Blue Jays: The All Time Drafted and Developed Team

1 Aug 2000: Alex Gonzalez #8 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks up to get the ball during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Network Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Blue Jays 5-4.Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport

Shortstop: Alex Gonzalez

The franchise appears to have shifted from not drafting and developing shortstops to doing a nice job of that right now with Bo Bichette on the team and Jordan Groshans likely climbing the system soon. Until Bichette plays a few more seasons, Alex Gonzalez is the top drafted and developed Blue Jay at that position.

In 1991, the Blue Jays drafted the skinny kid out of Killian High School in Miami, Florida with their 13th round pick. Gonzalez had a more traditional development as he started his first season in Rookie ball and climbed one level each year until making his major league debut four days before his 21st birthday on April 4, 1994.

Through the minors, Gonzalez was showing himself to be a real star, as his defensive skills were elite and he was also bringing in offensive skills, as in his last three levels of baseball he had a .281 batting average and was finishing in double digits in home runs while playing against older and more seasoned ballplayers.

Gonzalez would become the Blue Jays starting shortstop in 1995 and would hold that position through 2001. Through his time with the Blue Jays, he was known as one of the better defensive shortstops in baseball and had his best fielding season in his last year in 2001 with a .987 fielding percentage.

After the 2001 season, Gonzalez was traded to the Chicago Cubs for relief pitcher Felix Heredia. Gonzalez currently sits 20th in games played by a Blue Jays and third among shortstops (Tony Fernandez and Alfredo Griffin). He is also first among all shortstops in franchise history in home runs.

Honorable Mention: Chris Woodward and Bo Bichette

Shortstop: Alex Gonzalez

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