Bautista plays 1,000th game with Blue Jays
Jose Bautista was once property of five different teams in 2004. On Saturday, he suited up for his 1,000th game with one.
The Toronto Blue Jays outfielder became just the 11th player in franchise history to play 1,000 games with the club, something nobody could have envisioned when his tenure in Toronto began in 2008.
"I had a rough start (with the Blue Jays)," Bautista told Sportsnet's Barry Davis. "I think I didn't get a hit for the first 14 (or) 15 at-bats when I first got traded here, so I know I didn't cause the best first impression."
1,000 GAMES PLAYED WITH BLUE JAYS
| RK | Player | Gm. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tony Fernandez | 1,450 |
| 2 | Carlos Delgado | 1,423 |
| 3 | Vernon Wells | 1,393 |
| 4 | Lloyd Moseby | 1,392 |
| 5 | Ernie Whitt | 1,218 |
| 6 | George Bell | 1,181 |
| 7 | Rance Mulliniks | 1,115 |
| Willie Upshaw | 1,115 | |
| 9 | Joe Carter | 1,039 |
| 10 | Jesse Barfield | 1,032 |
| 11 | Jose Bautista | 1,000" |
Bautista's road to stardom in Canada has been a long and winding one. A 20th-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2000, he spent 2004 with five different teams - the only player ever to do so. In 2008, the Blue Jays acquired him from Pittsburgh for journeyman catcher Robinzon Diaz in one of the most lopsided trades in recent history.
After struggling as a utility man in his first year with the team, Bautista finally broke out in 2010 with a 54-homer season, becoming the first Blue Jay to surpass the 50-home run mark, and earn his first of six straight All-Star berths.
Since then, the 35-year-old has become the face of the Blue Jays franchise, and cemented his place as arguably the greatest player in team history. Besides joining the 1,000-game club, Bautista currently ranks second in franchise history in home runs (249), walks (662), and wins above replacement (36.8). He also authored one of the signature moments in team history last October.
Bautista's milestone comes at a time when he and the club are at an impasse regarding his next contract. Although free agency is looming, he used Saturday's milestone to reiterate the fact that he's still very happy in Toronto.
"It's a fun moment and hopefully not one of the last games that I have to play as a member of the team," Bautista told Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.
"I enjoy my time here, and hopefully it doesn't come to an end."