Toronto Blue Jays legend Tony Fernandez passes away at 57 years old

Toronto Blue Jays legend Tony Fernandez passed away on Saturday. He was 57 years old.

Tony Fernandez had been in a serious medical battle over the past few weeks. The Toronto Blue Jays infielder had been hospitalized last month due to his battles with kidney disease. His condition worsened, as Fernandez developed pneumonia and had a stroke, leading to his being placed in a medically induced coma.

Unfortunately, Fernandez was unable to recover, as he passed away on Saturday at just 57 years old.

A 17 year major league veteran, Fernandez played for seven different teams, but always found his way back to Toronto. He had four different stints with the franchise, culminating with his being a part of the 1993 World Series champions.

Unsurprisingly, Fernandez holds numerous team records. He is the Blue Jays all time leader with 1450 games, 72 triples, 1583 hits, and a 37.5 bWAR. He also holds the team’s single season records in games, singles, triples, pinch hits, and at bats.

Fernandez was a solid player during his career. He was a five time All Star, compiling a career .288/.347/.399 batting line, hitting 414 doubles, 92 triples, 94 homers, and stealing 246 bases. A brilliant defensive infielder, he won four consecutive Gold Gloves at short from 1986 through 1989, and performed well with the glove as he eventually moved around the infield.

His legacy will certainly live on in Toronto. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008, and was inducted into the Blue Jays Level of Excellence on September 23, 2001. The Tony Fernandez Foundation, which was founded to help youth in the Dominican Republic, will continue his legacy.

Our condolences go out to the Toronto Blue Jays, and Tony Fernandez’s friends and family.