Braden Halladay feels the true patriot love
Braden Halladay didn’t fully realize the ovation he received in his Canadian team debut until he watched the highlights after the game.
He doesn’t let much break his concentration while he’s pitching — much like his father in that regard.
The 17-year-old son of late Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay spent parts of the last week with Canada’s junior team in Florida, highlighted by his debut against the Blue Jays in Dunedin on Saturday.
He threw a three-up, three-down inning and left the mound to a hearty applause from the crowd and both dugouts.
“Honestly, I was kind of focused on pitching so I didn’t really think about it until afterwards,” the lanky teenager said.
“It was one of those things where I was just in the zone in that moment and I didn’t really think about it then. But looking back on video, it was crazy.”
Braden first realized he was eligible to play on Canada’s team during a trip to St. Marys, Ont., for Roy Halladay’s induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Braden thought it would be a nice way to remind people of his own connection to Toronto.
The right-hander was born in Toronto and spent nearly 10 years there before his father was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in December 2009.
“In the States, people don’t really realize this is where I’m from, so it’s kind of cool to show people this side of me,” Braden said.
“Like, ‘Hey, this is where I’m from. This is who I am.’”
Braden only pitched that one inning for Canada during the week — he still had his high school pitching duties at Calvary Christian in Clearwater, Fla., where his Warriors team is ranked No. 2 in the country — but he’s expressed interest in playing for Canada again. The under-18 team reconvenes next month for an extended spring camp in Palm Beach, Fla., then goes to the Dominican Republic for 10 days in May.
Roy Halladay died last November when the plane he was piloting crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.
Now Braden pays homage to his father whenever he steps on the mound, scribbling “dad” in the dirt before he throws his first pitch. “I do it every time, in my high school games and everything,” he said.
Braden and his family will be in Toronto for opening day when the Jays retire Roy Halladay’s No. 32 before playing the Yankees on Thursday. He said that will be a special moment and a touching tribute.
“It’s cool, especially having that jersey in my house, to know he’ll be the last person who wore (the number),” he said. “It shows the level of respect for a player from the organization, and it shows how much people really cared about my dad.”