The Top 50 Blue Jays of All Time: 45 to 41

[Sam Charles]

Jays Centre is counting down the top 50 Blue Jays in franchise history. Check out prior entries in the series here:

• Introduction 
• 50 to 46

As we continue our countdown of the greatest players in Toronto Blue Jays history, this group from 45 to 41 highlights a fascinating mix of postseason legends, modern stars and quietly excellent contributors. Some names here were difficult to place. A couple could easily rank much higher (and I personally did rank one of them much higher). Regardless of where they fall on the list, each of these players left a meaningful impact on the franchise.

No. 45: Pat Borders 

Accolades & Notes

• 1992 World Series MVP
• Two‑time World Series champion (1992, 1993)
• 10 seasons with the Blue Jays (1988–1994, 1999)
• One of the most memorable October performances in team history
• Caught Dave Stieb’s no-hitter on September 2, 1990

This is the first ranking on the list where I have to plant my flag: I had Pat Borders at #17 on my personal ballot, and I stand by it. He was never the most talented hitter, nor the flashiest defender, but baseball is full of players whose true value shows up at the right place and time, and Borders is the textbook example. His 1992 postseason was the stuff of legend. He was steady behind the plate, timely at the dish, and unshakeably calm in the biggest moments the franchise had ever experienced.

For a team built around power and swagger, Borders was the grounded core. He handled elite pitching staffs, delivered when it mattered most and carried himself like the heartbeat of a champion. Rankings don’t change legacy, and Borders’ place in Jays lore is as secure as it gets.

No. 44: Jack Morris

Accolades & Notes

• World Series Champion with Toronto (1992)
• AL wins leader in 1992 (21 wins)
• Six complete games for the Jays
• Pitched 240+ innings in 1992
• Hall of Famer

I had Jack Morris a bit higher at #36, partly because I value what he brought to the 1992 transition from “contender” to “champion.” Morris gave the rotation a battle‑tested leader during a season in which the team needed one. His performance wasn’t as historically dominant as his 1991 Game 7 masterpiece in Minnesota, but he provided innings, leadership, and credibility. He was the kind of veteran presence that rubs off on everyone around him.

His Toronto tenure was brief but extremely impactful. After recording 21 wins for the Jays in 1992 (tied for second with Roger Clemens for most wins in a season behind Roy Halladay), he went 7-12 in 1993 and did not pitch in the postseason.

One of the most iconic starting pitchers in Jays history? Maybe. But one of the most important? Absolutely.

No. 43: George Springer

Accolades & Notes

• Silver Slugger as DH with Toronto (2025)
• All‑Star in Toronto (2022)
• Franchise record for most leadoff home runs in a season
• 70+ HR, 200+ RBI, and excellent defensive versatility during his Toronto tenure

George Springer’s time in Toronto has been defined by high‑energy plays, big‑game moments and stretches where he simply carried the lineup on his back. At his peak, he was the ignition switch for a team built around power and athleticism. He remains capable of changing a game from the first pitch or with a sliding grab in the gap.

The nagging injuries sometimes overshadow the consistency of his impact, but when Springer is right, the Blue Jays look like a completely different ballclub. He’s one of the most dynamic outfielders ever to suit up for the team, and his legacy when it comes to leadoff records, clutch moments and veteran leadership is secure.

No. 42: Luis Leal

Accolades & Notes

• 10.6 fWAR as a Blue Jay
• Three seasons of 200+ innings
• Career 4.14 ERA in the AL East during one of its strongest eras
• Ranked among the club leaders in starts, innings, wins and strikeouts when he retired

Often overshadowed by the bigger names of the early 1980s, Luis Leal was one of the most reliable arms the Jays had during their first competitive era. He wasn’t flashy, but he was steady. He could be counted on to take the ball every fifth day and go deep into games. That durability was invaluable for a young team trying to establish an identity in a brutal division.

Leal may not get the same fanfare as the later stars who powered the playoff runs, but his contributions were foundational. He helped raise the floor of the franchise, allowing the stars around him to shine.

No. 41: Teoscar Hernández

Accolades & Notes

• Two Silver Slugger Awards (2020, 2021)
• All‑Star (2021)
• 129 HR in a Jays uniform
• One of the top power hitters of the late 2010s/early 2020s
• Fan favourite and clubhouse cornerstone

Few players of his era were as beloved or as electrifying as Teoscar Hernández. What started as a somewhat raw, strikeout‑prone outfielder blossomed into one of the most dangerous middle‑of‑the‑order bats in the league. Hernández brought joy, charisma and a big bat.

His evolution from project to star mirrors the Jays’ return to relevance. Sure, he had some growing pains, but he made major strides that ultimately led to something special. Teoscar’s legacy in Toronto is built on energy, power and a sense that something exciting could happen every time he stepped into the box.

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[jaysblue]

I would have Springer ahead of Teo, hands down. You can argue that Springer hit one of the most important HR's in Blue Jay history last Game 7 of the ALCS.