gold star for USAHOF

3. Jose Bautista

3. Jose Bautista
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: July 25, 1964 in Bani, Pe D.R.
  • Weight: 177 lbs.
  • Height: 6'1"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: April 09, 1988
  • Final Game: September 25, 1997
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Jose Bautista's success in emerging as one of the game's top power hitters might be one of the biggest “Where the hell did this come from?” stories in Baseball.

Bautista was barely even a journeyman, playing briefly for Baltimore, Tampa Bay. and Kansas City before having a respectable season in 2007 as a Pittsburgh Pirate. The Blue Jays traded for him during the 2008 Season, and Bautista began 2009 as the fourth Outfielder. He worked all year with Toronto's hitting coach, Dwayne Murphy, who helped him work on his stance and leg kick. It yielded a coming out part in 2010 that blew everyone away.

After a previous high of 15 Home Runs, Bautista won the Home Run Title with 54. He also had 124 RBI, which would become his personal best. Bautista won the Silver Slugger that year and was fourth in MVP voting. Some in the baseball media thought he had to be a one-year wonder. He wasn't. Bautista won his second straight Home Run Title (43), and he led the AL in Walks (132), Slugging (.608), and OPS (1.056). He added a second Silver Slugger, and this year was third in MVP voting.

Bautista missed quite a few games due to injury in 2012 and 2013, though he still had at least 27 Home Runs in both seasons. Fully healthy in 2014, Bautista won his third Silver Slugger on a 35 HR/103 RBI campaign, blasted 40 taters in 2015, and helped lead the Blue Jays to the playoffs. In the deciding game in the ALDS against Texas, Bautista hit the game-winning Home Run and delivered after the most famous bat flip in Canada. Toronto did not win the Pennant that year, but Bautista's moment will be forever etched in Blue Jays fans.

Age caught up to Bautista after, and so did a bit of karma, in terms of a punch to the face by Texas's Rougned Odor. He was not resigned after 2017, leaving the Jays with 1,103 Hits and 288 Home Runs.  Bautista was inducted into the Jays Level of Excellence in 2023.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Outfield
  • Acquired: Traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a Player to be Named Later (which would be Robinzon Diaz) 8/21/08.
  • Departed: Signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves 1/18/17.
  • Games Played: 1,235
  • Notable Statistics:

    790 Runs Scored
    1,103 Hits
    219 Doubles
    12 Triples
    288 Home Runs
    766 Runs Batted In
    56 Stolen Bases
    .253/.372/.506 Slash Line
    38.3 bWAR

    20 Playoff Games
    12 Runs Scored
    18 Hits
    4 Doubles
    0 Triples
    6 Home Runs
    16 Runs Batted In
    0 Stolen Bases
    .243/.364/.541 Slash Line

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    All-Star (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2016)
    Silver Slugger (2010, 2011 & 2014)
    Hank Aaron Award (2010 & 2011)
    Highest Offensive bWAR (2011)
    Highest Slugging Percentage (2011)
    Highest OPS (2011)
    Highest OPS+ (2011)
    Most Total Bases (2010)
    Most Home Runs (2011 & 2011)
    Most Walks (2011 & 2015)
    Most Extra Base Hits (2010)
    Most Intentional Walks (2011)
    Highest Win Probability Added (2011)
    Most Assists by a Rightfielder (2014)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Rightfielder (2010, 2011, 2013 & 2015)
    Most Double Plays Turned by an Outfielder (2013)

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