Top Blue Jays’ Draft Picks of All-Time

This is it. The MLB Draft begins on Monday night at 6:00pm (Eastern Standard Time) and with a rather weak looking draft class, it may be time to look back on the top draft picks the Jays have selected throughout their franchise history. As you can guess, the team has had a rather spotted history with the draft, with many wins, many misses, and even a few “what could have been” players tossed into the mix.

For the record, the following list of draft picks is categorized mainly by the leaders in WAR (wins above replacement) as it allows one to quickly determine how far they were above the average during their given careers.

You’ll notice not all– actually few– ended up Blue Jays and that at least one has a long way to go in climbing the list to become the top Blue Jay ever drafted.

More Articles About Blue Jays Draft History:

Jun 4, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman

(17) hits a single against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit:

-USA TODAY Sports

#10 Kris Bryant 

As you can see by the picture above, this selection isn’t in a Jays uniform and may never be. At #10, it may be the boldest selection a man equipped with a keyboard can make. But it’s not ludicrous either.

In only 199 plate appearances in his rookie season, Bryant is hitting an impressive .271/.382/.452 with seven home runs and a quickly produced 1.9 WAR. Fangraphs has him at 2.9 WAR by seasons end; however, that may be a tad conservative given his solid production thus far.

Either way, Bryant has the real potential to be the next best thing in MLB for years to come. Unfortunately, he didn’t sign with the Blue Jays when they drafted him in 2010 as he instead elected to attend college and later improve his draft selection. In 2013, the Cubs made him their first round selection with the second overall pick where he has been ever since.

Although it’s quite early in his career and he could fall off the face of the earth in the new San Andreas movie, it’s conceivable he climbs the rungs of the Jays draft history to be the best Blue Jay ever drafted.

May 17, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Toronto Blue Jays ball cap and logo during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Blue Jays at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Blue Jays defeated the Texas Rangers 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

#9

Colloquially referred to as O-Dog, Orlando Hudson was selected in the 1997 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in the infertile 43rd round.

Five years later at the ripe age of 24, Hudson made his debut with the Jays. He was above replacement level in his 54 game rookie season, hitting to the tune of a 276/.319/.443 slash. As a second baseman he transformed that skill to the field, becoming a first class option up the middle.

He would go on to win four Gold Glove awards in his career, one in Toronto in 2005, two in Arizona before finishing with one in a Dodgers uniform in 2009. Hudson was a two-time All-Star in 2007 and 2009 and compiled an impressive 21.1 WAR over his career.

Hudson certainly wasn’t a hall of famer but he was, without a doubt, one of the premier second baseman in a Jays uniform.

Jul. 8, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher

against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

#8 Ted Lilly 

Although Ted Lilly didn’t sign when the Jays said his name in the 1995 draft, Lilly became a member of the Blue Jays organization in 2004 and was nevertheless a draftee of the Blue birds.

Lilly embarked on his career with the Montreal Expos before spending time with the Yankees and Athletics. By the time he landed in Toronto, he had already played parts of six seasons as a major leaguer and continued his workhorse mentality with the Jays for three seasons.

Over his 15 seasons he accumulated 26.2 WAR with a 4.14 ERA and 130-113 win loss record. Again, he wasn’t a winner, an ace and he was barely even an All-Star, but Ted Lilly is among the best Blue Jay draftees of all time.

Aug 27, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees left fielder

(22) stretches before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

#7 Vernon Wells

Vernon Wells is a name almost any Jays fan can recognize. He was drafted by the Jays in 1997 with the fifth pick in the first round and became one of the Jays most memorable centrefielders.

Wells joined the Jays in 1999 but didn’t play his first full season with the Jays until 2002 at the young age of 23 years old. A year later, he produced arguably his career year with 33 home runs to go with a .317/.359/.450 slash line. He finished eighth in MVP voting that season. Wells would go on to win the Gold Glove award the next three seasons but never reached his 2002 potential again.

In 2011, Wells was dealt to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim where he played two seasons before retiring as a member of the New York Yankees.

Wells sits in second place for the franchise lead in home runs so at #7, Wells certainly earned his spot in the top draftees of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Feb 19, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; The Toronto Blue Jays logo at the

Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

#6

Shawn Green was unquestionably a great player in a major league uniform no matter the variety he took on.

Drafted by the Blue Jays in 1991 in the first round with the 15th pick, Green advanced himself quickly through the system and even finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting in 1995.

Green continued his strong showing, exemplifying power to all fields popularly remembered by his pre-game home run derbies with Delgado at the former Sky Dome.

After launching 42 home runs with a .309/.384/.588 slash and 123 RBI in 1999, Green ventured to the Los Angeles Dodgers where he would finish in the top 10 of MVP voting twice in five seasons.

Green moved on-to the Arizona Diamondbacks before reuniting forces with Delgado again in the Big Apple’s less famed team, the New York Mets, where he spent two seasons before retiring at the age of 34.

He retired with a total 328 home runs and had he run out his career into his late thirties, he may have surpassed the 400 homer plateau.

Nevertheless, Green’s .283/.355/.494 career slash and 29.9 WAR is nothing to be ignored, especially among other Blue Jay draftees.

Jun 6, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays former manager

(left), catcher

and pitcher

await opening ceremonies at Rogers Centre as the Jays celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of their stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

#5 Jimmy Key

The southpaw Jimmy Key was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the 1982 draft. Key found success at the big league level fast, jumping onto the major league avenue in 1984 for a brief stint followed by the 1985 season where he was an All-Star.

Two years later, he was the runner up for the Cy Young. Key would make one more All-Star appearance in a Jays uniform before moving to the Yankees where he would again finish runner up for the Cy-Young in 1994.

After that, Key played only four more seasons, also joining on with the Baltimore Orioles before retiring after 15 seasons as a major leaguer.

In total, Key tossed a respectable 2,591.2 innings with a 186-117 win-loss record and 3.51 ERA. Although he didn’t do it all in a Jays uniform, it’s hard to deny the reputation he established in a blue and white uniform.

Apr 13, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New Security measures implemented by Major League Baseball stand ready for screening fans at Gate 10 of the Rogers Centre before the home opener between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

#4  

Jeffrey Franklin Kent was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1989 draft within the second round.

Relatively quickly, Kent broke onto the scene in Toronto but never actualized his potential in a Jays uniform and was traded to New York on August 27th, 1993 in the famous trade that brought to Toronto to help bolster their 1993 World Series Championship.

With the Mets, Kent flourished for five seasons hitting for average with medium grade power before being traded away for next to nothing to the Cleveland Indians. Not a season later he was shipped to San Francisco where he thrived on the protection of the infamous .

In 2000, Kent won the National League MVP with an impressive 33 home runs, 125 RBI, and .334 batting average. Although he and Bonds had some successful years in McCovey Cove, neither was able to bring home the championship their talent prophesied.

At the end of Kent’s 17 year career, he had accumulated 337 home runs–the most of any second baseman in the history of baseball– with a .290/.356/.500 slash and 56.1 WAR.

In a seemingly reoccurring theme, Kent recorded most of his success outside of the Blue Jays uniform. Nonetheless, he was one of the best Blue Jays to ever be drafted.

Mar 21, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; A general view of the official major league baseball prior to the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

#3

John Olerud, known as the first baseman with the hardhat, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the 1989 draft out of Washington State University.

Olerud succeeded early in his career with the Jays, earning a September call-up in 1989 and broke out next season before becoming a mainstay on the right corner of the Blue Jays infield for the next seven seasons.

His biggest year, ironically coinciding with the Jays biggest in franchise history, was 1993 where he won the batting title with a .363/.473/.599 slash and whopping 8.1 WAR. In typical MVP voting fashion,  Olerud was shortchanged finishing third among the American League for most valuable player.

After the 1996 season, with prospect banging on the door for first base, the Jays elected to trade away Olerud to the Mets where he combined for 18.3 WAR over his three seasons in the Big Apple.

He split the remainder of his 17 year career with the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox, retiring with 500 doubles, 255 home runs and a combined 57.3 WAR.

While he too was an exceptional player even outside of Toronto, who knows if Toronto could have claimed back-to-back World Series titles in ’93/’94 without the stable presence of John Olerud.

Apr 13, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New Security measures implemented by Major League Baseball stand ready for screening fans at Gate 4 of the Rogers Centre before the home opener between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

#2

Dave Stieb, one of the earliest great Blue Jays in an otherwise bleak era, was drafted by the budding Blue Jays in the 5th round of the 1978 draft.

Stieb came on early in a Blue Jays uniform only a year after he was drafted, pitching over 100 innings with a 4.31 ERA. He followed his pedestrian like rookie season with consecutive seasons as an All-Star and in 1982 led the Majors in innings pitched with 288. He would surpass the 250 IP landmark in each of the next three seasons, unofficially earning himself the workhorse label in the Jays rotation.

His 1982 season garnered him some success in Cy Young voting but was cut short and finished fourth among his peers.

Notably, Stieb is the only pitcher in Blue Jays franchise history to record a no-hitter as he did on September 2, 1990. With any luck, he’d have had a few more to his name as he lost two no-hitters in 1988 with two outs and two strikes in the 9th inning as well as a perfect game on August 4th, 1989.

Unfortunately following the 1990 season, Stieb suffered a string of shoulder issues and the Jays elected to release him. Stieb signed on with the Chicago White Sox in 1992 but appeared in only 22 innings before announcing his retirement.

In an odd situation, Stieb returned to the Blue Jays in 1998 for 19 games, recording a win, two saves while starting three games. Stieb will fondly be remembered by Jays fans older than I for being the shining star during a time of dark berth for the franchise.

If not for the following draftee, Stieb would easily garner the tag as the top Blue Jay ever drafted.