Blue Jays $110M Star Gives Epic Shoutout to AMA Winner for Moving Tribute to Late Toronto Legend

As the AMA winner sang “Just in Case” from the Rogers Centre stage on Thursday, waves of emotion were already building. However, what made that more special was the singer wearing the legendary #32 Blue Jays jersey. The 2,117-strikeout icon wasn’t there in person, but his presence was felt. Watching him sing in Doc’s colors drew a heartfelt nod all the way from the right-arm ace currently donning the Toronto uniform.

Morgan Wallen, a 32-year-old from Sneedville who was kicked off season 6 The Voice playoffs, is now a country music star with Dangerous: The Double Album (2021), One Thing at a Time (2023), and I’m the Problem (2025). At Toronto’s Rogers Centre, packed with almost 40k fans, the AMA winner surprised everyone when he put on the No. 32 jersey of Blue Jays legend Roy Halladay; that moment created pure stadium magic. That connection didn’t only stay with the fans; it spread to social media.

The moment was so amazing that Kevin Gausman couldn’t hold back and appreciated it on his X. He wrote, “Mad respect to @MorganWallen for wearing a Roy Halladay jersey for his concert in Rogers Centre! Real recognize real! #GeauxBlueJays” When Wallen sang “I never let my heart go all the way” under the stadium lights, the crowd went wild with joy. Fans weren’t just hearing a hit song; they were watching a country singer commemorate their baseball hero. And Gausy felt that connection.

Gausman’s praise means more considering his own journey with the Blue Jays. He has been the anchor of Toronto’s rotation since 2022, when he signed a 5-year, $110 million deal. This season, he has pitched steadily, going 9-10 with a 3.63 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 168.2 innings. Well, his respect for Halladay runs deep.

On Wednesday, he revealed that his jersey will honor Halladay, whose famous No. 32 is no longer worn by anyone in Toronto. Sadly, Halladay died in a plane crash on November 7, 2017. He had won the Cy Young Award twice. For Gausman, it’s not just a number; it’s about carrying on the legacy of a great player.

Doc Halladay: The pitcher who became the Blue Jays’ heartbeat

Roy Halladay’s rise from a rough start to becoming a great pitcher is a well-known story in Blue Jays history. He was picked 17th overall in 1995 and made his MLB debut in 1998. At first, he struggled with an ERA that was among the worst in the league. But under coach Mel Queen’s tough love approach, he quietly reworked his mechanics in the minors and came back with fresh focus and command that changed everything.

Doc was great in Toronto for 12 seasons (1998–2009), averaging 17 wins a year, making six All-Star teams, and winning the AL Cy Young in 2003. That year, he had a historic 22-win drive and was one of the best openers of the time. He was the most reliable pitcher in the league, leading the league in complete games five times and became known as the ultimate workhorse.

Halladay left Toronto with an amazing career in MLB and a record of: 203 wins, 105 losses, a 3.38 ERA, 2,117 strikeouts, 67 complete games, and 20 shutouts. These figures make him a permanent member of the All-Time Blue Jays. He was the model for what an ace should look and feel like.

That legacy is still strong today. When Morgan Wallen wore Halladay’s No. 32 at his Rogers Centre concert, and Kevin Gausman responded with respect, it wasn’t just nostalgia; it was a tribute to a pitcher who became a part of Toronto’s heartbeat.