Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer described a creative pitching competition used to determine the draft order for the team's internal fantasy football league.
The tradition highlights the team's internal culture and the intersection of professional baseball and amateur football management. Such competitions are common in professional sports locker rooms to build camaraderie during the long season.
Speaking during a home game at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Scherzer said the process to Dan Shulman and Joe Siddall [1]. The method for deciding the draft order involved a pitching showcase among team staff [1].
According to reporting on the event, 12 participants took part in the competition to secure their spot in the draft [2]. The contest allowed team members to use their athletic skills to gain a strategic advantage in their fantasy football rosters [2].
Scherzer said the league serves as a way for the players and staff to engage in friendly competition outside of their primary roles on the diamond [1]. The use of a pitching-based contest to set the order reflects the team's identity as a baseball club, even when the focus shifts to football.
While many fantasy leagues rely on random generators or coin flips, the Blue Jays opted for a performance-based approach [3]. This method ensures that the draft order is decided by a tangible event rather than chance [3].
“The method for deciding the draft order involved a pitching showcase among team staff.”
The adoption of performance-based draft orders in professional sports leagues suggests a preference for meritocracy and team-building activities that mirror the athletes' professional skills. By integrating a pitching showcase into a football-related activity, the Blue Jays reinforce a competitive environment that extends beyond official game play.
