Top Blue Jays’ Draft Picks of All-Time

Apr 4, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays former pitcher

gets ready to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre.

The New York Yankees won 7-3.

Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

#1 Roy Halladay

At this point, there should be no surprise moment as to who is Jays Journal’s pick for the top Blue Jay ever drafted.

It’s the Doc. Since being drafted with the 17th pick in the first round of the 1995 draft, Halladay surgically decimated his opposition in a Jays uniform and is arguably remembered as the best Blue Jay of all time.

Halladay broke onto the Jays scene in 1998 for a 14 inning cup of coffee before stumbling back and forth between the minors with an inconsistent delivery. In 2001, Doc seemed to have it all figured out as he threw just over 100 innings with a 3.16 ERA.

In 2002, Halladay led the Majors in innings pitched with 239.1, following that season up with an even more impressive 2003 campaign that saw him win the American League Cy Young. Impressively, Halladay collected 266 innings in that year with a 3.25 ERA.

After spending the majority of the 2004 season on the disabled list, Halladay returned to his ace form in ’05–for the first half anyways– hurling to the boom of a 12-4 record with a 2.41 ERA. Unfortunately, his season was again cut short as he broke his leg on a comeback hit during a game against the Texas Rangers.

Halladay used his success to pave the way to three more All-Star appearances between 2006 and 2009. But, on December 15th, 2009, in an attempt to find a true winner, Halladay was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies where he played four more seasons. In that time he collected another Cy Young, a perfect game (in the playoffs) before losing his velocity in 2012-13, claiming what was left of his career.

Halladay, being the classy man he is, signed back with Toronto on a one-day contract on December 9th, 2013. At career end, Halladay posted a 203-105 record with a 3.38 ERA.

Currently, there shouldn’t be any question in Jays’ fans minds: Roy Halladay is the best to date ever to be drafted in a Blue Jays uniform.