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Blue Jays: Seven players who have earned a statue at the Rogers Centre

By Tyson Shushkewich

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 14: Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays flips his bat up in the air after he hits a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers in game five of the American League Division Series at Rogers Centre on October 14, 2015 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 14: Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays flips his bat up in the air after he hits a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers in game five of the American League Division Series at Rogers Centre on October 14, 2015 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – MARCH 6: First baseman Carlos Delgado #25 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws the ball during the Spring Training game against the New York Yankees on March 6, 2004 at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida. The Yankees won 14-5. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images) /

Carlos Delgado

Hailing from Puerto Rico, Carlos Delgado signed with the Blue Jays in 1988 and spent the next few years fighting his way through the Minor Leagues. He had a cup of coffee with the Blue Jays in 1993 and flirted with the active roster over the next two seasons before finding himself as a regular player in 1996.

Over the course of 12 seasons, the lefty-hitting first baseman was one of the most powerful Blue Jays hitters, hitting 30+ home runs seven times while also adding three Silver Slugger Awards for his play. He currently holds numerous single-season records, such as RBI (145), doubles (57), and OPS (1.134).

The Blue Jays currently have no player statues at the Rogers Centre. Here are seven players deserving of the honour should the organization change their mind.

For his Blue Jays career, Delgado owns a .282/.392/.556 slash line with 343 doubles, 336 home runs, and 1058 RBI with a .949 OPS. Looking at the Jays record books, Delgado leads the franchise in terms of offensive bWAR (39.4), SLG, OPS, plate appearances (6018), total bases (2786), doubles, home runs, and walks (827).

While Delgado was also the victim of some really rough Blue Jays seasons and a really stacked Hall of Fame first-year ballot, the Puerto Rican slugger holds many Jays records for a reason and is one of the top bats in the franchise’s history, as well as World Series ring for his few games in the 1993 season.

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