The Toronto Blue Jays and the wider Canadian baseball community have reason to celebrate: field reporter Hazel Mae has been awarded the 2025 Jack Graney Award — one of the game’s most prestigious honours for media professionals.

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Named after former MLB player and broadcaster Jack Graney, the accolade is presented annually by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum to a media figure whose work has had a significant impact on baseball in Canada, either over a lifetime or through a remarkable single year. Hazel Mae joins a distinguished list of past recipients who have shaped public engagement with the sport.

Hazel Mae has been a familiar voice and face in Blue Jays broadcasts for over a decade, delivering poignant interviews, behind-the-scenes coverage, and in-depth analysis that resonates with fans across Canada. Since first joining the organization’s coverage team in 2011 — and with roots in sports media dating back to 2001 — she has built a reputation not only for professionalism, but for her genuine connection with players, colleagues, and supporters. According to the Hall of Fame’s director of operations, Hazel Mae “has set the bar extremely high for MLB in-game reporters.” Her insights, thoughtful coverage, and dedication to sharing baseball’s stories across the country earned her unanimous praise and this year’s Graney honour.

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Within hours of the announcement, tributes poured in from colleagues, former players, media peers, and fans alike — all celebrating what many see as a long-overdue recognition of Mae’s invaluable role in Canadian baseball. One fan summarized the sentiment on a public forum:

“Well deserved — she will always be part of the Blue Jays family.”

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Many pointed out that what television viewers see is just the tip of the iceberg: the hours behind the scenes, post-game research, travel, interviews, and the emotional labor of telling players’ stories throughout the grueling MLB season. This award highlights that unseen effort.

In a sport often dominated by athletes’ statistics and highlights, the Jack Graney Award serves as a reminder that storytelling matters. Reporters like Hazel Mae are essential to bridging the game and its community — contextualizing performances, humanizing players, and bringing Canadian fans closer to the action.

For the Blue Jays and Canadian baseball at large, honoring Hazel Mae underscores the league’s appreciation for consistent, respectful, and passionate coverage. It acknowledges that behind every play, every home run, every dramatic moment — there are voices working to capture the heart of the game.

And for fans? It’s a chance to reflect on the seasons behind us, and to thank a familiar presence whose voice has narrated thrilling victories and heartbreaking losses with equal integrity.