Most Twins fans are probably rooting for the Toronto Blue Jays in this year's Fall Classic. I mean, who, besides Dodgers fans, wants to see Los Angeles repeat as champions while leading the league in payroll? Yes, the Blue Jays have a high payroll as well, but they haven't won a World Series since 1993 and are far more likable. Not to mention, former Twin and Minnesota native Louis Varland has been the Blue Jays' most counted-on reliever this postseason, having made 10 appearances for Toronto thus far in the playoffs.
To further give Twins fans a reason to root for the Blue Jays, former Twins first baseman Ty France, who was nominated for this year's Gold Glove Award, has surprisingly cracked Toronto's World Series roster.
Ty France gives Twins fans another reason to root for Blue Jays in World Series
France and star shortstop Bo Bichette are on Toronto's World Series roster despite being left off the ALDS and ALCS rosters, leaving outfielder Joey Loperfido, who replaced Anthony Santander on the ALCS roster, and reliever Yariel Rodríguez sidelined for the World Series.
France, whom the Twins traded to the Blue Jays along with Louis Varland in exchange for lefty pitcher Kendry Rojas and outfielder Alan Roden on July 31, landed on the injured list with left oblique inflammation near the end of September, but still managed to return before the regular season concluded. The former Twins first baseman's injury may have been a reason for him being left off the Blue Jays' ALDS and ALCS rosters, but Toronto's offensive depth is likely the leading cause. France making the roster, even though Bichette also made it, is a slight surprise, but with Santander sidelined and Loperfido being a lefty, the Blue Jays decided that having another right-handed bat on the roster is necessary. One has to wonder if France will strictly be a bench-bat, or if he will start against lefty Blake Snell, who is scheduled to make the start on the mound in Game 1 tonight, slated to start at 7:00 p.m. CST at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Upon being traded to the Blue Jays, France started hot at the plate but cooled off at the end of the season. In 103 plate appearances with the Blue Jays this year, France hit .277/.320/.372 (91 OPS+). With the Twins this year, France slashed .251/.320/.357 (87 OPS+) in 387 plate appearances. One factor the Blue Jays likely considered when deciding to add France to the World Series roster is the ex-Twins' stats with runners in scoring position; in 803 career plate appearances with runners in scoring position, France has hit .302/.369/.438 with 17 homers and 269 RBIs.