"It wasn't surreal. More like hugging some family members again," said Saunders, who was drafted by the Mariners in 2004 and played in Seattle for six seasons. "I haven't gotten to play against my friends since Little League, so it was great to see the guys and catch up."
Saunders is one of four former Mariners on the current Blue Jays squad. Justin Smoak, who signed a one-year, $1 million deal with Toronto after being released last winter, is filling a backup first base role and being used primarily in late-inning defensive situations while hitting .