“I really put a lot of pride into my bat-to-ball skills,” explained Keys. “I know I am a bigger guy, and just with playing baseball all these years, I go up to the plate looking to do damage to all parts of the field… I found a lot of inconsistencies with my swing last year, and that was one thing we really worked on to get squared up during the winter. Sometimes I would be pressing too much or swinging too hard. Just getting back to basics and simplifying things, using the legs more and just being loose with the hands.

“Putting that barrel to the ball… Playing hard, not giving away at-bats; things I can control to put myself in a good position to move on to whatever lies ahead of me. To be proud of what I have accomplished and be present in the moment. And one day, walk up those Rogers Centre dugout steps and play in front of that Canadian crowd.”