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Blue Jays: Top ten designated hitters in franchise history

By Chris Henderson

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 01: Manager Charlie Montoyo #25 of the Toronto Blue Jays checks over the lineup card in the dugout before the start of MLB game action against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on April 1, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 01: Manager Charlie Montoyo #25 of the Toronto Blue Jays checks over the lineup card in the dugout before the start of MLB game action against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on April 1, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Blue Jays player Dave Winfield watches the ball fly after getting a two-run double in the 11th inning of game six of the 1992 World Series 24 Octoober . Winfield’s hit allowed the winning runs to score. The Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 to take the World Series championship. (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)
Toronto Blue Jays player Dave Winfield watches the ball fly after getting a two-run double in the 11th inning of game six of the 1992 World Series 24 Octoober . Winfield’s hit allowed the winning runs to score. The Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 to take the World Series championship. (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /

And then there were four

4- Adam Lind
2009 Stats: .305/.370/.562, 35 HR, 46 doubles, 114 RBI, 3.9 bWAR

It really looked like the Blue Jays had something special with the duo of Adam Lind and Aaron Hill at one point. However, they eventually served as another reminder about how quickly things can change in Major League Baseball.

At his best, Lind was a Silver Slugger award winner, and for good reason. His peak season in 2009 was a clinic in hitting as a 25 year old, and he even finished 15th in MVP voting.

3- Dave Winfield
1992 Stats: .290/.377/.491, 26 HR, 33 doubles, 108 RBI, 4.1 bWAR

I debated putting Winfield lower on the list since he only played the one season in Toronto, but what could be a more important impact than helping a franchise win their first championship?

Winfield rolled back the clock and put up his best numbers since 1988, serving as a crucial veteran presence in the middle of the lineup, and in the locker room, and it’s hard to imagine that first World Series victory without him.

2- Edwin Encarnacion
2012 Stats: .280/.384/.557, 42 HR, 24 doubles, 110 RBI, 5.0 bWAR

Just as I considered “punishing” Winfield for only playing one season with the Blue Jays, I almost moved Edwin Encarnacion to the top of the list because of his longevity. However, I ended up putting him in a still very respectable second place, and I hope you’ll forgive me if you disagree.

“Edwing” was a fan favourite in Toronto for most of his tenure from 2009-2016, culminating in an iconic home run to walk-off the Baltimore Orioles in the 2016 Wild Card game. He may be playing in another jersey, but Encarnacion will always be a Blue Jay to us.

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