Toronto Blue Jays Embark on a Shocking Move: Franchise to Relocate Spring Training to Iceland
In a move that has left baseball fans around the world speechless, the Toronto Blue Jays announced today that they will relocate their 2026 Spring Training operations from Dunedin, Florida, to the small fishing village of Ísafjörður, Iceland.
Club president Mark Shapiro, speaking at a hastily arranged press conference, confirmed the unprecedented decision, calling it “the boldest and chilliest chapter in Blue Jays history.” According to Shapiro, the plan is designed to give the team a “competitive mental edge” by training in sub-zero temperatures.
“Baseball is about adaptability,” Shapiro said with a grin. “If our guys can catch a pop fly in a snowstorm, handling a sunny afternoon at Yankee Stadium will be a breeze.”
The announcement comes just weeks after rumors began circulating about the Jays experimenting with “cold-weather endurance drills” during the offseason. While many assumed it was a quirky pre-season gimmick, it appears the organization is doubling down on the concept.
Manager John Schneider, though initially skeptical, now fully supports the initiative. “I wasn’t sure at first—until I saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. take batting practice in a parka and hit one 470 feet into a frozen fjord. At that point, I knew we were onto something special.”
Players, however, seem to have mixed feelings. Shortstop Bo Bichette admitted he’s never owned thermal underwear, while pitcher Alek Manoah joked that “the bullpen’s going to need igloos instead of benches.” Still, the team has already begun shipping specialized gear to Iceland, including heated bats, insulated gloves, and even a modified Zamboni to clear the infield.
Local residents in Ísafjörður have welcomed the news with open arms, excited about the influx of tourism and attention. “We’ve hosted fishing tournaments and music festivals,” said mayor Guðmundur Björnsson. “But never a professional baseball team. We’ll make sure they have the freshest fish stew in the world between innings.”
The MLB has confirmed the move meets all league requirements for Spring Training, though some teams have privately expressed concerns about “extreme weather injury risk.” In response, the Blue Jays have promised that games and drills will be modified for safety, with hot cocoa breaks replacing traditional water breaks.
Whether this gamble pays off or ends in frostbite remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the Toronto Blue Jays have just made the most unexpected roster change of the year: replacing palm trees with polar winds.