Brian Roberts might not be welcomed back in Canada anytime soon.

The part-time Orioles broadcaster on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network apologized during Sunday’s game between Baltimore and Toronto for comments about the “baseball IQ of some Canadians” that Blue Jays players and fans considered insulting.

During the eighth inning of Friday’s game at Rogers Center, Orioles reliever Shawn Dubin made a pickoff throw to first that drew boos from the home crowd, which is common across baseball. MASN play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown questioned why fans boo such pickoff attempts, which have been limited to two per at-bat under new MLB rules in an attempt to speed up pace of play.

“I’ve got to be real, real, real careful what I say,” Roberts responded Friday. “But sometimes we had some major questions about the baseball IQ of some Canadians. At times, it felt like maybe they enjoyed or knew a little bit more about hockey than baseball.”

“You’ve got to be really careful,” Brown said. “I’d shut that down now, if I were you.”

Baltimore’s broadcast crew on Blue Jays fans booing the pick off move:

“Sometime we had some major questions about the baseball IQ of Canadians.”

“Maybe they know a little bit more about hockey than baseball” pic.twitter.com/VTGXGcr7pv

— Blue Jays Today (@TodayJays) September 13, 2025

“We’re not on the air in Canada, are we?” quipped Roberts, the 47-year-old former Orioles second baseman who lives in Florida and calls a handful of games per season. “There’s this thing called the internet,” Brown responded.

Unfortunately for Roberts, the clip took a life of its own on the internet, even drawing a response from Toronto Star columnist Mike Wilner. In that story, Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement stuck up for his team’s fans while taking a shot at Baltimore’s.

“I’m surprised that [Roberts] would say that,” Clement said. “He played in this division and played against this team for a long time, and it’s a shame that’s how he feels. The more I play here and the more I get to know the people in Toronto, the more I gain a respect for what they know about baseball.

“We get 40,000 a night here. I mean, they probably get 5,000 a night, so it makes sense that you’d be a little salty about that.”

Those numbers are exaggerated, with Toronto averaging 34,547 fans per game this season compared with the Orioles’ average of 22,357 at Camden Yards. But the Blue Jays have enjoyed a much better season on the field, sweeping Baltimore with an 11-2 victory Sunday to improve their American League-best record to 87-62 while the Orioles dropped to 69-80 in one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.

“I do want to apologize to Toronto fans for something I said on the air the other day,” Roberts said at the beginning of the fifth inning Sunday. “I definitely never, ever meant to cause anyone to feel I was disrespecting them at all. I have always enjoyed coming to Toronto. I’ve always enjoyed playing here. I told you that when we first got here. I hope that they will accept my sincere apology for what I said on the air the other day.”

The Brian Roberts apology.#Birdland | #BlueJays | @awfulannouncing pic.twitter.com/Kq1Rf6INa1

— Luke Slabaugh (@LukeSlabaugh) September 14, 2025

Brown lightened the mood by joking that Roberts’ apology was “a good way for you to announce your candidacy as prime minister of Canada coming up.” Brown added that “this is one of our favorite cities to come to.”

“When the Blue Jays are fun,” Brown said, “this is one of these places that makes Major League Baseball fun.”

It’s not the first time that the Blue Jays and Orioles have experienced some animosity toward each other this season. Early in the season, Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman blew a kiss toward the Orioles’ dugout after closing out a victory at Camden Yards. Hoffman and Baltimore agreed to a multiyear contract over the winter, but the Orioles rescinded the offer after they flagged his physical because of what his shoulder looked like on an MRI.

George Springer was also hit in the head by a 96 mph fastball from Orioles reliever Kade Strowd in the ninth inning of a late July game. Springer was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list and missed 16 games before returning Aug. 16.

Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon.