Bautista sets single-season Blue Jays record with 160th strikeout
Jose Bautista's time with the Toronto Blue Jays will be remembered for many things. On Thursday, he reached a milestone that fans might prefer to forget.
The 36-year-old slugger struck out to end the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals. It was the 160th time this season that he's been sat down on strikes, which just so happens to be a new franchise record.
Dubious distinction for Joey Bats. pic.twitter.com/P34RGaO5ev
— Jays Journal (@JaysJournal) September 22, 2017
Bautista tied former Blue Jays Jose Canseco (1998) and Kelly Johnson (2012) when he struck out twice against the Royals on Tuesday.
The season has not been among Bautista's more memorable campaigns, and his strikeout rate has ballooned to heights it hasn't touched in his tenure north of the border - 24.7 percent. It's the first time since 2009 that his K rate has surpassed 20 percent.
He's been having a dreadful season since the All-Star break, batting .164/.257/.332 with only eight home runs. Over that period, he's struck out 26.4 percent of the time as his walk rate shrinks.