It’s fair for Blue Jays fans to wonder about the appeal of their city after Shohei Ohtani decided to head to the sunny West Coast instead of the frozen tundra north of the border this offseason. To add insult to injury, Jon Heyman even said that Ohtani made the right decision since Toronto has a ‘small-time feel‘.
As it turns out, players around the league actually love coming to Toronto. In an MLB.com poll taken during Spring Training of over 100 Major Leaguers, Toronto came in at number three on the list, behind San Diego and Chicago. While those cities seem to get far more praise for their ballparks, Toronto’s walkability and downtown area were the main strengths cited by the players.
“Opposing players were especially hot on Toronto’s walkability. One respondent actually labeled Toronto the pick for those in the know, saying, ‘It’s the best city. If you ask around, I’m gonna tell you, guys are gonna say Toronto. Especially if they’ve been in the league for a little bit.’”
“I love Toronto” 💙
(Via: @BlueJays) pic.twitter.com/mOtXuwVmZ4
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 30, 2023
It seems like over the years, the Blue Jays always have a player or two who really falls in love with the city. Maybe it’s the fact that Toronto is off the radar of many young American players, who end up pleasantly surprised upon visiting.
Kevin Kiermaier quickly fell into the good graces of Blue Jays fans this past year, despite playing 10 years for the division rival Tampa Bay Rays. His attitude and love for the city has already made him a fan favourite as he enters his second year with the club. When asked to comment on the city in a recent article for MLB.com, Kiermaier was clear about how he and his family felt about Toronto:
Toronto treated me like a king last year. As a player, you want to feel appreciated….My wife was crying her eyes out when we left [after] last year. She didn’t want to leave. My kids loved it. They talk about the CN Tower all the time. They can’t wait to go back.
Ohtani may have decided against coming to Toronto, but luckily for him, he gets to visit this beautiful city on April 26th when the Dodgers come to town.
ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO
