Blue Jays: Top 100 Players in Jays History (46-50)

As Spring Training is just starting, I wanted to have a peak at a list of Top 100 Blue Jays in franchise history.  We’ve already looked at players ranked 51-100 and now we’ll examine the next five on the list.  This is based off of my opinion based on career stats and accomplishments with the Jays.

(Top Players 46-50)

50. Frank Catalanotto (2003-2006)

The contract that Frank Catalanotto signed with the Blue Jays at four years and $9.9 million has to go down as one of the better value contracts the club has had. Catalanotto was a pure hitting left fielder, and while he did not have much power, he did hit for doubles, average and was one of the best bat control hitters in the league.  Catalanotto struck out 185 times, total, over four years and 1,783 plate appearances.  He was pure consistency over his duration as his batting average over the four years was .299, .293, .301 and .300.

Catalanotto currently sits third in All-Time Blue Jays batting average behind Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar and Paul Molitor.

49. Scott Downs (2005-2010)

While it took a couple of seasons for Scott Downs to really settle in to the major leagues, in his final four seasons with the club there may have not been a more consistent left-handed bullpen pitcher in the AL East.  In 2007, Downs led the American League in pitching appearances with 81 while posting a miniscule 2.17 ERA.  He followed that up with 66 appearances the next season with an even smaller 1.78 ERA.  Over his six seasons with the Blue Jays, Downs would pitch in 347 games, collecting 20 wins and 16 saves while posting a 3.13 ERA.

His 347 games pitched, puts him ninth all-time on the club’s list of appearances.  His steady pitching performances earned him a three-year deal after the 2010 season that saw him get paid $15 Million dollars from the Los Angeles Angels.

48. Kelvim Escobar (1997-2003)

The Blue Jays signed Kelvim Escobar as a 16-year old out of Venezuela in 1992 and by the time he was 21-years old he was pitching in the major leagues.  Escobar’s career with Toronto spanned seven seasons where he bounced back and forth between the bullpen and the starting rotation.  He is the only player in team history with at least 50 wins and 50 saves.  Three times over his career he finished in double digits in wins and also had a season with 38 saves.

After the 2003 season Escobar left in free agency to the then Anaheim Angles on a hefty five year deal worth $41.5 million dollars.

47. Willie Upshaw (1978-1987)

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Willie Upshaw is listed as one of the best Rule 5 Selections that the Blue Jays ever made when they took him from the New York Yankees after the 1977 season.  As per by the policy of taking someone in the Rule 5 draft, the Blue Jays had to keep Upshaw on the 25-man roster for the duration of the 1978 season.  After limited appearances that season he developed  in their minor league system over the next few years.  By 1982, Upshaw would become the everyday first basemen for the club and for the next six seasons suited up in over 148 games each of those years.

Upshaw’s best season was 1983 when he slugged 27 home runs and 104 RBI while posting a slash line of .306/.363/.515 that earned him votes for AL League MVP.  Upshaw sits top 20 All-Time in Blue Jays hits, doubles, home runs and stolen bases.  By the time his career was ending in Toronto, the club had a young kid by the name of Fred McGriff looking for time on the field, so the Blue Jays sold Upshaw to Cleveland.

46. Kevin Pillar (2013-2019)

Nicknamed “Superman”, the Blue Jays drafted Kevin Pillar in the 32nd round in 2011 and he became a fan favourite as he gave his all while tracking down balls in centre field; most times sacrificing his body by slamming on the turf or in to fences. Pillar steam rolled through the farm system as he batted at least .307 at every level and he showed speed as he stole 51 of 60 bases during his 2012 minor league system.

Pillar had a bit of a rocky start to his major league career as he had some attitude adjustments that sent him back down the minor leagues.  However, he took it in stride and became the team’s starting centre fielder for both their playoffs runs in 2015 and 2016.  At the plate he was prone to the strikeout, however he hit 30+ doubles in his four seasons as an everyday hitter.  At the beginning of the 2019 season the Blue Jays were in full rebuild and traded him to San Francisco.  He signed this past weekend with the New York Mets for the 2021 season.

In the next segment as we get closer to the top of the list, you’ll see a pair catchers and pitcher that showed he is not a base runner.