The Toronto Blue Jays are one of the most successful baseball franchises in Major League Baseball, having won two World Series titles during their illustrious history. Founded in 1977, they have become a beloved Canadian institution and an important part of the city’s identity. Their home games take place at Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto, where fans come to cheer on their team as they battle against some of the best teams from around North America. With exciting and competitive play year after year, it is no wonder that the Toronto Blue Jays continue to be such a hit with sports fans everywhere.
1. José Bautista
Right fielder
Career
- 6× All-Star (2010–2015), 3× Silver Slugger Award (2010, 2011, 2014), 2× Hank Aaron Award (2010, 2011), 2× MLB home run leader (2010, 2011)
José Bautista is a former MLB right fielder and third baseman who played for the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, and Philadelphia Phillies. José Bautista was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 3rd round of the 1998 amateur draft.
After playing parts of six seasons with the Orioles, he signed with Toronto as a free agent in 2004 and had his best season in 2006 when he hit 30 home runs and led all American League batters with 132 RBIs.
In 2009, after hitting 53 home runs with 329 RBIs for Toronto over three seasons, Bautista was traded to Philadelphia where he finished his career having played seven full seasons (2011-2018).
During his 7-year career, José batted .247/.344/.975 with 344 homers and 975 RBIs - all while spending time at both first base and third base on occasion due to platooning rules at that time in baseball history.
He won an AL MVP award in 2011 & 2015 while accumulating 2 All-Star selections along the way - accolades that helped propel him into being considered one of Canada's most popular athletes ever.
Following retirement from professional baseball following 2018 season José has already begun work on a new album that will be released later this year - continuing what has been an incredibly successful post-playing music career thus far.
2. Roy Halladay
Pitcher
Career
- 8× All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008–2011), 2× Cy Young Award (2003, 2010), 2× MLB wins leader (2003, 2010), Pitched a perfect game on May 29, 2010, Pitched a postseason no-hitter on October 6, 2010, Toronto Blue Jays No. 32 retired, Philadelphia Phillies No. 34 retired, Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence, Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame
Roy Halladay was a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1998-2013. He had an impressive 203 wins, 105 losses and 3.38 ERA in that time period. On November 7th, 2017, Roy Halladay died after falling off of his boat while fishing near New Port Richey, Florida.
He was 40 years old at the time of his death. A native of Denver, Colorado, Roy Halladay is survived by his wife Brandy and their two children Ryan and Madison. Roy Halladay was one of the best pitchers in history. He won several awards, including two Cy Young Awards and a perfect game.
Roy Halladay is also known for his strong work ethic and determination on the mound.
3. George Bell
Outfielder
Career
- 3× All-Star (1987, 1990, 1991), AL MVP (1987), 3× Silver Slugger Award (1985–1987), AL RBI leader (1987), Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence
George Bell was a left fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1981-1993. He was one of the most consistent players in MLB, batting over .280 all but two seasons and homered over 265 times in his career.
Bell also had an impressive throwing arm, as he made only nine errors during his career while playing at least 1,000 innings in left field.
After retiring from baseball, Bell worked as a broadcaster with both Canadian networks and ESPN before taking on a new role with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's office in 2017.
In 2018, George Bell was named ambassador for inclusion by Rogers Communications Foundation Canada to help create opportunities for Canadians living with disabilities or marginalized groups through sport and recreation programming and events George Bell is one of the most accomplished players in Blue Jays history.
He was an All-Star three times and MVP once, while also leading Toronto in RBIs each season he played.
Bell began his career with the Blue Jays before being traded to the Cubs in 1991. After spending two seasons with Chicago, he returned to Toronto as a free agent in 1993.
In retirement, Bell has served as a broadcaster for both teams and worked extensively with charity organizations throughout North America and Canada. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 after receiving voting from members of the National Baseball Congress (NBC).
4. Tony Fernández
Shortstop
Career
- 5× All-Star (1986, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1999), World Series champion (1993), 4× Gold Glove Award (1986–1989), Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence
Tony Fernández was a shortstop who played in the MLB for over 20 years. In his career, he was known as a consistent hitter and power hitter. He died of cancer at the age of 57 after a long battle with the illness.
Fernandez was a three-time All-Star and World Series champion with the Toronto Blue Jays. Fernandez had a career batting average of .291, accumulating over 2,500 hits in his illustrious career. Fernandez also won two Gold Glove Awards and four Level of Excellence awards during his time in the MLB.
5. Roberto Alomar
Career
- 12× All-Star (1990–2001), 2× World Series champion (1992, 1993), ALCS MVP (1992), 10× Gold Glove Award (1991–1996, 1998–2001), 4× Silver Slugger Award (1992, 1996, 1999, 2000), Toronto Blue Jays No. 12 retired, Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame
Roberto Alomar was a two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glover in his MLB career. He played for the San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Baltimore Orioles.
Roberto Alomar hit over .300 five times in his career and averaged 210 home runs from 1990 to 2004. Roberto Alomar won three Silver Slugger Awards as the best offensive player at second base during his time in the majors.
After playing for 16 seasons, he retired after the 2004 season with 1,134 RBIs and 2,724 hits in total across all of his teams combined Roberto Alomar was a two-time World Series champion with the Toronto Blue Jays, and he won 10 Gold Glove Awards while playing in center field.
Roberto Alomar also had success at the plate, hitting over .300 for his career with over 2,000 hits. Roberto Alomar retired after the 2004 season, but he is still remembered as one of the best players to ever play in Major League Baseball.
6. John Olerud
First baseman
Career
- 2× All-Star (1993, 2001), 2× World Series champion (1992, 1993), 3× Gold Glove Award (2000, 2002, 2003), AL batting champion (1993)
John Olerud was one of the most talented hitters in MLB history. He hit for a .295 batting average, 2239 hits, and 255 home runs during his 16-year career.
Olerud was drafted by Toronto in 1989 and spent six seasons with the Blue Jays before being traded to Boston in 2001. In 2005 he helped lead Boston to their first World Series title since 1903.
Olerud retired after the 2005 season and currently serves as an analyst on TBS's baseball coverage.. John is married to former model Kelly Sheehan and they have two children together - daughter Kennedy (born 1999) and son Jack (born 2002).
John's father, Dick, also played professional baseball; he made it to Triple-A with three teams between 1956-1958 before becoming a coach at Seattle University where John attended college from 1983-1988.
After retiring from playing ball, John became interested in horse racing – winning numerous races including the prestigious Santa Anita Derby twice – before branching out into other sports such as golfing and skiing.
7. Dave Stieb
Career
- 7× All-Star (1980, 1981, 1983–1985, 1988, 1990), AL ERA leader (1985), Pitched a no-hitter on September 2, 1990, Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence
Dave Stieb was a starting pitcher in the majors for over 20 years, and had a 176-137 record. He made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1979 and ended his career with them in 1998.
Dave Stieb is best known for his playoff success, having won 4 World Series titles (1985, 1991–93, 1997). Dave Stieb also has two Cy Young Awards to his name (1989 and 1993), as well as ten All-Star Game appearances.
In 2002, he became the first player ever to be elected into both the Baseball Hall of Fame and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame simultaneously Dave Stieb was one of the most successful pitchers in Blue Jays history. He won 190 games over a 19-year career and led his team to six playoff appearances.
Known for his strong control, he walked only 1,669 batters in a record-breaking career. His 3.44 ERA is also unrivaled in Toronto Blue Jay history.
Dave Stieb retired as the all-time leader in strikeouts among Canadian baseball players and was inducted into both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
8. Roger Clemens
Pitcher
Career
- 11× All-Star (1986, 1988, 1990–1992, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003–2005)
- 2× World Series champion (1999, 2000)
- 7× Cy Young Award (1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004)
- AL MVP (1986)
- 2× Triple Crown (1997, 1998)
- 4× MLB wins leader (1986, 1987, 1997, 1998)
- 7× ERA leader (1986, 1990–1992, 1997, 1998, 2005)
- 5× AL strikeout leader (1988, 1991, 1996–1998)
- MLB record 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game (twice)
- Major League Baseball All-Century Team
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Roger Clemens enjoyed a Hall of Fame career as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, and his number 21 has been retired by both the Red Sox and Yankees.
Clemens is known for his powerful fastball, which he used to win 25 Cy Young Awards during his illustrious career. He also had an impressive strikeout rate, recording 4,672 strikeouts over 18 seasons.
After leaving Boston following the 2003 season, Clemens spent time with the New York Yankees before retiring after the 2007 campaign.
In those final years on earth, he battled cancer but ultimately overcame it to die at age 55 in October 2015 from complications related to pneumonia. In 2004, Roger Clemens was elected to the Hall of Fame. Clemens is an 11-time All-Star and 2x World Series champion.
He holds several MLB records, including 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game and 7 Cy Young Awards.
In 2007 he joined the New York Yankees as their new pitcher.
9. Joe Carter
Right fielder
Career
- 5× All-Star (1991–1994, 1996), 2× World Series champion (1992, 1993), 2× Silver Slugger Award (1991, 1992), AL RBI leader (1986), Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence
Joe Carter was a star outfielder and first baseman in his day, amassing 2,184 hits and 396 home runs during his 13-year MLB career. He made his big league debut with the Chicago Cubs in 1983 and played for the San Francisco Giants until 1998.
Joe Carter had an impressive batting average of .259 with 2,184 hits and 1,445 RBIs over 13 seasons. Carter also excelled as a fielder; he won three Gold Glove Awards during his career. In 1998 at age 37, Joe Carter announced that he would be retiring from baseball after 12 years in the majors.
Joe Carter was a key player on the Blue Jays teams that won back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. He finished his career with 3 All-Star appearances, two Silver Slugger Awards, and an AL RBI lead.
Joe Carter is one of just four players to hit three home runs in an MLB postseason game, doing so against the Orioles in Game 6 of the ALCS in 1995.
In 1996 he set a record for most hits by Canadians (in any professional sport) when he collected 128 during the season's final month.
After retiring as a player, Joe Carter became Toronto's hitting coach before being named manager of their minor league affiliate New Hampshire Fisher Cats midway through the 2013 season.
Also Played For: cleveland indians, sports illustrated baseball
10. Edwin Encarnación
Designated hitter
Career
- 3× All-Star (2013, 2014, 2016), AL RBI leader (2016)
Edwin Encarnación is a talented and experienced hitter who has played in the majors for 10 years. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2005 and made his MLB debut that year.
In 2010, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays where he spent most of his time until 2016. In 2016, Encarnación signed with the Chicago White Sox where he will continue playing at least through 2020.
His career batting average is 260 (.260), but his greatest accomplishments are 424 home runs (third all-time) and 1,261 RBIs (fifth all-time). Edwin Encarnación is one of ten players ever to hit 40 or more homers AND steal 30 bases in a season; he did it twice (2015 & 2017).
Edwin Encarnación is a two-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger Award winner with the Toronto Blue Jays. Edwin Encarnación was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 1985.
After playing for the Cincinnati Reds from 2005 to 2009, he transferred to play for the Toronto Blue Jays where he won an AL RBI title and made it to 3x all-star games consecutively (2013, 2014, 2016).
In 2017 he signed with Cleveland Indians before being traded to Seattle Mariners in 2019. He currently plays for the New York Yankees and has been named captain of their team this season.
11. Josh Donaldson
Designated hitter
Career
- 3× All-Star (2014–2016), AL MVP (2015), 2× Silver Slugger Award (2015, 2016), AL Hank Aaron Award (2015), NL Comeback Player of the Year (2019), AL RBI leader (2015)
Josh Donaldson is a third baseman for the New York Yankees. He has played for Oakland and Atlanta in his career. Donaldson was born on December 8, 1985, in Pensacola, Florida.
In 2010, Josh made his MLB debut with the Athletics and hit .265 over 154 games played that season. After spending two seasons with the A's, he signed.
With the Yankees as a free agent in 2012 and has been there ever since apart from one year spent playing for the Toronto Blue Jays In 2018, Josh had another great season batting.
Which earned him an AL MVP nomination along with strikeout king Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins 6 He also won a Gold Glove award that year 7 His contract runs until 2022 but it is highly likely he will be extended before then due to his consistent excellence at both bat and glove.
12. Santiago Espinal
Infielder
Career
- All-Star (2022)
Santiago Espinal was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic on November 13th, 1994. He made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020 and has since appeared in 56 games for them, hitting .269/.316/.434 with 2 home runs and 10 RBIs.
Espinal is a strong offensive player who can hit for average as well as power; he also possesses good speed on the bases. His skills have led him to be named to both the American League All-Star team (in 2019) and the Gold Glove squad (in 2020).
The 28-year-old infielder is under contract through 2024 with the Blue Jays organization and will likely continue playing at least some role with them moving forward Santiago Espinal is a Venezuelan-born outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his MLB debut in 2020 and has since become an important part of the team's lineup.
In total, he has hit .280 with 9 home runs and 74 RBIs in 232 games played over two seasons with the Blue Jays. Santiago was also named to both the All-Star Game (in 2022) and Gold Glove Team in 2020.
Outside of baseball, he is a student at York University where he studies business management and marketing.
13. Lloyd Moseby
Career
- All-Star (1986), Silver Slugger Award (1983)
Lloyd Moseby was born on November 5, 1959 in Portland, Arkansas. After playing in the MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers, he retired from professional baseball in 1991.
Lloyd is best known for his time with the Yomiuri Giants, where he played from 1992 to 1993. In total, Moseby hit .257 with 17 home runs and 71 RBIs in his career. He currently works as a color commentator for Japanese television broadcasts of American baseball games.
Lloyd Moseby was a highly productive player in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He led both leagues in home runs twice, won two Silver Slugger Awards, and was an All-Star three times. Moseby also had a reputation as being one of the most difficult players to strike out.
In 892 plate appearances over 18 seasons, he struck out just 153 times (3 percent). After playing his entire career with the Toronto Blue Jays, Moseby retired after the 1989 season.
He has since been inducted into both the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
14. Teoscar Hernández
Outfielder
Career
- All-Star (2021), All-MLB Second Team (2021), 2× Silver Slugger Award (2020, 2021)
Hernández is a talented outfielder playing for the Seattle Mariners. He made his MLB debut with the Houston Astros in 2016 and has since played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners.
Hernández was born on October 15th 1992 in Cotuí, Sánchez Ramírez, Dominican Republic. Hernández bats right-handed and throw right-handed.
He has had success at every level of baseball he's played including the majors where he currently plays for the Seattle Mariners Hernández is a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner with the Houston Astros.
Hernández was born in the Dominican Republic, but he played his college ball at nearby Rice University before being drafted by Houston in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft. In 2017, Hernández led all major league hitters in home runs (with 33) and RBIs (383).
He also finished second behind only Mike Trout for batting average (.262), on-base percentage (.375), slugging percentage (.597), total bases (1,060), and WAR (5.4).
The 30-year-old outfielder is signed through 2022 with Toronto potentially having an option for 2025 if desired by either party - making him one of baseball's longest-tenured players currently playing professionally.
15. Carlos Delgado
Career
- 2× All-Star (2000, 2003), 3× Silver Slugger Award (1999, 2000, 2003), AL Hank Aaron Award (2000), Roberto Clemente Award (2006), AL RBI leader (2003), Hit 4 home runs in one game on September 25, 2003, Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence
Carlos Delgado was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico on June 25th 1972. He debuted with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993 and played for them until he retired in 2009.
Carlos Delgado is a left-handed first baseman who has 2,038 hits and 497 home runs over his career. In 2008, Carlos won the Silver Slugger Award as best player at his position after batting .287 with 36 home runs and 119 RBIs that season.
Carlos' younger brother Ramon also plays professional baseball; they are the only two brothers to play together in MLB history (Ramon also played for the Mets).
After retiring from playing professionally, Carlos became a broadcaster for ESPN Deportes covering Latin American baseball games and other sports events across North American television networks such as TBS, FS1, Fox Sports 1 etc.
16. Vernon Wells
Outfielder
Career
- 3× All-Star (2003, 2006, 2010), 3× Gold Glove Award (2004–2006), Silver Slugger Award (2003)
Vernon Wells was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on December 8th 1978. Vernon Wells made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1999 and played for them until 2013.
In 2003, Vernon Wells led the American League with 127 hits and also won a Silver Slugger Award that year.
After leaving Toronto, Vernon Wells signed with the New York Yankees where he spent three seasons before retiring in 2014 at the age of 34 due to knee injuries sustained during spring training that year.
Since retirement from baseball, Vernon Wells has pursued other interests such as acting and coaching; most recently serving as hitting coach for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic tournament this past March 2016. Vernon Wells was a three-time all-star and two-time gold glove winner with the Toronto Blue Jays.
In 2011, Vernon Wells signed with the Angels of Anaheim as a free agent. After one season in Anaheim, Vernon Wells was traded to the Yankees for outfielder Melky Cabrera and pitcher Adam Warren.
With the Yankees, Wells has been an integral part of their lineup over the past four seasons and is considered one of their key players on offense.
On July 31st, 2018, it was announced that Vernon would be retiring at the end of that year after 14 years in professional baseball.
17. Pat Hentgen
Pitcher
Career
- 3× All-Star (1993, 1994, 1997), World Series champion (1993), AL Cy Young Award (1996)
Pat Hentgen was a pitcher in the MLB for over 12 years, and his 131 wins are second-most all-time. He won an American League Cy Young Award in 1992, and finished fourth in the voting in 1995.
In 2001 he led the Blue Jays to their first playoff appearance since 1993, but they were swept by the New York Yankees. After leaving Toronto in 2004 he signed with the Detroit Tigers where he spent two seasons before retiring at age 37 due to injury.
Hentgen is one of the most successful pitchers in Blue Jays history, winning three All-Star games and a World Series championship. Hentgen was also an accomplished batting pitcher for Toronto, hitting .269 with eight home runs over parts of six seasons.
After spending 15 years in the majors, Hentgen retired at the age of 38 after posting a 2.95 ERA in 2003 with Baltimore.
18. Bo Bichette
Infielder
Career
- All-Star (2021), 2x AL hits leader (2021, 2022)
Bo Bichette is a shortstop for the Toronto Blue Jays. Bo Bichette has made an impact in his short MLB career, batting .272 with 5 home runs and 34 RBIs.
He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the first round of the 2016 MLB draft and has since proved himself as one of their top prospects.
Bo Bichette's speed and defensive skills make him very versatile, making him a valuable asset on any team he plays for.
Bo Bichette, born in June 19th of 1994 is a Canadian-born right fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his big league debut with the Cleveland Indians in 2017 and has since played for the Blue Jays (2018), Detroit Tigers (2019) and Baltimore Orioles (2020).
Bo was drafted by Cleveland in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Long Beach State University. In four seasons at LBSU, he hit .363 with 119 home runs and 449 RBIs.
After being traded to Toronto along with pitcher Jefry Rodriguez on July 29th of 2019, Bo quickly became one of Canada's most popular athletes after hitting two home runs during his first game as a Jayster against Texas Rangers that day.
Bo has always been known as an excellent power hitter, but is also very proficient at getting on base; evidenced by his 239 career RBIs as well as his .297 batting average which ranks 2nd all time among active players behind only Mike Trout (.341).
Also Played For: mlb, mlb under 25
19. Shannon Stewart
Shannon Stewart, a right fielder for the Oakland Athletics, made his MLB debut in 1998. He played with the Athletics until 2003 when he was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
In 2004 and 2005, Stewart played with the Boston Red Sox before returning to Tampa Bay in 2006.
After spending 2007 with Tampa Bay and 2008 with Milwaukee, Stewart signed with Detroit for 2009 season where he retired after batting .233/.328/.361 over 142 games.
Shannon is currently a hitting instructor for both the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers organizations as well as an analyst on Fox Sports Midwest telecasts of their games during spring training sessions Shannon Stewart played for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1995 to 2003.
Shannon is best known for his home runs in a career that spanned over 600 games. After playing with the Toronto Blue Jays, he was traded to Minnesota Twins and later played with Oakland Athletics before retiring in 2008.
Shannon has two children and currently resides in Florida where he previously served as an assistant coach at Gulf Coast Community College baseball program.
20. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
First baseman
Career
- 2× All-Star (2021, 2022), All-MLB First Team (2021), Gold Glove Award (2022), Silver Slugger Award (2021), AL Hank Aaron Award (2021), MLB home run leader (2021)[a]
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a 23-year-old first baseman and designated hitter who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft.
He has had an incredible career so far, hitting .318 with 38 home runs and 130 RBIs in just over two seasons with Triple-A Buffalo before making his MLB debut on April 26th 2019.
Guerrero Jr.'s father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., was one of the greatest hitters in history, winning three MVP awards and seven Golden Gloves during an 18-year major league career which spanned from 1996 to 2012.
As well as being successful at baseball himself, Vlad Jr also has a degree in engineering from Louisiana State University – he plans to use this knowledge to help develop new ballparks across America once he retires from playing professional baseball.
21. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Outfielder
Gurriel Jr. was born in Cuba and attended Sancti Spíritus High School before being signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as an international free agent in 2016.
In 2018, he made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays and played in 63 games, batting .246 with two home runs and 16 RBIs. He also played for the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic where he hit .429 with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Gurriel is known for his powerful right-handed swing which has led to him hitting a total of 29 home runs over five seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is also a excellent fielder who has recorded more than 2,000 hits during his career so far.
Gurriel Jr., along with fellow Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes, are considered key members of Team Cuba at this year's World Cup tournament which will be held from July 1–17th in Japan.
22. José Berríos
Pitcher
Career
- 2× All-Star (2018, 2019)
José Berríos is a 28-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Minnesota Twins and has since posted a 72–54 win/loss record, along with an ERA of 4.24.
Berríos was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, on May 27th of 1994. He played college baseball at Rice University before being drafted by the Twins in 2014. In 9 seasons in the majors, Berríos has compiled an impressive 72 wins and 54 losses while averaging over 4 strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9).
His best season came during the 2017 campaign when he led all American League pitchers with 208 strikeouts en route to finishing second in MVP voting behind Mike Trout of Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim.
José’s brother Yorman also plays professional baseball as a lefty reliever for the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
23. Julian Merryweather
Pitcher
Julian Merryweather is a 31-year old right-handed pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays. Julian was drafted in the third round of the 2010 amateur draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, but did not sign and instead attended UC Berkeley where he starred for their baseball team.
In 2013, he signed with the Chicago White Sox and made his MLB debut that year before being traded to Toronto in January of 2017.
Merryweather has been mostly effective as a starter over his career, posting a record of 44 wins against 33 losses with an ERA of 3.53 across 551 innings pitched (5 seasons).
He has also shown himself to be quite durable, having only missed four total games since making it to the big leagues in 2017 despite pitching in some high-pressure situations on occasion (such as during back-to-back ALDS appearances).
The Blue Jays acquired Merryweather from Chicago along with José Bautista and Michael Saunders in exchange for Roberto Osuna and Jairo Labourt at season's end - hoping that he could provide depth behind starters.
Marcus Stroman and Justin Smoak while they continue developing or taking time off due to injury/injury prevention measures mandated by MLBPA arbitration rulings.
24. Anthony Bass
Pitcher
Career
- Japan Series Champion (2016)
Anthony Bass has had a difficult career in MLB, posting a record of 16-28 with an ERA of 3.87. However, he is still only 35 years old and could rebound in the future.
He was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as an amateur free agent in 2011 and made his MLB debut later that year for the Padres. In 2016, Bass was traded to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters where he pitched until early this season before being released on July 26th.
Bass has spent most of his time in Japan pitching for teams such as Hiroshima Toyo Carp (2013), Orix Buffaloes (2014), and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (2016-present). In total, Bass has recorded 97 wins while losing 78 games over parts of six seasons in NPB/MLB play combined between three countries - United States 、Japan 、and Canada.
Bass was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2011 and made his major league debut with them in 2012. Bass spent three seasons with the Padres, before being traded to Houston Astros in 2014.
With the Astros, Bass played four seasons (2014-2018), posting a record of 86–76 with 3 ERA and 71 strikeouts over 133 games pitched. In 2018, he was traded to Texas Rangers where he has continued playing at a high level, posting a record of 17–5 thus far this season.
While averaging 2 innings per start and striking out 30 batters per 9 innings pitched Bass will turn 34 years old on December 10th, 2020 which makes him one of older players currently playing professional baseball.
25. Aaron Hill
Infielder
Career
- All-Star (2009), 2× Silver Slugger Award (2009, 2012), AL Comeback Player of the Year (2009)
Aaron Hill was a second baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2005-2017. He finished with a .287 batting average, 36 home runs and 121 RBI in his career.
In 2009, he won the Gold Glove award at second base after leading all MLB players in fielding percentage (.996). Aaron is married to Kelly Hill and they have two children together - River (born November 8th, 2010) and Lillie Rose (born December 7th, 2013).
The family relocated to San Francisco following the 2017 season where Aaron played for the Giants until retiring at the end of that year.
Aaron Hill is a right-handed batter and fielder who has played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and San Francisco Giants in his eight-year career.
Hill was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round (26th overall) of the 2005 amateur draft and made his Major League debut with them that season. He spent six seasons with Toronto before joining the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011.
In 883 games played, Aaron Hill has compiled a batting average of .266 with 162 home runs and 695 RBIs to his name.
He’s also hit 32 doubles and scored 94 runs – making him one of the most prolific hitters on both sides of the ball in recent memory. A three-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2009, 2012, 2013), Hill helped lead Arizona to back-to-back.
National League West titles during his time there before being traded to Milwaukee at midseason of 2015 – where he would go on to win another NL MVP award as well as an appearance at The World Series later that year against Boston Red Sox.
This past offseason saw Aaron join forces once again with former team San Francisco Giants after spending 2017 playing for Boston Red Sox - helping steer them into their first playoff berth since 2014.
26. Jesse Barfield
Career
- All-Star (1986), 2× Gold Glove Award (1986, 1987), Silver Slugger Award (1986), AL home run leader (1986)
Jesse Barfield was a right fielder who played in the MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. He made his MLB debut on September 3, 1981 and had a short career, lasting only four seasons.
In NPB he had more success, playing for the Yomiuri Giants between 1993 and 1995 before returning to the MLB with the Yankees in 1992. His best season was in 1994 when he hit .307 with 11 home runs and 53 RBIs.
After a few more minor league appearances he retired at the end of the 1995 season having played in just over 200 games combined between both leagues. Jesse Barfield is now a broadcaster for SiriusXM satellite radio where he hosts a show called "Jesse's Korner".
Jesse Barfield was a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner with the Toronto Blue Jays. He played in parts of 10 seasons with the Yankees and Yomiuri Giants, batting an average of .215 while slugging 26 home runs.
Jesse is best known for his defensive prowess at first base, earning multiple Gold Glove Awards throughout his career.
27. Paul Molitor
Career
- 7× All-Star (1980, 1985, 1988, 1991–1994), World Series champion (1993), World Series MVP (1993), 4× Silver Slugger Award (1987, 1988, 1993, 1996), AL Manager of the Year (2017), Milwaukee Brewers No. 4 retired, American Family Field Walk of Fame, Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor, Major League Baseball All-Time Team
Molitor is a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. He spent his entire 17-year MLB career with the Minnesota Twins, where he was their manager from 1998 to 2002.
Molitor won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1997 while playing for the Brewers. Molitor played college ball at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville before being drafted by Milwaukee in 1978.
After retiring as an active player, Molitor served as interim manager of the Twins in 2003 and 2004 before taking on that role full-time in 2005.
In 2006, he became the first position coach ever to lead both teams in wins during a season – managing Minnesota to 103 victories while also coaching their outfielders; they finished second behind Boston in league standings that year Paul Molitor is one of the most successful managers in baseball history.
He led Minnesota to a World Series victory in 1993 and was named Manager of the Year that same year. Molitor also has a reputation as an excellent base stealer, accumulating 504 stolen bases during his career.
Paul Molitor retired from playing professional baseball after the 1998 season and became manager of the Milwaukee Brewers later that year.
He stayed with them until 1992 when he joined Toronto as their manager. After leaving Toronto, Molitor served as manager for three seasons with the Minnesota Twins before retiring from coaching at the end of 2018 to focus on his role as special assistant to team president Dave Stearns.
28. Justin Smoak
First baseman
Career
- All-Star (2017)
Justin Smoak is a 36-year-old first baseman in the MLB who played for the Texas Rangers in 2010 and then for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan from 2021 to 2020.
He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 7th round of the 2008 amateur draft, and made his professional debut with them that year. His best season statistically came in 2010 when he hit .229 with 196 home runs and 570 RBIs while playing for Texas.
After spending two years with Texas, he signed with the Yomiuri Giants where he continued to produce at a high level, hitting .269 with 198 homers and 568 RBIs between 2018 and 2020.
Justin Smoak has been awarded five Gold Glove Awards throughout his career, which is an outstanding achievement given that first basemen are not usually as highly rated as other positions in baseball.
29. Russell Martin
Catcher
Career
- 4× All-Star (2007, 2008, 2011, 2015), Gold Glove Award (2007), Silver Slugger Award (2007)
Martin is a catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Martin made his MLB debut in 2006 with the Dodgers and has played for them since then. He's had some good seasons, but he was also hampered by injuries in recent years.
Martin announced his retirement from baseball on September 28, 2019 after appearing in just one game for the Dodgers this season. As a catcher, Martin is known for being able to hit well with both power and average skill sets.
He will be remembered as one of the best catchers in Dodger history and someone who helped lead them to two World Series championships (2014 & 2018). A switch-hitter, Martin has been a consistent contributor at both catcher and first base for the majority of his career.
A three-time Gold Glove Award winner, Martin was also named to the 2009 All-Star team as an outfielder before settling in behind the plate full-time in 2010. Known for his strong defensive abilities, Martin led all catchers with 191 home runs over his nine seasons with Los Angeles Dodgers (2006–2018).
An all-around player who can hit for average and power, Martin is coming off a successful season with Toronto Blue Jays where he batted .279 with 29 home runs and 91 RBIs.
30. Kevin Pillar
Outfielder
Career
- Willie Mac Award (2019)
A 34-year-old outfielder who has played for the Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals, Pillar is a free agent this offseason. He was drafted by Toronto in 2008 out of West Hills High School in California and made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays that year.
Injuries have kept him from becoming a mainstay in Toronto's lineup over the last few years but he still managed to bat .274/.344/.459 with 11 home runs over 586 plate appearances during that time span.
The Kansas City Royals acquired him at the trade deadline last season and he enjoyed some success, batting .291/.349/.468 with 7 home runs in 132 plate appearances after coming over from Toronto.
He'll be looking for a new team this offseason as injuries continue to haunt him, but Pillar has shown potential throughout his career and could be worth signing if you're looking for an outfield depth option on your roster.
31. Jordan Romano
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (2022)
Romano made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020. He is a right-handed pitcher and bats and throws right-handed.
Prior to making his MLB debut, Romano spent four seasons (2015-18) with the Cleveland Indians organization where he compiled a record of 36-22 with two saves and an ERA of 3.92 in 54 games/55 starts.
In 2018, Romano pitched for Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic where he went 1-0 with one save and an ERA of 0.00 in three games/two starts while averaging 10 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
Romano was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Romano is a left-handed pitcher who has played for both universities and minor-league teams.
Romano is currently with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he has made 14 appearances out of 21 possible starts this season, posting an 8–4 record and 2.58 ERA to go along with 200 strikeouts and 61 saves over that span.
In 2020, Romano won his first NCAA championship at Vanderbilt University as part of their pitching staff while also being named First Team All-American that year by Baseball America magazine.
In 2021, Romano signed with the Cleveland Indians but did not make an appearance for them before being traded to Toronto on July 31st in exchange for cash considerations.
With the Blue Jays, Romano has continued to be one of baseball's top pitchers having led all starters in innings pitched (236), quality starts (25) and WAR (8) through 22 games this season alone.
32. Alejandro Kirk
Catcher
Career
- All-Star (2022), Silver Slugger Award (2022)
Alejandro Kirk was born in Tijuana, Mexico on November 6th, 1998. He signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as an international free agent in 2016 and made his MLB debut that year.
In 2017, he played for the Buffalo Bisons where he hit .269/.345/.449 with 12 home runs and 66 RBIs in 119 games. In 2018, Alejandro had a breakout season batting .306/.383/.567 with 27 home runs and 114 RBIs in 157 games for the Blue Jays organization including 108 games at Triple-A Buffalo.
He has been rated as one of the top catching prospects in baseball by many analysts and is considered to be a potential All-Star caliber player down the line.
The 24-year-old is under contract with Toronto through 2020 Alejandro Kirk is a Venezuelan-born left fielder who has played for the Toronto Blue Jays since 2020.
He began his career in the minor leagues and made his big league debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2016. In 2018, he won an American League Gold Glove Award as a left fielder and was named to the All-Star team.
Kirk signed a five-year contract with the Blue Jays in February 2020 and led all major league players with 90 runs batted in that season.
He became one of only two players (alongside Bryce Harper) to have at least 100 RBIs and 20 home runs in each of their first four seasons in the majors, joining Barry Bonds (35 HR/100 RBI seasons).
In September 2019, Kirk hit his 23rd home run of the season – becoming just third player ever to reach this milestone before September 30th – which clinched the division title for Toronto over rivals Boston Red Sox.
33. Alek Manoah
Career
- All-Star (2022), All-MLB First Team (2022)
Alek Manoah made his MLB debut in May of 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays. The 25-year old right-handed pitcher has had a successful career up to this point, compiling an overall record of 38 wins and 27 losses over 4 seasons.
Alek is known for his strong control and ability to keep hitters off balance, which have led to him being one of the most consistently productive pitchers in the league.
He is currently under contract with the Blue Jays through 2024, providing some stability as he continues to develop into one of baseball's top performers.
Alek Manoah had a record-breaking season in his debut season with the Toronto Blue Jays, going 25–9 and averaging 2.60 ERA while striking out 307 batters.
Alek Manoah was an All-Star in his first year with the team and was also named to First Team all MLB as a result of his impressive play.
34. Kelly Gruber
Career
- 2× All-Star (1989, 1990), World Series champion (1992), Gold Glove Award (1990), Silver Slugger Award (1990)
Kelly Gruber was a third baseman who played in the MLB from 1984 to 1993. Kelly Gruber had an illustrious career, winning three Gold Gloves and making six All-Star teams.
In 1992, he led the American League with 119 RBIs and finished fourth in MVP voting behind only Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., and Mike Piazza. After leaving the MLB, Kelly Gruber continued to play professionally for several years before retiring in 2000 at the age of 38.
Since retiring from baseball, Kelly has enjoyed a successful career as a television sports commentator and analyst Kelly Gruber was a 2x All-Star and World Series champion with the Toronto Blue Jays. Kelly Gruber has a .259 batting average and 117 home runs in his career.
He won a Silver Slugger Award in 1990, which is still the most recent time that an Angels player has won this award. Kelly Gruber played for California Angels between 1993 and 1994 before being traded to the Texas Rangers in 1995.
He retired after playing one more season with the Chicago White Sox in 1996, ending his 13-year MLB career.
35. Kevin Gausman
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (2021), All-MLB Second Team (2021)
Gausman made his MLB debut in 2013 for the Baltimore Orioles. He has spent most of his career with the Baltimore Orioles, but was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018.
Gausman is a left-handed pitcher who throws from the right side. He has had some success in MLB, winning 36 games over three seasons (2013-2015). However, he struggled somewhat in 2016 and 2017 before being traded to Toronto at the end of 2017 season.
In 2018, Gausman enjoyed more success with Toronto as he won 10 games while also posting a 3rd best ERA (2nd among American League starters) on the team.
Gausman will hope to continue this form into next season as he looks to cement himself as one of baseball's top pitchers once again Kevin Gausman is a former first-round draft pick who has had some success in the MLB.
He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2013 and helped lead them to two playoff appearances during that time. In 2018, he was traded to Atlanta Braves where he continued his success by posting a 3.93 ERA over 146 innings pitched while striking out 1,366 batters.
In 2019, Gausman was traded again this time to Cincinnati Reds where he posted similar numbers with 171 strikeouts over 190 innings pitched before being dealt back west once more for Toronto Blue Jays in 2020.
Kevin Gausman will be joining the San Francisco Giants for the 2021 season as they look to contend for their 4th NL West title in 7 years.
36. Cavan Biggio
Second baseman
Career
- Hit for the cycle on September 17, 2019
Biggio was born in Houston, Texas and played high school baseball at Klein Oak High School. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round of the 2014 MLB draft.
Biggio made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays on May 24, 2019 and has since appeared in 49 games for them, batting .228 with 2 home runs and 11 RBIs. In 2018, he led all Minor Leaguers in hits (171) and doubles (41).
In 2017, he finished third in voting for American League Rookie of The Year behind Mike Trout of Los Angeles Angels and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees; both players were first-time All-Stars that year as well. Cavan Biggio is a professional baseball player who has played for the Toronto Blue Jays since 2019.
He was born in Texas and attended college at LSU before being drafted by the Blue Jays in 2016. In 2018, he won his first major league championship with Toronto and was also named an All-Star that year. As of 2019, Cavan Biggio has hit 37 home runs and 127 RBIs in his career so far.
Also Played For: vancouver canadians, mlb utility
37. Hyun-jin Ryu
Pitcher
Career
- KBO, Korean Triple Crown (2006), 7× KBO All-Star (2006–2012), KBO MVP (2006), KBO Rookie of the Year (2006), 2× KBO Golden Glove Award (2006, 2010), 5× KBO strikeout champion (2006–2007, 2009–2010, 2012), 2× KBO ERA champion (2006, 2010), , MLB, , All-Star (2019), 2× All-MLB Second Team (2019, 2020), MLB ERA leader (2019)
Hyun-jin Ryu is a pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013 and made his MLB debut that year.
In 2018, he won both the KBO MVP Award and Golden Glove Award after leading his team to an unbeaten record while pitching 290 innings over 42 games/starts.
Ryu set new career highs in strikeouts (1,238) and earned run average (2.80) during the 2018 season, earning him an All-Star Game selection and National League Cy Young Award consideration along the way.
His 98 wins as a starter are tied for fifth most all-time in MLB history behind only Sandy Koufax (11), Pedro Martinez (117), Roger Clemens (153), and Bob Gibson (136). Hyun-jin Ryu also boasts one of baseball’s best records against left-handed pitchers with a mark of 54–24 (.717).
As an international player, Ryu has represented South Korea at multiple tournaments including two World Baseball Classic appearances where he helped lead them to their second WBC title game appearance ever in 2017.
Before falling short to eventual champions Puerto Rico; as well as two Olympic Games where they failed to medal each time despite reaching the semi-finals both times.
Also Played For: kbo league
38. George Springer
Outfielder
Career
- 4× All-Star (2017–2019, 2022), World Series champion (2017), World Series MVP (2017), 2× Silver Slugger Award (2017, 2019)
Springer was drafted in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Houston Astros. Springer has a batting average of .285 and is one of only four players in MLB history to hit for an average over .
300 with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in three consecutive seasons (along with Alex Rodriguez, Giancarlo Stanton, and Mike Trout).
Springer led all major leagues with 47 triples during the 2017 season. He also ranked second in slugging percentage (.595) behind only Bryce Harper among outfielders who had at least 150 plate appearances that year.
In 2018, Springer batted .306 with 32 home runs and 113 RBIs en route to being named MVP of the American League playoffs; this earned him his first career championship ring as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays George Springer is a three-time all-star and 2017 world series champion with the Houston Astros.
George Springer has been very consistent in his career, hitting a batting average of .269 with 221 home runs and 584 RBIs over the course of nine seasons. In addition to being an all-around hitter, Springer also possesses elite speed which helps him steal bases and score runs on defense.
As one of only six players in MLB history with at least 300 doubles, triples, and homers before turning 25 years old, there's no doubt that George Springer is one of the most talented hitters in baseball today. With another five or more seasons left in his prime, fans can expect continued dominance from this superstar slugger.
39. Jimmy Key
Career
- 5× All-Star (1985, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997), 2× World Series champion (1992, 1996), MLB wins leader (1994), MLB ERA leader (1987)
Jimmy Key was a dominant pitcher in the 1990s and 2000s. He won 186 games during his career, 117 of which were with the Baltimore Orioles. His best season came in 1998 when he went 19-7 with a 3.11 ERA over 33 starts.
In 2001, he led the American League in innings pitched (265), strikeouts (248), and wins while finishing second in Cy Young voting behind Roger Clemens. After leaving Baltimore following the 2002 season.
Key spent three years as pitching coach for the Miami Marlins before retiring at age 37 due to injury concerns stemming from an abnormally high amount of stress on his arm from coaching duties combined with his earlier playing days injuries.
This eventually forced him to have surgery on both arms that effectively ended his career prematurely despite having still had some good years left ahead of him.
He is currently a baseball analyst for MLB Network and Fox Sports 1 where he provides commentary on games as well as hosting "The Jimmy Key Show" once or twice per week on FS1 TV.
40. Tim Mayza
Pitcher
Tim Mayza is a 30-year old pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2010 but never made it to their roster due to injury and then traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015.
His repertoire includes a fastball, slider, changeup and curveball. In 2017 he had his best season statistically with a 3-5 record, 5 saves and an ERA of 2.71 over 78 innings pitched between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple A Buffalo Bills farm teams.
He has also played for Team USA at both the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2016 where he led all American pitchers with 4 wins while posting an ERA of 1.40) and 2018.
Where he won silver as part of Team Canada's bullpen that finished fourth overall behind Cuba, Japan and Mexico Tim Mayza made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017.
Tim Mayza has been a consistent contributor for the Blue Jays over the past few seasons, posting an impressive 17-6 record and 3.98 ERA. Tim Mayza is known for his strong strikeout numbers, totaling 223 over three seasons in the big leagues.
With continued success at the major league level, it's likely that Tim Mayza will continue to play in baseball for many years to come.
41. Matt Chapman
Third baseman
Career
- All-Star (2019), 3× Gold Glove Award (2018, 2019, 2021), 2x Platinum Glove Award (2018, 2019), 2x Fielding Bible Award (2018, 2019), Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award (2018)
Matt Chapman was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with them in 2017 and has since played for Oakland, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Chapman is a third baseman who bats right-handed and throws right-handed. He has a batting average of .260 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs in 486 games played over six seasons in the majors.
Chapman was named to his first All-Star team this year, becoming just the fourth player born after 1993 to be selected for an ASG (joining Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, and Giancarlo Stanton).
In 2018 he won his second Gold Glove Award as the best defensive third baseman in baseball Chapman was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft.
Chapman quickly became a key player for the A's and has been an All-Star, Gold Glove Award winner, Fielding Bible Award recipient and Wilson Defensive Player of the Year nominee. Chapman is signed through 2022 with Toronto being his most likely future home.
42. Fred McGriff
Career
- 5× All-Star (1992, 1994–1996, 2000), World Series champion (1995), 3× Silver Slugger Award (1989, 1992, 1993), 2× Home run leader (1989, 1992)
McGriff is a first baseman who played in the Major Leagues for 17 seasons, most notably with the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was known as an excellent power hitter and led the league in home runs twice.
McGriff announced his retirement from baseball after playing his last game for the Devil Rays on July 15, 2004. Since then he has worked as a broadcaster for Fox Sports Florida.
Fred McGriff was born on October 31, 1963, in Tampa, Florida to parents of Jamaican descent.
As a child he loved playing ball and showed great potential at both football and baseball; however, it wasn't until he attended Hillsborough Community College that he started to make waves within collegiate athletics circles.
After two years at HCC (where he helped lead them to back-to-back NJCAA World Series championships), McGriff transferred to Miami Dade College where he continued to amass impressive stats (.413 batting average with 49 homers over three seasons).
In 1986 McGriff made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays – hitting .284 with 2,490 hits and 49 home runs over 17 seasons before retiring following the 2004 season. At age 41 due to recurring neck issues stemming from several concussions sustained while playing professional ball.
While never achieving superstar status or being particularly well-liked by fans or teammates alike – largely because of his surly attitude towards reporters (or anyone else).
Fred McGriff nevertheless remains one of best hitters in MLB history has posted an incredible .284 batting average along with 500+ RBIs & 50 HRs across all competitions.
43. Whit Merrifield
Outfielder
Career
- 2× All-Star (2019, 2021), 3× AL stolen base leader (2017, 2018, 2021)
Whit Merrifield is a second baseman and outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft.
In 2016, he had his best season to date with the Royals, hitting .292 with 14 home runs and 54 RBIs. Injuries have been an issue for Merrifield throughout his career, but he's still managed to produce at a high level when healthy.
Merrifield is set to become a free agent after this season and will likely test the market as a quality starting second baseman or outfield option next year. Whit Merrifield is a versatile player who can play all three outfield positions and shortstop.
Whit Merrifield is having an excellent season in 2019, batting .285 with 1,035 hits and 79 home runs. Whit Merrifield was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 2nd round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
Whit Merrifield made his debut with the Royals on July 8th, 2018 against the Oakland Athletics and has played in every game for them since then except for one due to injury.
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Whit Merrifield from Kansas City as part of a four-team trade on December 18th, 2021 which also involved the Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates.
44. Tom Henke
Career
- 2× All-Star (1987, 1995), World Series champion (1992), NL Rolaids Relief Man Award (1995), AL saves leader (1987)
Tom Henke was a dominant pitcher in the MLB for many years and is still remembered as one of the best. He made his debut with the Texas Rangers in 1982 and went on to have a successful career with them, winning 41 games and losing 42.
He also had success with other teams, including St Louis Cardinals where he finished up his career in 1995. Tom Henke had an impressive strikeout rate throughout his career, averaging over 860 per season.
His greatest achievement undoubtedly came when he led baseball in ERA during the 1990 season – something that few players have ever managed to do.
Tom Henke was one of the most successful relief pitchers in MLB history. He recorded 311 saves during his career and won two World Series titles with the Texas Rangers.
Henke was born in Canada but played for 10 different teams over a 20-year span, spending time with both the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers.
Henke is now a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and holds many records as one of baseball's all-time greats in relief pitching.
45. Rance Mulliniks
Mulliniks was signed by the California Angels as an amateur free agent in 1976. He played for the Angels from 1977-1981, before being traded to the Montreal Expos.
Mulliniks spent three seasons with the Expos, and then one season with the Cleveland Indians (1984). Mulliniks retired after playing in just 88 games over two seasons with Cleveland (1985-1986).
After his baseball career ended, Mulliniks began working as a scout for both teams in MLB. In 2007, he was inducted into Tulare County's Sports Hall of Fame alongside former NHL player Wayne Gretzky and boxer Muhammad Ali Mulliniks was a noted power hitter in his day, as he hit 73 home runs during his time with the Blue Jays.
He also had a batting average of .272, which is respectable for someone of his caliber. Mulliniks is most notable, however, for being one of the few position players to win three MVP Awards (1992-1994).
After finishing his career with the Angels and Royals in 1995 and 1996 respectively, Mulliniks retired from baseball at the age of 36.
Rance Mulliniks will always be remembered fondly by Blue Jays fans for his accomplishments on and off the field over the course of 18 seasons in Major League Baseball.
46. Ross Stripling
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (2018)
Ross Stripling was born on November 23, 1989, in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Oklahoma and played for the Sooners baseball team.
In 2013, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the MLB draft and made his debut with them that year.
He pitched for them until 2018 when he was traded to the San Francisco Giants along with Cody Bellinger in a deal that sent Manny Machado to LA Dodger In 2019.
Ross Stripling is pitching for the Giants and has had some successful seasons so far The right-handed pitcher has been a mainstay on the Dodgers lineup for over six seasons now, and he's proven himself to be one of the most consistent starters in all of baseball.
Ross Stripling is known as a shutdown pitcher, who can keep teams from scoring runs consistently.
He was named an All-Star in 2018, which was his first career nod as a starter. In terms of stats, Ross Stripling has posted averages that would put him among some of the best pitchers in history - including 3rd place finishes in strikeouts (622) and ERA (3.78).
Also Played For: oklahoma city dodgers
47. Alex Ríos
Career
- 2× All-Star (2006, 2007), World Series champion (2015)
Alex Ríos was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 4th round of the 2004 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with Toronto on May 27, 2004 and finished out that season with them.
In 2005, Alex played for Kansas City and hit .278 with 10 home runs and 79 RBIs in 157 games played. In 2006 he had a breakout season batting .326 with 37 home runs and 118 RBIs as well as winning a Gold Glove Award at the right field (he also won one in 2009).
After another great year in 2007 (.314, 33 HR & 124RBI), Rios signed a long-term deal with KC worth $60 million over 6 years early in 2008 which helped the team make it to their first playoff appearance since 1985 (they lost to Tampa Bay).
The following year Alex had another great campaign batting .310/.362/.486 while leading all OF's wiht 14 SB's - again earning him an AL MVP award nomination but losing out to Josh Hamilton who won his second Triple Crown that year.
Following yet another good year during 2010 where he batted .309/.361/.495 Alex missed most of 2011 due to injury but came back strong hitting 31 homers and 101 RBIs en route to being named AL Comeback Player o fthe Year again.
Alex struggled some offensively however still manage a respectable 36 homers while driving 97 runners into scoring position- once again helping KC win their division before eventually falling short in 5 games against St Louis in 2013 World Series final highlights for this amazing player.
48. Duane Ward
Career
- All-Star (1993), 2× World Series champion (1992, 1993), AL saves leader (1993)
Duane Ward was a right-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues for over 20 years, making his debut with the Atlanta Braves in 1986. He had a win-loss record of 32-37 and an earned run average of 3.28 during that time.
Ward also played for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1995 to 1995, retiring at age 38 after compiling a loss record of 5-12 during that time span. Duane Ward was an all-star shortstop who helped lead the Braves to two world championships.
He was known for his powerful batting arm and ability to make spectacular plays at short field, earning him the nickname "The Steel Man." After playing for Toronto from 1986 to 1995, Ward became a free agent and signed with the Texas Rangers in 1996.
With the Rangers, he led the American League in saves three times (1996–1998) before retiring after the 1999 season. In 2000, Ward served as manager of Canada's national baseball team during their successful run at the World Baseball Classic tournament that year.
49. Danny Jansen
Catcher
Danny Jansen is a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft. In 2018, he made his debut with the team as an All-Star Futures Game participant and hit a home run in that game.
Jansen has played at every level of baseball, including AA, AAA and MLB so far in his career. He has received accolades such as being named to both Baseball America's 2016 midseason and 2017 postseason top prospects lists and Sporting News' American League All-Stars third baseman list in 2018.
Danny Jansen is a 23-year-old Venezuelan catcher who made his MLB debut for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018.
He was originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent in 2011 and played for their minor league teams until being called up to the majors at age 22. Jansen has averaged a .223 batting average, 48 home runs, 143 RBIs and 1 SB over his career so far with Los Angeles and Toronto.
His best season statistically came in 2016 when he hit .292 with 25 HRs and 94 RBIs between Double-A Tulsa (RHP) and Triple-A Oklahoma City (LHP).
In addition to catching, Jansen also plays first base, second base, shortstop, left field and right field during games but mostly catches due to his lack of power at those other positions.
50. Trent Thornton
Pitcher
Trent Thornton is a 29-year-old pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth round of the 2012 MLB draft, but did not sign with them and instead attended college at Oregon State University.
In 2016, he signed with the Blue Jays and has since made 47 appearances (42 starts) pitching to a record of 18 wins and 21 losses with an ERA of 4.59 over that time period.
His best season came in 2018 when he posted a record of 16 wins and 7 losses while posting an ERA of 3.92 over his 31 starts pitched that year – good enough for second place on the team behind Marcus Stroman’s 17 wins & 10 loss campaign.
So far in 2019, Trent Thornton has started 6 games (all from start #1), compiling a 2-2 record with 1 save, giving up 38 hits (.257 avg.), 8 walks (3 BB/9 IP) and 43 strikeouts (.292).
Thornton also ranks first among all AL pitchers this season in terms of opponent average exit velocity against (min 100 pitches).
51. Casey Lawrence
Pitcher
Casey Lawrence is a pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 2nd round of the 2007 MLB Draft, but did not sign and played college baseball at LSU.
After playing for 3 seasons (2007-2009) in Minor League Baseball, he made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays on April 8th of 2017 against Kansas City Royals and pitched 4 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits while striking out 3 batters.
On July 3rd of 2019, Casey signed a minor league contract with Hiroshima Toyo Carp of NPB after pitching for Portland Sea Dogs during Spring Training that year. He has had success throughout his career including an ERA under 2 both in MLB (.192) and NPB (.141).
Casey's fastball sits around 94 mph which allows him to dominate hitters early in games before throwing secondary pitches, later on, to get them out as well as inducing ground balls often due to good control over his offspeed pitches giving him multiple options should he lose traction with hitters early on.
Final Words
The Toronto Blue Jays are one of the most successful baseball franchises in Major League Baseball, and have had some of the best players to ever play the sport.
Some of their greatest stars include Roberto Alomar, Joe Carter, George Bell, Buck Martinez and David Cone.
