Jose Bautista credits Cito Gaston with his success among others on Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame day.
Photo credit: https://www.sportsnet.ca/
Jose Bautista has officially been inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Bautista spent a decade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
He hit a single-season franchise record 54 home runs in 2010 and is second all-time on the team with 288 homers.
The six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger helped Toronto win its first division title in 22 years during the 2015 season.
«Jo-se, Jo-se, Jo-se, Jo-se 🎶🎶🎶 «
An emotional Jose Bautista enters the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
His iconic "bat flip" three-run homer gave the Blue Jays the lead in the decisive Game 5 of the ALDS against the Texas Rangers.
The Santo Domingo, D.R., native also played with the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays during his 15 years in the majors.
José Bautista and the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Canada, His Excellency José Blanco.
Bautista, who signed a one-day contract in 2023 to retire with the Blue Jays, finished his career with 344 home runs and 975 RBIs.
Sportnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith had a one on one interview Jose Bautista on Saturday this is what he had to say.
What made you develop from that prospect on waivers to the guy flipping bats in the playoffs?
"Arriving in Toronto, meeting Cito Gaston and Duane Murphy and making the adjustments that helped me become a better hitter. A lot of hard work and dedication a lot of hours in the batting cage that culminated into big league success."
When you reflect on when Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson joined you and Edwin Encarnacion a decade ago and you guys started going off, what comes to mind for you?
"2015 and 2016 were both great seasons especially after the deadline in 2015 we got some great players to help us finish strong down the stretch. It was a lot of fun we were a group that was resilient that came together and just figured out a way to wear our opponents down. It was the most fun I've ever had playing baseball."
You mentioned Cito Gaston and Duane Murphy before, what are some of the other coaches and maybe people behind the scenes who helped you tap into the ability and power that we ended up seeing on the field for so many years?
"It's everybody, guys like Jeff Manto in the minor leagues, different hitting coaches and managers throughout your career that just give you lessons that start making sense. Tony Beasley that really helped me out a lot in my early years in the minor leagues, Jim Tracey with the Pirates, Brian Butterfield on defence, there is a lot of people that influence you as a big leaguer that help you enjoy a lot of success."
As you reflect on the bat flip ten years later, what stands out most to you?
"The emotion, the memories we created, people having fun, all the stories, I certainly remember the Rogers Centre shaking, it was a great series going down o-2 first and then coming back to tie it up. Coming back home to clinch after 22 years was amazing, we didn't come through all the way but we certainly had a lot of great moments in that season. It was a huge moment for the franchise and the same for the fans."
«My years in Toronto were the best of my career," Bautista said in the same release. "Taking the field every day and representing an entire country that so passionately supported us back was truly amazing. I am deeply humbled and honoured of being inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and joining many other greats."
Do you think Jose Bautista should come back to the Blue Jays in some kind of capacity to pass on his knowledge to others?
Tell us what you think in the poll below.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 7 | 111 ANSWERS Jose Bautista credits Cito Gaston with his success among others on Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame day. Do you think Jose Bautista should come back to the Blue Jays in some kind of capacity to pass on his knowledge to others? | ||
| Yes | 102 | 91.9 % |
| No | 9 | 8.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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