Kevin Kiermaier on Rays’ strong start, loving life with the Blue Jays

TORONTO — Having spent his entire career with the Rays since being the 941st pick in the 2010 draft, Kevin Kiermaier didn’t want to leave.

But forced into free agency when the Rays declined his 2023 option for $13 million, the slick-fielding centerfielder signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Blue Jays and has adjusted and fit in well, getting off to a good start while relishing the experience of playing for a new team and, as he pointed out several times, a whole country.

“I love to be loved, and feel appreciated and wanted,” he said. “And the Blue Jays have done that from the get-go. I cannot thank them enough.”

Kiermaier discussed the transition and more before Friday’s game. Here are excerpts, edited for clarity and length:

On how quickly he became comfortable:

“I feel so at home. I love it. Everyone in this city has embraced me, and it’s been so fun. ... I feel like I’ve been here a lot longer than I have. And that’s the credit to all the players, coaches, everyone involved in this organization. The fans, I felt the love from the get-go. And that’s when I’m at my best.”

Getting around the big city, having grown up in Indiana and lived in Tampa:

“I rode my (electric) bike here (Friday), 4½-mile trip. First time I’ve ever done that in my big-league career, and I had an absolute blast, helmet and all. That was great. I love it here. I’ve got an electric bike so I could cruise a little bit and pedal to get the body going.”

Joining a former division rival:

“Right when I signed with the Blue Jays, I said I want to let everyone in this organization know what I’m about. And I know people will warm up to me sooner than later. I felt very comfortable very early on. And as spring training kept going, week by week, it just got better and better. Really just gaining the trust of the players, knowing who I am each and every day, and what you can count on me to do and how I’m going to act. That’s a big part of what I’m about. I love being a good teammate, a great competitor out there, and I want my teammates to never worry about me.”

Getting along with fans, some of whom already wear his No. 39 jersey:

“Most people here in Toronto, they love their sports teams, and for me to represent a country it’s such an honor to do that. When I was with the Rays, I felt like I was Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater, the outskirts. But this is a little bit different market and a much, much bigger scale. For me, I just said, this is the first time doing something different my whole career, being a Blue Jay, being something other than a Ray for the first time. And I want the Blue Jays to know how much I care each and every night when I take that field, and I want to win. I want to bring a championship here. I knew that if I went out there and handled my business the right way and go out there and play hard and try to make plays, help the team win, the fans, you want players like me on your team. If you don’t like me as the opposition, I feel like I’m doing something right being a headache for the other side. But now I’m over here on this side, and I knew the fans here would like me at some point. And I’m glad that I’ve got a really good reception early on so far.”

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How what he hears from fans is different as a Jay:

“A little bit better now that I’ve got this jersey on. A lot nicer things said to me there. But I always say that as the opposition I never expect anything less. There’s some really rowdy fans out there in centerfield with the beverages flowing, and you know the upgrades they’ve made (to the stadium) this year. It’s nice to be on the other side of that where they’re cheering for me and saying a lot much nicer things.”

Whether he was surprised at the Rays’ strong start:

“No, no, no. I said ever since back in 2018, when we won 90 games that year, we were trying to build a winning culture, and then to reach the playoffs every year since then was a joy to be a part of. Now they’re 13-0 (before Friday’s 6-3 loss), they can pitch with anybody, play defense, and they’ve got enough weapons in the lineup to beat you offensively. A lot of good players over there.”

Fashion report

Yandy Diaz was surprised and entertained to see teammates sporting his sartorial style — tight jeans, sleeveless sweaters, gold chains — for Thursday’s “Dress Like Yandy” trip to Toronto.

“It surprised me a little bit, especially when I found out that (Brandon) Lowe was behind it all,” Diaz said via team interpreter Manny Navarro. “It made me laugh and made me feel good about my teammates.”

Diaz said Jason Adam, Luke Raley (bright orange sweatsuit) and Lowe (who ordered a colorful sweater and then stuffed the sleeves to simulate Diaz’s bulging biceps) were his favorites.

The idea went over well enough, there could be another dress-up trip soon.

Rays rumblings

As several other teams have done to adjust to the shorter games, the Rays have extended the time they are selling alcohol at games, pushing back the cutoff from the seventh inning to the middle of the eighth. (They also still offer a program that rewards designated drivers.) … Related, complimentary drinks with Rays Club tickets are now limited to beer and wine. Mixed drinks have to be purchased, a move said to be more in line with standard industry practice. … Despite the 13-0 start, radio/MLB Network host Chris “Mad Dog” Russo had the Rays fourth in his Friday power rankings, behind the Astros, Yankees and Braves. Even typically mild-mannered radio broadcaster Andy Freed took to Twitter to object. … It’s a big Tampa Bay week in Toronto, with the Rays-Jays series followed by the first two games of the Lightning-Maple Leafs playoff series starting Tuesday. … One no-win question Kiermaier, a big Lightning fan, surely doesn’t want to get from Toronto media is who he is rooting for in that series. … With Jeffrey Springs out for at least two months, and potentially longer, with an arm/elbow issue, and the lesser injuries to Zach Eflin and Tyler Glasnow, could the seemingly pitching-rich Rays somehow be in the market for a starter? … The Tropicana Field crew has done a nice job incorporating some of late radio announcer Dave Wills’ calls into the daily presentation, using his strikeout and “Rays Win” calls. There will be a tribute to Wills prior to the April 22 game against the White Sox, for whom he used to work. … On the Rays radio Wills tribute show, former manager Joe Maddon intriguingly said, “I’m looking forward to possibly moving back here on a more permanent basis in the near future.” Maddon sold his home on Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard in 2021 to move to Arizona; he is still a part-owner of the Ava restaurant. ... Per a preply.com analysis of reddit posts, Rays fans ranked seventh out of the 30 fan bases in terms of spelling. The Dodgers, Jays and Cardinals were worst.

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