SEATTLE -- The second Jarrod Dyson era in Kansas City came to a close on Friday when the Blue Jays claimed the speedy outfielder from the Royals, who put him on waivers two days ago without an official announcement.

The move opens a roster spot for the Royals ahead of September callups -- their 40-man roster is now at 39 -- while giving the Blue Jays a fast weapon off the bench as they push for a postseason spot this year. And Dyson knows a thing or two about the postseason.

The 37-year-old has played in 21 career playoff games, including 19 with the Royals when he helped them to back-to-back pennants and the 2015 World Series with his legs, defense and catchphrase: "That’s what speed do."

Originally a 50th-round pick in the 2006 Draft out of Southwest Mississippi Community College, Dyson made his debut in 2010 with the Royals and played with the organization through 2016. He returned on a one-year, $1.5 million contract this season to be a fourth outfielder and veteran leader in the clubhouse.

In 77 games, Dyson hit .221 and stole eight bases in 11 attempts, often subbing in as a defensive replacement or pinch-runner -- and always causing havoc on the bases.

“I just thanked him,” manager Mike Matheny said about his conversation with Dyson before he left. “Told him we’re going to miss him. This guy’s a light in that clubhouse. To me, he’s a light in the game.”

Dyson celebrated his 10-year service time milestone this season with the Royals -- a feat not many players achieve in the Majors. Toronto will be his sixth team to play for over the course of a 12-year career (and counting).

“We as an industry need to be able to take stories like the one of Jarrod Dyson and throw those on a pedestal, give him a voice to share with a lot of kids out there who have grown up in a lot of the same circumstances, who need to know that there’s a chance to overcome and how you go about your business,” Matheny said. “He was a fantastic teammate here, and every day, he brought light to this clubhouse.

“Plus, what a weapon. To be able to have those kinds of skills to come in and be able to change a game, whether on the bases or defensively, he was a joy to have around here. On the field and in the clubhouse. This guy wasn’t afraid of anything to be said to anybody. Those kinds of people are rare in our game, when you know they’re trying to do the right thing.”

Defense shines
Matheny didn’t mince words when he called Thursday night’s game “one of the best defensive nights I’ve ever seen.” The Royals turned elite play after elite play, highlighted by a relay from Michael A. Taylor, Nicky Lopez and Salvador Perez in the bottom of the first inning to get Mitch Haniger out at home.

It was Taylor’s 10th outfield assist of the season, now three more than Adolis García of the Rangers for the most among Major League center fielders and the most by a Royals center fielder since Melky Cabrera in 2011.

“Michael just closes the gap so fast… and Nicky having himself lined up, body turned, and then throwing a strike to Salvy, holding his ground and making a good tag,” Matheny said. “It was just all the pieces. Those are game-changers for us.”

Taylor, who has put himself in contention for a Gold Glove this season, made another excellent snag on a ball in the fourth inning, and Andrew Benintendi robbed Jarred Kelenic of a homer in the eighth inning. There were also a couple of catches from Lopez and second baseman Whit Merrifield on flares in shallow left and right field to take hits away, and third baseman Emmanuel Rivera tracked down a popup that knuckled its way into left field for a key catch in the third inning.

“The over-the-head catches that our middle infielders are making, the home run that Benny brought back, overall, it was a great defensive game for us,” Taylor said. “We’ve been pretty consistent all year. Defense is a big part of our makeup as a team.”

Quotable
“It means a lot. I can’t even describe it. One of the goals that you have in mind. … and to get it done this way, especially with the guys playing tremendously the last few games, I’m very excited for it.” -- Royals reliever Ervin Santana on notching career win No. 150 on Thursday night with two scoreless innings.