The Toronto Blue Jays are my team

• Jesper van Aachen

  Math Editor

With a big smile, Davey Klassen looks at the bat in his hands. “Nice thing,” he said, swaying slowly.

The midfielder for Ajax and the Dutch national team knows very well what today is: opening day. Last night, Major League Baseball (MLB) started again. “I’m really glad it’s starting again.”

Classen and baseball seem like a crazy combination at first glance. But the 32-time international has a great love for the sport. “After football, I think it’s the best sport ever.”

“My mother and sister always played softball. So soccer was always in our house on Saturday, and on Sunday we went to watch my sister’s softball. So we could be found on the field every week.”

Without exercising himself, Klassen develops a love for sports at a young age. He follows Major League Baseball closely.

“The Toronto Blue Jays are my team,” Claassen says proudly. “My girlfriend has lived in Canada for a while and the Blue Jays are the only Canadian team in MLB. So the selection was made quickly,” the Ajax player explains his amazing choice for the club.

“I also expect a lot from them this year. Last year we lost a play-off place on the last day, but if I can believe the bookmakers we will do well. We have a really young and talented team.” interval. But in the end you want to win the world championship, of course.”

The fact that Klassen has an above average interest in American baseball is mentioned regularly during the conversation. “Do you know who’s good? Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He’s very strong and can really hit the ball that far. And I mean really long runs on his turf. Not the one that goes over the fence.”

It should come as no surprise that Guerrero Jr. He is a player for the Blue Jays, the club Klassen always refers to as “we”.

Klassen especially enjoys the spectacle and tactics in baseball. “The average Dutch person may not know all the rules, but if you do, it’s fun to follow.”

Klassen describes his trip to the Rogers Center in Toronto by saying, “He’s really beautiful on the court. He’s great on TV of course, but you really see everything.” Home of the Blue Jays.

“It’s a completely different atmosphere from football. A little quieter. And if something happens, it’s a real spectacle. We were there for a few days and then I told my girlfriend we should also go and have a look, of course.”

Baseball and Ajax have a long history. Back in the day, footballers like Johan Cruyff and Johan Neskens played baseball at De Mer, Ajax’s old football stadium, in the summer.

“Was Cruyff a holder? It wouldn’t be for me,” Klassen laughs. “I think I’ll be a short stopover. I’m always there when I play on Playstation. That’s where most of it happens, you have to move fast and make decisions. I love it.”

As cute as it sounds to him, Klassen doesn’t see Ajax’s current pick as taking part in the summer baseball games. “But I think we’ll have a few hard hitters Someone like Sebastian Haller or Lisandro Martinez. Brian Broby was going to kick the ball out of the park. It is also fast. I’ll put my money on it.”

The Toronto Blue Jays open the season against the Texas Rangers. Klassen: “It’s at night, so it’s hard to watch. But tomorrow morning I will definitely see a summary.”