From patenting the “Edwing” to hitting his dramatic walk-off home run in the 2016 American League wild-card game, Edwin Encarnacion‘s Blue Jays career provided no shortage of iconic memories.
In part two of an exclusive sit-down interview with Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae, the new Cleveland Indians slugger took an emotional walk down memory lane and reacted to a few of his most famous moments over his seven-plus seasons in Toronto.
The parrot’s first ride
April 28, 2012: Encarnacion barrelled up an Hisashi Iwakuma offering and drove it over the wall in right field for his fourth career grand slam. So why is this particular homer so memorable? It’s the first time the parrot came out for a walk.
Encarnacion himself revealed the true origin story of the “Edwing.”
“I was happy. I was so excited,” Encarnacion said. “I hit a grand slam and the emotion took me around the bases. When I got back in the dugout my teammates asked if I saw how I ran the bases. I said no. When I went to see the video I saw that I had my arm up and it looked good. The guys told me to keep doing it, that it looks good. I kept doing it and that’s how it started.”
And just like that a modest-yet-beloved celebration was born.
Toronto Blue Jays
Edwin Encarnacion’s signature celebration (Tony Gutierrez/AP)
Easy as 1, 2, 3
Aug. 29, 2015: Rogers Centre mimicked a hockey rink after Encarnacion connected for his third home run of the game against the Detroit Tigers.
Unfamiliar with the classic hockey tradition, Dioner Navarro had to explain to his teammate why the fans were littering the field with hats. Unfortunately, Encarnacion didn’t keep all the apparel the Toronto faithful bestowed upon him and doesn’t truly know what has happened to the bag of caps.
“[The Blue Jays] have it. I don’t know what they did with it. They didn’t give it to me,” Encarnacion said with a laugh.
Walk-off wild-card winner
Oct. 4, 2016: The Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the wild-card game thanks to Encarnacion’s three-run home run in extra innings. This is perhaps his defining moment with the franchise and the one fans will remember the most.
That home run will forever be etched in Encarnacion’s mind.
“It’s a moment you don’t forget,” a visibly emotional Encarnacion said. “I see the video and what I did for Toronto. The last experience I had was to take the team to the playoffs and I feel completely happy.”
Mae closed the interview by asking the 34-year-old if he had a message for the fans who were with him through the highs and lows of his time in a Blue Jays uniform. It’s clear that the Dominican native still feels appreciated despite now suiting up for the team that eliminated Toronto in the 2016 ALCS.
“I have received a lot of support from the fans in Toronto,” Encarnacion said. “On social media many fans were upset, and when I read the negative comments I know they are not easy, but there are many of them who do not understand the situation I went through. I hope they understand my situation.
“I’m at a new stage of my career with the Cleveland Indians, but thank you to the Toronto fans who have always supported me. Even though I am here with a different team, they always send me messages. They like me. That makes me feel good.”
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