Ex-AL East Rival Offers Unique Perspective On Intense Red Sox Battles 

José Bautista slugged his way through the American League East for 10 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. Plenty of his thunderous home runs came against the Red Sox with 43 homers across 156 games against Boston in his career.

Bautista returned to Boston to support the charitable efforts of his friend and Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez. He took the chance to reflect on a decade’s worth of battles with the Red Sox within the division, particularly inside the unmatched atmosphere of Fenway Park.

“The crowd and the history, just being out in Fenway,” Bautista told NESN.com Friday at the Pedro Martinez Foundation gala. “Just basking it all in with the nooks and crannies of the stadium. Just trying to put yourself in the same spots of the dugout and clubhouse where all the greats have played. Just seeing the fans and they passion they have for their team and rightfully so with all the success and history that the Red Sox organization has had over the years.”

The Red Sox and Blue Jays each trotted out playoff-caliber teams during the 2010s, combining for four trips to the American League Championship Series. Bautista specifically referenced how Boston’s star power in its rotation and lineup made for consistently exciting matchups.

“Great memories, great rivalry,” Bautista said. “I managed to do fairly well when I played here. I can enjoy that, too, looking back. I was a pull hitter, I think everybody knows that. I think the Green Monster was a nice big target for me. I enjoyed coming to Boston for many reasons. The people, the fans, the atmosphere, my success and the Latin community in general. It’s a great place to visit as an opposing player.”

Bautista suited up for the Blue Jays from 2008 to 2017. That’s a stretch where Toronto went 48-45 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park and clinched an American League playoff spot on the final day of the regular season in 2016.

“No easy game to be won in Fenway,” Bautista added. “Competition is what we strive for as players. Every single time you came here, you were going to get a healthy dose of it.”