Baseball Reference Blog
Top 5 Leaders in Home Runs for the Toronto Blue Jays
Posted by Darren Baker on December 31, 2024
The Toronto Blue Jays entered MLB in 1977. Their first few seasons were rough … 107 losses in ‘77, 102 losses in ‘78, and 109 losses in ‘79 … ouch. Then from 1983 to 1993 the Blue Jays had winning seasons each year, capped by back-to-back World Series titles in ‘92 and ‘93. Overall this franchise has made a respectable 10 playoff appearances. In a relatively short existence, Toronto can boast about five Cy Youngs, two MVPs, and two ROYs. If you view a list of the top Blue Jays of all time, there is no lack of star power. Since 1989, this team has played at the majestic SkyDome (now called Rogers Centre). Being a member of the mighty American League East is never an easy path, but the Blue Jays have more than held their own. It’s time to travel north of the border and reveal the leaders in home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Joe Carter
Positions: Outfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-3, 215lb (190cm, 97kg)
Born:
March 7, 1960
Draft: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1st round (2nd) of the 1981 MLB June Amateur Draft from Wichita State University (Wichita, KS).
High School: Millwood HS (Oklahoma City, OK)
School: Wichita State University (Wichita, KS)
Debut:
July 30, 1983
(Age 23-145d,
14,774th in major league history)
vs. PHI 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 28, 1998
(Age 38-205d)
vs. CHC 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1984 season
Agents: Jim Turner
National Team: us USA (College)
Full Name: Joseph Chris Carter
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
19.5
8422
2184
396
.259
1170
1445
231
.306
.464
.771
105
As a wounded Phillies fan, I am very familiar with the man who is 5th on the Toronto Blue Jays all-time home-run list: Joe Carter. On October 23, 1993, Carter hit one of two World-Series-ending homers in MLB history. Besides that fateful blow that tortures Philadelphians to this day, Carted had a very solid career. His 203 home runs are 5th all time for Toronto. This outfielder and first baseman was already a good player when he got to Canada in 1991. Then he reeled off seven straight years of 20+ long balls and six years of 100+ RBIs. Four times he went for 30+ homers (33 in ‘91, 34 in ‘92, 33 in ‘93, & 30 in ‘96). That stretch also includes five All-Star selections and four top 12 or better finishes in AL MVP voting. From ‘91 to ‘93, Joe helped the Blue Jays claim three AL East titles and back-to-back world championships in ‘92 and ‘93. He belted six home runs in 29 postseason games over that triumphant run for the Blue Jays. When you look at his career totals of 396 homers, 1,445 RBIs, and two World Series titles, he could get HOF consideration from the Veterans Committee moving forward. Joe Carter slammed one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history, but he also slammed plenty of others to earn a place high up on the Toronto Blue Jays all-time home-run list.
Vernon Wells
Position: Centerfielder
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-1, 230lb (185cm, 104kg)
Born:
December 8, 1978
Draft: Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1st round (5th) of the 1997 MLB June Amateur Draft from James Bowie HS (Arlington, TX).
High School: James Bowie HS (Arlington, TX)
Debut:
August 30, 1999
(Age 20-265d,
17,554th in major league history)
vs. MIN 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 29, 2013
(Age 34-295d)
vs. HOU 6 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2001 season
Agents: Greg Genske, Brian Peters, and Scott Parker • Previously: Jeff Moorad
National Team: us USA (WBC)
Full Name: Vernon M. Wells
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
Career
28.6
6642
1794
270
.270
930
958
109
.319
.459
.778
104
Vernon Wells was quietly one of the most underrated players in the American League during the 2000s, and because of his powerful production he is 4th all time in home runs (223) for the Toronto Blue Jays. This centerfielder patrolled SkyDome from 1999 to 2010. He became an everyday player in 2002 and proceeded to reel off seven seasons of 20+ home runs and eight seasons of 30+ doubles north of the border. 2003 was Wells’s best year when he blasted 33 homers and knocked in 117 while he led the AL in hits (215), doubles (49), and total bases (373). His Blue Jays were usually competitive but always overmatched by the Yanks and Sox in the AL East, so he never tasted October baseball. Vernon was versatile on the diamond with three years of .300+ hitting and three Gold Gloves. This 1997 first rounder of the Jays holds some lofty spots in their all-time ranks: 1st in ABs (5,470), 2nd in hits (1,529), 2nd in RBIs (813), 2nd in doubles (339), and 2nd in total bases (2,597). After years of steady stats, Vernon Wells placed himself high up on the Toronto Blue Jays all-time home-run list.
Edwin Encarnación
Positions: Designated Hitter, Third Baseman and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-1, 230lb (185cm, 104kg)
Born:
January 7, 1983
Draft: Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 9th round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft from Manuela Toro HS (Caguas, Puerto Rico).
High School: Manuela Toro HS (Caguas, Puerto Rico)
Debut:
June 24, 2005
(Age 22-168d,
18,699th in major league history)
vs. CLE 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 27, 2020
(Age 37-264d)
vs. CHC 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2005 season
Agents: Rep 1 Baseball • Previously: Arn Tellem
Full Name: Edwin Elpidio Encarnación
Nicknames: EE or Rivera
Pronunciation: \ehn-kahr-nah-see-OHN\
Instagram: @encadwin
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
Career
35.5
7040
1832
424
.260
1099
1261
61
.350
.496
.846
123
Edwin Encarnacion started a funny tradition of walking his imaginary parrot during home-run trots in Toronto, and since he did that 239 times for the franchise, he is 3rd all time in home runs for the Blue Jays. This corner infielder and DH reeled off some numbers in Toronto: five consecutive seasons of 30+ home runs … 42 in 2012, 36 in 2014, 34 in 2014, 39 in 2015, and 42 in 2016. Four times he had an OPS of .900+ and four times he had over 100+ RBIs with Toronto. Most importantly, this powerful Dominican bat helped the Jays break a 21-year postseason drought. In 2015, Toronto won the AL East and reached the ALCS. They returned to the ALCS the following season. Encarnacion contributed four homers during those playoff trips for the Jays. EE infused a swag and confidence in those teams that helped them win. By the time Edwin’s 16-year career was done, he slammed 424 home runs. That’s more than Joe DiMaggio and Johnny Bench. Edwin Encarnacion may not be a household name for all baseball fans, but he is one of the all-time leaders in home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays.
José Bautista
Positions: Rightfielder and Third Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-0, 205lb (183cm, 92kg)
Born:
October 19, 1980
Draft: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft from Chipola College (Marianna, FL).
High School: De La Salle (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
School: Chipola College (Marianna, FL)
Debut:
April 4, 2004
(Age 23-168d,
18,393rd in major league history)
vs. BOS 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 30, 2018
(Age 37-346d)
vs. ATL 3 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2004 season
Agents: Jay Alou
Full Name: José Antonio Bautista
Nicknames: Joey Bats
Pronunciation: \bah-TEE-stah\
Instagram: @joeybats19
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
Career
36.7
6051
1496
344
.247
1022
975
70
.361
.475
.836
124
Although Joe Carter hit probably the most important home run in Toronto Blue Jays history, Jose Bautista may have hit the loudest one. In addition to that epic homer and even more epic bat flip, Jose Bautista bombed 288 home runs to place 2nd on the Blue Jays all-time home-run list. The aforementioned long ball was a go-ahead homer in the 7th inning of Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS against the Rangers. Bautista launched a ball deep into the leftfield seats at Rogers Centre and then launched his bat almost as far. That was the first of consecutive ALCS trips for Bautista and the Jays. From 2010 to 2017, Joey Bats hit at least 22 home runs every year for Toronto (three times 40+). In 2010, Bautista set the single-season franchise record with 54 homers (led the AL); then he followed that up with 43 in 2011 (led the AL again) and also led the league in slugging % (.608) and OPS (1.056). Being the team’s all-time leader in WAR (38.3) is another nice feather in Jose’s cap. Jose Bautista went from being a journeyman player his first few seasons to one of the best power hitters in Toronto Blue Jays history.
Carlos Delgado
Position: First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-3, 215lb (190cm, 97kg)
Born:
June 25, 1972
High School: Aguadilla (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico)
Debut:
October 1, 1993
(Age 21-098d,
16,450th in major league history)
vs. BAL 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
May 10, 2009
(Age 36-319d)
vs. PIT 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1994 season
Agents: David Sloane
Full Name: Carlos Juan Delgado
Pronunciation: \Del-GAH-doh\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
44.4
7283
2038
473
.280
1241
1512
14
.383
.546
.929
138
I remember having this guy’s Donruss rookie card in the early 90s and hearing about how good he was; then he went on to become the all-time leader in home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays. The guy I’m talking about is Carlos Delgado. Delgado blasted 336 homers for the Jays from ‘93 to ‘04. Originally a catcher before settling at first base, this potent lefty bat had 25+ home runs in nine straight seasons north of the border. Three times he eclipsed 40 long balls and 130 RBIs (‘99, ‘00, & ‘03). In 2003, this Puerto Rican led the AL in RBIs (145), OPS (1.019), and OPS+ (161); that helped him finish 2nd in the American League MVP race. Unfortunately, this owner of 473 career round trippers never tasted postseason baseball with the Jays. However, Carlos did accomplish one of the rarest feats in baseball as a Jay: he hit four home runs in a game. On September 25, 2003, Delgado hit four long balls against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. At the time, he became just the 15th player in MLB history to pull off this potent power performance. Along with home runs, this man tops the franchise in many other important stats: offensive WAR (39.4), slugging % (.556), OPS (.949), runs (889), total bases (2,786), RBIs (1,058), doubles (343), and walks (827). The Blue Jays have only been around since 1977, but for any player to lead a franchise in so many categories speaks to their greatness. Carlos Delgado is the most prolific home-run hitter of all time for the Toronto Blue Jays, and some would say he is the greatest Blue Jay ever.
Jose Bautista has the Blue Jays home-run record for a season. He hit 54 home runs in 2010. As of the moment, he is the only Blue Jay ever to hit 50 homers in a season.
Carlos Delgado is the Blue Jays career home-run leader with 336.
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