Photo by Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Marcus Stroman didn't want to come to Canada when he was drafted by the Blue Jays. Now he loves it. Just like Drake. And Raptors stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.In a piece that ran on the Players' Tribune today, Stroman wrote about his recovery from last season's injury, the doubters that always questioned his ability because of his height (#HDMH), and his love for Toronto, the city Drake reps like no other. While he didn't know much about the Great White North when he was drafted out of Duke in 2012, Stroman now says Toronto, a.k.a. the #6ix, is his favourite city (if he wanted to endear himself more with a fan base that's already in love with him, he should have included the 'u' in favourite). Anyway, here's a snippet of his heartfelt piece:
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While the Leafs continually shit the bed every year, the Blue Jays are making inroads in a crowded sports landscape in the nation's biggest city. Never has that been more clear over the past two decades than last year, when Toronto snapped a 22-year postseason drought and captured the American League East. The city was buzzing, on a high for a three-month stretch with soldout crowds after the team traded for David Price and Troy Tulowitzki. Stroman recalls a time when he and his teammates were greeted to thunderous cheers and "Let's Go Blue Jays" chants at the Air Canada Centre during a Leafs game. Like he said: "That's baseball city status."While Josh Donaldson took home the MVP and Jose Bautista delivered the signature moment of the postseason, Stroman played a big part, too. He wasn't even supposed to play last season after tearing his ACL during spring training, but there he was, front and center in the postseason, helping the Blue Jays come two wins shy of a World Series appearance. And one gets the sense his star is only getting bigger.Stroman got the Opening Day nod for Toronto this season, pitching into the ninth inning and will start Friday's home opener against the division rival Red Sox. He's unequivocally the ace of the pitching staff and one of Toronto's, even Canada's, favourite athletes.His Players' Tribune piece certainly didn't hurt in that regard, either. It's Stroman's time, no doubt.When I got called up in 2014, that's when I got to truly experience Toronto, and I learned that it's such a hip and trendy city — very up on the times. Perfect for a young guy like me. It's a small city in the sense that it's not overwhelming. I live right downtown, so I'm a five-minute walk from the Rogers Centre or a Raps game or a Leafs game. I'm 10 minutes from the sickest restaurants in the city. I just fell in love.