Former Toronto Blue Jays star Jose Bautista is expected to make a return to the diamond later this month at an Olympic qualifying tournament.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Bautista will likely play first base for his native Dominican Republic as they vie for one of two remaining spots at the Tokyo Summer Games. The Dominican hasn’t participated in the Olympics for baseball in 12 years.
Passan reports Bautista has also been working out as a pitcher and has a fastball in the 90 m.p.h. range. It’s unlikely, however, that he pitches during the qualifier.
Bautista played 1,798 games over 15 seasons in MLB and was known best for his time with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2008 to 2017. He hit 344 home runs over the course of his career while batting in 975 runs.
He last suited up for an MLB club in 2018 as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Americas Qualifying Event, which will take place from March 22 to 26 in Tempe and Surprise, Arizona, will also see Canada, the United States, Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and Venezuela participate. The D.R., will play Puerto Rico, the U.S., and Nicaragua in the tournament’s first round.
South Korea, Mexico, Israel and host Japan have already qualified for the Olympics. Teams that finish second and third at the Americas Qualifier will have a final chance to reach the Summer Games in June in Taiwan.
