Mark Shapiro pens heartfelt thank-you letter to Toronto Blue Jays fans

Thanks to an outstanding 2025 season, public perception on the Toronto Blue Jays front office has changed dramatically. Having not been on a lengthy playoff run since 2016, there were many calling for the Blue Jays to part ways with the likes of team president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins. Then the Blue Jays put up an AL-best 94-68 record and nearly won the World Series. The outstanding season helped gather support we haven't seen surrounding the Blue Jays for many years, something that didn't go unnoticed by Shapiro and company. "I'm writing to you today filled with gratitude and an enduring sense of just how special this Blue Jays season truly was," Shapiro wrote in a letter to Blue Jays fans. "This begins, and must begin, with a simple but deeply felt thank you. Thank you to our fans -- the best in baseball. You travelled great distances to support us, filling our ballpark at home and supporting us at stadiums on the road. You gathered around screens and radios from thousands of kilometres away. We heard you. We felt you. "Your energy, your love, your hopes and belief reached our players and lifted us all. None of us will ever forget what that coast-to-coast-to-coast support meant or how it felt." What made this Blue Jays team so likeable was the fact that, while they did have star talent in the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, they relied on the entire roster to get to the World Series. They were an underdog the entire run, which resonated very well with the fan base. "You saw their toughness, their resilience, their character, and above all, their love for one another," Shapiro added. "No group could better represent what it means to be a teammate. It wasn't just how they played; it's who they are as human beings... I have never been prouder to be a Blue Jay, and never more determined to deliver more memories, moments, and celebrations that bind us together - as one team, one country, and one fanbase." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Toronto Blue Jays (@bluejays) The question now for the Blue Jays is what the future will look like. While Shane Bieber will be back in the rotation in 2026, there are other pending free agents, most notably Bichette , whose futures remain unclear. Regardless of what transpires in the offseason, Shapiro, who is expected to soon sign a contract extension, is making it clear that this organization has its sights set on winning it all. "Even now, the sting of falling short remains. That ache comes from our shared desire to bring you - and all of Canada - the World Series Championship you so richly deserve. We'll use that disappointment as fuel for what comes next. The pursuit continues, with even greater resolve."