After a long and successful career, José Bautista is set to retire with the team that gave him his start. On Wednesday, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that Bautista will sign a one-day contract with the team, allowing him to retire as a Blue Jay.
Bautista began his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2004, but it wasn’t until he was traded to the Blue Jays in 2008 that he truly began to shine. In his nine seasons with the Blue Jays, Bautista became one of the most beloved players in franchise history. He was a six-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and was named the Home Run Derby champion in 2010. He also holds the franchise record for most home runs in a single season with 54 in 2010.
Bautista’s time with the Blue Jays was not without controversy. In 2015, he was involved in a heated altercation with the Texas Rangers which resulted in a one-game suspension. However, despite this incident, Bautista remained a fan favorite and was often seen signing autographs and interacting with fans before games.
Bautista’s retirement ceremony will take place on October 2nd at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays will honor him with a pregame ceremony and will retire his jersey number 19. This will be the first time in franchise history that a player has been honored in this way.
José Bautista’s retirement is sure to be an emotional one for both fans and players alike. His legacy as one of the greatest Blue Jays of all time will live on for many years to come.
