New guy Will Robertson comes to Toronto from the land of a Blue Jays legend

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The journey to the big leagues was not a simple or particularly swift one for Blue Jays outfielder Will Robertson.

Along the way, there were twists and turns through 491 minor-league games spread over parts of six seasons and five different Toronto farm teams before finally getting called to the Show earlier this month.

The trip from his home in tiny Loose Creek, Mo., to a brush with Blue Jays greatness, though? It couldn’t have been easier.

If roots account for anything, the humble, personable Robertson is both in good shape and good company with the Jays.

Less than 10 minutes from Loose Creek, a tiny town of 300 (give or take) where Robertson grew up on a cattle farm, is Taos, an equally small burg better known as the home of Tom Henke, a World Series champ with the Jays and the franchise’s all-time saves leader.

And yes, the connection wasn’t lost on the 27-year-old Robertson nor the 67-year-old Henke.

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“He’s a great guy, who’s down to earth, does a ton for the community and loves mid Missouri,” Robertson said of Henke, who has been a quiet but steady influence on his career. “I always see him around and he’s always asked how things are going.

“He’s a good role model and good support to have.”

Henke was well known to the family in an area Robertson describes as having “more cattle than people, for sure.”

But the connection with the Terminator — as Henke was known by fans through his lethal run as Jays closer from 1985-1992 — became stronger after Toronto selected Robertson in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB draft.

There was advice and support along the way, an organic connection given their shared roots on the baseball diamond and off.

“He just talked to me about how cool it was to get to the big leagues this year and to make the journey my own,” Robertson said. “He said everybody does it on their own time and for told me to make the best of it.”

Henke has long been a supporter of Robertson’s – and an avid and invested follower of his career. So of course he was thrilled to hear when the big promotion finally came and as a bonus, happened to take place when he was at Busch Stadium in St. Louis as part of a promotion.

“He’s a hard-working humble kid and he comes from a great family,” Henke said over the phone from Missouri. “I’m excited for him. He’s excelled at every stop that he’s had and he has the work ethic to make it. That shows from how long he spent in the minor leagues and never gave up. I told myself I’d give five years in the minors and then get on with my life if I wasn’t in the big leagues. Will stuck with it and it has paid off.”

A two-time All Star in his time with the Jays, the Terminator has fond memories of Robertson winning a Missouri state championship at Fatima high school and has followed his career since.

“Will’s family is from around here so I know his Mom and Dad and a lot of relatives,” Henke said. “They are top notch. They remind me a lot of my family. Very close.

“Who knows how far he can go? He’s only 27 and I was 26 before I made the big leagues and stuck. I’ve always said the hard part wasn’t getting to the big leagues, the hard part is staying.”

It has just been a week, but Robertson is soaking up all of his fledgling Jays experience since being called up by the team on June 11 to provide some outfield depth. The dream never died for Robertson, a strapping 6-foot-1 215-pounder who hits from the left side, even after such an at-times arduous trek up the farm system ladder.

In its own way, the circuitous route has made the arrival that much more sweet and furthered his drive to make it here.

“It’s been fun to reflect a bit and and get a chance to be here with the guys you’ve been able to come up with and be around them here in the big leagues,” Robertson said during a quiet moment in the Jays dugout this week. “There was the shock of getting called up and that whole emotion. But then I think you then go to, how do you contribute to the team? How do you help the team win?

“It’s a really good team and they’ve been playing great. So that’s where your mindset goes, on how you’re going to help them to continue to win.”

And continue to smell the roses along the way.

With an off-day on Monday and in Toronto for the first time in his life, Robertson, his wife Morgan and their 10-month old daughter Jonnie walked around to get a feel for what the family hopes will be a long-term home.

Next was his first start in the city and a front-row seat to the dramatic ninth-inning rally to dump the Diamondbacks 5-4.

“The first time playing in Rogers Centre, it was gorgeous,” Robertson said, some leftover awe still in his voice. “The roof was open, the CN Tower is right there. It was pretty awesome to see.

“And then the ebbs and flows of the game and then the ninth inning to see (Bo Bichette and Addison Barger hit home runs to finish a Jays comeback) that was pretty special. To get to be part of that celebration was awesome. Being here in the Rogers Centre with 38,000 cheering for us was incredible. Like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.”

He experienced it all, too, putting the home run jacket on Bichette after his blast and one of the first to greet Barger, his long-time teammate in the minors, when he hit the plate for the walk-off run.

Robertson isn’t here as a tourist, however. So next up is to find a way to make that hard-earned promotion to the big leagues stick.

“For me, it’s about taking advantage of the opportunity, whether that’s starting in a game or coming off the bench to pinch hit,” Robertson said. “What got me here was my bat and playing good defence when I’m out there and that’s what I intend to do.

“Everyone has been super welcoming and super helpful. Guys that I knew from playing with (in the minors) and the coaching staff. They’ve all made it super easy.”

Now that he’s here, Robertson intends to stay. The pride of Loose Creek has a long way to get to the 446 Jays appearances made by the pride of Taos, but it’s nice to get the opportunity. Finally.

“The odds of two guys coming from a small mid Missouri town to play major league baseball first of all but then to play for Canada and Toronto its pretty cool,” Robertson said.

The Terminator would agree.