Blue Jays End 32-Year World Series Drought as Shohei Ohtani Arrives in Toronto with Dodgers

Toronto, ON – Major League Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani is officially en route to Toronto, not for a free agency signing, but to face the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series, marking the Blue Jays' first appearance in the championship in 32 years. This highly anticipated matchup brings a full-circle moment to a dramatic saga from December 2023, when false reports of Ohtani flying to Toronto for free agency captivated the baseball world. The irony of the situation was captured in a widely shared tweet by @SleeperDodgers, stating, "Ohtani is finally getting on that plane to Toronto 😭."

In late 2023, during Ohtani's highly publicized free agency, a private jet mistakenly believed to be carrying the two-way phenom to Toronto sparked a frenzy among fans and media. Flight trackers meticulously followed the plane, which was later revealed to be carrying Canadian businessman Robert Herjavec and his family. The speculation reached a fever pitch before Ohtani ultimately signed a historic 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 2023 incident left Blue Jays fans heartbroken, having briefly harbored high hopes of landing the generational talent. Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, later described the reporting around the flight as "reckless," expressing sympathy for the Canadian fanbase. The current journey to Toronto, therefore, carries significant historical weight, transforming a past disappointment into a present reality.

The Toronto Blue Jays, who last won the World Series in 1993, secured their spot after a hard-fought American League Championship Series. They will now face Ohtani and the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who advanced to the World Series for the second consecutive year. Ohtani has had an exceptional tenure with the Dodgers, including a historic 50-home run, 50-stolen base season, and a dominant pitching performance in the NLCS.

During his first visit to Toronto in 2024 as a Dodger, Ohtani was met with jeers but quickly silenced the crowd with a leadoff solo home run. This World Series appearance sets the stage for an intense confrontation, where the narrative of Ohtani's journey to Toronto, once a rumor, is now a confirmed reality for baseball's biggest stage.