Watch: Bautista delivers 1st-pitch single during standing ovation
@JoeyBats19 hearing and feeling the love delivers a single in the 1st. #BlueJays #LetsRise pic.twitter.com/VHHaMkIo7Z
— Stephen Haynes (@sshaynes1) September 24, 2017
In the final home game of the Toronto Blue Jays' season, Jose Bautista took the field to a rousing standing ovation in what may be the legendary outfielder's last game in Toronto as a member of the Jays. His teammates let him take the field by himself to create a special moment for the fans as he trotted out to right field:
Jose Bautista runs onto the field alone. The team and the fans giving him a standing ovation. Chills. #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/lH8ICDih7o
— Rachel Miller (@RachelErinM) September 24, 2017
Another ovation erupted when Bautista entered the box in the bottom of the first inning for his first at-bat. He quickly delivered a single on the first offering from Jaime Garcia.
Related - 'Bautista with a drive ...': Remembering Joey Bats' greatest Rogers Centre moments
Bautista and the Blue Jays have a $17-million mutual option for next season which the club won't pick up, meaning the 36-year-old will be a free agent for the second offseason in a row.
After spending the past decade in Toronto, Bautista sits second all time on the franchise home-run list with 287.