For decades, MLB has been revered as America’s favorite pastime. A moniker that captures both its deep cultural roots and, in many ways, its geographic limitations. While the league boasts power hitters from the Dominican Republic to the disciplined arms of Japan, MLB remains, at its core, a U.S.-centric operation. And outside of a handful of exhibition series like this year’s Tokyo Series, the regular season schedule is confined almost entirely within the United States. Save for one exception: the Toronto Blue Jays.

Well, Canada’s lone MLB franchise has long served as the league’s northern outpost. They kept the sport’s flame alive across the border after the Montreal Expos’ departure in 2005. And in a landscape where other major sports leagues aggressively globalize, think the NBA in China or the NFL in Europe, MLB’s relatively slow and cautious international push is raising eyebrows.

And here, the bigger question lies ahead. How can MLB truly grow beyond its regional shell? According to former players and insiders, one potential key may lie in leaning harder into the success story that is the Blue Jays.

“The best part about being a Toronto Blue Jays fan is when you go to places like Minnesota. When you go to places like Seattle. When you go to any bordering state to Canada, you are getting those types of fans that are coming to see you for the first time. And they are selling out those stadiums,” former Blue Jays veteran Kevin Pillar shared his thoughts on a Foul Territory episode.

Well, the Blue Jays benefit from their geographic proximity to several U.S. border states. For instance, key American cities, such as Michigan and Minnesota, border Ontario. These regions often lack competitive MLB teams of their own or are close enough that Toronto becomes a natural alternative. So, for decades, fans in Western New York and the Great Lakes region have followed Blue Jays games. And this cross-border reach expands the team’s fan base beyond national borders. Moreover, into areas where there’s genuine baseball interest but limited local representation.

So, why not tap the potential then? Wait, there’s more…

“Fans are dying for baseball in Canada. And just for the exhibition games, 50-60 thousand people are coming in. I don’t know what the stadium holds, but it was sold out… And another great part about being a Toronto Blue Jay is that most teams do fanfest, which is typically just in your city… We would caravan across the entire country. We would pick different places across the country, and everywhere you go, there are Blue Jays fans,” Pillar further added.

Yes, the Blue Jays enjoy one of the largest fan bases in MLB. All thanks in large part to their unique position as Canada’s only MLB team. Since the departure of the Montreal Expos in 2005, the Blue Jays have become the de facto national team of Canada. Hence, in cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, and Montreal, fans rally behind the Jays with strong loyalty. MLB has approximately 10 million fans in Canada, according to Nielsen Sports. This is a significant portion of the league’s overall 170 million fans in the U.S.

Hence, given the Blue Jays’ broad and passionate national following, MLB should consider scheduling more Blue Jays games in other Canadian cities. Occasional games in Montreal, Vancouver, or even Ottawa would give fans outside of Toronto the opportunity to experience live MLB action. A good stepping stone for baseball to go beyond the U.S. boundary.

It is not only that the Blue Jays are poised to get maximum fan following for being the lone Canadian representative. But their winning note this year is what is bolstering their popularity.

The Blue Jays’ recent triumph is bolstering their popularity

If you remember, the last time the Blue Jays lifted the World Series trophy was way back in 1993. Since then, the team has had its ups and downs, with more quiet rebuilds than deep October runs. But this season? It feels different. There’s a fresh energy around the club, and fans can sense it.

Well, led by a star power like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Max Scherzer, the Blue Jays are finally putting it all together. With a 68-48 record and currently sitting at the top of the AL East, they’ve already made a big statement, especially after a clean sweep of the Yankees, something that hasn’t happened in recent memory.

Hence, this kind of dominant performance isn’t just an improvement, but a signal. The Blue Jays aren’t just aiming for a Wild Card spot anymore. They’re gunning for the division title, and fans across Canada are rallying behind them with unmatched enthusiasm. So, whether you’re in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, or somewhere in between, there’s a buzz in the air that hasn’t been this strong in decades.

Now, with the postseason dream looking more like a reality, this could be the year the Blue Jays finally make a serious run at the championship. And if they keep playing like this, they just might bring October baseball back to Canada in the biggest way possible. Something that will bring fortune to MLB as well.