Saunders looks to resurrect career
An all-star in 2016, Canadian outfielder rejoins Blue Jays as September call-up
My career is not over by any means. I’m 30. I’m still young. I know I have a lot to offer. This year was a learning experience for me, obviously, going through (adversity).
BALTIMORE In some ways, it must feel like a baseball eternity ago when Michael Saunders had one of his career highlight moments here at Camden Yards.
In reality, it was only last June when the Victoria, B.C. native was in the midst of an all-star season with the Toronto Blue Jays and hit three home runs against the Orioles.
The road has been rather rocky ever since, however, with Saunders spending most of the season in the minor leagues. But as one of the September call-ups, he’s hoping to resurrect his career with the Blue Jays.
“You always have certain ball parks where you hit well, and this is one for me,” Saunders said on Friday after being called up from the Triple A Buffalo Bisons. “I feel it’s the perfect ballpark to come back to, getting back to the major leagues.”
It has certainly been a tumultuous 12 months or so for Saunders. After being named to the American League all-star team in 2016 after a strong first half with Toronto, Saunders struggled in the second half and eventually parted ways with the Jays.
He signed a one-year, US$9-million deal as a free agent with the Phillies in January, but when his struggles at the plate continued, he was released in June.
The Jays gave him an opportunity to get back on track with their AAA team in Buffalo where he played well enough to earn the September call-up.
“My career is not over by any means,” Saunders said Friday. “I’m 30. I’m still young. I know I have a lot to offer. This year was a learning experience for me, obviously, going through a little adversity. I haven’t been down to the minor leagues since 2011.
“I have to understand I went there for a reason, but I’m obviously very happy to back. I haven’t lost any confidence in myself. Last year I proved what I can do at this level. I’m looking to just get back there.”
Saunders said he had options when the Phillies released him but preferred the familiar turf of the Jays, even if it meant a return to the minors.
“Obviously experiencing the team’s success the last couple of years of going to the ALCS was very exciting for me,” Saunders said.
“Toronto will always hold a special place in my heart just being Canadian and what it means to me.
“Coming back here … Toronto was home and I felt my best opportunity was to come back here. The familiarity of this organization and the trust I’ve created over the last couple of years with everyone involved.”
WHAT A SAVE
Though there have been some spectacular blown saves by Jays’ closer Roberto Osuna, he’s still having a record-breaking season in the Toronto bullpen.
With his 35th save on Thursday, closer Osuna became the first pitcher in MLB history to record 35-plus saves in multiple seasons before the age of 23.
That latest Osuna save was his 91st as a Jay, allowing him to pass Casey Janssen for fourth on the all-time list, a remarkable stat given his tender age.
QUICK HITS
Turns out the calf injury bothering Justin Smoak is taking a little longer to heal than first expected. Smoak missed a third consecutive game on Friday, though Gibbons insisted the power-hitting first baseman and designated hitter would return soon … Each of the seven RBI from Kendrys Morales on Thursday night came with two outs, making him just the second Jay in franchise history to accomplish that feat. The other was big John Mayberry, who also did it against the Orioles way back in 1978 ... With Smoak out of the lineup, former Oriole Steve Pearce got another start at first, but shifted from leadoff to batting cleanup with Jose Bautista getting a day off ... The 11-run outburst on Thursday was the Jays’ first double-digit run total on the road this season.