Jays’ Springer plans to use Whalers-inspired walkout tune at least once this year

When he was a teenager, a family friend had season tickets at the Hartford Civic Center on the glass, Springer said. If the friend didn’t want to go, he called Springer’s father to see if he was interested in coming.

Springer became a huge fan and still carries plenty of team gear—t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts—to spring training.

“I was just obsessed with the whalers,” he said. “Ultimately they left (1997) and became the (Carolina) Hurricanes, but it’s all good.”

Donnie Baseball

Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly was in familiar territory Tuesday as he helped out at first base during infield practice.

Mattingly was a longtime first baseman during his playing days with the New York Yankees and was stationed at times on the bag when infielders took grounders and worked on their moves and throws.

“I like being out there and just trying to help and be a part of the group as much as anything,” Mattingly said. “I just want to stay with Vlad for a little bit first. He’s really good with his feet over there.”

Guerrero won a Gold Glove at first base last season. He took part in drills with second baseman Santiago Espinal, shortstop Bo Bichette and others during a morning session.

“My first impression is that this is a really good group,” said Mattingly. “A group that looks like they know what they want to do.”

OTTO-MATIC

Infielder Otto Lopez is one of two members of the Blue Jays organization who will represent Canada at next month’s World Baseball Classic.

The 24-year-old Santo Domingo native was around 10 years old when his family moved to Montreal from the Dominican Republic. Baseball Canada national team director Greg Hamilton recently gave Lopez the good news about his addition to the roster.

“It means a lot to me and my family,” Lopez said Tuesday. “It’s a huge country and for the country to play the people of Canada is very special.”

Another infielder in the Jays’ system, Damiano Palmegiani, will also play for Canada in next month’s tournament.

Lopez, who speaks Spanish, French and English, had six hits in nine at-bat after being recalled by the Blue Jays last October. He also drove three heats and had an OPS of 1.367.

Los Angeles Dodgers hitter Freddie Freeman leads the Canada roster. Canada will play in Pool C with Great Britain, USA, Colombia and Mexico in Phoenix from March 11-15.

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This report from The Canadian Press was first published on February 14, 2023.

Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press