15 best draft picks in Blue Jays history

Through 50 seasons of Toronto Blue Jays baseball, the team has only managed to draft and develop one major leaguer that had a career worthy of a Hall of Fame induction.

But that doesn’t mean they haven’t managed to draft other great players throughout their history who have been able to contribute to Toronto’s success over the last five decades.

Here's a look at 15 homegrown players who went on to have success with the Blue Jays

15 best draft picks in Blue Jays history

15. OF Shawn Green: Drafted first round (No. 16 pick) in 1991, 10.6 fWAR with Toronto

In the seven years he spent with Toronto, Green slashed .286/.344/.505 with a 117 OPS+ and 119 home runs. His best season came in 1999 when he led the league with 45 doubles and won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.

 14. 2B Aaron Hill: Drafted first round (No. 13 pick) in 2003, 12.4 fWAR with Toronto

From his debut in 2005 to his All-Star season in 2009, Hill was a top-ten second baseman in MLB. His 12.0 fWAR was ninth across that time period, and his 101 wRC+ was eighth. Hill’s best season was in 2009, where he hit 36 bombs, which set a Blue Jays record for the most home runs by a second baseman.

13. RHP Marcus Stroman: Drafted first round (No. 22 pick) in 2012, 14.9 fWAR with Toronto

During his six years with Toronto, Stroman developed into a team ace. He was a part of the rotation of both the 2015 and ’16 teams that went to the ALCS. His best season came in 2017 when he pitched to a 145 ERA+ with 164 strikeouts in 201 innings pitched and won a Gold Glove Award.

12. OF Shannon Stewart: Drafted first round (No. 19 pick) in 1992, 16.7 fWAR with Toronto

Maybe one of the most underrated outfielders in Blue Jays history, Stewart was a prototypical leadoff hitting outfielder. He had a slash line of .304/.371/.451 with 159 stolen bases and even hit 66 home runs between 1997 and 2002 before being traded to Minnesota in 2003.

11. SS Bo Bichette: Drafted second round (No. 66 pick) in 2016, 18.1 fWAR* with Toronto

Bichette is the only current Blue Jay to make this list, and it’s well deserved. He’s led the league in hits twice and is a two time All-Star. He has hit below .290 just once in a full season and has had three years of 20+ home runs.

*Total is as of May 29, 2025.

10. OF Alex Rios: Drafted first round (No. 19 pick) in 1999, 17.9 fWAR with Toronto

Rios burst onto the scene in 2004 when he slashed .286/.338/.383 in 111 games and finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. Through his age 25-27 seasons he accumulated a 118 OPS+, hitting 56 home runs and made two All-Star appearances.

9. LHP David Wells: Drafted second round (No. 30 pick) in 1982, 19.1 fWAR with Toronto

Wells debuted at 24 in 1987 and played with the Blue Jays through 1992. “Boomer” pitched 687 1/3 innings with a 3.78 ERA in that time and was a part of the franchise's first World Series championship. He then came back to Toronto in 1999 and 2000 and led the league in complete games both years, and his 20 wins in 2000 also led the league.

8. RHP Pat Hentgen: Drafted fifth round (No. 133 pick) in 1986, 19.7 fWAR with Toronto

The first pitcher in team history to win the Cy Young Award, Hentgen was worth 8.6 bWAR in 1996to go along with a 3.22 ERA. He led the league with 10 complete games, three shutouts and 265 2/3 innings. He was also an All-Star three times, including in 1993 when he was a big part of the Blue Jays rotation in their second World Series victory.

7. 1B John Olerud: Drafted third round (No. 79 pick) in 1989, 23.1 fWAR with Toronto

Another key member of both World Series championships for the Blue Jays. Olerud’s flirted with .400 during an incredible 1993 season in what was one of baseball's major storylines. He led the league with 54 doubles, a .363 average, .473 OBP, a 1.072 OPS, and 186 OPS+. In eight seasons with Toronto, he had a .398 OBP and 130 OPS+.

6. OF Lloyd Moseby: Drafted first round (No. 2 pick) in 1978, 24.6 fWAR with Toronto

Affectionately known as “Shaker," Moseby was one of the most consistent hitters on the team in the mid-80’s, averaging 20 home runs and a .277/.365/.456 slash line while stealing 174 bases between 1983 and 1987. He also shined on the defensive side of the ball and helped turn the Blue Jays into a contender.

5. OF Vernon Wells: Drafted first round (No. 5 pick) in 1997, 24.8 fWAR with Toronto

Wells was an above average player during his 12 years in Toronto, with a 108 OPS+ and 223 home runs. He appeared in three All-Star games, won two Gold Gloves and had six seasons with an OBP of .320 or better and five seasons with an OPS of .800 or better. He led the league with 215 hits and 49 doubles in 2003.

4. LHP Jimmy Key: Drafted third round (No. 56 pick) in 1982, 28.1 fWAR with Toronto

A Blue Jay for nine years, Key was a two-time All-Star and finished second in Cy Young voting in 1987 when he led the league with a 2.76 ERA while compiling a career-high 161 strikeouts in 261 1/3 innings.

His crowning moment with the Blue Jays came in Game Four of the 1992 World Series when he allowed just one run across 7 2/3 innings in a 2-1 Toronto win to give the Blue Jays a 3-1 series win.

3. OF Jesse Barfield: Drafted ninth round (No. 233 pick) in 1977, 29.6 fWAR with Toronto

Barfield was another members of the Blue Jays prolific outfield of the 1980’s. In nine years with Toronto, Barfield won two Gold Gloves along with a Silver Slugger in 1986 when he led the league with 40 home runs. He hit 179 homers as a Blue Jay. In Toronto’s first postseason appearance in 1985, he slashed .280/.357/.440 with one home run.

2. RHP Dave Stieb: Drafted fifth round (No. 106 pick) in 1978, 43.6 fWAR with Toronto

One of the best and most underrated pitchers of the 1980’s, Stieb spent 14 seasons as a Blue Jay from 1979 to 1992 and then another final year in 1998. He accumulated a 123 ERA+ with 103 complete games, 30 shutouts and only 224 home runs allowed in 2873 innings pitched. He led the league in bWAR three straight seasons from 1982-1984 and threw over 260 innings in each of those years.  

1. RHP Roy Halladay: Drafted first round (No. 17 pick) in 1995, 48.6 fWAR with Toronto

He was just named to the All-Quarter Century team by The Athletic, so it’s no surprise “Doc” is the best player the Blue Jays have ever drafted.

He led the league in bWAR in 2002 and 2003, winning the Cy Young Award in the latter year when he set a new franchise record with 22 wins. He led the league with nine complete games, 266 innings , and a 6.38 SO/BB. He appeared in five All-Star games, racked up 1495 strikeouts and produced a 133 ERA+ in his 12 seasons in Toronto.