Toronto Blue Jays: All-Time Leaders in Home Runs

The only other player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a season for the Toronto Blue Jays is Jose Cruz Jr. Cruz accomplished the feat in 2001, three years after Green did it in 1998. Much like Green, Cruz’ Blue Jays career was filled with consistent, slightly above average production that spiked in a two-year stretch.

Cruz was traded to the Blue Jays halfway through his first season. Toronto sent Mike Timlin and Paul Spoljaric to Seattle for Cruz, who still holds the record for the most rookie home runs, playing for two teams (26).

In fact, Cruz’ rookie home runs eclipsed his total amount of home runs in the next two seasons combined. Cruz slugged a combined 25 home runs in 1998-99, missing 113 games in the process. Then, Cruz hit a combined 65 home runs the next two years.

Cruz was elected the Blue Jays’ team MVP in 2001 after slugging 34 home runs, swiping 32 bags and hitting to a career best .274. Overall, in just 698 games played with the Jays, Cruz Ranks:

• 11th – Stolen Bases – 85


• 16th – Walks – 316


• 21st  – WAR – 10.9

Cruz has quite the baseball lineage. His father, Jose, and uncles Hector and Tommy Cruz all played in the big leagues. The father-son duo combined for a 71.3 WAR.

Most memorable home run: 100th career home run that was the first of two on the day against the Angels on August 11, 2001.