10 Best Canadian-Born Blue Jays of All Time

Despite being MLB’s only Canadian franchise, it’s far from guaranteed that the best Canadian ballplayers will represent the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Joey Votto and Larry Walker, for example, excelled elsewhere, even becoming baseball betting favourites for individual awards. 

A total of 28 Canadian-born players have played for the Jays – here are the top 10.

Canadian-Born Players On the Blue Jays

10. Scott Richmond, Pitcher

Scott Richmond made 34 appearances for the Blue Jays. Of those, 29 were starts. Richmond had a 4.88 FIP across 169 innings.

9. Zach Pop, Pitcher

Arriving with Anthony Bass in the trade that sent Jordan Groshans to the Miami Marlins, Zach Pop battled injuries throughout his time in Toronto. 

8. Dalton Pompey, Outfielder

A toolsy prospect who debuted as a 21-year-old, injuries prevented Dalton Pompey from having a long, big-league career. He gave Jays fans an iconic moment by stealing second and third in Game 6 of the 2015 ALCS. 

7. Dave McKay, Second Baseman

Dave McKay was selected by the Blue Jays in the expansion draft. He had a 56 OPS+ across his three seasons as a Jay. 

6. Rob Ducey, Outfielder

Rob Ducey appeared in seven different seasons for the Blue Jays, but only played 188 games. The first of his 31 career home runs came in a blowout Jays win. 

5. Michael Saunders, Outfielder

Michael Saunders hit 24 home runs and had a 116 OPS+ in 2016. He arrived in the trade that sent J.A. Happ to the Seattle Mariners and played a key role as the Jays reached the ALCS.

4. Brett Lawrie, Third Baseman

With a 104 OPS+ and 12.7 bWAR in four seasons, Brett Lawrie was adored by Blue Jays fans. He was ultimately traded in the Josh Donaldson trade. 

3. Paul Quantrill, Pitcher

Only five pitchers in Blue Jays history have appeared in more games than Paul Quantrill. Quantrill had a 131 ERA+ as a Jay and was named an All-Star in his final year with the team.

2. Russell Martin, Catcher

Arriving at a time when Blue Jays World Series odds were short, Russell Martin was an integral member of the team that made ALCS appearances in 2015 and 2016. Martin received MVP votes in his first season as a Jay. 

1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., First Baseman

A perennial MVP contender at the BetMGM sportsbook, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is destined to sit atop this list for a long time. Guerrero is a five-time All-Star and has a 136 career OPS+.