24 Aug 2024

Double play: Catcher to play for both teams in Blue Jays-Red Sox game

12:59 pm on 24 August 2024
Danny Jansen of the Boston Red Sox.

Danny Jansen of the Boston Red Sox. Photo: AFP

Danny Jansen started a 26 June game in Boston at catcher for the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

Two months later, he will resume it on the side of history.

Jansen, now with the Red Sox, will be the first baseball player ever to appear for both teams in the same game when Boston and Toronto continue their previously suspended contest on Monday.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed Friday that Jansen would be Boston's catcher when the teams reconvene.

"It's going to be nuts," Jansen told The Athletic.

Jansen was set for his first at-bat of the original game for the Blue Jays when the contest was called in the second inning.

Just over a month later, Jansen was traded to the Red Sox, who subsequently designated Reese McGuire - Boston's catcher on 26 June - for assignment.

Jansen was surprised when he learned about his potential shot at history.

"I didn't know (much about this) at first," he told The Athletic. "I was like, 'What, am I going to have to go on the other team?' I didn't know what was going to happen. It just kind of caught me off guard about the whole situation. Because when I got traded, it was just a whirlwind at first and I didn't think about it.

"But then once that stuff settled, I heard about (the suspended game scenario). And I was like, 'Oh, that's cool. That's a unique thing that's going to happen.'"

Jansen, 29, has hit .257 with two home runs and five RBIs in 13 games with the Red Sox entering Friday.

-Reuters

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