March 16, 2024 | By: Jennifer Stitt in For Love of the Game
The Jays are getting ready, and so are we!
The weather here at home is starting to heat up, but down in Dunedin things are already red hot. Toronto Blue Jays’ Spring training is already well underway, and our boys of summer are ready to come take over the city this Spring.
Even if you happen to love another team (boo!), it’s hard to live in Toronto in the summer and not fall in love with the Blue Jays. For nearly 50 years, the Jays have been a source of Toronto pride, and they’ve helped generations of local kids fall in love with baseball. We see it ourselves at camp – when the Jays are doing well, excitement at camp is at an all-time high.
So what are some things that Jays fans have to look forward to this summer, and how do they relate to camp?
The biggest excitement of the upcoming season might be that Toronto is getting a new all star Joey! After Jose Bautista, or our beloved Joey Bats, retired as a Toronto Blue Jay in 2023, the Jays could certainly use a new Joey to look up to. Now we’ve got him, in none other than the legendary Joey Votto.
For anyone who does not know Votto’s legacy, he’s a 6-time MLB All Star who just finished an astonishing 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. Now, in a surprising move, Votto is returning home to Toronto, and has signed with the Jays for this upcoming season. Votto was born in Toronto, grew up in Etobicoke, and still calls the city home so the news is exciting across the board.
Don’t expect to see Votto on the roster just yet. He’s been dealing with shoulder issues in recent years, and has said that he wants to work his way back onto the big leagues. If he makes it, he’ll likely be backing up our beloved Vladdy, aka Vladimir Guerrero Jr., at first base. Talk about a powerhouse duo!
As for the rest of the team, there’s definitely some promise coming from Ernie Clement, Daulton Varsho, and Ricky Tiedermann, but between us it’s just too early to tell! When it comes to Spring Training, the season is both so close and also so far away! Let’s just hope everyone stays healthy and in top shape so they can spend the summer making us proud!
There have been other changes happening both with the team itself, and with their home at the Rogers Centre. The team has replaced their ‘Next Level’ slogan with a new slogan ‘To The Core,’ and has already started releasing ads that prove that they are Blue Jays to the core. If they’re Blue Jays to the core, we are definitely fans to the core.
If any of you have been down to the Rogers Centre in the last year, you may have noticed things had started to look a little bit different. The stadium has been undergoing a $300 million renovation over the last two years to widen seats and improve concessions throughout the stadium. The 500-level seats were done last year, but the team has announced that the entire renovations should be complete before April’s home opener.
Our love for the Blue Jays is no secret! Nolan and I have each been Jays fans as far back as we can remember, and support the team through thick and thin. We’re already excited for the upcoming season!
We’re also excited to help your kids celebrate! We’re hosting a number of events at camp through the Summer and we’ll be giving away some awesome prizes. Does your child want an awesome headband or compression sleeve just like their favourite, Bo Bichette? We’ve got amazing prizes to give away during our Special Event weeks during the summer, so just like at a Jays game, if you’re there for a special event you’re walking away with a great souvenir.
We’ve also got some special guests coming out to visit this summer! Former Toronto Blue Jay and current host of Blair and Barker, Kevin Barker, is coming to visit us this Summer and teach our campers a thing or two. Kevin’s also bringing along a special guest with him…
That’s right, Hazel Mae will be joining us this Summer! The famed sportscaster and self-professed Jays lover will be dropping by camp for a short visit to meet our campers and offer a few words of encouragement. We are SO excited to have her there, and we know that your kids will be as well. They’ll be visiting during Week 2 (July 8-12) for our Inter-Camp Wiffle Ball Tournament special event week, so make sure to register!
If you haven’t grabbed your summer spot yet, space IS still available. Register for our summer camp today by clicking here
