Bautista takes BP, shares views on current Blue Jays: 'It's coming'

TORONTO -- Don’t call it a comeback, but something felt so right about seeing José Bautista run out onto the field in full pregame gear with the Blue Jays on Friday afternoon.

Bautista is in town with Edwin Encarnación for the launch of the Blue Jays’ City Connect uniforms, but he was going to get some swings in, too. The Blue Jays’ legend, who ranks second in franchise history in home runs (288) to only Carlos Delgado (336), took a few rounds of batting practice in a group with Davis Schneider, Cavan Biggio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, launching a couple of balls deep into the second deck.

“That was rusty,” Bautista said, strolling away from the cage.

Once a hitter, always a hitter.

It was like Bautista never left, though. Plenty of alumni drop in on their old clubs for a few swings, but Bautista, now 43, went through a full routine like he was batting third tonight.

He stood at shortstop, tracking balls as they flew over his head from the BP group before him. Then, he bolted for the outfield and quickly made a running catch on the warning track to rob Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of (imaginary) extra bases. The whole time, he worked through his detailed stretching routines that became part of the Bautista experience in Toronto -- the star slugger who works in some yoga between pitches.

Bautista was back to being one of the guys, too, spending time with Guerrero and catching up with the veterans. His name sits on the Blue Jays’ Level of Excellence now. He’s a Blue Jay -- one of the greatest to wear the uniform -- and he wants to see this 2024 club get back to the heights to which he once carried this franchise.

“Everybody knows [the Blue Jays] have a great team on paper. It’s just about getting together and getting that consistency, then continuing to enjoy the health. I’m excited,” Bautista said. “You can see it. It’s coming. I can’t wait for these guys to get on a hot streak and hit the summer with some wins, then be in the playoff hunt again. They’re a capable team. It’s just a matter of time. I’m looking forward to that moment when they're back at the top of the standings.”

Encarnación wasn’t taking any hacks on Friday, but Bautista’s fellow Dominican slugger -- who formed the other half of that devastating 1-2 punch -- sees the same. Encarnación was with the Blue Jays through Spring Training as a special assistant, and he has joined them in the dugout at different stages of this season while working with the hitters.

“They’re coming. They’re coming. They’re getting hot,” Encarnación said. “Vladdy, Bo [Bichette], [George] Springer [are] going to be feeling better. As a team, they’ve got to continue putting this together and working hard to stay together. It’s a long season. They have to continue to work hard. They’re going to be fine.”

The Blue Jays could use Bautista in his prime right now. But even as Bautista is enjoying retirement, he’s still got it.