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Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman will wear No. 34 to honour Roy Halladay

Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman revealed Wednesday that his jersey will honour the legendary Roy Halladay, who's No. 32 is retired in Toronto. (Getty)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman revealed during his media availability Wednesday that he plans to pay homage to the late Roy Halladay by wearing his No. 34.

Gausman signed a five-year, $110-million contract with the Blue Jays on Wednesday, adding to a rotation that is expected to keep the American League East gauntlet at bay. He was named an All-Star for the first time after posting a 14-6 record with a 2.81 ERA and 227 strikeouts.

Halladay’s No. 32 is retired by the Blue Jays, so Gausman is electing to sport No. 34, the number Halladay wore during his tenure with the Philadelphia Phillies.

“His ability to make a ball move was incredible. And so being able to watch him do what he did in Toronto, and then really over his whole career, going to Philly as well. I was always a huge fan of him, not just on the field, but just the way that he carries himself, you know, kind of that even-keeled, and that's what I've always tried to be,” Gausman told reporters.

"Obviously very honoured to now be wearing the same threads that he wore. I'll be wearing his number, not 32 because it's retired, but I'll be wearing 34 this next season and going forward. Any time I put on that jersey, I really think about him every time that I do."

Halladay is arguably the greatest Blue Jays pitcher of all-time and won the first of his two Cy Young Awards while in Toronto in 2003. He was posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on first-ballot in 2019.

Halladay died in a plane crash on November 7, 2017.

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