(Dunedin) There was a small crowd when Kevin Gausman started his first sideline shootout for the Blue Jays on Monday.
Posted yesterday at 7:51 p.m.
Players, coaches, scouts and reporters watched Gausman throw to receiver Reese McGuire at the team compound in Dunedin.
Other Blue Jays pitchers were also hard at work, but all eyes were on Gausman.
“It’s destabilizing, for sure,” Gausman said of attracting so much attention.
“Especially since the net isn’t that high,” he added with a laugh, referring to the protective fence behind McGuire. I wouldn’t stand too close. Especially at the start of camp. »
Joking aside, he also caught the attention of his new manager.
“He was accurate from day 1. It’s always nice to see that,” Charlie Montoyo said.
Gausman agreed to a five-year, $110 million contract in November after a 14-6 loss season with San Francisco.
The right-hander averaged 2.81 in 192 innings over 33 starts, a major league high. He also struck out 227 batters.
He is expected to be a key member of the Blue Jays rotation.
Gausman said every pitcher gets a lot of attention the first time they appear in training camp.
“It’s the first dose of adrenaline, it tells you it’s started,” he said. You always have a little more stiffness after that one, more than any other time during the offseason. »
Gausman does not know which receiver will be his regular partner in the regular season. He wants to get to know McGuire, Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk off the pitch. The first step: sit next to them at lunch, in the cafeteria of the Blue Jays.
“I throw high in the zone a lot,” Gausman said. We’ll talk about how to give me a target, move, all that. It’s sort of finding the same wavelength. »
Toronto has also made official the hiring of Yusei Kikuchi. The Japanese left-hander has agreed to a three-year contract worth 36 million.
The 30-year-old Kikuchi was named All-Star last year with the Seattle Mariners.
He finished the season with a 7-9 record, 4.41 GAA and 163 strikeouts, in 157 innings.