For the first time in the 61-year history of the Florida Complex League, the Blue Jays are champions of the Rookie-level circuit after defeating the FCL Twins, 7-5, in Game 2 of the best-of-3 Finals on Monday afternoon.
The Blue Jays snuck into the wild-card spot and used that momentum en route to a sweep of the Championship Series. After winning Game 1, 2-1, they capped off the title run at Lee Health Sports Complex to give the Toronto’s affiliate its first title.
In Game 2, after right-hander Samuel Colmenares started off the game with 2 2/3 hitless innings, Dylan Leach opened the scoring with a bases-clearing double in the fourth for the Blue Jays. After the Twins tied the game in the bottom of the frame, Aldo Gaxiola knocked a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh.
The Blue Jays tacked on two more runs in the eighth on Raimundo De Los Santos' RBI single and a bases-loaded walk drawn by David Beckles.
The Twins rallied for a couple runs in the bottom of the ninth, but righty Diego Dominguez induced a flyout to right field to seal the victory and kick off the Blue Jays' celebration.
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“Championships are special, they are extra special when it is the first one for the organization," Blue Jays manager John Tamargo Jr. said after the game. “This group of guys never quits, they keep going until the last out is made.”
On the final day of the regular season, the Jays' job was simple. If they won, they were in the playoffs. They won for the eighth time in 10 games to finish with a 36-23 record and clinch the playoff berth.
Toronto’s affiliate defeated the Astros, 4-3, in Saturday's semifinal. Sunday's Championship Series opener featured late-game heroics in a pitchers' duel, but the finale showed off the clubs' offensive sides.
Beckles ended the regular season as the circuit's home run leader (eight) as well as in the top three in average (.304), OPS (.871) and RBIs (42). Yorman Licourt posted a .784 OPS with 23 extra-base hits. Dominguez was a force out of the bullpen, tying for the league lead in wins (six) while making the most appearances (21) by a pitcher. The Mexico native also had five saves and 26 strikeouts over 28 innings.
After joining the circuit in 1981, the Blue Jays had only reached the league Finals once previously in 2015.
Known as the Sarasota Rookie League in 1964, the circuit became the Florida Rookie League in 1965 before transforming into the Gulf Coast League from 1966-2020 and then the Florida Complex League after that.