Toronto Blue Jays: Checking in on Fan Favourites

Over the years, the Toronto Blue Jays have employed many baseball players. Some forgettable, some memorable. Now that the Jays have returned to relevancy in the baseball world, older players from their past of faded into obscurity. Players not named Bautista or Donaldson have either retired or found their way onto another roster without many fans even knowing.

The concept of a ‘fan favourite’ is a relatively loose term. Many qualities can define someone in this category. Whether it has to do with skill, likability, or community impact, players can be adored by fans without actually producing an abundance on the field.

An example of a current fan favourite would be Santiago Espinal. While he definitely is a solid player, by no means is he putting up the same value as other players like Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. However, the way he plays the game and brings a positive attitude to the field every day has given him a good reputation amongst Jays fans.

Oftentimes, these players don’t tend to last very long. Their tenures can be cut short for a variety of reasons, and that’s no different than the players we’ll be looking at today. It’s nice to check in and get some closure on our friends from the past, regardless of whether or not they’re still playing.

Munenori Kawasaki

Blue Jays Career (2013-2015): .242/.326/.627

For a journeyman, glove first infielder, Kawasaki found a way to become a face of the Blue Jays. After signing a minor league deal prior to the 2013 season, he was called up to the big league club in early April after Jose Reyes suffered an ankle injury. From then until 2015, up and down from Buffalo, Kawasaki provided Blue Jays fans with memorable and noteworthy performances and appearances. This included memorable interviews, clutch hits, and nifty glove work throughout the infield.

Kawasaki left the team after the 2015 season and went on to sign a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. That contract would see him play 102 games with the Iowa Cubs in AAA and 14 games with the big league team. He made use of this short sample size as a 35-year-old, hitting .333 while spending time at second and third base. He would be awarded a World Series ring after the 2016 season, as the Cubs would go on to beat the Cleveland Indians in 7 games. Kawasaki would join the team on the bench, without being a part of the playoff roster.

2016 would be the last year Kawasaki played professional baseball in North America. In 2017, he returned to Japan to play for the Softbank Hawks of the Nippon Professional Baseball league. He played 56 games over the 2017 season.

In March of 2018, he retired from baseball after being released from his contract with the Hawks. This came as a result of a series of injuries that prevented him from being the player he’d like to be.

As recently as 2020, Kawasaki made an appearance with an Indy Ball team in Japan, homering on the first pitch he saw. Blue Jays fans everywhere will have fond memories of Muni, and he remains one of the top personalities in team history.

Kevin Pillar

Blue Jays Career (2013-2019): .260/.297/.705

Pillar was no doubt a key cog in the 2015-2016 Blue Jays. His hustle and the way he played the game endeared him in the hearts of fans across the country. Since coming up to the Blue Jays in 2013, Pillar would have to persevere and continuously take advantage of opportunities in order to become a mainstay in the lineup.

The Toronto Blue Jays have had a lot of fun players over the years. Today we’re checking in on four, past fan favourites and seeing what they’re up to.

It wasn’t until 2015 and an injury to Michael Saunders that Pillar was on an Opening Day lineup, playing left field at Yankee Stadium. He would make highlight plays on a nightly basis, and eventually usurp Dalton Pompey in centre-field. He would have this spot until early on in 2019. On April 2nd, 2019, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Derek Law, Alen Hanson, and Juan de Paula.

Since 2019, Pillar has been a member of the Giants, Red Sox, Rockies, and lastly the  Mets. Upon the conclusion of the 2021 season, a season in which he posted a 88 OPS+, the Mets declined his team option. Pillar currently finds himself a free agent.

Marco Estrada

Blue Jays Career (2015-2018): 124 games, 39 wins, 4.25 ERA, 2016 All-Star, 2X H/9 leader

Marco Estrada was an unheralded hero during his time in Toronto. Going into 2015, he was more of an afterthought looking at the arms the Blue Jays had to offer. Estrada was acquired in a trade with the Brewers the offseason prior in exchange for Adam Lind. He started the season in the bullpen and eventually made it into the rotation early on. What followed was dominance, an elite changeup, and clutch playoff performances.

Estrada took a step back in 2017, pitching to a 4.98 ERA and just not having much consistency to speak of. The year that followed was more frustrating, as Estrada pitched poorly between back issues and continued to struggle on the mound. Estrada became a free agent that following offseason and go on to sign a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics. More injury issues followed him, and he was released in August after posting a 6.85 ERA in just 5 total starts.

Marco Estrada retired following his injury plagued 2019 season. He will be remembered as a class act in the Blue Jays organization, a face of the 2015-2016 playoff teams, and one of the best finesse arms in recent memory for the team.