Shohei Ohtani broke Torontonian hearts two years ago. They now have their perfect chance for revenge.

Written by Lachlan Sherriff

Shohei Ohtani in action against the Toronto Blue Jays - a team he very well could have joined two years ago (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

When it became clear Shohei Ohtani wasn't re-signing with the Angels at the end of the 2023 season, two teams quickly became the favourites to capture his signature. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays.

The two were chalk and cheese. The Dodgers were the big market team with all the money in the world to sign Ohtani. They had only won a World Series three years earlier, and had just made the playoffs for an eleventh straight season.

Of course, Ohtani would be treasured in Los Angeles, which was clear by the $700 million contract he was offered. But in the grand scheme of things, Ohtani would've been one of many athletes - and celebrities - demanding media attention in Hollywood.

It would've been different with the Blue Jays. Toronto has always been the type of city where if you put the work in for the fans, they'll treat you as one of their own. The Maple Leafs and Blue Jays might be starved of championship success, but it hasn't stopped their fans from showing up every night for the team.

And who can forget the 2019 Raptors, where Kawhi Leonard was probably the most untouchable man in Toronto, even more then Drake.

Had Ohtani become a Blue Jay, and taken them to the World Series, there are no doubts he'd have been showered with just as much love as Kawhi. Perhaps even more.

But we'll never know. Because on December the 11th, 2023, Shohei Ohtani broke Torontonian hearts and became a Los Angeles Dodger.

Shohei Ohtani after signing a ten year, 700 million dollar contract with the Dodgers (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

It's nearly two years later, and it's hard to imagine Ohtani regretting his decision. Sure, a gambling scandal that saw him have to fire his long time translator wasn't ideal. But what he's done on the diamond has been nothing short of spectacular.

An elbow injury kept him from pitching in his first season with the Dodgers, so he naturally became a designated hitter and achieved the first ever 50-50 in MLB history. He also hit 54 home runs, breaking Shawn Green's 23 year record of most home runs by a Dodgers player in a single season.

Ohtani won his third MVP in 2024. But what really mattered occured in October, when the Dodgers beat the Yankees 4-1 in the World Series. After all the individual success in his career, Ohtani finally had the championship to go along with it.

And this season, it's been no different. Ohtani, now 31, broke his own record for most Dodgers home runs in a season with 55. He's also taken the Dodgers to their second straight World Series.

This time, it won't be the Yankees taking them on. Instead, the Dodgers will go up against the team who nearly beat them out for Ohtani's signature.

The Toronto Blue Jays.

The Toronto Blue Jays celebrating their game seven victory against Seattle (David J. Phillip/Associated Press)

When the Blue Jays attempted to sign Ohtani, it had been three decades since they had been to the World Series.

For two of those three decades, they never saw a playoff game. When the Blue Jays finally made it back to October baseball, their best opportunity to make a World Series came in the mid 2010s. But their hearts were broken in the American League Championship twice, first against Kansas City in 2015 and then against Cleveland in 2016.

Following 2016, the Blue Jays spent seven straight years never making it past the first round of the playoffs. The prospect of Shohei Ohtani was meant to be what saved them, but it wasn't to be.

2024 wasn't a year to remember for Blue Jays fans. They went 74-88 and missed the playoffs, finishing bottom of the AL East, all while Ohtani won the World Series in Los Angeles.

But 2025 is different.

The Blue Jays have captured the hearts of the entire city of Toronto. Their record of 94-68 was the best Blue Jays season since 1993 - which happens to be the last time they made the World Series.

A 3-1 win in the AL Division Series saw Toronto advance to the American League Championships, where they had a date with the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners took a 2-0 lead of the series, but Toronto responded with two wins of their own.

But when Seattle won 6-2 in game five, the odds were suddenly heavily against the Blue Jays. They had to win two games in a row, or it'd be another year of heartbreak.

6-2 would be the scoreline again in game six, but it would be Toronto who won it this time, forcing a game seven.

And what happened in that game seven in Toronto will be burnt into the minds of Blue Jays fans for the rest of time.

Seattle, who were up 3-1 in the seventh inning, were so close to finally snapping their own drought and finally qualifying for their first World Series.

Step forward George Springer, who, with two teammates on bases, took the moment in his stride, hitting a home run to give Toronto a 4-3 lead.

George Springer celebrates his winning home run to send the Blue Jays to the World Series (Frank Gunn/CP)

It was shades of Joe Carter in 1993, and it put the Blue Jays closer to the World Series then they ever had been in the last 32 years.

And Toronto never looked back. Jeff Hoffman came up clutch in the ninth inning, pitching three outs and securing the win for Toronto. Now, they're only four games away from their first World Series victory in over three decades.

Shohei Ohtani is an incredible baseball player. He wins games single handedly. He did it for the Angels, he's doing it for the Dodgers, and he would've done it for the Blue Jays had he signed there in 2023.

But maybe Toronto never needed Ohtani.

Sure, teams win championships. But had Ohtani joined the Blue Jays and taken them to the World Series, you can imagine it would've been one guy getting the majority of the plaudits, similar to the 2019 Toronto Raptors with Kawhi Leonard.

Instead, the Blue Jays don't just have one guy. They have an entire team.

They have Alejandro Kirk, who was scouted out of a showcase in Mexico by the Blue Jays. Now he's one of the best catchers in the league.

They have Kevin Gausman, a veteran pitcher who's now on his fifth team. After twelve years in the league, Gausman finally has a chance to win the elusive World Series.

They have Vladimir Guerrero Jr, who grew up watching his dad play in the MLB. When Guerrero Sr played his last game for the Montreal Expos in 2003, a four year old Guerrero Jr took off his helmet and waved to the fans, creating an iconic picture. 22 years later, that kid is headed to the World Series.

A four year old Vladimir Guerrero Jr waves to the crowd

There's Bo Bichette and Ernie Clement. Chris Bassitt and Daulton Varsho. Addison Barger and the star of the ninth inning, Jeff Hoffman. All of them can now all say they've contributed to the best Blue Jays season in 32 years.

And of course, there's George Springer, who's three run homer in the seventh innings will go down in history, no matter what happens against the Dodgers.

George Springer wasn't born in Toronto. He's only lived there for four years, after signing with the Blue Jays in 2021. But when you listen to him speak about the city and how much he loves being a Blue Jay, you'd think he's been a Torontonian his whole life.

"I’m just so happy for everybody here. Our fans, our city, our country. This is for them."

- George Springer after Toronto's game seven win against Seattle, per Sportsnet

The Dodgers won't be easy to beat. With Ohtani leading the way, it's very easy to see them becoming the MLB's next dynasty.

But the Blue Jays are a team that defies all expectations. When they failed to sign Ohtani, when they missed the playoffs last season, and when they went 3-2 down to Seattle, it seemed like they'd never get here. And yet, here we are.

Whatever happens, this Blue Jays team will forever be stamped as Toronto heroes. But now, they're four games away from becoming Toronto legends.