The New Jays
Just how well do you know the new Jays? We’ve compiled fun facts on each of the new faces to make things easier on you
R.A. DICKEY Where to begin? He listens to Darth Vader’s theme song when he warms up; named his bat “Hrunting,” in reference to Beowulf; climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money and awareness for an anti-sex-trafficking charity in India; suffered sexual abuse as a child and wrote about it in his bestselling autobiography; he has no ulnar collateral ligament; and he won the Cy Young at age 37 after spending the bulk of his career in the minors. Yeah, he’s different.
JOSH JOHNSON: Born in wintery Minneapolis, Johnson’s first sport was hockey. “I haven’t skated in a long time but I still mess around with a hockey stick and a ball.” After he retires from baseball he aspires to join the Senior PGA Tour.
MARK BUEHRLE: Has been a guest on both the Late Show with David Letterman and Oprah Winfrey Show. He’s the only pitcher in baseball history to throw multiple no-hitters and win multiple Gold Gloves. In 2009 he set the record for most consecutive batters retired with 45.
JOSE REYES: In addition to being a three-time stolen-base champ, four-time all-star and the winner of the 2011 batting title, the speedy shortstop is also a reggaeton musician and owner of his own record label, EL7 Music.
MELKY CABRERA: They call him “The Melkman” or “Leche” and when he amassed a record-tying 51 hits last May — before he failed his drug test — a whole section of San Francisco Giants’ fans took to wearing milkman and milkmaid uniforms at AT&T Park.
EMILIO BONIFACIO: Set a Marlins’ record last season for 20 straight stolen bases without being caught. He finished ninth in the NL in stolen bases in 2012 despite missing almost two-thirds of the season.
MAICER IZTURIS: His half-brother, Cesar Izturis, was briefly a Blue Jay. The elder Izturis played 46 games for the Jays in 2001.
ESMIL ROGERS: Rogers, who spent his first three minor-league seasons as an infielder before converting to the mound, is best friend of, and former roommate with, Orioles’ reliever Pedro Strop. When Rogers was struggling as a pitcher early in his conversion he wanted to quit baseball, but Strop stopped him — by repeatedly punching him in the face until he submitted. They’re still friends.
HENRY BLANCO: “Hank White” regularly participates in events for Garth Brooks’ Teammates For Kids charity.
JOSH THOLE: Thole, who was Dickey’s primary catcher last season, has the ball with which he recorded his first big-league passed ball. But he never got his hands on his first home run ball.