On Monday at 112-year-old Fenway Park, spectators saw an unusual event in baseball history as a game suspended for severe weather in June resumed with a player, Danny Jansen, emerging in a different team jersey. Originally at the plate for the Toronto Blue Jays, the game was picked up again two months later with Jansen now playing for the Boston Red Sox, offering the rare spectacle of one player appearing in the same game for both teams. This rarity became a reality as Jansen was substituted in to catch for the Red Sox, a team he joined in July.
With Jansen behind the plate for the Red Sox, Daulton Varsho was brought in by the Blue Jays to take over Jansen’s 0-1 count plate appearance. Varsho struck out, but the false start of the game did not have any ramifications for Jansen. The inning then ended with a successful strikeout by Will Wagner. Jansen reflected on the unusual situation, noting his gratitude for getting to participate in such a unique moment.
After nearly two months, the Blue Jays emerged victoriously from the prolonged game, taking home a 4-1 win. A decisive solo home run by George Springer broke what had been a scoreless tie in the seventh, and the score was further bolstered by runs from Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. and Addison Barger. In contrast, the Red Sox’s only score was a solo home run from Jarren Duran. Despite his participation for both teams, Jansen ended the game 1 for 4, with all of his official at-bats coming as part of the Red Sox.
The Red Sox was forced to adjust their lineup before the game could resume. Jansen was set to bat seventh and Triston Casas moved to the eighth position, replacing Reese McGuire who had been traded. Normally a starter, Nick Pivetta took over on the mound for Kutter Crawford. The Blue Jays also were challenged to replace five players from the original lineup who were no longer available due to trades and injuries.
The unusual game resumption led to some interesting scenarios, with two players, Leo Jiménez and Wagner, making their MLB debuts. Since their debut falls within a suspended game initially begun on June 26, their official records will show they appeared in a game before they did. Jays manager John Schneider humorously likened the strange occurrences to the time travelling film, “Back to the Future.” This phenomenon has happened before, notably in 2018 when player Juan Soto debuted before he technically debuted.
The game also saw the implementation of Joey Loperfido as a defensive replacement by the Blue Jays. On the day of the original game, Loperfido was with the Houston Astros in a match against the Colorado Rockies. Thus, on paper, he will have played two games on the same day. This historical match saw the Red Sox move to 67-63 on the season with the Blue Jays right behind at 64-68. The occurrence was a suitable addition to the unique narratives in baseball history.
