10 years with the team, winning three Silver Slugger awards and receiving six all-star nominations.
Bautista is second in team history with 288 home runs and authored one of the most memorable moments in recent MLB history with his notorious bat flip after crushing a game-flipping homer in Game 5 of the ALDS in 2015.
The Dominican Republic native was also enshrined in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in February of 2025.
Over his 15-year career, Bautista spent time with the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates before landing in Toronto in 2008. He blossomed into a star after clubbing 54 homers and 124 RBI in 2010.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+.
from Sportsnet.ca
via i9bet
No comments:
Post a Comment