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As I wrote last year in a similar post, I am fascinated with uniform numbers. I would be excited to see what numbers new Blue Jays would wear, and to see old Jays players changing numbers for whatever reason. I am glad that now there is a digital forum where I can share my obsession. Here is a list of all the uniform number changes since last year. Note: none of the incoming coaches have been assigned numbers yet, according to BlueJays.com.
Uniform # |
2013 |
2012 |
1 |
Emilio Bonifacio – Newly acquired player, has worn #1 with the Marlins since 2009 |
Not issued (Luis Valbuena wore it during Spring Training) |
2 |
Ryan Goins – New addition to the 40-man roster, wore #67 in Spring Training 2012. |
Kelly Johnson |
3 |
Maicer Izturis – Newly acquired player, has worn #13 with the Angels since 2006. |
Adeiny Hechavarria |
5 |
John Gibbons – Manager, wore #5 when he managed the Blue Jays (2004-2008), wore #58 as a coach (2002-2004), wore #8, #35, and #7 as a player with the Mets (1984-1986). |
Yunel Escobar |
6 |
A.J. Jimenez – New addition to the 40-man roster, wore #71 in Spring Training 2012. |
Jeff Mathis |
7 |
Jose Reyes – Newly acquired player, has worn #7 for his entire career. |
Torey Lovullo |
8 |
Anthony Gose – Gave up #43 for R.A. Dickey. |
Ben Francisco, Yorvit Torrealba |
15 |
Mike Nickeas - Non-roster invitee, has worn #13 and #4 with the Mets. |
Not issued (Travis d'Arnaud wore it during Spring Training) |
17 |
Ryan Langerhans - Non-roster invitee. |
Omar Vizquel (and Brett Lawrie for the final game of the season) |
20 |
Ricardo Nanita - Non-roster invitee, wore #33 for the 51s. |
Jesse Chavez, Bobby Korecky |
22 |
UPDATED: Henry Blanco. He has worn nine different uniform numbers in his career, but never 22. He last wore #12 with the Diamondbacks. |
Don Wakamatsu |
30 |
Josh Thole – Newly acquired player, has worn #30 for his entire career. |
David Cooper |
31 |
David Cooper – Gave up #30 for Josh Thole. Has also worn #40 (2011). |
Brandon Lyon |
32 |
Esmil Rogers – Newly acquired player, wore #48 with the Rockies (2009-2012), and #32 with the Indians (2012). Note: channel 32 is Sportsnet on Rogers Cable where I live. Hmmmm... |
Aaron Laffey |
33 |
Jeremy Jeffress – Newly acquired player, has worn #41 for his entire career. |
Carlos Villanueva |
34 |
Ramon Ortiz - Non-roster invitee. Would be fun to see an Ortiz wearing #34 with the Blue Jays... |
Joel Carreno |
37 |
Neil Wagner- Non-roster invitee. |
Henderson Alvarez |
43 |
R.A. Dickey – Newly acquired player, wore #43 with the Mets, has also worn #51, #45, #41, and #39. |
Anthony Gose |
45 |
Claudio Vargas - Non-roster invitee, previously wore #45 with the Nationals and Diamondbacks (2005) |
Travis Snider, Shawn Hill |
51 |
Alex Hinshaw- Non-roster invitee. |
Not issued (Jesse Litsch wore it during Spring Training) |
52 |
Justin Germano- Non-roster invitee. |
John Farrell |
53 |
Melky Cabrera – Newly acquired player, has worn #53 since 2009, also has worn #39 and #28. |
Bruce Walton |
54 |
Dave Bush - Non-roster invitee, wore #49 for his first tour with Toronto (2004-2005), then #31 with the Brewers, and #47 with the Rangers. |
Jason Frasor |
55 |
Josh Johnson – Newly acquired player, has worn #55 for his entire career |
Brian Butterfield |
56 |
Mark Buehrle – Newly acquired player, has worn #56 for his entire career |
Robert Coello, Ryota Igarashi |
57 |
Juan Perez - Non-roster invitee. |
Scott Richmond |
58 |
Luis Jimenez - Non-roster invitee. |
Chad Beck |
59 |
Jim Negrych - Non-roster invitee. |
Not issued (Jim Hoey wore it during Spring Training) |
60 |
UPDATED: Chad Beck - Recently outrighted off the 40-man roster, now a non-roster invitee. Wore #58 last season. |
|
66 |
Rich Thompson - Non-roster invitee, wore #63 with the Angels (2007-2012) and #54 with the Athletics (2012). |
Not issued (Mike McDade wore it during Spring Training) |
68 |
UPDATED: Ryan Schimpf - Non-roster invitee. |
Yan Gomes |
69 |
UPDATED: Sean Ochinko - Non-roster invitee. |
Not issued (Drew Hutchison wore it during Spring Training) |
70 |
UPDATED: Kevin Nolan - Non-roster invitee. |
Not issued (Chad Jenkins wore it during Spring Training) |
73 |
UPDATED: Lance Zawadzki - Non-roster invitee. |
Not issued (Carlos Perez wore it during Spring Training) |
74 |
UPDATED: John Stilson - Non-roster invitee. |
Not issued (Moises Sierra wore it during Spring Training) |
Still unassigned numbers: 16, 19, 21,23, 25, 39, 40, 60, 67, 71, 75-99.
The recently re-acquired Chad Beck may re-claim his old #58 from non-roster invitee Luis Jimenez and #38 may become available with the potential retirement of Darren Oliver.
As for coaches, Pete Walker wore #40 last season as the bullpen coach, so perhaps he'll continue with that number as pitching coach. He wore #41 during his playing days, but that number is currently assigned to first base coach Dwayne Murphy. Will Murphy yield #41 to Pat Hentgen when he re-joins the team as a bullpen coach? He did the first time Hentgen returned to the Blue Jays as a coach, switching to #21 in 2011. New hitting coach Chad Motolla wore #21, and #22 on his two tours with the Blue Jays and #39 as the hitting coach for the Las Vegas 51s last season. New bench coach Demarlo Hale wore #45 last year with the Baltimore Orioles and #35 (Sam Dyson's number) when he was with the Red Sox.
Sources: 2012 Toronto Blue Jays Official Guide, Baseball-Reference.com, BlueJays.com.