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Gausman, his wife Taylor and and their two young daughters, Sadie and Sutton, have embraced it here in a place that feels like home to them
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Published Mar 25, 2026 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 5 minute read
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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman makes a throw to first base during a drill at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. Photo by Frank Gunn /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content
For almost all of the reasons he could imagine, deciding to be a Toronto Blue Jay was the best decision of Kevin Gausman’s professional life.
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It started with the baseball and the contract, a five-year, $110 million US deal that ensured the probable peak years of his career would be played in Canada.
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Four years in, it has been so much more for the 35-year-old.
Gausman, his wife Taylor, and their two young daughters, Sadie and Sutton, have embraced it here in a place that feels like home to them.
The Gausmans live in a house comfortably away from the Rogers Centre and have thrived in the city, on and off the baseball diamond.
“They love it, they really do,” Gausman said of his family’s affinity for summers (and one spectacular fall) in Toronto. “I mean, this is all my youngest daughter knows.
“We’ve really loved it. We love the parks. We’ve loved how pretty the city is in summertime and how nice the people are. We really love our house and our neighbourhood. We’ve enjoyed every minute.
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“My wife and I talk about it all the time. How lucky we were that we made the right decision.”
That decision was validated in the most intoxicating way yet last fall when Gausman and the Jays came oh-so-close to the third World Series title in Blue Jays history.
Fittingly, given his steady brilliance as a constant in the Jays rotation for the past four seasons, the right-hander won’t have to wait long for the next memory of a baseball lifetime.
On a night of dual celebration on Friday – the launch of the Jays’ 50th anniversary season and an American League Championship banner raising from the 49th – Gausman gets his first Opening Day start in a Toronto uniform.
And it’s clear the assignment is more than ceremonial to him, especially if it’s his final season with a team that has meant so much to him and his family.
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“This season is going to be a lot different than most,” Gausman said. “The excitement around the team from what happened last year. We’re looking forward to getting back and feeling the same energy.”
What makes big game Gausman?
Getting the Opening Day assignment is a big deal, even if Gausman’s chill reaction was to dismiss it as “one of 32.” Sure, it’s Game 1 of 162, but Gausman knows the emotions will be as high as the expectations.
It’s perhaps a mild surprise that it’s his first crack at the gig with the Jays, but his manager believes Gausman is made for it.
“The trust factor and what you can expect with some extra hoopla and ceremonies and the timing being a little bit off,” John Schneider said. “Kev has done that in big games before.
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“So when you’re trying to put a really competitive season together, it’s cool that you have a guy you can really trust and who’s been here for a long time to get the season started.”
Similarly, the former LSU star has the respect of his fellow Toronto starters, who recognized Gausman for his prowess on the mound and his leadership off of it.
“He has a great feel for pitching and he’s a big-game guy,” says Max Scherzer. “He can elevate his game with the best and can make some really good hitters look bad.”
Kevin Gausman #34 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after striking out the side during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game six of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on October 31, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. Photo by Emilee Chinn /Getty ImagesOld school durability
Gausman has always taken his craft seriously and is open to the new-age pulls that guide a rotation in 2026.
But at his core is the throwback guy who believes a starting pitcher should be built to shoulder a heavy workload. It’s why he’s made 31,31,31 and 32 starts in his years as a Jays.
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“It’s something that when I first came up, it was kind of a given,” Gausman said. “It was expected. You should make every start. Why wouldn’t you?
“Some of the older guys that were in the rotation when I got to the big leagues, they kind of taught me that. Even when you don’t feel good, you go out there and give it whatever you’ve got.”
That stability is appreciated, given the carnage that can beset a rotation during the course of the longest season in professional sport.
“When you look back at the last four years, he’s just been so stable and so consistent,” Schneider said. “Not only performance, but in the clubhouse.
“Baseball is hugely important to him. He’s not the loudest character, but just knows what to do every single day. Our starting rotation has kind of taken on a brotherhood and he’s a big part of it.”
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It’s one thing to start 30-plus times. It’s even more admirable when you pitch to a 3.48 ERA over four seasons in Toronto – oh and add in 30.2 innings of high-calibre postseason work in 2025.
“The mentality has changed in baseball a little bit,” Gausman said. “But my mentality is that if you’re a starter, you’ve got to give me at least 30 starts.”
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Play VideoWhen Gausman talks, Jays listen
From coaches and teammates alike, Gausman is appreciated as a key locker room voice.
Prior to the 2025 season, he was instrumental in working alongside Schneider to streamline the lines of communication from the front office, to the coach’s office, to the clubhouse.
He picks his spots, but during the season, Gausman was heard – and respected – as well.
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“I think the leaders that talk all the time, you lose the audience,” Gausman said. “So if you talk every now and then, when you do, it’s something that carries more weight and I feel like people are more inclined to listen to you.”
Spring training was the latest opportunity for Gausman’s veteran presence to be felt, helping to integrate the many new faces and begin anew, recreating the culture that was so strong a season ago.
“The biggest thing is teaching those (new) guys what we expect here,” Gausman said. “A lot of guys have come from other places and every place is different.
“So it’s about setting the tone of ‘hey, this is what we expect. This is how we go about our business.’ And outside of that, have fun and be your own self.”
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What about the future?
That five-year deal is heading to a conclusion, but will it be a final act in Toronto for Gausman?
“Honestly, haven’t really had too much time to think about it,” Gausman said. “I’ve just been getting ready for this season.
“We’ll see what happens. Get through this year, then kind of reevaluate, have another conversation with my wife and figure out what’s next.”
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