The Toronto Blue Jays’ epic 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the American League Division Series was particularly exciting for one Vancouver family, who housed two current Jays pitchers back when they played minor league baseball in Vancouver.
Twenty-three-year-old Aaron Sanchez was brought into Game 5 during the seventh inning and 20-year-old Roberto Osuna sealed the win with a ninth-inning strikeout.
Both hurlers played with the Vancouver Canadians, the Jays’ single-A affiliate, and lived with Bill and Jana Maclagan.
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The couple has been billeting C’s players for nine years. Sanchez stayed with them in 2011 and Osuna in 2012.
“Aaron was a incredibly polite, very sweet, a very mature young man. We absolutely adored him the minute he came through the door,” said Jana.
“Roberto was perfect. He was 17 and our oldest son was 16, so it was just another teenager who happened to have an awful lot of athletic talent.”
The Maclagans say they still keep in touch with Sanchez and Osuna through Facebook.
They’re excited to see the Blue Jays advance to the American League Championship Series, but not nearly as excited as Sanchez and Osuna.
“I suspect they’re high as kites today, feeling wonderful,” said Bill.
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