Top 5 catchers in Blue Jays franchise history by WAR

#4 Danny Jansen 8.1 WAR

Danny Jansen quickly showed his ability to put a strong swing on display once being called up late in the 2018 season. In his first month in the majors, the 23-year-old hit .333 (12/36), including his first MLB homer and five doubles. 

Although he’d cool off in September, Jansen proved he belonged in the big leagues and showed why he was a highly-rated prospect. In a 31-game cameo, "Jano” hit .247 with three homers, eight RBI, and a 0.6 WAR. 

The following year would be challenging for the Blue Jays, and Jansen similarly experienced some growing pains. The batting average slipped to .207, but his power flashed again with 13 home runs. He threw out a career-high 19 would-be base stealers at a 31% clip, played in 107 games, and produced a 1.1 WAR. 

The 2020 season was another tough one for many reasons, but the team started tuning things around and finished 33-27, good enough to qualify for a re-imagined playoff format in a short season. Jansen hit .183 with six homers, 20 RBI, and a 0.7 WAR. He notably went deep twice in his first career playoff game, an 8-2 loss to the Rays.

Over the last three seasons, a similar pattern has emerged with Jansen. He’s displayed awe-inspiring power but has struggled to avoid injuries. Since the 2021 campaign, Jano has hit 43 home runs despite playing an average of just 76 games per season. He’s embraced a pull-heavy, power-swinging style and has had several extended hot-streaks 

Jansen’s best season was 2022 when he hit a career-best. 260 with 15 homers, 44 RBI, an.855 OPS, and a 2.9 WAR. With his next home run, he’ll tie with Russell Martin for the second-most home runs hit by a catcher in franchise history.