Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt. Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Bassitt has miserable debut for Blue Jays

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 4/2/23

The Toronto Blue Jays gave starting pitcher Chris Bassitt a three-year, $63 million deal this offseason to upgrade their starting rotation. He did not have a promising debut with his new team on Sunday.

Things went off the rails quickly in his start against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Bassitt allowed nine runs in only 3.1 innings, including four home runs. He is the first Blue Jays pitcher to ever allow four home runs in his debut with the team, with three of those coming in the first inning.

That includes the first two batters he faced.

What a way to start the game! #BACKTOBACKJACKS pic.twitter.com/vO9ydh0u1R
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 2, 2023

Here is a look at the third home run of the inning off of Bassitt.

Our 3rd home run of the inning! pic.twitter.com/oJly4yHseg
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 2, 2023

At the end of the day it is just one game and Bassitt has an extensive track record of being a front of the rotation starter.

He will get better. If there is a concern it might be the fact that Bassitt's velocity was down a little bit at the end of spring training and was off by a couple of miles per hour again on Sunday. That, combined with a brutal first start, will set off at least a few alarm bells for a Toronto team that has extremely high expectations this season.

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