Canadian Hall to welcome former Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista and rest of 2025 class
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The bat-flip homer in the 2015 playoffs was his signature moment with Toronto but Bautista delivered countless highlights in a Blue Jays uniform. Bautista, who played for eight teams over his 15-year big-league career, will be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday in St. Marys, Ont.
'I got a call from (Hall director) Scott Crawford and he broke the news to me,' said Bautista, who lives in Tampa, Fla. '(He) kind of caught me off guard, but I was extremely surprised but at the same time humbled and honoured.
'It was a pleasant surprise for sure and it was really exciting.'
The Class of 2025 also includes former MLB pitcher Erik Bedard, junior national team head coach Greg Hamilton, and Amanda Asay, a longtime women's national team star. Asay will be inducted posthumously.
The Hall's veterans committee has elected former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League legend Arleene Noga and Gerry Snyder, who played a key role in bringing the Expos to Montreal in 1969.
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