“My years in Toronto were the best of my career. Taking the field everyday and representing an entire country that so passionately supported us back was truly amazing. I am deeply humbled and honoured by this announcement of being inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and joining many other greats. I cannot wait to share it with you all in St. Marys this summer.” – Jose Bautista
Born on October 19, 1980 in Santo Domingo, D.R., Jose Bautista developed into one of the greatest players in Toronto Blue Jays’ history during his 10 seasons with the club from 2008 to 2017.
Following brief tenures with the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays and Kansas City Royals to begin his big-league career, Bautista suited up for parts of five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates before he was traded to the Blue Jays in a lopsided deal for catcher Robinzon Diaz on August 21, 2008.
After serving as a part-time player in 2009, Bautista worked with Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston and hitting coach Dwayne Murphy to adjust his swing and he enjoyed a breakout season in 2010. That campaign he set a new franchise record with 54 home runs. That total also topped the American League and earned him his first of six consecutive All-Star Game selections. He was also named the American League’s Hank Aaron Award winner as the league’s top hitter.
He followed that up with his best all-around season in 2011 when he hit .302 and topped the AL in home runs (43), slugging percentage (.608), OPS (1.056), walks (132) and OPS+ (182). For his efforts, he earned his second straight Hank Aaron Award.
Over the next six seasons with the Blue Jays, Bautista continued to be one of the game’s most feared sluggers. He had 30-home run, 100-RBI seasons in 2014 and 2015, and in the latter year, he helped propel the Blue Jays to their first division title in 22 years. He then cemented his legacy as a clutch performer with four postseason home runs.
His most memorable playoff homer, of course, is simply known as the “bat flip” to Blue Jays’ fans. In the bottom of the seventh inning in Game 5 of the 2015 American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre, Bautista stepped to the plate with two outs with Josh Donaldson and Ryan Goins on base in front of him. The game was tied 3-3. On a 1-1 count, Bautista launched a three-run home run into the left field bleachers and celebrated with a bat flip. The Blue Jays went on to win the game 6-3 and advance to the American League Championship Series.
The following campaign, Bautista helped the Blue Jays to another postseason berth. He would play one more season with the Blue Jays before ending his 15-season major league career with short stints with the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies in 2018.
In all, in parts of 10 seasons with the Blue Jays, Bautista played 1,235 games. He ranks near the top in many of the club’s all-time offensive categories, including first in WAR (38.3), second in home runs (288), runs (790) and walks (803). He also ranks third in total bases (2,210), RBIs (766) and slugging percentage (.506).
For his efforts, his name was added to the Blue Jays’ Level of Excellence at Rogers Centre on August 12, 2023.
