Blue Jays played on with heavy hearts

Baseball came a distant second for the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

The Jays collectively played with heavy hearts in the series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Rogers Centre, their thoughts with first base coach Mark Budzinski.

Julia Budzinski, the eldest daughter of Budzinski and his wife Monica, passed away suddenly on Saturday at the age of 17.

CBS affiliate WTVR in Richmond, Va., reported that Budzinski died while tubing on the James River in Henrico County, Va. She was killed after falling from her tube into the river.

“This tragedy reminds us what’s more important in life,” Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said after the Jays lost 7-3.

“As a father and a husband myself, my heart breaks for Bud and his family. They are in our thoughts and prayers.

“He is a special person. Before he left (on Saturday) he wrote a note for me to read to the team. Going through that tragedy, that tells you everything you need to know about Mark Budzinski and family.”

Montoyo said that not playing on Sunday in the last outing of a five-game series against the Rays “came up” in discussions but did not go beyond that.

Budzinski departed during the game on Saturday night upon getting the news, and Montoyo left the dugout to be with him.

“That moment that happened, my heart was with Bud,” Montoyo said. “We have coaches who could do the job.”

Ross Stripling, who started for the Jays and lasted 4 2/3 innings before giving way to Trent Thornton, acknowledged the difficulty in managing emotions as he went about trying to work on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s really tough,” Stripling said. “This is not a situation that I bet any of us have ever been in, where someone so close to home has such a tragic loss.

“I think it hits everyone a little different, especially those of us with children. You could tell it really weighed on us.

“I think Bud would have wanted us to play and go out there and try to win a series and beat the Rays. It’s just not the way it unfolded. He was heavy on everyone’s hearts.

“He is probably one of the most genuine, nice, familyoriented Christian men that you can meet in all of baseball. We all told him that we love him and go be with his family and we hope to see him soon. I’m now a dad. My son is 16 months. I sat with my wife (Saturday) night and we were emotional thinking about it.

“That has to be every parent’s worst nightmare, to get a phone call like that. We want him to be home with his family and we will see him whenever that is.”

Before the game, a moment of silence was held for Julia.

“The Budzinskis have been part of our Blue Jays family over the last four seasons,” Jays general manager Ross Atkins said in a statement released by the team. “This devastating loss is felt by our entire organization and we grieve alongside Bud and his family.

“I have known Bud for more than 25 years and have always admired his commitment as a dad and husband first. He is loved and wellrespected by our entire clubhouse and holds a special place in all our hearts.”