Bye-bye Bats? Bautista begins what will likely be final homestand as a Blue Jay
TORONTO — With his chances of returning in 2018 essentially slim and none, a long goodbye to Toronto slugger Jose Bautista kicked off Tuesday night as the Blue Jays began their final homestand of the season.
The six-time all-star was given a warm ovation before his opening at-bat at Rogers Centre against the Kansas City Royals. The buildup will likely only increase ahead of Sunday’s home finale against New York.
“I know he’s probably feeling it inside,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said before the game. “I don’t know if you’d see it outwardly but you might. Jose is a very proud man, that’s for sure. He’s a perfectionist.
“He’s driven to be the best. He always has and he’ll continue to do that.”