Latest news with #JoseBautista
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Calls Mount for Blue Jays to Make Bo Bichette Move After His Postgame Comments
Calls Mount for Blue Jays to Make Bo Bichette Move After His Postgame Comments originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Toronto Blue Jays are addicted to winning at Rogers Centre, and shortstop Bo Bichette is at the center of that success. The 27-year-old went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored in Monday's 4-1 win over the New York Yankees, which was the Blue Jays' franchise-record 11th straight home win. Bichette has hits in 12 of his 14 games played in July and is slashing .346/.404/.558 with one homer and six RBIs in the month. The 5-foot-11-inch, 190-pounder also has five multi-hit games in that span. Bichette said the Blue Jays' fan base is the most supportive it has been since he arrived in the big leagues, via Keegan Matheson. 'This is what I remember watching on TV when I was 17 years old at home, with [Jose] Bautista and [Josh] Donaldson," he said. Donaldson was the AL MVP with Toronto in 2015 and led the team to the ALCS in 2015 and 2016. However, the Blue Jays haven't won a playoff game since then. Toronto fans begged the team to re-sign Bichette in the replies to Matheson's post. "GET THIS DEAL DONE. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE BO ON THE YANKEES," one said. "Alright, just offer him a 10-year deal," another said. "I think this translates to: Give me the pen and paper!" another said. "You guys generate those cheers with your incredible play this season, Bo!!" another said. "Really hope he re-ups, we can't let him go." "Ok so re-sign plz," another said. Bichette is in the final year of his arbitration extension and is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency this winter. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Former Toronto Slugger Jose Bautista Homers In Business Too
Celebrating his three-run 2015 Division Series homer that put the Blue Jays ahead of the Rangers, ... More Jose Bautista makes an iconic bat flip that fans still remember. (Photo by) At 44, José Bautista is still an All-Star – in the world of business rather than baseball. Bautista, who made six straight American League All-Star teams while playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, owns a soccer team, a Florida wellness center, and a coffee company in his native Dominican Republic. In addition, his Norte Advisers offers financial and investment advice for professional athletes. He was also an early investor in a bat company, befitting a man dubbed Joey Bats by Toronto fans. He picked up the nickname even before playing in his first post-season game, an American League Division Series encounter between the Blue Jays and Texas Rangers on Oct. 8, 2015. It was in that game that he followed a decisive three-run homer with a high bat flip that excited Toronto fans, enraged Texas fans, and created a memorable moment that fans still ask him about. 'It's the No. 1 topic of conversation,' said Bautista in an exclusive interview 10 years later. 'People say hi, shake hands, take a picture, and then ask about the bat flip. Of course, I had to take a little heat too but it was like [celebrating]'It's good to the game evolving, now taking into account a lot more things important to fans then it used to. We want fans to come and enjoy it.' Bautista personifies the fact that there's a link between success in professional sports and in the business world. 'I have to have a passion for it,' Bautista said in explaining his liaisons. 'I love having a reliable silent partner, a good market, and a good situation when it comes to financial reporting and standing. 'I know what it means to work hard, know when to cover, be smart, be adaptable, and be able to read the environment and the board. 'It takes two to tango and business deals cannot be too lopsided. You have to bring value into the equation, have good intentions, and help things be better.' Norte Advisers is a prime example. 'There are too many life stories about people and businesses taking advantage of athletes,' he said in an exclusive interview. 'We want to change that. 'No matter how you make your money or how much you make, you have to create a great budget and make your income streams be sustainable. We start by great planning on the estate side and tax side before figuring out the cost of lifetysle. 'We take a holistic approach, like the conductor of an orchestra. In a lot of ways, we're like an ice cream shop with a lot of different flavors. 'My job is to make sure we do what's best for our clients. We're six months into it and have quite a bit of growth so far.' A powerful right-handed hitter, Jose Bautista holds the single-season and career home run records ... More for the Toronto Blue Jays. (Photo by) Bautista, whose biggest baseball contract paid him $18 million in 2017, is represented in baseball ventures by Jay Alou, the former major-league outfielder whose uncle is former manager and outfielder Felipe Alou. Because of his knowledge of both baseball and finances, Bautista might tackle that role himself someday. 'It hasn't been a door I'm willing to walk through yet,' he said. 'Right now my plate is somewhat full. I'm busy and enjoying all the things I do today. As we grow our teams and employee base, perhaps it will open up some things in baseball.' During his career as a right-fielder and third baseman, Bautista was with eight teams, won six straight trips to the All-Star Game, and hit .247 with 344 home runs. He was a Top Ten finisher in voting for American League Most Valuable Player four times. In his best season, Bautista belted 54 home runs – a Toronto club record – and increased his production by a record 39 over the year before. He was the first Blue Jay to lead the league in All-Star voting and the first elected to start since Carlos Delgado in 2003. He was also the second man in franchise history to produce consecutive 40-homer campaigns and the first player since Mark McGwire in 1998-99 to lead both leagues in long balls in successive seasons. Those exploits led to election in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. 'Being in the right place at the right time and working with coaches who believed in me,' he said when asked what led to his prolific power production in 2010. 'I had played some winter ball and made some adjustments.' Cito Gaston, then in the final season of his second stint as Toronto manager, was a big factor in Bautista's banner year. 'He taught me a lot of things and really helped me out,' said Bautista of the outfielder-turned-manager. 'He was a breath of fresh air who allowed me to come out of my shell.' Jose Bautista's favorite manager, Cito Gaston, managed the Blue Jays from 1989-97 and 2008-2010. ... More (Photo by Focus) Bautista believes Gaston should be enshrined in Cooperstown for his work in Toronto. 'He definitely deserves it,' said Bautista, Toronto's career leader in home runs. The two still spend time together at Blue Jays alumni events and on the golf course. Whether he'd consider coaching or managing himself is something he might consider later, Bautista confided. 'Maybe when I'm a little older,' he said. 'I have a houseful of girls – four of them – so maybe in the future when I have more time to give. This is only my fifth year in retirement after 18 years in my major-league career. 'Being in the baseball environment that long leaves you so little time off. Once you get out of that baseball bubble, you find the world a different place.' As the owner of the Las Vegas Lights in the U.S. Soccer League, Bautista is still active in professional sports. 'Soccer is on the rise in the country,' he said, 'and I saw an interesting opportunity. The Las Vegas project was a rebuild so I took a gamble. I couldn't be more excited about the future of professional soccer and I think Las Vegas is a great sports destination.' He's just as excited about his coffee company. 'The Dominican is known for beaches but not for having coffee,' he explained. 'Having been born and raised there, I know it has mountainous terrain that allows us to grow great coffee. I'm a year into that investment and things are turning in the right direction.' His Tampa training facility is already thriving. 'It's good for professional players who come into town during the off-season as well as the local community,' he said. 'It's not only for training but for rehab, recovery, and nutrition – things that get overlooked in the traditional gym.' Helping the next generation appeals to Bautista. 'What makes me excited is being able to share nuggets of knowledge,' said Bautista, whose background also includes playing in winter ball, the World Baseball Classic, and even the Olympics. 'There are different levels to everything in life.'
National Post
09-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Rampaging Blue Jays extend win streak to 10, one shy of matching club record
The Blue Jays now find themselves on the cusp of making franchise history. Article content Not since the days of Joey Bats, The Bringer of Rain and E5 have the Jays won 11 games in a row, a feat the latest edition of the club can match if victory is achieved Wednesday at Chicago's Rate Field, home of the lowly White Sox. The 2015 team led by Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson and Edwin Encarnacion twice strung together win streaks of 11 games, but the enduring memory was an appearance in the ALCS and losing to the eventual World Series champion Kansas City Royals in six games. Article content Article content Article content In total, five times in club history has an 11-game win streak been produced. Article content Ultimately, however, the 2025 iteration will be defined by post-season success and not any in-season achievement. So far, so very good for the Blue Jays, who won their 10th in a row Tuesday night with a rain-delayed 6-1 victory. Article content It seems the only way to stop the Jays involves the fickle hand of Mother Nature. With two outs in the seventh inning and Nathan Lukes at the plate, the heavens opened up and the tarp came out as the game went into a rain delay. Article content 'Weather is expected to remain in the area for an hour,' per the White Sox. That forecast was just off the plate, though, and the game would be called. Article content Toronto's win improved its record to 54-38 as it maintained a 3.5-game lead on the victorious New York Yankees atop the AL East. The Tampa Bay Rays, meanwhile, lost again to the Detroit Tigers and have fallen to 5.0 games off the pace. Article content The following are three takeaways as the Jays are assured of a series win against a White Sox team that handed Toronto a rare series loss two weeks ago at the Rogers Centre. Article content Article content 1. Bassitt battles Article content Chris Bassitt's line in the night's boxscore showed the wily right-hander gave up one run in six innings, allowing four hits and a walk to improve his record to 9-4 and lower his ERA to 4.16. Article content In reality, it wasn't quite as easy as it looked. He gave up a double to leadoff man Mike Tauchman, then hit Lenyn Sosa with a pitch. Article content One inning later, a leadoff walk and a single had Chisox runners at first and second with one out. Article content In both frames, things looked pretty bleak for the veteran, whom the White Sox seemed to have on the ropes. However, it was a relieved Bassitt who gladly watched the defence behind him turn double plays to escape both jams. Article content Following two three-up, three-down frames, a third double play was turned to end the fifth as Bassitt continued to keep the South Siders scoreless. Article content The lone run against came on his second pitch of the sixth, a leadoff homer by Josh Rojas, the 13th long ball he's given up this season. Article content Things have been going so well for the Jays that the decision to start Davis Schneider, knowing a right-hander — Aaron Civale — was on the mound wasn't even an issue.
National Post
06-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Canadian Hall to welcome former Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista and rest of 2025 class
Glancing across the Rogers Centre field to see his name on the stadium's Level of Excellence still leaves former Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista with a 'surreal' feeling. Article content 'It's a good reminder of the time that I spent here, 10 years, it's a long time,' Bautista said. 'A full decade and a lot of good memories and a lot of good times here.' Article content Article content Sporting a white Blue Jays jersey as he took in a recent game with family in a suite at the ballpark, the memories remain strong for one of the franchise's all-time greats. Article content The bat-flip homer in the 2015 playoffs was his signature moment with Toronto but Bautista delivered countless highlights in a Blue Jays uniform. Bautista, who played for eight teams over his 15-year big-league career, will be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday in St. Marys, Ont. Article content 'I got a call from (Hall director) Scott Crawford and he broke the news to me,' said Bautista, who lives in Tampa, Fla. '(He) kind of caught me off guard, but I was extremely surprised but at the same time humbled and honoured. Article content 'It was a pleasant surprise for sure and it was really exciting.' Article content The Class of 2025 also includes former MLB pitcher Erik Bedard, junior national team head coach Greg Hamilton, and Amanda Asay, a longtime women's national team star. Asay will be inducted posthumously. Article content The Hall's veterans committee has elected former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League legend Arleene Noga and Gerry Snyder, who played a key role in bringing the Expos to Montreal in 1969. Article content Article content Noga and Snyder will be inducted posthumously. Article content Bautista's memorable three-run bat-flip homer came in a wild 53-minute seventh inning in the Jays' 2015 American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers. Article content For a team making its playoff return for the first time in 22 years, it was a true 'wow' moment for the current generation of Toronto fans. Bautista also helped anchor the Blue Jays team that returned to the AL Championship Series in 2016. Article content His last season in Toronto came in 2017 and he played for the three teams — the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies — in his final MLB campaign in 2018. Article content Bautista hit a club-record 54 homers in 2010, was a six-time all-star and won three Silver Slugger awards. He formally retired in 2023, the year he was added to the Level of Excellence. Article content
Toronto Sun
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Canadian Hall to welcome former Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista and rest of 2025 class
Published Jun 06, 2025 • 2 minute read Former Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista attends batting practice before a game against the Chicago Cubs in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. Photo by Chris Young / The Canadian Press Glancing across the Rogers Centre field to see his name on the stadium's Level of Excellence still leaves former Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista with a 'surreal' feeling. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'It's a good reminder of the time that I spent here, 10 years, it's a long time,' Bautista said. 'A full decade and a lot of good memories and a lot of good times here.' Sporting a white Blue Jays jersey as he took in a recent game with family in a suite at the ballpark, the memories remain strong for one of the franchise's all-time greats. The bat-flip homer in the 2015 playoffs was his signature moment with Toronto but Bautista delivered countless highlights in a Blue Jays uniform. Bautista, who played for eight teams over his 15-year big-league career, will be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday in St. Marys, Ont. 'I got a call from (Hall director) Scott Crawford and he broke the news to me,' said Bautista, who lives in Tampa, Fla. '(He) kind of caught me off guard, but I was extremely surprised but at the same time humbled and honoured. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It was a pleasant surprise for sure and it was really exciting.' The Class of 2025 also includes former MLB pitcher Erik Bedard, junior national team head coach Greg Hamilton, and Amanda Asay, a longtime women's national team star. Asay will be inducted posthumously. The Hall's veterans committee has elected former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League legend Arleene Noga and Gerry Snyder, who played a key role in bringing the Expos to Montreal in 1969. Noga and Snyder will be inducted posthumously. Bautista's memorable three-run bat-flip homer came in a wild 53-minute seventh inning in the Jays' 2015 American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers. For a team making its playoff return for the first time in 22 years, it was a true 'wow' moment for the current generation of Toronto fans. Bautista also helped anchor the Blue Jays team that returned to the AL Championship Series in 2016. His last season in Toronto came in 2017 and he played for the three teams — the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies — in his final MLB campaign in 2018. Bautista hit a club-record 54 homers in 2010, was a six-time all-star and won three Silver Slugger awards. He formally retired in 2023, the year he was added to the Level of Excellence. 'What I'm most proud of is just being available,' Bautista said. 'Being there ready to contribute and being one of those guys that was just grinding.' Ontario Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Olympics Sunshine Girls
