If there wasn’t enough evidence already that former Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman and his family loved their time in Toronto, the case should now open and shut.
Gausman, who was dealt to the Chicago Cubs at the MLB trade deadline in August, was back in town on Monday with wife Taylor — and it had nothing to do with baseball.
The Gausmans used the day off in the Cubs schedule to head north and enjoy their former home on Monday.
Taylor posted several pictures from their brief getaway on her Instagram Stories, sharing an image of the CN Tower, herself and Kevin in an embrace and of their dinner at Akira Back.
The high-end Japanese-Korean eatery is located in Bisha Hotel on Blue Jays Way and is the namesake of the Michelin-starred chef.
The couple ordered several dishes, including the restaurant’s famous Tuna Pizza, which features a tortilla crust, thinly sliced bigeye tuna, umami aioli and Maldon sea salt.
However, the Gausmans’ trip to Toronto was a short one – and for good reason. Kevin is slated to start for the Cubs on Tuesday night at home against the Miami Marlins.
The Cubs are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot, sitting four games up on the Arizona Diamondbacks with six games to play. Chicago is tied with the Padres at 87-69 with Phillies a game behind at 86-70, meaning it will take a small miracle for Gausman’s new club to miss out on the playoffs.
The Blue Jays, on the other hand, are on the opposite side of things. With a loss to the Orioles on Wednesday (Tuesday night’s game has been postponed due to inclement weather) and a win by the Chicago White Sox, the Jays will officially be eliminated from post-season contention.
How is Gausman doing in Chicago?
Gausman appears to still be figuring things out in the Windy City – both on the field and off of it.
Since joining the Cubs, he has a 4-2 record in eight starts, but his 5.04 ERA is his worst in years and up from the 4.38 he posted while with the Jays this season.
He also has taken to social media in search of some local recommendations around town.
Late last month, he posted a question on X asking for a specific type of help.
“Chicago I need your help. Trying to figure out who has the best cinnamon rolls in the city!” he wrote.
While many fans offered their replies, Joey Votto – the retired Canadian baseball star and brief Blue Jay – wrote “Try Tim Hortons” while adding a crying emoji.
Blue Jays fans could hold out some hope for a reunion, however. Gausman is a free agent at the end of this season and with his and his family’s love for Toronto, a return shouldn’t be ruled out.