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BALTIMORE (AP) — Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman will wear No. 34 next season as a tribute to Roy Halladay, who was killed in a plane crash last month.
Gausman announced the switch Thursday on his Twitter account. The right-hander wore No. 39 last year.
Gausman and Halladay are both from Colorado, and the Orioles pitcher said he followed Halladay's career closely and idolized him.
In a post next a photo of his new jersey, Gausman wrote: "Roy gave me the inspiration that I could fulfill even my biggest of dreams — being a pitcher just like him."
Gausman concluded: "The loss of Roy is tragic and saddening, but I feel honored to have watched everything he achieved."
Halladay died on Nov. 7 when his small plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. He played 16 big league seasons, winning the Cy Young Award in each league and being named an All-Star eight times.
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