Before Toronto Blue Jays fans began dreaming about winning a World Series, they were dreaming about Shohei Ohtani signing with them in free agency. The two-way megastar met with the Blue Jays on Dec. 4, 2023, at their spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida, before ultimately signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 1 of the Fall Classic begins at 8 p.m. ET Friday at the Rogers Centre and will be broadcast exclusively on FOX. Ohtani will be the first batter the Blue Jays face.
The Blue Jays gave Ohtani a hat and a jacket for Decoy, Ohtani’s dog. Both of those gifts, Blue Jays manager John Schneider joked, he would like back.