5 Greatest Toronto Blue Jays Shortstops of All Time

The Toronto Blue Jays broke a long-standing drought in 2025, winning the American League pennant for the first time since their 1992-1993 two-peat. They then fell agonizingly short of a would-be third World Series title, losing an all-time great Game 7 in extra innings at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Rogers Centre.

As a 1977 expansion team, the Blue Jays have a relatively short history, but have seen an impressive number of greats play up north. To name a few: the late Roy Halladay, Roberto Alomar, Fred McGriff, and Rickey Henderson. Today, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. seems like a candidate to go down as a generational talent at the end of his current 14-year contract.

None of those players, though, are shortstops, and any excellent team needs a sure-handed infield captain.

We've already ranked the five best Blue Jays pitchers and five best Blue Jays hitters in history. Now, here are the five best shortstops to don a Toronto uniform.

5. Marco Scutaro (2008-09)

While Scutaro's journeyman career may be better known for his time in San Francisco, where he won the 2012 NLCS MVP, he put together two very strong seasons with Toronto in between stints with the Athletics and Red Sox.

Scutaro filled the role of third baseman in 2008 after a finger injury to Scott Rolen, and filled in at second base later that year after a concussion sidelined starter Aaron Hill.

In 2009, Scutaro was named the starting shortstop, and put together a not-very-flashy but solid season, achieving career highs in home runs (12), RBIs (60), doubles (35), total bases (235), hits (162) and stolen bases (14).

4. Alex Gonzalez (1994-2001)

Gonzalez had some big shoes to fill, taking over the infield captainship from the legendary Tony Fernandez in 1994, and while he won't be found on any all-time leaderboards, Gonzalez was a reliable presence at shortstop for the Jays during his eight seasons in Toronto.

Gonzalez averaged roughly 1.0 WAR per year while in Toronto, and hit 83 home runs over the course of his time in Canada. His best defensive year was 1997, where he ranked first among shortstops in Total Zone Runs (13).

Gonzalez's career may be best known for his 2003 season, where he hit 20 home runs for the Cubs en route to the infamous Steve Bartman-tainted NLCS run, but his reliable time in Toronto can't be understated.

3. Troy Tulowitzki (2015-17)

Tulowitzki is another instance of a player whose better days came elsewhere but still contributed very quality play with Toronto. "Tulo" came to the Blue Jays from the Rockies, where he made four All-Star teams (including three consecutive nods from 2013-2015) and two Gold Gloves.

Tulowitzki was the centerpiece of a marquee and controversial trade from Colorado at the 2015 deadline, and his involvement in the trade to Toronto provoked much ire from the Rockies' 2005 first-rounder.

Tulowitzki's temperamental reaction towards the trade didn't inhibit his play with the Blue Jays as much as his injuries did, though it did signal a new direction for the Blue Jays, who acquired David Price from the Tigers that same year, and forced the eventual Royals to a six-game bout in the ALCS.

2. Bo Bichette (2019-2025)

Bichette is the first player on this list whose career will always be defined by their time with the Blue Jays, and it was a bit of a surprise to the rest of the league when the Jays failed to retain Bichette, a homegrown prospect who defined the Jays' return to contention along with Guerrero.

Bichette's defining moment was his three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani (while injured) in Game 7 of the World Series, a swing that felt like it would undoubtedly propel the Jays to a World Series win in front of a packed Rogers Centre desperate for a title.

While he will always be known for that moment, Bichette was also the American League leader in hits in 2021 and 2022, and made two All-Star teams during his time in Toronto, making for a very nice homegrown success story that Blue Jays fans will always remember, even if it ended abruptly.

1. Tony Fernandez (1983-1990, 1993, 1998-99, 2001)

Fernandez seemingly couldn't stay away from Toronto, as he made four separate stints up north and stands permanently as the franchise's greatest shortstop.

Fernandez's strength was his inimitable defensive prowess and strong arm from deep in the hole between short and third, but he is also the shortstop with the most longevity (1,450 games played), most hits (1,583), and triples (72).

Fernandez was one of the faces of the Blue Jays team that won it all in 1993, along with John Olerud, Alomar, Paul Molitor, and Devon White.

Fernandez died in February 2026 at the age of 57, but will live on in the hearts of Blue Jays fans.

Related: 5 Greatest Boston Red Sox Shortstops of All Time

Related: 5 Greatest New York Yankees Shortstops of All Time

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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 5:05 AM.