While other players were prepping for this season at spring training http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/oshane-ximines-jersey , Jose Bautista was on his own.

A six-time All-Star without a big league job, Bautista remained eager to catch on somewhere and knew he needed to be resourceful. So to stay in game shape, the 37-year-old slugger spent his days back home in Florida hopping from gym workouts to local ballfields.

Sometimes he ended up at the University of Tampa, or Tampa Catholic High School. Wherever he could find an empty diamond to hit and do defensive drills.

”I was trying to mimic somewhat the same program,” said Bautista, who has quickly become a rare bright spot for the New York Mets this year. ”I mean, it wasn’t the easiest thing.”

His agent helped him scrounge up batting-practice pitchers to simulate game situations as best they could. High school kids, college players, other free agents looking for work.

Bautista figures he got about 30 ”at-bats” or so in April, when the regular season was already underway for everyone else. All the while, the former Toronto Blue Jays star waited for a new opportunity.

”Yeah, different fields. Whatever was available and whatever people could get to,” he said.

Not exactly an ideal way to sharpen up for Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw. But after struggling through a 12-game stint with the Atlanta Braves in May, mostly at third base, Joey Bats has hardly missed a beat since arriving in New York. He had a .944 OPS over 35 games going into Sunday and had already batted in every spot for the Mets besides ninth.

”He never backed off,” teammate and close friend Jose Reyes said last week. ”He always was working.”

Next up Julian Love Jersey , a nice reward.

On deck this week is the first trip for Bautista back to Toronto, where he blossomed into one of baseball’s best power hitters with the Blue Jays from 2008-17. The struggling Mets play interleague games at Rogers Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Needless to say, he’s excited.

”I’m trying not to think about it,” Bautista said last week. ”I’m trying not to dwell on it too much.”

”Obviously, I played there for 10 years. I consider it one of my homes away from home,” he added. ”I’m just going to let it come and enjoy it when it gets here.”

Reyes, also Bautista’s teammate in Toronto from 2013-15, said last week the outfielder had been staying at his house in New York for the past few days and the two talked about the upcoming games in Toronto.

Reyes figures the Blue Jays might have a video tribute planned, but he’s sure Bautista will receive a standing ovation after helping the team end a 22-year playoff drought and reach consecutive AL Championship Series in 2015 and 2016.

Bautista, still sporting a neatly trimmed beard, acknowledged he anticipates a warm reception.

”I don’t expect anything else from Canadian fans. They’re top-notch, a class act,” he said. ”We had a pretty good run there and I had a successful career in my years there. … I did enjoy my time in Toronto greatly and it’s going to be great to be back.”

Bautista hit 54 home runs for the Blue Jays in 2010 and led the majors again with 43 the following season. He finished in the top four in AL MVP voting both years.

And of course, who could ever forget his gigantic bat flip after connecting for a decisive homer in the 2015 playoffs against Texas?

As he approached free agency, Bautista’s numbers dropped off in 2016. Toronto brought him back on a one-year contract for $18 million last season, but he slumped to a .203 batting average with 23 homers http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/darius-slayton-jersey , 65 RBIs and 170 strikeouts, and the Blue Jays moved on.

”As a player, we understand that this is a business,” Reyes said. ”He wanted to stay there, but I don’t know. When you build that fan base and the people love you and stuff and you (are) successful in one place, you don’t want to go someplace else. But it comes a time in baseball. It just happens. Yeah, he understands that.”

Two days after he was released by Atlanta, the Mets signed Bautista on May 22 for the $545,000 major league minimum to provide a right-handed bat in the outfield following injuries to Yoenis Cespedes and Juan Lagares.

Bautista stepped off a plane and right into the starting lineup, hitting a double in his first at-bat, just as he did with the Braves. This time, though, he hasn’t stopped producing even though everything around him keeps falling apart.

With the help of 24 walks in 105 plate appearances, Bautista began Sunday with a .438 on-base percentage for the last-place Mets. He’d reached base safely in 15 straight games and even played some solid defense.

”It’s definitely impressive and we are in awe of him,” 25-year-old outfielder Brandon Nimmo said. ”He’s a great veteran presence. He’s got a lot of wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the game. … I think just that preparation Quinnen Williams Jersey , that work ethic and that eagle eye he’s got, it’s been a great combination.”

Now playing every day in a familiar corner outfield spot after right fielder Jay Bruce went on the disabled list, too, Bautista began Sunday hitting .266 for the Mets with three homers, 10 doubles and 13 RBIs.

”A dangerous wild card,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said before a game against New York last week. ”A man that wanted to play, felt he could play and was going to do what it took necessary to put himself in a position to play. He stayed active, he stayed ready, his agent reached out to every club. I mean, we got a call. That hey, Yankees manager Aaron Boone would like to see Luis Severino start the All Star game for the American League.

He just wants someone else to take over in the second inning.

Severino pitched five innings to earn his major league-leading 14th win, Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge each hit solo home runs, and New York beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-5 Saturday.

Severino (14-2) won his fifth straight start, allowing three runs and five hits. Two of the hits off Severino were home runs, marking the first time this season that he has allowed more than one homer in a game. Severino has allowed three earned runs or less in 16 consecutive starts.

”He’s been everything you want an ace to be,” Boone said.

The All-Star rosters will be announced Sunday http://www.newyorkjetsteamonline.com/jachai-polite-jersey , although starting pitchers for each league won’t be named until the day before the game.

”I’d love to see him start, and go one inning,” Boone said.

Jonathan Holder, David Robertson, Dellin Betances each worked one inning and Aroldis Chapman got the first out of the ninth before leaving with a sore left knee, the same injury that has bothered him for several weeks.

”Just a little more discomfort than what I usually have been feeling,” Champman said through a translator.

With the Yankees ahead by four runs, Boone wasn’t about to take any chances.

”He said he was fine to continue but I just didn’t want to mess with it,” Boone said.

Chasen Shreve finished for New York, giving up a solo homer to Aledmys Diaz.

Gardner connected on left-hander J.A. Happ’s first pitch of the game, the 14th leadoff homer of his career and first time he’s gone deep on the opening pitch.

Judge piled on when he homered on Happ’s fifth pitch, his 25th of the season.

”He does a good job of really painting the corners and mixing his pitches well,” Judge said of Happ.” We were able to capitalize on a couple that were out over the plate.”

Happ (10-5), a potential trade target for the Yankees, had a dreadful audition. He allowed six runs and four hits in 2 2-3 innings, his shortest start of the season.

”You never know what’s speculation Chuma Edoga Jersey , what’s truth, and what has any realistic chance,” Happ said of the trade rumours. ”I’m just trying to play and pitch and I’m happy right here.”

Happ matched season-worsts by allowing seven runs and 10 hits in his previous outing, last Sunday against Detroit. It’s the first time in Happ’s career that he has allowed at least six earned runs in consecutive starts. Happ has lost back-to-back outings following a six-game winning streak.

Brandon Drury hit a two-run double in the first and Gardner hit a two-run triple in the fifth before scoring on catcher Luke Maile’s passed ball.

Toronto’s Kevin Pillar hit a two-run homer in the second and Randal Grichuk added a solo shot in the fourth.

New York outfielder Aaron Hicks left after four innings because of a sore left hamstring. Clint Frazier came on to play left field in the bottom of the fifth, with Gardner moving from left to center.

Boone said Hicks will get the day off Sunday in the hopes that he’ll be ready to return for Monday’s doubleheader at Baltimore.

Home plate umpire Lance Barrett made two ejections, both in the third inning. Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia was ejected for arguing balls and strikes from the bench moments before Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was also tossed for arguing.

CATCH OF THE DAY

Toronto’s Curtis Granderson made a sensational diving catch to retire Kyle Higashioka for the final out of the first.

WALK THIS WAY

The Yankees drew 10 walks, their highest total of 2018. It was the most issued in a single game by the Blue Jays this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: New York recalled Frazier from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre and designated RHP David Hale for assignment. Hale pitched 5 2-3 innings Friday in relief of RHP Sonny Gray. … C Gary Sanchez (right groin) caught RHP Masahiro Tanaka’s pregame bullpen session and also took two rounds of batting practice. Boone said Sanchez could begin a minor league rehab assignment July 15. … Triple-A RHP Luis Cessa is expected to start the second game of Monday’s doubleheader. Triple-A RHP Jonathan Loaisiga was a candidate for the start but has been ruled out because of a sore shoulder. Boone said Loaisiga had an MRI Friday and will visit New York’s team doctor Monday.

Blue Jays: RHP Rhiner Cruz (right groin) left in the ninth inning. … RHP Preston Guilmet was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. Guilmet was designated for assignment Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Yankees RHP Domingo German (2-4, 5.37) faces Blue Jays LHP Ryan Borucki (0-1, 2.77) in Sunday’s series finale. German has failed to complete five innings in his past two starts. Borucki made his home debut against Detroit on Monday, allowing two runs and two hits in seven innings.

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