Now that Jose Bautista is officially part of the Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence, there has been discussion that Edwin Encarnacion should be next to join. Encarnacion stood out with the Blue Jays as a player. Every time he went up to bat, pitchers knew he was dangerous. Just one swing of the bat and that ball could be out of the ballpark. Today, Jays players and fans alike look up to Encarnacion. He was a major contributor to Toronto’s success in the 2015 ALDS, just like his teammate Bautista. But Encarnacion’s biggest career highlight occurred in the 2016 American League Wild Card Game.
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Blue Jays Level of Excellence & Edwin Encarnacion
Iconic and Supersonic
OTD in 2016, Edwin Encarnacion’s walk-off sent Rogers Centre into a frenzy. 🎉
(🎥: @MLB)pic.twitter.com/E2lAebztHc
— theScore (@theScore) October 4, 2022
Edwin Encarnacion’s walk-off home run in the 2016 Wild Card game against the Baltimore Orioles is a cherished memory in Blue Jays history. The three-run blast in the 11th inning of the game brought fans to their feet. But more importantly, it sent the Jays to the ALDS. Encarnacion can be looked upon not only as a leader, but a fan-favorite and a blast from the past for the Jays. While his personality was never known to be loud, his home runs always came with a loud bang. Encarnacion is well deserving to join the Level of Excellence, as he has recorded totals of 239 home runs, 593 runs, and 679 RBI as a Blue Jay.
Back in February, Encarnacion embarked on a new role with the Jays organization in terms of assisting with advising and coaching. This role was showcased on August 13th. This was the day after Bautista was honored at a special event prior to the game, where he joined the Jays Level of Excellence.
It was inspiring to see Encarnacion in the Jays dugout where he commenced his new advisory role. He fit right in while dressing in a Jays uniform. Not only did he provide pointers to the players, but he was having a good time while doing it. It was evident that the Jays roster was happy to have him helping in the dugout. It was easy to see how well he was getting along with everyone. Encarnacion’s presence brought back many special memories from when he was on the team. It will be interesting to see what else is in store for him with the Jays.
Seeing Edwin Encarnacion back in the Jays’ dugout brings back such warm memories. ☺️
(🎥: @BlueJays)pic.twitter.com/At8zmHuJTW
— theScore (@theScore) August 13, 2023
2015 ALDS
Bautista’s epic bat-flip homer in the seventh inning of Game Five gets a lot of praise and recognition. But Edwin’s home run in the bottom of the sixth inning deserves credit as well. Edwin tied the game 2-2 with his solo homer. The ball was crushed and hit high and deep into the seats. It got the crowd very excited as it brought the Jays back into the game. One of Encarnacion’s assets was his powerful swing. His bat was lethal as he finished off the 2015 season with 39 home runs and 111 RBI. His impressive numbers and stats with the Jays help make his case for the Level of Excellence.
Closing Statement
Edwin Encarnacion is definitely worthy of the Level of Excellence, as he helped give the Jays a lot of success. In addition, he was a big presence in terms of offense for the Jays. Encarnacion put up great numbers in Toronto, and he did it with a lot of confidence that to this day makes him a memorable franchise player. He will always be remembered for his memorable home runs during both the regular season and, more importantly, the postseason. His admiration for the Jays is apparent as he continues to remain with the club through an advisory role.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
