The logo of the Toronto Blue Jays made an appearance at a prominent boxing match in Japan, sparking interest among keen observers and potentially causing some concern for Major League Baseball (MLB). Viewers of the WBC bantamweight title fight between Takuma Inoue and Tenshin Nasukawa at Tokyo’s Toyota Arena noticed the Blue Jays logo on the ring’s corner posts and canvas floor.
The Athletic initially reported the situation as a Blue Jays “sponsorship” that would typically require MLB approval, but in this case, the league was not involved as per the report. The Blue Jays confirmed they were aware of the logo’s use in advance and clarified it was not a paid sponsorship.
A spokesperson for the Blue Jays, Andrea Goldstein, acknowledged the report, stating that the information provided by The Athletic was accurate and that there were no further comments to add. The league’s response to potential follow-up actions regarding the matter was uncertain, and there was no immediate comment from MLB on the issue.
Following a successful season where they were World Series runners-up, the Blue Jays captured the attention of millions of Canadian viewers during their thrilling seven-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The intense Game 7 of the series attracted significant viewership in Japan as well, with fans tuning in to witness Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s pivotal role in the Dodgers’ victory.
Yamamoto, who played a crucial part in the Dodgers’ triumph, was named the MVP of the World Series. As Toronto sets its sights on returning to the World Series in the upcoming season, the team is focused on retaining and attracting top talent to bolster their championship aspirations.
The Blue Jays’ engagement with Japan for talent acquisition aligns with the longstanding tradition of MLB teams scouting top free agents from the country, highlighting the team’s commitment to building a competitive roster for future seasons.