Hazel Mae wasn't on the Blue Jays broadcast this Rays series, and fans finally got the answer Thursday.
Mae said online that everything is fine. She explained she took a few days off to catch up on errands, attend her son's school events, and pack for a move.
That update quickly settled the questions from fans who had noticed she was missing during Toronto's set against Tampa Bay. Mae is such a regular part of Blue Jays coverage that even a short break gets noticed fast.
Sportsnet noted in December that Mae has worked as the network's in-game reporter on Blue Jays broadcasts since 2015, which is why her absence stood out during this homestand.
This was not some larger mystery around the broadcast crew. It was a veteran reporter stepping away for a few days to deal with life off the field.
And the timing she gave matters, too. Mae said she expects to be back in time for the Tigers and Yankees, which lines up with Toronto's next road stretch after the Rays series.
That should come as good news for viewers who have gotten used to seeing her around the dugout, on the field, and in post-game interviews with Schneider and Blue Jays players.
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Hazel Mae's absence was brief, not a bigger issue
That is really the whole story here. Fans noticed a familiar face was gone, asked about it, and Mae answered the question herself in a direct way.
There was no drama in her reply. No vague wording, no tease, no attempt to turn a simple break into something bigger than it was.
That also fits the way Mae has built her place around this team. She has become one of the most recognizable voices in Blue Jays coverage, which is part of why Sportsnet and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame honored her work last year with the Jack Graney Award.
So when she steps away, people notice. That is less about panic and more about how closely fans tie her to the daily rhythm of the club.
Now they have their answer. Hazel Mae took a few days to handle family time and real-life errands, and she says she will be back for the Blue Jays' upcoming Tigers and Yankees games.
For a fan base that had been asking where she went, that is a simple update and a reassuring one. The broadcast staple did not go anywhere for long. She just stepped away for a short stretch and is already on the way back.
Did you notice Hazel Mae was missing from the Blue Jays' Rays series coverage?
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