{"id":673027,"date":"2026-04-11T05:25:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T05:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/673027\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T05:25:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T05:25:37","slug":"the-blue-jays-asked-their-home-run-jacket-to-wake-up-it-did","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/673027\/","title":{"rendered":"The Blue Jays asked their home run jacket to wake up. It did"},"content":{"rendered":"

TORONTO \u2014 A note hung on top of the Toronto Blue Jays\u2019 bedazzled home run jacket in the dugout Friday. It was a plea for the club\u2019s celebratory blazer to break its slumber.<\/p>\n

\u201cDear Jacket,\u201d the note read. \u201cWould you please wake up. We need Homers.\u201d<\/p>\n

With two homers in a 10-4 win over the Minnesota Twins later that night, Toronto\u2019s jacket \u2014 and bats \u2014 woke up.<\/p>\n

The Jays hadn\u2019t homered in their last four games entering Friday, losing three of four contests in that stretch. Toronto\u2019s lineup had been held to four or fewer runs in its last seven games, too.<\/p>\n

The @BlueJays<\/a> asked their home run jacket to “wake up” after not hitting a homer in their last 4 games. <\/p>\n

Brandon Valenzuela and Daulton Varsho reaped the rewards tonight! pic.twitter.com\/OcXNY4V9Zu<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB (@MLB) April 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Toronto\u2019s celebratory jacket sits on a hanger in the dugout, taken off only when the Jays hammer a home run. In Friday\u2019s fourth inning, Brandon Valenzuela finally gave it a reason to appear. The rookie catcher, just five games into his MLB career, slashed at a hanging splitter. He drilled the ball to right field, earning the Jays a lead as it bounced into Minnesota\u2019s bullpen.<\/p>\n

\u201cHard to describe it,\u201d Valenzuela said. \u201cI knew I got it well, but I didn\u2019t know if I got it high enough. It was an amazing feeling when I realized it was getting over the wall.\u201d<\/p>\n

The backstop, called up when Alejandro Kirk went on the injured list with a fractured thumb, was greeted at Toronto\u2019s dugout with a wide-armed hug from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Jes\u00fas S\u00e1nchez, standing behind Guerrero, held up the jacket for Valenzuela to put on for the first time.<\/p>\n

An inning later, as the Jays expanded their lead, Daulton Varsho jogged around the bases and was greeted by the jacket, too. The two deep drives helped Toronto post its largest offensive output of the season, breaking the lineup\u2019s cold streak with 10 runs.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood at bats, up and down,\u201d manager John Schneider said. \u201cKind of everyone doing their part.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toronto\u2019s homer jacket was introduced in 2021 and has stuck with the team ever since, except for a brief retirement during the 2023 season. The design has changed slightly over the years, with new sparkles and country names added, but it continues to capture the diverse nature of Toronto\u2019s roster and the city as a whole.<\/p>\n

Mainly, though, it represents Blue Jays home runs and is worn by every hitter who blasts one over the fence. After a four-game lull, the Jays finally hit those homers.<\/p>\n

The jacket, as requested, woke up.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the bullpen to put up those zeros there and offence to score 10,\u201d new starter Patrick Corbin said, \u201cthose are always fun games to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n