Danny Jansen will make history in Major League Baseball as he is set to become the first player to play for both teams in one game when the Boston Red Sox resume their matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays. The initial game, which took place on June 26, was suspended while Jansen was up to bat at Fenway Park. A month later, the catcher was traded to Boston, making for a unique situation where he will go from hitting for the Blue Jays to catching his own at-bat for the Red Sox. Jansen will be behind the plate for Boston, while a pinch-hitter steps up to bat for the Blue Jays in his absence.
Jansen had an 0-1 count for Toronto when the game was suspended due to weather. The Red Sox made room for Jansen on their roster by designating Reese McGuire, the starting catcher in the initial matchup, for assignment. McGuire is now with Triple-A Worcester. Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed that Jansen would be catching for Boston on Monday when the continuation of the game takes place, making for a historic moment in baseball. The pinch-hitter that steps up to bat for the Blue Jays in Jansen’s absence will not inherit a 2-strike count, and all action will be credited to the pinch-hitter.
The historic flip-flop between Jansen playing for both the Blue Jays and Red Sox in the same game will take place on August 26 when the continuation of the matchup resumes. In addition to Jansen’s unique situation, there are other unusual changes happening in the game. Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berríos will start the continuation of the game, even though Yariel Rodríguez was the original starter before the game was suspended. This technicality makes Berríos a reliever, a role he has not played since 2017. Rodríguez will start the following day, making him a starter in back-to-back games.
Prior to being traded to the Red Sox, Jansen played in 61 games for the Blue Jays, marking his seventh season with the team. In his first 13 games with Boston, Jansen has recorded a .257 batting average, two home runs, and five RBIs. He has also posted a .794 OPS in his stint with the Red Sox. This trade and subsequent historic moment add a unique chapter to Jansen’s baseball career, as he finds himself in a situation that has never before occurred in MLB history. The catcher’s versatility and skillset will be on full display as he navigates playing for both teams in the same game.
