1. Early Life and Pre-Professional Career
Edwin Encarnación's formative years were split between his native Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, a unique background that shaped his path into professional baseball.
1.1. Birth and Early Upbringing
Encarnación was born on January 7, 1983, in La Romana, Dominican Republic. His father, Elpidio Encarnación, was a track and field coach, and his mother was Mireya Rivera. He is the third of three sons, including Richard and Julio, and has a younger sister named Evelin. Additionally, he has twelve half-siblings through his father. During his high school years, Encarnación divided his time between the Dominican Republic and Caguas, Puerto Rico, where his father had taken a coaching position at a college. This period of dual residency in Puerto Rico was significant as it made him eligible for the Major League Baseball draft. His family has since returned to reside in the Dominican Republic.
1.2. Major League Baseball Draft
Encarnación's professional baseball journey began when he was selected by the Texas Rangers in the ninth round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft, as the 274th overall pick. He subsequently signed with the organization. His tenure with the Rangers was short-lived, as he was traded on June 15, 2001, to the Cincinnati Reds. The trade involved Encarnación and Rubén Mateo being sent to the Reds in exchange for pitcher Rob Bell.
2. Professional Career
Edwin Encarnación's professional career in Major League Baseball saw him evolve from a young third baseman with defensive challenges into one of the league's most consistent and feared power hitters. His journey included stints with six different teams, highlighted by his impactful tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays.
2.1. Cincinnati Reds (2005-2009)
Encarnación made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cincinnati Reds on June 24, 2005, playing in 69 games during his rookie season. He finished with a .232 batting average, 9 home runs, 31 runs batted in (RBIs), and displayed early power with 16 doubles. He also successfully stole 3 bases on 3 attempts. After the Reds traded regular third baseman Joe Randa in July 2005, Encarnación became the team's regular third baseman.
In the 2006 season, Encarnación established himself as the regular third baseman, appearing in 117 games. He improved his hitting with a .276 batting average, 15 home runs, and 72 RBIs, along with 33 doubles. However, his defensive struggles were notable, as he committed 25 errors at third base. Despite these defensive issues, he also played two error-free games at first base, showcasing more stability at that position. He earned the National League Player of the Week award for August 7-13, leading the league with 4 home runs and 8 RBIs while batting .440 with 24 total bases during that week.
The 2007 season saw Encarnación continue to record over a .270 batting average and 15 home runs for the second consecutive year, along with a high stolen base success rate. However, his defensive issues persisted. He started the year slowly, struggling to bat above .200, and was frequently benched in favor of Ryan Freel, which allowed Josh Hamilton more starts in center field. At one point, he was benched by then-manager Jerry Narron for not running out a fly ball. On May 10, he was demoted to the Reds' Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats, but was recalled on May 22. He finished the season with a .289 batting average, 16 home runs, and 76 RBIs.
In 2008, Encarnación set career highs in games played (146) and home runs (26), batting .251 with 68 RBIs. This was also the first time in his career he struck out more than 100 times, tallying 102 strikeouts. For the 2009 season, Encarnación expressed a desire to improve his consistency as a hitter, aiming to hit more to the middle of the field rather than focusing solely on home runs, acknowledging that his average suffered from trying to pull too many balls. He played 43 games for the Reds in 2009, batting just .209 with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs before being traded to Toronto. Throughout his time with the Reds, his defensive struggles at third base led to him being unofficially nicknamed "E5" by fans, a reference to his first initial, errors, and the positional number for third base.
2.2. Toronto Blue Jays (2009-2016)
Encarnación's tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays marked the most significant period of his career, during which he transformed into an elite power hitter, achieved numerous milestones, and became a fan favorite.
2.2.1. Early Years and Injuries (2009-2011)
On July 31, 2009, Encarnación, along with right-handed pitchers Josh Roenicke and Zach Stewart, was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Scott Rolen. Reports indicated that Blue Jays General Manager J. P. Ricciardi was initially only interested in acquiring Roenicke and Stewart, but Cincinnati insisted that the Blue Jays also take on Encarnación to complete the trade. In 42 games with the Blue Jays during the remainder of the 2009 season, he batted .240 with 8 home runs and 23 RBIs.
During the 2009-2010 offseason, Encarnación suffered first and second-degree burns to his forehead and the right side of his face. The incident occurred when a rocket firecracker struck him in the jaw and exploded near his mouth. After initial treatment in the Dominican Republic, he was transferred to a Miami hospital and was discharged less than two days later.
The 2010 season was challenging for Encarnación due to a persistent wrist injury. He missed 30 games in April and May, returning on May 18 to hit a home run in his first at-bat against the Minnesota Twins. On May 21, he recorded three home runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks, hitting homers in three straight at-bats. However, his struggles continued, and on June 20, after a loss to the San Francisco Giants, he was optioned to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s. The next day, in a surprise move, he was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays. He was eventually assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas on June 23, but was called back up to the Blue Jays on July 2 after his replacement, Jarrett Hoffpauir, struggled. He hit his 100th career home run on the last day of the season against the Minnesota Twins, becoming the seventh Blue Jays player that year to hit 20 or more home runs. Encarnación finished the 2010 season with a .244 batting average, 21 home runs, and 51 RBIs.
After the 2010 season, Encarnación was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics on November 12. However, due to his high salary of 4.75 M USD, the Athletics did not tender him a contract, making him a free agent. On December 16, 2010, he re-signed with the Blue Jays on a one-year, 2.50 M USD deal that included a 3.50 M USD club option for the 2012 season. He started the 2011 season playing third base but struggled offensively. His performance improved significantly after he was primarily moved to the designated hitter position. On September 7, 2011, in a game against the Boston Red Sox, Encarnación set a new career high for doubles in a single season with 34. On September 22, he hit a walk-off home run off the Rogers Sportsnet One sign in the 12th inning against Angels rookie Garrett Richards. In 2011, he batted .272 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs. The Blue Jays exercised his 3.50 M USD club option for the 2012 season on October 31, 2011.
2.2.2. Breakout Seasons and All-Star Appearances (2012-2013)
The 2012 and 2013 seasons marked Encarnación's emergence as a premier power hitter in MLB, earning him All-Star selections and solidifying his status as a key offensive force for the Blue Jays.
On April 28, 2012, in a game against the Seattle Mariners, Encarnación hit his fourth career grand slam in the 8th inning, propelling the Blue Jays to a 7-0 victory. This grand slam was notable for being the first time Encarnación held his arm out in a distinctive "chicken-wing" fashion while rounding the bases. This gesture would soon become his trademark "Parrot Walk" home run celebration, which he would perform after every home run he hit. The "Parrot Walk" quickly gained popularity among fans, who would mimic it in the stands and even flap their arms like a parrot's wings. Its popularity led to the creation of T-shirts, hats, and even toy parrots that fans could attach to their arms.
On April 30, 2012, in a home game against the Texas Rangers, Encarnación hit the first home run off of rookie pitcher Yu Darvish. On June 19, in an inter-league game against the Milwaukee Brewers, he hit the last of three consecutive solo home runs by the Blue Jays, following Colby Rasmus and José Bautista. This marked the first time in the 2012 season that the Jays hit back-to-back-to-back home runs, and only the sixth time in franchise history. On July 12, Encarnación signed a 3-year, 27.00 M USD contract extension with Toronto, which included a 10.00 M USD club option for the 2016 season.
On September 13, 2012, in a home game against the Seattle Mariners, Encarnación achieved two career milestones: he hit his 40th home run of the season off starter Félix Hernández, and recorded his 100th RBI of the season. This was the first time in his career that he surpassed both 40 home runs and 100 RBIs. His stellar performance was recognized on November 28, 2012, when he was unanimously named the Blue Jays Player of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). He also received the Most Improved Player award for the Jays. Overall, he set career highs in home runs, RBIs, hits, and runs scored, and also drew 84 walks, achieving career bests in on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
In 2013, Encarnación was selected to represent the Dominican Republic in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He primarily played first base and was instrumental in the team's historic first championship victory. His performance earned him a spot on the WBC Best Nine team as a first baseman.
During the regular season, on May 23, 2013, Encarnación hit his fifth career grand slam, giving the Blue Jays an 8-3 lead over the Baltimore Orioles in a game they would eventually win 12-6. On July 6, he was named to his first All-Star Game as a reserve designated hitter for the American League, joining José Bautista, Brett Cecil, and Steve Delabar as one of four Blue Jays selected. Leading up to the All-Star break, Encarnación posted a slash line of .264/.353/.532 with 25 home runs and 72 RBIs. In the All-Star Game, he entered as a pinch-hitter for David Ortiz in the seventh inning and finished 0-for-2.
On July 26, 2013, in a game against the Houston Astros, Encarnación made franchise history by becoming only the second Blue Jay to hit two home runs in one inning, a feat previously achieved by Joe Carter on October 3, 1993, and one that tied the Major League record for most home runs in an inning. Leading off the 7th inning with the team trailing 6-4, Encarnación hit a solo home run. Later in the same inning, he hit his sixth career grand slam, receiving a curtain call as the Blue Jays scored 8 runs in the inning to take a 12-6 lead. He was named the American League Player of the Week on July 29, after batting .520 with three doubles, two home runs, and eight RBIs over the preceding week.
Encarnación hit his 30th home run of the season on August 7, 2013, against the Seattle Mariners, marking his first time recording back-to-back 30-home run seasons. Playing against the Kansas City Royals on August 31, he recorded his 1,000th career hit, a single off Kansas City starter Jeremy Guthrie. On September 2, he reached 100 RBIs for the second consecutive season with a two-run home run against Brandon McCarthy of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He spent time on the bench in mid-September due to a wrist injury, but made a brief return before being placed on the disabled list on September 17. He underwent successful surgery on September 19. Encarnación finished the 2013 season with a .272 batting average, 36 home runs (ranking third in the league), and 104 RBIs, completing his second consecutive season with 35+ home runs and 100+ RBIs. Notably, he recorded more walks (82) than strikeouts (62) for the first time in his career, indicating improved plate discipline. He also maintained a high stolen base success rate of 84.8% from 2011 to 2013, successfully stealing 7 of 8 attempts in 2013.
2.2.3. Milestone Achievements and Playoff Success (2014-2016)
Encarnación's later years with the Blue Jays were marked by continued power-hitting prowess, significant individual milestones, and his crucial role in the team's postseason appearances.
On May 8, 2014, Encarnación hit his 200th career home run off A. J. Burnett of the Philadelphia Phillies. Four days later, he was named the American League Player of the Week for May 5-11, having led the league with four home runS and 10 RBIs, while batting .321. He continued his hot hitting streak in May, becoming the first player in Blue Jays franchise history to record four multi-home run games in a single month, a feat not seen in MLB since Troy Tulowitzki in September 2010. On May 26, he set a new club record for home runs in May by hitting his 13th off Álex Colomé of the Tampa Bay Rays. The following day, Encarnación tied the team record for home runs in any month of the season, hitting his 14th as the Blue Jays extended their winning streak to 8 games.
On May 29, 2014, in a home game against the Kansas City Royals, Encarnación hit two home runs, bringing his season total to 18 and his May total to 16. This set a new Blue Jays franchise record for home runs in any month of the regular season and also tied Mickey Mantle's American League record for most home runs hit in May, set in 1956. For his exceptional performance, he was unanimously selected as the Blue Jays Player of the Month by the Toronto chapter of the BBWAA on June 2, and a day later, he was named the AL Player of the Month for May by MLB. On June 20, Encarnación hit two 3-run home runs in a win over the Cincinnati Reds, collecting 6 RBIs. His contributions were key in helping the Blue Jays stage their second-largest comeback victory in franchise history, overcoming an 8-0 deficit after the second inning to win 14-9. Despite missing time due to a left quadriceps injury from July 7 to August 15, Encarnación finished the 2014 season with a .268 batting average, 34 home runS, and 98 RBIs, marking his third consecutive season with 30+ home runS and 90+ RBIs.
On June 30, 2015, Encarnación earned 10-and-5 rights, a significant milestone that granted him the ability to veto any trade he might be involved in, having accumulated at least 10 years of service time in MLB with the last 5 years spent on the same team. He joined fellow Blue Jay José Bautista as one of the few active players to hold this distinction. Throughout 2015, with the addition of Justin Smoak, Encarnación was primarily utilized as a designated hitter. He hit his 250th career home run on August 6, in a 9-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins. On August 18, in an 8-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, Encarnación surpassed Jesse Barfield on the Blue Jays' all-time home run list by hitting his 180th home run with the franchise. He also extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games.
Encarnación's dominant performance continued into late August 2015. On August 29, he extended his hitting streak to 24 games, hitting 3 home runs against the Detroit Tigers, including his third grand slam of the season. He also tied Roy Howell's franchise record with nine RBIs in a single game. The following day, he broke the Blue Jays' franchise record for RBIs in a single month by hitting a solo home run, giving him 35 RBIs in August. For his exceptional play, he was named the American League Player of the Week on August 31, after batting .391 with 6 home runs and 17 RBIs. On September 2, Encarnación won the American League Player of the Month award for the second time in his career, recognizing his August performance where he batted .407 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. He finished the 2015 regular season with a .277 batting average, 39 home runS (his second-highest career total and seventh in the league), and a career-high 111 RBIs (ranking fourth in the league). He was part of a powerful trio alongside Josh Donaldson and José Bautista, as all three hit 35+ home runS and 110+ RBIs, narrowly missing the 40-home run mark as a trio by one home run. In the 2015 American League Division Series, Encarnación batted .333 with one home run and 3 RBIs across all 5 games. In the American League Championship Series, he hit .227 with two RBIs in 6 games. On October 27, he underwent successful sports hernia surgery. The Blue Jays exercised his 10.00 M USD option for 2016 on November 3.
Prior to 2016 spring training, Encarnación set an Opening Day deadline for negotiating a contract extension with the Blue Jays. However, he sustained an oblique injury early in the spring, which prevented him from participating in any Major League games, and contract extension talks concluded prematurely due to disagreements on terms. On April 26, Encarnación hit his 200th home run as a member of the Blue Jays. On June 10, he hit his fourth walk-off home run as a Blue Jay, defeating the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 in the tenth inning. This made him the Blue Jays' all-time leader in walk-off home runs and the eighth player in franchise history to reach 600 RBIs. On July 1 (Canada Day), Encarnación was ejected by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza for arguing balls and strikes, making contact with the umpire after his ejection. He was subsequently given a one-game suspension on July 3.
On August 12, Encarnación hit the 300th home run of his career, joining Joe Carter, Carlos Delgado, and teammate José Bautista as the only players to hit their 300th home run while with the Blue Jays franchise. He recorded his 100th RBI of the season in a 12-6 win over the New York Yankees on August 16, becoming the first player to reach that milestone in 2016. On September 16, he hit his 40th home run of the season, joining José Bautista and Carlos Delgado as the only Blue Jays with multiple 40-home run seasons.
In the eleventh inning of the 2016 American League Wild Card Game, Encarnación hit a walk-off, three-run home run, securing a 5-2 victory for the Blue Jays over the Baltimore Orioles and advancing them to the American League Division Series to face the Texas Rangers. The Blue Jays ultimately lost the ALCS to the Cleveland Indians in five games. Encarnación played a career-high 160 games in 2016. While his .263 batting average was his lowest since 2011, and he recorded a career-worst 138 strikeouts, he hit a league-third-best 42 home runS and led the American League with 127 RBIs, tying with David Ortiz for his first career RBI title. On November 7, the Blue Jays extended a 17.20 M USD qualifying offer to Encarnación, which he declined on November 14, entering free agency.
2.3. Cleveland Indians (2017-2018)
On January 5, 2017, Encarnación signed a three-year contract with the Cleveland Indians worth 60.00 M USD. The deal included a club option for the 2020 season valued at an additional 25.00 M USD, along with a 5.00 M USD buyout clause. Upon signing, he also announced his decision not to participate in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
He hit a home run on Opening Day against the Texas Rangers. On July 25, 2017, in the first game of a series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Encarnación hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 11th inning, securing an 11-7 victory for the Indians. In his first season with the Indians, he played in 155 games, batting .258 with 38 home runS and 107 RBIs. He also drew a career-high 104 walks.
On August 12, 2018, Encarnación was placed on the disabled list with a hand contusion, marking his second stint on the disabled list that season. He finished the 2018 season with 32 home runS and 107 RBIs, achieving his seventh consecutive season of 30 or more home runS and his fourth consecutive season of 100 or more RBIs. However, his batting average fell to .246.
2.4. Seattle Mariners (2018-2019)
On December 13, 2018, the Indians traded Encarnación to the Seattle Mariners as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Tampa Bay Rays. In the deal, Carlos Santana was sent to the Indians, who also acquired Jake Bauers from the Rays, while the Rays received Yandy Díaz and Cole Sulser.
Encarnación hit his first home run as a member of the Seattle Mariners on March 28, 2019. On April 8, he hit two home runS in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals, a remarkable feat that made him the fifth player in major league history to hit two home runS in the same inning twice in his career. On June 9, in a game against the Angels, Encarnación hit two more home runS, with the second one marking his 400th career home run. Through mid-June, in 65 games with the Mariners, Encarnación batted .241 with 21 home runS and 49 RBIs.
2.5. New York Yankees (2019)
On June 15, 2019, the Mariners traded Encarnación to the New York Yankees in exchange for minor league pitcher Juan Then and cash considerations. He was assigned jersey number 30. The Mariners and Yankees split his remaining salary for the 2019 season, with each paying 7.50 M USD of his remaining 15.00 M USD.
On August 3, Encarnación was hit by a pitch, sustaining a fractured right wrist that forced him to leave the game and be placed on the 10-day injured list. This injury caused him to miss approximately one month of playing time. On October 31, 2019, the New York Yankees announced they would not exercise their club option for Encarnación for the 2020 season, making him a free agent. For the 2019 season, combining his time with the Mariners and Yankees, Encarnación played in 109 games, batting .244 with 34 home runS and 86 RBIs, marking his eighth career season with 30 or more home runS.
2.6. Chicago White Sox (2020)
On January 9, 2020, Encarnación signed a one-year deal with the Chicago White Sox worth 12.00 M USD. The contract also included a club option for the 2021 season. He was assigned jersey number 23. On July 24, 2020, he made his White Sox debut as the starting designated hitter on Opening Day against the Minnesota Twins.
In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Encarnación batted .157 with a .250 on-base percentage and a .377 slugging percentage. He hit 10 home runS and recorded 19 RBIs, while striking out 54 times in 159 at-bats. Following the season, on October 30, the White Sox announced they would not exercise their option for the 2021 season, making him a free agent.
3. Post-Playing Career
After his professional playing career concluded with the Chicago White Sox, Edwin Encarnación has maintained his connection to baseball, particularly with his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays.
3.1. Retirement and Coaching Role
Edwin Encarnación has not signed with any professional baseball team since the 2020 season, effectively leading to his unofficial retirement from professional play. In a testament to his continued involvement in the sport, on February 24, 2023, he joined the coaching staff of his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, serving as a guest instructor during their spring training. He also threw the first pitch in an open game during spring training.
4. Playing Style and Characteristics
Edwin Encarnación was renowned for his distinctive and powerful playing style, particularly his approach at the plate and his signature home run celebration.
As a right-handed hitter, Encarnación was a pronounced pull hitter, with approximately 51% of his batted balls going to left field over his Major League career. This tendency often led opposing teams to employ extreme defensive shifts to the left side of the field against him.
Defensively, Encarnación's early career at third base with the Cincinnati Reds was marked by frequent errors. His struggles in the field earned him the nickname "E5" among fans, a play on the statistical notation for an error by the third baseman (position number 5) and his first initial. Despite these defensive challenges at third, he demonstrated more stable defense when occasionally playing first base.
His most recognizable characteristic was his unique home run celebration, known as the "Parrot Walk." After hitting a home run, Encarnación would extend his right arm, mimicking holding a parrot on his arm, while rounding the bases. The origin of this iconic celebration was quite serendipitous: during his time with the Blue Jays, he happened to raise his arm slightly while running the bases after a home run. His teammates noticed it and playfully suggested that he continue the pose. The "Parrot Walk" quickly became highly popular among fans, leading to the production of T-shirts, hats, and even toy parrots that fans would carry or attach to their arms to emulate the celebration.
5. Awards and Honors
Edwin Encarnación received numerous accolades throughout his distinguished Major League Baseball career:
- MLB All-Star selection: 2013, 2014, 2016
- American League RBI champion: 2016 (tied)
- National League Player of the Week: August 7-13, 2006
- American League Player of the Week: May 5-11, 2014; August 31, 2015
- American League Player of the Month: May 2014, August 2015
- Blue Jays Player of the Year: 2012
- Blue Jays Most Improved Player: 2012
- World Baseball Classic Best Nine (First Baseman): 2013
- All-Star Futures Game selection (MiLB): 2003, 2004, 2005
6. Career Statistics
6.1. Batting Statistics
| Year | Team | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | SB | CS | SH | SF | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | GIDP | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | CIN | 69 | 234 | 211 | 25 | 49 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 92 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 3 | 60 | 8 | .232 | .308 | .436 | .744 |
| 2006 | CIN | 117 | 463 | 406 | 60 | 112 | 33 | 1 | 15 | 192 | 72 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 41 | 3 | 13 | 78 | 9 | .276 | .359 | .473 | .832 |
| 2007 | CIN | 139 | 556 | 502 | 66 | 145 | 25 | 1 | 16 | 220 | 76 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 39 | 4 | 14 | 86 | 5 | .289 | .356 | .438 | .794 |
| 2008 | CIN | 146 | 582 | 506 | 75 | 127 | 29 | 1 | 26 | 236 | 68 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 61 | 1 | 10 | 102 | 13 | .251 | .340 | .466 | .806 |
| 2009 | CIN/TOR | 85 | 338 | 293 | 35 | 66 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 120 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 37 | 0 | 5 | 67 | 5 | .225 | .320 | .410 | .729 |
| 2010 | TOR | 96 | 367 | 332 | 47 | 81 | 16 | 0 | 21 | 160 | 51 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 60 | 9 | .244 | .305 | .482 | .787 |
| 2011 | TOR | 134 | 530 | 481 | 70 | 131 | 36 | 0 | 17 | 218 | 55 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 43 | 2 | 3 | 77 | 17 | .272 | .334 | .453 | .787 |
| 2012 | TOR | 151 | 644 | 542 | 93 | 152 | 24 | 0 | 42 | 302 | 110 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 84 | 12 | 11 | 94 | 6 | .280 | .384 | .557 | .941 |
| 2013 | TOR | 142 | 621 | 530 | 90 | 144 | 29 | 1 | 36 | 283 | 104 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 82 | 7 | 4 | 62 | 20 | .272 | .370 | .534 | .904 |
| 2014 | TOR | 128 | 542 | 477 | 75 | 128 | 27 | 2 | 34 | 261 | 98 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 82 | 6 | 2 | 62 | 18 | .268 | .354 | .547 | .901 |
| 2015 | TOR | 146 | 624 | 528 | 94 | 146 | 31 | 0 | 39 | 294 | 111 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 77 | 5 | 9 | 98 | 14 | .277 | .372 | .557 | .929 |
| 2016 | TOR | 160 | 702 | 601 | 99 | 158 | 34 | 0 | 42 | 318 | 127 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 87 | 3 | 5 | 138 | 22 | .263 | .357 | .529 | .886 |
| 2017 | CLE | 157 | 669 | 554 | 96 | 143 | 20 | 1 | 38 | 279 | 107 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 104 | 5 | 5 | 133 | 18 | .258 | .377 | .504 | .881 |
| 2018 | CLE | 137 | 579 | 500 | 74 | 123 | 16 | 1 | 32 | 237 | 107 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 63 | 2 | 8 | 132 | 14 | .246 | .336 | .474 | .810 |
| 2019 | SEA/NYY | 109 | 486 | 418 | 81 | 102 | 18 | 0 | 34 | 222 | 86 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 58 | 1 | 7 | 103 | 4 | .244 | .344 | .531 | .875 |
| 2020 | CWS | 44 | 181 | 159 | 19 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 60 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 54 | 3 | .157 | .250 | .377 | .627 |
| MLB Total (16 seasons) | 1960 | 8126 | 7040 | 1099 | 1832 | 370 | 10 | 424 | 3494 | 1261 | 61 | 14 | 0 | 66 | 903 | 54 | 105 | 1426 | 185 | .260 | .350 | .496 | .846 | |
6.2. Fielding Statistics
| Year | Team | Position | G | PO | A | E | DP | FPct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | CIN | 3B | 56 | 54 | 116 | 10 | 10 | .944 |
| 2006 | CIN | 1B | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 |
| 2006 | CIN | 3B | 111 | 74 | 197 | 25 | 17 | .916 |
| 2007 | CIN | 3B | 137 | 112 | 212 | 16 | 21 | .953 |
| 2008 | CIN | 3B | 143 | 91 | 216 | 23 | 23 | .930 |
| 2009 | CIN | 3B | 43 | 25 | 69 | 4 | 8 | .959 |
| 2009 | TOR | 3B | 42 | 27 | 77 | 7 | 6 | .937 |
| 2010 | TOR | 3B | 95 | 71 | 174 | 18 | 16 | .932 |
| 2011 | TOR | 1B | 25 | 192 | 9 | 4 | 16 | .932 |
| 2011 | TOR | 3B | 36 | 23 | 43 | 8 | 2 | .892 |
| 2012 | TOR | 1B | 68 | 602 | 32 | 3 | 61 | .995 |
| 2012 | TOR | 3B | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .667 |
| 2012 | TOR | LF | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2013 | TOR | 1B | 79 | 689 | 44 | 6 | 66 | .992 |
| 2013 | TOR | 3B | 10 | 12 | 26 | 2 | 2 | .950 |
| 2014 | TOR | 1B | 80 | 625 | 33 | 8 | 51 | .988 |
| 2014 | TOR | LF | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2015 | TOR | 1B | 59 | 466 | 32 | 3 | 33 | .994 |
| 2016 | TOR | 1B | 75 | 602 | 27 | 2 | 57 | .997 |
| 2017 | CLE | 1B | 23 | 152 | 10 | 1 | 16 | .994 |
| 2018 | CLE | 1B | 23 | 147 | 14 | 1 | 16 | .994 |
| 2019 | SEA | 1B | 45 | 347 | 22 | 2 | 32 | .995 |
| 2019 | SEA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- |
| 2019 | NYY | 1B | 12 | 88 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1.000 |
| MLB Totals by Position | ||||||||
| 1B | 491 | 3919 | 225 | 30 | 355 | .993 | ||
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | ||
| 3B | 674 | 491 | 1130 | 114 | 105 | .934 | ||
| LF | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | ||
7. Legacy
Edwin Encarnación's legacy in baseball is primarily defined by his consistent power hitting, clutch performances, and significant contributions to the teams he played for, particularly the Toronto Blue Jays. He is remembered as one of the most prolific home run hitters of his era.
A testament to his remarkable consistency, Encarnación recorded seven consecutive seasons with 30 or more home runs from 2012 to 2018, and four consecutive seasons with 100 or more RBIs from 2015 to 2018. His ability to drive in runs was highlighted by his 2016 American League RBI title.
With the Blue Jays, he became the franchise's all-time leader in walk-off home runs. He was also the eighth player in Blue Jays history to reach 600 RBIs and one of only a few players, alongside José Bautista and Carlos Delgado, to achieve multiple 40-home run seasons for the club. His historic achievement of hitting two home runs in a single inning twice in his career placed him in an exclusive group of only five MLB players to accomplish that feat.
Encarnación's calm demeanor at the plate, combined with his explosive power and the iconic "Parrot Walk" celebration, made him a fan favorite and a memorable figure in baseball history.