Blue Jays: Best players in franchise history to wear jersey numbers 21-30

#27 Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

When the Blue Jays signed the son of Vladimir Guerrero as a teenager in the mid-2010s, it had fans salivating over what he could do with a few years of training. 

He hit a towering, walk-off homer at Olympic Stadium in an exhibition game in 2019, indicating he was close to being MLB-ready.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made his debut later that year, and, while he showed he was good enough for the show, there were clearly better days ahead. 

That would prove to be true. Despite a slight setback during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Vladdy’s career has been on a stratospheric incline. His breakthrough 2021 season, when he led the AL in runs, home runs, OPS, and total bases, would have won the MVP in most years.

“Vladito” followed that up with a solid 2022 that featured his first Gold Glove award and 100th career homer. He’s already one of the most impressive players in franchise history, the exciting part is that he’s just getting started. 

#28 Shaun Marcum

Shaun Marcum was inserted into the starting rotation in June 2006 and remained a fixture through the 2010 campaign. 

He showed improvement over his first two seasons until an elbow injury led to Tommy John surgery late in the 2008 season. Marcum recovered to become the Jays' opening-day starter in 2010, ending a stretch of seven straight years that Roy Halladay filled that role. 

The former third-round pick responded by having his best season with a 13- 8 record, 3.64 ERA, and a career-best 165 strikeouts. The front office parlayed that into flipping Marcum to Milwaukee for Brett Lawrie, who was ultimately dealt to Oakland in the Josh Donaldson trade.