Toronto — While Blue Jays fans are still counting down the 2026 season, a recent announcement has the entire fan community holding their breath: the new closer who just signed with the team — Tanner Andrews — not only brings with him an impressive resume, but also an emotional promise to Canadian fans: “I will not disappoint Canadian fans.”
Andrews, 28, has emerged as a rising star after a 2025 season in the independent league, where he had a 0.00 ERA in 15 appearances, striking out 25 batters over 13.2 innings without allowing a run.
That performance convinced the Blue Jays to sign him to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training—a chance to step into the MLB spotlight.
When asked about this turning point, Andrews said with pride: “Putting on the Blue Jays jersey—which represents Canada—is the greatest honor of my life. I know all the hopes and pressures are on my shoulders, but I’m willing to do everything to not disappoint everyone.” Those words rang out like a strong statement, causing the Rogers Centre to suddenly quiet down at his determination.
Before coming to the Blue Jays, Tanner Andrews was a closer for the Staten Island FerryHawks—a team in the Atlantic League, an independent professional league outside the MLB system. In the 2025 season, he played extremely impressively: 15 relief runs, 13.2 innings, 25 strikeouts, 3 saves, and a clean sheet—a record that would make any scout turn their heads.
Andrews had been in the MLB system before — drafted by the Miami Marlins in 2018 and then tried out for Triple-A — but then got cut. Many thought that was the end. But he didn’t give up: he kept practicing, kept working, even restarted from the amateur league, then re-emerged with the FerryHawks, and now the Blue Jays.
Andrews’s declaration wasn’t just rhetoric — it was a commitment to a passionate fan base: Blue Jays fans, Canadian baseball fans. He knew that every time he stepped onto the mound at Rogers Centre, he wasn’t just representing himself, but the hopes and pride of millions of fans.
The former FerryHawks pitcher — now a “backdoor” icon — had a lot on his plate: to turn a 0.00 ERA into MLB consistency, to prove that his “step into the light” wasn’t a fluke. If he succeeds, he could be a key part of the Blue Jays — who have just made a big signing for a pitcher — aiming for the ultimate goal: the playoffs, even the World Series.
But if he fails, the failure will be exposed to the eyes of the entire MLB — because the spotlight is not only on him personally, but also on the ambitions of a major league and the pride of a baseball-loving nation.
By signing Andrews, the Blue Jays are not just adding depth to their bullpen — they are sending a message to the entire MLB: they are looking for every brick, every piece for a complete season, from the main rotation to the bullpen, from the big stars to the potential talents.
Andrews — with his promise not to disappoint fans — could be the “sweet medicine” for Canadian fans, helping to revive hope after a long wait. If he keeps up his form, each game = a reaffirmation of faith.
And if you ask: can Tanner Andrews do it? The answers await in spring training, in the new season — and in every shot he’s about to take under the lights of Toronto.
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