Toronto Maple Leafs players are already finding ways to unwind as they transition into off-season mode after being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past Sunday.
On Thursday, the Toronto Blue Jays hosted a group of Maple Leafs and invited them to take part in batting practice at Rogers Centre.
Auston Matthews, James van Riemsdyk, Mitchell Marner, Frederik Andersen and Matt Martin all participated and it turns out a couple of them are naturals.
“I haven’t swung a bat in a while so we’ll see,” van Riemsdyk said moments before crushing a ball over the fence.
JVR is a left-shot hockey player who went yard as a right-handed batter. Not to be outdone, star rookie Matthews, a lefty on the ice and at the plate, also hit one over the wall down the foul line.
Andersen, the team’s goalie, is no stranger to flashing the leather in the crease and he showed off his glove hand with a diving play while fielding ground balls at third base.
“We just want to say thank you the Blue Jays for letting us out today,” Marner said. “We had a great time.”
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