Berríos in familiar territory for Blue Jays in Game 2

MINNEAPOLIS -- There’s an advantage to familiarity, and no Blue Jays player knows this city like José Berríos.

Berríos was one of the faces of the Twins' organization for six seasons, a homegrown star who developed from a high schooler into one of the game’s most reliable starting pitchers. He’s only had one opportunity to pitch in a postseason game at Target Field, though, and that came in 2020 against the Astros, with cardboard cutouts littering the stands instead of a roaring crowd.

Now, Berríos is tasked with saving the Blue Jays from elimination in the ballpark he once called home. The 18-game postseason losing streak that hung over this franchise through Berríos’ tenure has been broken, and if the Blue Jays don’t bounce back from their 3-1 loss in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series, they’re staring at another long, frustrating winter.

Berríos, Toronto’s starter for Game 2 on Wednesday, knows that his old home offers a level of comfort, and even the layout of the field itself offers a pitcher’s version of good lighting.

“I love pitching in this ballpark because the dugout is so close, so I look like I throw 100,” Berríos said, cracking a smile. “I like it. I feel comfortable with that.”

There’s some real nostalgia to this for Berríos, though. He’s since come to love Toronto, embracing Canada and signing a seven-year, $131 million contract that will keep him with the Blue Jays through the end of 2028. Berríos still has a deep appreciation for Minneapolis and the Twins’ fans, even if he wants to ruin their day on Wednesday.

“I appreciate being in the ballpark where I grew up as a Major League baseball player and also a Minor League player in this organization,” Berríos said. “So it's going to be fun. I'm going to enjoy it. I've got my family here. I've got my little one, Diego, he was born in Minnesota. It's going to be special pitching against old friends, old teammates.”

Emotions aside, Berríos was one of the best stories on the Blue Jays this season. Were it not for his resurgence, this is a story about the Blue Jays missing the final Wild Card spot entirely, but Berríos was a pillar of one of the best rotations in baseball.

Coming off a 5.23 ERA a year ago that inspired plenty of anxiety about that big contract extension, Berríos bounced back with a 3.65 ERA over 189 2/3 innings, a season that falls perfectly in line with those great years in Minneapolis. It’s difficult to remember many standout starts, for better or for worse, and that’s a compliment to Berríos’ game. He’s incredibly consistent, but with the strikeout ability and upside that makes him so much more than an innings-eater.

His teammates have rallied behind Berríos’ momentum because they saw how personally he took his 2022 struggles. He owned them, fully, but the Blue Jays knew early in ‘23 that the old Berríos was back.

“Once I saw him in Spring Training, the way he showed up, he was very focused,” Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said through a club interpreter. “His work ethic, I knew then that he was going to have a great year. And about starting the second game, he deserves that. He deserves that. Like you mentioned, with him having a great year like that, why not?”

Berríos has earned Game 2 with his performance alone, but the familiarity only helps. He knows how to pitch, and celebrate big wins, at Target Field.