18. John Olerud

A Third Round Pick from Washington State, John Olerud is one of a handful of players who never played in the Minors before tasting the Majors.

Playing only a handful of games in 1989, the First Baseman was used in a platoon in 1990 and 1991, but it was evident that Olerud was ready to take it over full-time.  Olerud was their everyday First Baseman when they won their first World Series in 1992, and he was one of the best players in the AL the following season when the Blue Jays repeated as champions.  

Olerud was still good over the next three seasons, though he was not as offensively potent.  Olerud won the 1993 Batting Title (.363) and led the league in OBP (.473), OPS (1.072), OPS+ (186), and Doubles (54).  He finished third in MVP voting, and this was his only season as a Jay where he went to an All-Star Game.  Toronto traded Olerud to the Mets as part of an overhaul, leaving the organization with 910 Hits, 109 Home Runs, and a Batting Average of .293.  Olerud was also inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.