David Price on the Excitement in Toronto: “It’s Never Been Like This Before”

David Price is a Toronto Blue Jay; in many ways, it’s still very surreal that the Blue Jays landed one of the best pitchers in all of baseball at the trade deadline.

For some (including myself), it has yet to really sink in. It will finally become a reality when David Price pitches to a sold out crowd at the Rogers Centre this afternoon.

Price on the Excitement in Toronto: “It’s Never Been Like This Before”

The excitement throughout Toronto (and most of Canada) is palpable after the moves made by the Blue Jays this week. And nobody is more privy to the hysteria than the players themselves.

Sportsnet 590’s Mike Wilner spoke with David Price before yesterday’s game and David Price seemed completely awestruck at the amount of attention his acquisition received in Toronto.

“It’s never been like this before … ever in my life. I went to pick up food last night, just riding back to the hotel on my scooter after the game last night. The amount of people that recognized me and yelled at me just riding my scooter.

It took forever to get my food. That was because fans kept coming over and talking and taking pictures, which I’m completely fine with.

On the ride home, my girlfriend was like ‘are you okay?’ and I was like “It’s never been like this ever.”

She was like ‘what do you mean?” and I said ‘I’ll explain when I get home. It’s never been this way’.”

Price’s Fortuitous Tweet from 2012

In late 2012 after the Blue Jays’ flurry of moves, David Price sent out this tweet about wanting to pitch in front of a packed house in Toronto. At the time, it may have been a subtle jab at one of his AL East rivals, but today, David Price will finally get his wish.

lol with all this Jays talk from everyone, does this mean people are coming to games now?! I’ve always wanted to see that place packed

— David Price (@DAVIDprice14) December 20, 2012

The Rogers Centre will be as packed as it gets. Late last week, it was announced that David Price’s Blue Jays debut was a sell-out. It also happens to coincide with Civic Holiday Monday and a Russell Martin bobblehead giveaway.

Suffice it to say, most will be there to see David Price take the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays for the very first time.

Image via Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP