Kiermaier back at Jays camp as special assistant

Former Toronto outfielder Kevin Kiermaier felt like a rookie again on Friday. 

DUNEDIN – Former Toronto outfielder Kevin Kiermaier felt like a rookie again on Friday.

After closing out a 12-year big-league career last fall by winning a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kiermaier was back in Blue Jays colours for the first time since taking on a part-time role with the team.

“I’m a special assistant but an outfield specialist,” he said. “An outfield whisperer as I like to call it. I’ll just do what is needed.”

The jovial Kiermaier exchanged hugs and handshakes with old friends and former teammates when he returned to the player development complex ahead of morning workouts.

He quickly put on his familiar Blue Jays warm-up gear to hit the practice fields with some of the team’s younger players.

“He had a fungo and a stopwatch,” manager John Schneider said with a smile. “He was all coached up today.”

Kiermaier was drafted by Tampa Bay with the 931st overall pick in 2010 and spent parts of 10 seasons with the Rays before joining Toronto in 2023. He returned to the Blue Jays last year and was dealt to the Dodgers at the trade deadline.

Kiermaier played in four post-season games last year, providing some backup depth as Los Angeles rolled to a World Series crown. He had announced his retirement plans in July.