Chris Bassitt dons hilarious jersey as fantasy football punishment

One of the great joys of fantasy sports is the amount of community it brings. Whether it be by reuniting long friends or connecting new ones, fantasy sports are social games designed to be enjoyed with friends.

We got a look at how that sense of community manifests itself on the Blue Jays thanks to Chris Bassitt.

On Saturday, Bassitt kept up with the team's tradition on Saturday's Spring Training opener by donning a custom jersey sporting a 4-10 across the back to commemorate his last-place finish in the team's fantasy football league — the same punishment that reliever Tim Mayza had to go through last season after also finishing in last place.

As the second part of the punishment, Bassitt had to serve as the bayboy during Toronto's game against the Yankees.

The league, which is run by Daulton Varsho, features players from up and down the Blue Jays' roster, all of whom did better than Bassitt.

For most people, their fantasy punishment likely revolves around having to eat a certain number of pancakes at Waffle House or having to swear some crazy outfit out in public. But for Bassitt, his punishment meant that he got to do something that nearly every baseball fan would do in a heartbeat.

Champagne problems, sure, but it doesn't change the fact that the entire world got to take in his last place finish via his customized jersey.

If the Blue Jays want to have any success this season, they'll Bassitt to continue to stay in the headlines for his on-the-field success. The 36-year-old is in his third year with the Blue Jays, but is coming off a season where he went 10-14 with a 4.16 ERA in 171 innings, marking the highest ERA of his career.

His best season with Toronto came in 2023 when he had a 3.60 ERA in 200 innings while leading the American League with 16 wins.

But before Bassitt can build on that, he had to have his day of infamy with a new jersey and new role. And if that wasn't enough, Saturday was also his 36th birthday. What a way to ring in another year around the sun.