- Tony Fernández has the second-most bWAR among all Blue Jays position players.
- Bo Bichette is a two-time All-Star.
- Alex Gonzalez posted 8 fWAR as a Blue Jay.
It wasn’t easy picking the best Toronto Blue Jays shortstops of all time. A couple of selections were obvious, but the others all had significant weaknesses in either longevity or offensive production.
Very few shortstops are above average on both sides of the ball. The ones who are invariably become All-Stars. Teams with an elite offensive shortstop are often among the favourites in baseball playoff odds, as getting production from a premium defensive position makes it much easier to build an elite lineup.
Five Best Toronto Blue Jays Shortstops
| Rank | Player | Blue Jays Years |
| 1 | Tony Fernandez | 1983-90, 1998-99, 2001 |
| 2 | Bo Bichette | 2019-Present |
| 3 | Jose Reyes | 2013-15 |
| 4 | Marco Scutaro | 2008-09 |
| 5 | Alex Gonzalez | 1994-2001 |
1. Tony Fernández
A four-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, and a World Series champion as a Blue Jay, Tony Fernández is second among all position players in bWAR for the franchise and has the highest defensive bWAR by a significant margin.
Fernández’s 108 OPS+ doesn’t look spectacular compared, but that was an impressive mark for a shortstop in his era. No other Blue Jays shortstop is anywhere near his total fWAR.
2. Bo Bichette
Bo Bichette can claim the top spot in these rankings if he extends his time with the Blue Jays. A two-time All-Star, Bichette combines elite bat-to-ball skills with power while playing passable defence at shortstop.
Growing from a top prospect to one of the best players at his position, Bichette was integral as the Jays made it out of their rebuild to become a favourite to make the playoffs at the BetMGM sportsbook.
3. José Reyes
José Reyes was past his prime by the time he joined the Blue Jays, but he still posted 6.5 bWAR in 305 regular season games. Reyes stole 61 bases in that period and registered a 105 OPS+.
It was touch and go between Reyes and the next two players in my rankings. He wasn’t in Toronto for long, and he was never named an All-Star, but his contact and speed provided plenty of value.
4. Marco Scutaro
Marco Scutaro posted 7.2 fWAR in only two seasons as a Blue Jay. In the second of those campaigns, Scutaro was the starting shortstop and enjoyed a career year offensively with a 112 wRC+ and a 13.2% walk rate.
The two years with Toronto were by far the best of Scutaro’s career, according to bWAR. He recorded 9.8 bWAR in 298 games despite a 99 OPS+.
5. Alex Gonzalez
Thirty-eight games in the 1999 season was the only time Alex Gonzalez posted a league average wRC+ as a Blue Jay. Gonzalez wasn’t producing at the plate like the four shortstops above him, but his WAR numbers show he was still a valuable player for Toronto.
Blue Jays odds to win the World Series weren’t dependent on Gonzalez’s performances, yet a reliable defensive shortstop is always important and is appreciated by pitching staffs.
