For ten years, Kevin Kiermaier plagued the Toronto Blue Jays as a member of division rival Tampa Bay Rays. Now that he’s turned from the dark side, he’s already endeared to the Blue Jays fan base.
The three-time Gold Glove-winning center fielder stole a home run in the second inning of the Blue Jays’ home opener against the Detroit Tigers and wasted no time testing the new eight-foot-high wall in center field. did not.
He timed the jump perfectly to deprive Tigers designated hitter Kelly Carpenter of a solid home run. There’s a reason they call Kiermayr “Outlaw.”
This man is a center fielder and is wanted on suspicion of theft. pic.twitter.com/1pKS94tGpH
— Ian Hunter (@BlueJayHunter) April 11, 2023
As Kiermaier reached his arm over the Rogers Center fence, shortstop Beau Bichette stood up and was stunned that his teammates had come up with the play. But Kiermaier himself didn’t seem too shocked.
Blue Jays fans rose to their feet after Kiermayr’s highlight catch, but the Tigers’ three-run frame against an unusually volatile Alec Manoa gave Detroit a 3-0 lead. The air quickly left the stadium.
A few innings later, after stealing a home run, the Blue Jays center fielder homered into the right field bullpen area. Kiermaier has done it all in his home debut as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Please RT if you like 💙 @KKiermaier39 now
It’s his first outburst as a Blue Jay! pic.twitter.com/VtPONkNFLr
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 12, 2023
His home run was one of five the Blue Jays hit against the Tigers, setting a new franchise-highest home run in a Blue Jays home run. Matt Chapman, George Springer, Bo Bichette and Alejandro Kirk also joined in the long ball fun.
And if Blue Jays fans weren’t convinced by his incredible defensive play or contributions on the offensive side of the ball, clearly he’s a closet fan of the Canadian national anthem.
Kevin Kiermaier is a huge O Canada fan and says he might pull Adam Wainwright to sing the national anthem this year. (via video @sports net) pic.twitter.com/h5D0KSOsDw
— Ian Hunter (@BlueJayHunter) April 11, 2023
In retrospect, Kiermaier’s highlight reel catch in a Blue Jays uniform wasn’t all that shocking. It’s shocking that he left his mark on this team in the first home game of the season.
Keameyer made several circus catches in the outfield as a member of the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, but that was when the outfield wall was extended to 10 feet high. Now lowered, Keemeyer offers an opportunity to make even more wild catches in center field.
I asked Kevin Kiermeier about this spot a few days ago.
He said expect some highlights.#catch pic.twitter.com/nUpcisv8Fz— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) April 6, 2023
George Springer is well known as an outfielder for the Rogers Center, but now that he’s moved to right field, he has a front-row seat to the spectacle of Kiermayer, who plays in center field for the Blue Jays.
“I don’t think there’s a wall he hasn’t tried to climb,” Springer said. “So any spot out there … there’s a good chance he’ll try to climb.” It took just one game for Kiermaier to execute his Springer predictions exactly.
Thanks in part to Kiermayr’s play, the Blue Jays earned their fourth comeback win of the season, ultimately beating the Tigers 9–3.
