Toronto Blue Jays: Best all-time players by continent

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 14: Gift Ngoepe of South Africa runs to first base during the World baseball Classic Final match between Australia and South Africa at Blacktown International Sportspark on February 14, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images) /

On the back of the Toronto Blue Jays signing African-born infielder Gift Ngoepe, we decided to name the best players in franchise history by continent.

Last week the Toronto Blue Jays acquired infielder Gift Ngoepe from the Pittsburgh Pirates, for cash considerations or a player to be named later. The 27-year-old made his MLB debut last year and made history, becoming the first African-born player in the League.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/932742447414808577

The light-hitting South-African had 264 at bats in the Big Leagues, hitting .222 with a .323 OBP, recording six RBI in 2017.

After the trade, Ngoepe was placed on Toronto’s 40-man roster, and he could realistically become the first (and therefore greatest) African in Blue Jays history.

The name Gift is a translation of his real name Mpho which means ‘gift’ in Sotho, a language spoken in Lesotho, Zimbabwae, and South Africa.

Ngoepe represented South Africa at the World Baseball Classic qualifications last year in Australia.

But who are the greatest Toronto Blue Jays from the other continents? Every continent other than Antarctica has seen at least one player suit up for the Jays, so let’s take a look:

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