TORONTO -- Stepping onto the field at Rogers Centre for the first time since he was traded from the Blue Jays to the Indians last season, there was no shortage of memorable moments for Braves infielder Josh Donaldson to reflect on.

The 33-year-old spent four of his nine Major League seasons with Toronto, and he played a big part in helping the team return to the playoffs for the first time in over two decades, when the Blue Jays reached the postseason in 2015, his first year with the club.

“2015 was a special year for me and this organization,” Donaldson said. “I was told that this city would go on fire if you were able to get into the playoffs. Those people weren’t wrong who told me that. That was one of the most special years that I’ve been a part of. This city was on fire. It was electric. To be able to be a part of that is special. Those are things that you won’t ever forget.”

Donaldson’s time in Toronto was highlighted by what the team was able to accomplish and how quickly it turned things around in his first season with the Blue Jays, eliciting an unforgettable response from the city.

“To see where the organization when I first got here was at, and then where we had taken it, and the support that we were getting at the time was awesome,” Donaldson said. “We loved it. I guarantee you talk to everybody who’s not here anymore, they love Toronto. It’s one of those towns to where it doesn’t get talked about enough. This is one of the best places to play in all of baseball, especially when the team is doing well. The city’s on fire, people love coming out and supporting the team, they love being a part of it. It’s some of the best memories that I’ve had.”

Donaldson’s love affair with the city and its fans began almost immediately, feeling a warm embrace as he was welcomed. More than a year after his departure, Atlanta’s third baseman is still dissatisfied with the way he left the Blue Jays, unable to overcome injuries and get back to the MVP-calibre play Toronto had seen.

“From Day 1 that I came to Toronto, the fans here supported me,” Donaldson said. “In 2015, I broke the record for All-Star votes. … I will forever be grateful for the fans and how they took me in from Day 1 and how they have received me here.

“What probably nags at me the most is how my career finished here in Toronto -- not being able to play at the time, trying to fight as hard as I could to get back. It wasn’t working out. How everything transpired was something that -- it’s tough. At the end of the day, you try to separate it as a business, but as a human being, it can be tough. We do get frustrated, and we do have other emotions that come about it.”

In his return on Tuesday, Donaldson was welcomed once again by Blue Jays fans with a rousing applause as his former organization played a video of his highlights in a Toronto uniform ahead of first pitch, culminating with a standing ovation from the crowd for the visiting player. Donaldson received another ovation prior to his first at-bat; he responded with a tip of the helmet to the crowd.

Donaldson came up with the bases loaded and the Braves down 1 in the seventh inning on Tuesday. After dodging a high-and-tight fastball and working the count full, Donaldson popped up Derek Law's sixth pitch of the at-bat to shortstop to end the threat. The Blue Jays held on to win, 3-1.

“I’ve put in some pretty good years up here,” Donaldson said. “I feel like for me, no matter what, I tried to leave it on the line on the field. I play as hard as I can. I have an excitement, and I get pleasure from being out here and competing every day. I hope that’s what people remember me for. Not just that, but coming in here and helping this organization win a lot of games.”

Donaldson -- who has six homers, seven RBIs and a .738 slugging percentage in his past 11 games ahead of Tuesday’s series opener in Toronto -- had been looking forward to the two-game series against the Blue Jays for some time and was excited to return in the position he’s in with the Braves.

“I just remember this place being packed, and I remember all the good times that we’ve had,” Donaldson said. “I could go look at each and every spot, and there’s been something that was pretty exciting. We had some special teams here, and at the end, we weren’t competing the way that we needed to and things changed.

“I’m just glad to be able to be back here, part of a winning team, and playing at a high level again to where when the fans come out today, they’ll be able to see that.”