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Ranking the 10 greatest outfielders in Blue Jays history

By Zachary Rotman

MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 24: Kevin Pillar #11 and Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate after Pillar hit a home run in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on May 24, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 24: Kevin Pillar #11 and Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate after Pillar hit a home run in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on May 24, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – CIRCA 1988: (L) George Bell #11, Lloyd Moseby #15 and Jesse Barfield #29 of the Toronto Blue Jays poses together for his portrait prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles circa 1988 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Moseby played for the Blue Jay from 1980-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – CIRCA 1988: (L) George Bell #11, Lloyd Moseby #15 and Jesse Barfield #29 of the Toronto Blue Jays poses together for his portrait prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles circa 1988 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Moseby played for the Blue Jay from 1980-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

4. Jesse Barfield

In the first year that the Blue Jays were a part of the MLB draft, they selected Jesse Barfield in the ninth round. He went from a ninth-round pick to a member of the best outfield the Blue Jays have run out alongside George Bell and Lloyd Moseby.

Like Bell, Barfield was one of the best outfielders in the American League during his time in Toronto. He was sixth in the AL with a 130 WRC+ from 1984 to1987. His WRC+ was 1 point higher than Bell.

His best season came in 1986 when he hit an AL-leading 40 home runs and drove in 108 runs. He made his only All-Star game, won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger Award that season. His 147 WRC+ was third in the AL and first among outfielders. His all-around efforts helped him finish fifth in the American League MVP balloting.

Barfield is fourth in Jays’ franchise history in bWAR, second in defensive WAR and seventh in home runs. His ability to be productive offensively and defensively is why I consider him a top-four outfielder in Blue Jays franchise history even without an MVP award like George Bell.

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