Blue Jays: Top 10 strikeout leaders in franchise history

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TORONTO, ON – JULY 20: J.A. Happ #33 of the Toronto Blue Jays smiles as he is recognized for being selected to the All-Star Game during MLB game action against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on July 20, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Since the Toronto Blue Jays came to existence in1977, 433 different pitchers took to the mound for the franchise.

The Toronto Blue Jays have had their fair share of pitchers. While there are familiar names that fans can remember, it’s interesting to think which pitchers led the franchise in strikeouts. With that in mind, here are the top 10 players in franchise history who lead the way in strikeouts.

10. Duane Ward, 671 strikeouts

Duane Ward was a first-round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 1982 MLB Amateur Draft. After limited success in Atlanta, the hard-throwing pitcher was traded to Toronto in 1986. From there, Ward became one of the Blue Jays’ most consistent relief pitchers, a role he kept from 1988 to 1992. He reached over 100 strikeouts in four of five seasons, including a career-high 132 strikeouts in 1991. Ward’s 45 saves in 1993 remains a franchise record waiting to be broken.

9. J.A. Happ, 691 strikeouts

J.A. Happ first came to the Blue Jays in 2012 where the team acquired the left-handed pitcher from the Houston Astros. Happ’s first stint in Toronto wasn’t a memorable time in his career, especially when he suffered an injury after getting hit by a line drive. Nevertheless, when he agreed to return to Toronto on a three-year contract in 2016, Happ rejuvenated himself. He became the first pitcher since Roy Halladay to earn 11 wins prior to the All-Star break. Happ would become the sixth pitcher to win 20 games or more in a single season for the Blue Jays.

8. Kelvim Escobar, 744 strikeouts

The Blue Jays first signed Kelvim Escobar as an amateur free agent in 1992. Making his major league debut in 1997, Escobar would spend time in and out of the bullpen for the next five seasons. During that time, he had a record of 42-40 with 40 saves. In 2001, Escobar would finish the season with 38 saves, the second-most all-time in Blue Jays franchise history.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Pat Hentgen celebrates his three-hit shutout victory over the Minnesota Twins at Toronto’s Skydome 04 May. The Jays beat the Twins 1-0. AFP PHOTO/CARLO ALLEGRI (Photo by CARLO ALLEGRI / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ALLEGRI/AFP via Getty Images) /

7. David Wells, 784 strikeouts

David Wells made his big league debut in 1987 as a reliever but didn’t become a starter until after the Blue Jays released him. While he was a member of the 1992 World Series team, Wells did make a second-stint with Toronto as part of the Roger Clemens deal. The lefty earned three career bests during his time north of the border. In 1999, Wells earned career-best innings pitched in one season with 231.2 innings. The following season, he earned career bests in wins (20) and strikeouts in a season (169).

6. Jimmy Key, 944 strikeouts

Jimmy Key worked his way through the Blue Jays farm system. Key would make his major league debut in 1984 moving into the starting rotation the following season. In his nine seasons in Toronto, the Clemson alumn went 116-81 with an impressive 3.51 ERA. Additionally, Key threw more than 200 innings six times, topping out at 261 in 1987, when he also finished with a 2.76 ERA and the AL ERA crown.

5. Pat Hentgen, 1,028 strikeouts

The three-time All-Star made his Blue Jay debut in 1991, at the height of the team’s championship era. Pat Hentgen played a large role in Toronto’s World Series championship in 1993, in Game Three, he pitched six innings while allowing one hit on six strikeouts. Hentgen’s best year came in 1996, he went 20-10 with a 3.22 ERA and 177 strikeouts. That would be good enough for him to the AL CY Young Award, a first in Blue Jays franchise history.

4. Juan Guzman, 1,030 strikeouts

In Juan Guzman’s first three seasons in Toronto, he went 40-11 with an impressive 3.28 ERA. On the mound, his deliberate slow approach to pitch would earn him the nickname “Human Rain Delay”. Guzman would be a key contributor in both the 1992 and 1993 ALCS, winning all four of his starts. In eight postseason starts, the Dominican native’s postseason record was 5-1 with a 2.44 ERA. Guzman’s 2.93 ERA in 1996 was the lowest among American League pitchers.

BALTIMORE – MAY 27: Roy Halladay #32 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on May 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

3. Jim Clancy, 1,237 strikeouts

Jim Clancy played for the Blue Jays, Astros, and the Braves. However, Clancy’s time with Toronto was the best of his career. Making his major league debut in 1977, Clancy would spend most of the 80s battling with teammate Dave Steib for the team’s top rotation spot. In 1982, Clancy was named an All-Star were started a league-high 40 games along with posting his first winning season with a 16-14 record.

2. Roy Halladay, 1,495 strikeouts

When Roy Halladay made his debut in 1998, it was a special moment for the Blue Jays. Unfortunately, Halladay was demoted to Class A ball to resurrect his career, but he worked his way back to the majors stronger than ever. In a lengthy 11-year stay in Toronto, Halladay won his first of two CY Young Awards with a career-best 22-7 record. ‘Doc’ remained the team’s undisputed ace until 2009. The Hall of Famer finished with a 148-76 record and earned the most wins by any American League pitcher of the 2000s.

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1. Dave Stieb, 1,658 strikeouts

A Blue Jays pitcher from 1979 to 1992 and a brief stint in 1998, Dave Stieb is arguably the best pitcher in franchise history. His 175 wins are well ahead of second-place Roy Halladay. Then, on September 2, 1990, Stieb pitched the first and only no-hitter in Blue Jay’s history. Stieb’s 140 wins were the second-highest total by a pitcher in the 80s, only behind Hall of Famer Jack Morris. Stieb has seen it all in Toronto from the expansion days, to the competitive days and to the team’s first championship title in 1992.

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