TORONTO — Fashion trends always have a way of coming back around — including, apparently, in the Blue Jays dugout.
The home run jacket, once a daily staple, has made its triumphant return.
🚨 IT HAS RETURNED 🚨 pic.twitter.com/eo0IRSr6Gu
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 22, 2024
After Bo Bichette homered in the second inning of the Blue Jays 9-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, starter José Berríos slipped the familiar blue blazer on the shortstop, who then strutted down the dugout, which the team has also been lining with a red carpet after home runs. It was the first time the jacket had been worn during a game since 2022.
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The Blue Jays home run jacket debuted during the 2021 season and continued to be used in 2022. And let’s just say, it got a lot of wear. The Blue Jays led the majors in home runs in 2021 with 262 and in 2022, they hit another 200, which ranked seventh in the majors. The home run jacket, decorated with team symbols and the names of countries on the back, became a symbol of the big-bashing, fun-loving Blue Jays of that era. But before last season, the team decided to retire it, to refine their team identity.
Of course, the club went on to have a down offensive year in 2023, ranking 14th in runs scored (746) and 16th in home runs (188). This year has been even worse. Before Wednesday’s game, the Blue Jays ranked second-last in runs scored (173) and tied for 26th in home runs (39).
The curse of the home run jacket? Who can be sure? But we do know the Blue Jays have resurrected it. The hope is that with it, more good vibes may return.
“I’m up for anything — whether it’s a jacket or a bathing suit, or a red carpet, whatever it is,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Guys have been talking about it a little bit. I think really with anything that we do or any team does around the league, it just brings you together a little bit. Guys been talking about it a little bit and trying to bring back some good vibes about hitting homers.”
Bichette agreed it could help with fun and camaraderie in the dugout.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with if we play good or not,” Bichette said. “That’s why we brought it back because I think it could help in a way.”
The home run jacket effect or not, the Blue Jays did what they were supposed to do and beat up on the last-place White Sox to win their first series since mid-April, snapping a streak of eight winless series. It was a refreshing showing from the Blue Jays lineup and a night when nearly everyone contributed to the offensive outburst.
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“It feels good to win and score a lot of runs, to be honest,” Bichette said. “We just got to win every day.”
The Blue Jays jumped on White Sox starter Nick Nastrini in the second inning, scoring seven runs — all with two outs — in the inning where 10 batters came to the plate. The seven runs were the most the Blue Jays have scored in an inning this season.
With the bases loaded, leadoff hitter Davis Schneider came up at an opportune time and hit a line drive to left field that scored two. Daulton Varsho followed with a two-RBI triple. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in Varsho with a single to left field and then Bichette capped off the inning with a two-run home run, his third of the season.
“I think Schneid’s at-bat was really key and then seeing (Nastrini) a second time through, really,” John Schneider said. “First time we’ve seen him. (We) made a few adjustments and put together a really good inning.”
On Bichette’s home run, it was the first this season for Toronto from the cleanup spot, ending the longest cleanup home run drought to begin an MLB season since the 1997 Houston Astros, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
The Blue Jays have 0 home runs from the cleanup spot this year.
I asked Eric Nehs, our outstanding @MLBNetwork Researcher, for some context. Here it is.
This is the longest cleanup HR drought to begin an @MLB season since the 1997 Astros (60 games).
The 47-game drought from…
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) May 22, 2024
John Schneider was asked about the stat before the game. His reply?
“Bo’s going deep tonight.”
After the game, however, the manager had no more predictions for the future. “I’ll stop right there,” he said with a smirk.
The Blue Jays tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning. In all, it gave starter Chris Bassitt a healthy cushion to work with. Facing the team that drafted him in 2011, Bassitt scattered five hits over a season-high seven scoreless innings with two walks and four strikeouts. In his deepest start yet, it was Bassitt’s first this season in which he didn’t allow a run.
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“He had really good stuff and he kind of knew it going in,” the Blue Jays manager said. “I think he was trying to overpower guys early and then he really went to pitching and used a really good mix. Curveball was good. Sweeper was good, change, split — he’s got eight pitches. But I think when he, really in the middle innings, went to pitching, that’s when he’s at his best.”
Bassitt prefers to remain locked in during his outings. He spends between innings inside, so he didn’t witness the return of the home run jacket. But he said he looks forward to seeing it in person soon.
“Hopefully I see it tomorrow,” he said.
After the Blue Jays were shut out Tuesday night against the MLB-worst White Sox and starter Garrett Crochet, rebounding to secure a much-needed series win was paramount, especially to lock down a victory during this soft part of their schedule. The return of the home run jacket — and the return of runs — only helped to restore a jovial atmosphere in the dugout, one that the Blue Jays hope they can carry with them as they try to course-correct their season.
“We’ve talked about being professional and doing what you’re supposed to do, but at the same time, you got to have fun, you got to enjoy what you’re doing because you’re playing every single day,” Schneider said. “Whether it’s a jacket, whether it’s a handshake, whether it’s a red carpet, whatever it is, you need to have something that just unifies everybody.
“I thought it was cool that they broke it out today and, again, I think it really just builds team chemistry, no matter what you’re doing. I am a believer in little things like that go a long way and I’m not saying a home run jacket is going to fix our season or do anything different, but when guys are pulling in the same direction, it’s a good thing.”
(Photo of Bo Bichette in the jacket: John E. Sokolowski / USA Today)
