Toronto Blue Jays: Thrilling comeback win a taste of what’s to come

The Toronto Blue Jays had a walk-off moment to remember against the Tampa Bay Rays and it should only mean positive things for this young team going forward.

Over the past month, the Toronto Blue Jays have had great individual moments involving their young prospects but nothing compares to Thursday night’s comeback against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Down 8-2 going into the ninth inning, it would have been tough to blame fans who left the ballpark early given how the season has gone. Unfortunately, you can never count out a team despite their record especially with young players looking to make a big impression on the front office.

In that ninth inning, the Blue Jays didn’t waste many opportunities and had some lucky moments winning the game 9-8 on a no doubt bomb from Justin Smoak. While the home run was the clinching hit, it was the young players who helped set the stage.

Dwight Smith Jr., Rowdy Tellez, Jonathan Davis, got the ball rolling then Danny Jansen put the team in striking distance with a three-run homer. Kendrys Morales then hit a bloop single which may have been the baseball Gods giving the Blue Jays some extra life because, on the next at-bat, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. tied the game on a hooking home run that stayed fair.

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This tilted the momentum heavily in Toronto’s favour and it was only fitting that Smoak would end it and send the remaining crowd at Rogers Centre into a frenzy.

While being down 8-2 is not an ideal situation, Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins should be encouraged to see the young players rally against a team that’s fighting for a playoff spot. You can’t create moments like this in spring training or in the Fall League, the major leagues are a different animal and the young players passed a big test.

Most of the players had a tough time describing the moment to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet because many of them haven’t experienced it before.

"“It’s something that you really can’t even describe,” Davis told Zwelling. “I would compare it to, not necessarily getting married, but it’s that feeling. It’s a crazy feeling. It’s just pure joy. A crazy joy.”"

Zwelling also captures the joy manager John Gibbons was experiencing in his postgame press conference. Considering all the reports of his eventual exit at the end of the season, it is understandable that he would have a reaction like this.

"Blue Jays manager John Gibbons exited the clubhouse, still charged up from the win, and made his way across the large service area that rings Rogers Centre to climb atop a podium and talk to the media. He announced his presence — “Yeah, baby!” — as he entered the room. Once he sat down, he gave the assembled a bemused look, leaning back and running his hand through his hair. Someone asked him what just happened.“I don’t even know,” he said, shaking his head. “You know, baseball’s a crazy game.”"

While Gibbons isn’t going to be around next season, he is playing a big role in moulding and preparing these young players for what lies ahead. Many of them are coming up from triple-A and he is putting them into positions to show what they can bring rather than shelter them.

Whether this can carry over going forward remains to be seen but it looks like Blue Jays fans have something to look forward to.

What did you think about the Blue Jays comeback win? Does this provide optimism going forward? Let us know in the comments below.