TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays will not know this weekend if they will have permission from the Federal government to play in Canada, according to multiple reports.
A team spokeswoman reported that the club continues its work together with the Federal government to play its games at the Rogers Center from July 30, but that the team expected to have a response by this Friday.
However, according to various reports, the Blue Jays will not have an answer on the matter this weekend.
The United States and Canada border remains closed to non-essential travel. Major League Baseball (MLB) will require an exception for vaccinated and unvaccinated players and team staff to play games in Canada.
The Blue Jays played home games in the 2020 short season in Buffalo, New Yoerk, and began the current campaign in Dunedin, Florida, before returning to Buffalo. The Canadian government did not allow the team to play in Toronto due to the risk of contagion by COVID-19, citing the frequent travel required in the United States during the regular calendar.
Toronto last played at the 49,000-seat Rogers Center on September 29, 2019, when they beat Tampa Bay 8-3.
The ace of the Blue Jays, Hyun jin ryu, signed with the team prior to the 2020 season and has yet to pitch in Toronto.
The team noted in a statement in recent days that Major League Baseball has high vaccination rates, with more than 85 percent of players and staff fully vaccinated, noting that players and employees at home and on visiting teams will have to show proof of a COVID-19 negative test without the need for quarantine and that fully vaccinated individuals will also undergo weekly testing.
The Blue Jays indicated that local unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals and visiting teams will adhere to the modified quarantine for their first 14 days in Canada. They will be allowed to leave their residence only to participate in sporting activities at the Rogers Center.
AP contributed to this report.
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