It was an amazing moment yesterday, when Jose Bautista walked off the Rogers Centre turf for what could be the last time as a Toronto Blue Jay. After hugging his teammates and ceremoniously nodding towards Roberto Osuna, Bautista took a curtain call.
Cue the tears.
A final curtain call for Joey Bats. pic.twitter.com/yF08QLePIV
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 24, 2017
There are no words. pic.twitter.com/HYdM6W3BYn
— Blue Jays Nation (@thejaysnation) September 24, 2017
J SÉ #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/A3aisF75ga
— Jenn Smith-tista (@Baseball_Jenn) September 24, 2017
Thank you @JoeyBats19 #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/GUfD4TGw27
— Darren Alley (@DarrenAlley) September 24, 2017
The last at-bat pic.twitter.com/vofk7COL7p
— Melissa Couto (@ThrowinSmoke) September 24, 2017
He pops out foul, 47,394 roar for him anyway
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) September 24, 2017
It really doesn't get any better than that, Bautista even has one last stare for Austin Romine after Yankees catcher bumps him. #BlueJays
— Gregor Chisholm (@gregorMLB) September 24, 2017
Marcus Stroman, the starter for the game, was seen warming up in a black-and-blue Bautista jersey before the game.
Stroman, chuckling: "It’s authenticated. They took it out of the showcase & let me wear it. Guess they’ll probably wash it & put it back."
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) September 24, 2017
Love you my brother! @JoeyBats19 @BlueJays pic.twitter.com/KmrSRLAASi
— Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo6) September 24, 2017
And then there was his post-game scrum.
Bautista was trying pretty hard in postgame scrum not to get emotional. Fighting back tears. Speaks to the moment. #BlueJays
— Gregor Chisholm (@gregorMLB) September 24, 2017
Bautista: "A lot of good emotions. It's good to be recognized and it's good to feel the love. I appreciate everything that happened today."
— Gregor Chisholm (@gregorMLB) September 24, 2017
Bautista: "I know that I want to come back. I've always been clear about that, that's never going to change ... I'd be stupid not to."
— Gregor Chisholm (@gregorMLB) September 24, 2017
Bautista on message to #BlueJays fans: "I think there will be a time and a place where I expand on my thoughts but it's not yet."
— Gregor Chisholm (@gregorMLB) September 24, 2017
Good o’ Gibbons.
Gibbons on Bautista: "I'm sure he's a little emotional. You're probably not going to see it but I bet he is." #BlueJays
— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) September 24, 2017
John Gibbons on #BlueJays fan ovations for Jose Bautista:"fans took care of him all week...as they should."
— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) September 24, 2017
Gibbons parting words to media. "Thanks everybody. This has been fun - don't freeze to death with global warming and all that stuff"
— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) September 24, 2017
A few players expressed their gratitude towards Bautista.
Pretty cool moment to be around to see the fans embrace @JoeyBats19 like that
— Brett Anderson (@BAnderson3737) September 24, 2017
.@KPILLAR4 on that emotional ninth inning "I just hugged him (Bautista) and thanked him for everything he's done for me."
— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) September 24, 2017
.@JoeyBats19 I've only been ur teammate 4 a month but what happened tday when u came off the field was awesome & 1 of my coolest bb moments
— Tom Koehler (@TKREFRESH22) September 24, 2017
Paying homage to one of the 6 Gods. My brother @JoeyBats19 forever! @BlueJays https://t.co/SVSTs8ECv8
— Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo6) September 24, 2017
For most of the game, Bautista wore sunglasses. You couldn’t quite gauge his emotions, but in his on-field interview with one Hazel Mae, well...
With tears in his eyes (as I’m sure we all have right now), @JoeyBats19’s likely last words to #BlueJays fans at home... pic.twitter.com/eIAmRT27AF
— Samantha (@_skennedy) September 24, 2017