Blue Jays scout Wilbur (Moose) Johnson used to talk about his team each spring.
And, after assessing the 40-man roster, he would always, always add: “And don’t forget, someone will surprise everyone. He’ll come out of nowhere, make the team and contribute.”
Johnson would say this each spring whether he was watching in Dunedin, Lakeland or Clearwater.
And we’d always ask, “Well, who do you think it is?”
Johnson would answer the same, “Well, if I knew and I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”
Some surprises on previous post-season Jays teams have included:
- Tom Henke, claimed in the compensation free-agent draft from the Texas Rangers, promoted at the end of July and the closer on the 1985 Blue Jays.