Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews Has Two-Sport Potential

Jan 23, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) celebrates after scoring a goal against the New York Islanders during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) celebrates after scoring a goal against the New York Islanders during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

For superstar Auston Matthews, he has certainly been an unstoppable force for the Toronto Maple Leafs for the past few seasons.

The Toronto Maple Leafs best player has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (twice), the Calder Memorial Trophy, the Hart Memorial Trophy, and the Ted Lindsay Award as part of his awards collection. In addition, he has been a four-time All-Star and was a part of the NHL First All-Star Team back in 2022. In the eyes of the Leafs fanbase, there isn’t really anything he can’t possibly do.

Added to the fact that the Leafs intend to use him on the penalty kill this year, the star power of Matthews could reach incredible heights this coming season.

Well, there’s apparently another thing that he could actually be good at that many didn’t realize yet, up until now.

This past Wednesday, Matthews joined fellow teammates William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly for some live batting practice and some fielding at the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews Has Two-Sport Potential

Of course, the Blue Jays themselves are currently aspiring just like the Leafs, hoping to finally conquer their playoff woes to go all the way to the championship finals

. Nevertheless, it was a day where the Leafs were looking to have some fun and at the same time, cheer on their fellow sports team in their current run.

Looking carefully from one of the sequences during batting practice, as taken from videos that were posted on Twitter, it appears as though “Awesome” Matthews belted one out of the ballpark, as he rounded the bases in celebration of his amazing feat.

He even exclaimed “that feels so good” in the process, as his fellow teammates looked on, marvelling at his accomplishment.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1707123435824943246

Many athletes have the ability to excel in more than just their own sport, based on their training and skills that they may possess.

In Matthews’ case, his home run showcase definitely has the potential of becoming a power hitter in baseball if he chooses to pursue such a route, and that certainly would be the ultimate dream of a Toronto baseball fan.

But obviously the thought of it can be left for another day, as we all know his focus for now is just solely on one thing, and that is to take the Toronto Maple Leafs back into the playoffs to take care of some unfinished business, and hopefully en route to the Stanley Cup.