Jose Bautista, a name synonymous with power-hitting and memorable bat flips, left an indelible mark on Major League Baseball. As discussions surrounding his Hall of Fame candidacy intensify, baseball enthusiasts and pundits find themselves divided over whether Bautista’s contributions to the game are worthy of immortalization in Cooperstown.

One cannot discuss Jose Bautista without acknowledging his remarkable statistical achievements. A journeyman early in his career, Bautista experienced stability and a career resurgence with the Toronto Blue Jays, becoming one of the most feared power hitters in the league and having his breakout at the age of 29. From 2010 to 2015, he blasted an astonishing 227 home runs, leading the league twice during that span. His 54 home runs in 2010 were not only a career-high but a feat that solidified his place in the record books. In total, Bautista belted 344 home runs in his career with a .475 SLG.

Bautista’s on-base percentage also paints a picture of offensive dominance. His ability to draw walks and deliver crucial hits made him a constant threat in the batter’s box. Despite not possessing eye-popping batting averages, (a career .247 hitter) Bautista’s ability to produce runs and impact games is undeniable. Throughout his career, Bautista walked a total of 1,032 times, a 14.3% clip, well above the Major League average. He twice led the league in walks in 2011 and 2015 and had four total seasons with 100 or more walks. Also, not only did he score 1,022 runs in his career but drove in a total of 975 RBI over 1,798 career games.

Interestingly enough, despite being a feared slugger, Bautista never adhered to the three true outcomes mold that follows hitters of his caliber. While he struck out his fair share, it was never struck out more than 116 times in a single season. He could make contact at a 79.3% rate, sometimes not always the best, but found success in doing so. He had a respectable.264 batting average on balls in play, showing that without strikeouts and home runs, he was a fairly reliable bat. It’s also worth noting that his advanced metrics were respectable as well. He finished his career with a 126 wRC+ a .362 wOBA and 36.7 career WAR.

Beyond the statistics, Bautista etched his name in baseball lore with iconic moments. The 2015 ALDS bat flip, a display of emotion and defiance, became a symbol of Bautista’s swagger and the changing dynamics of the game. While traditionalists may frown upon such displays, others argue that they contribute to the narrative and excitement of baseball, making Bautista more than just a statistical figure.

Bautista’s postseason resume is marked by clutch moments, including his memorable three-run homer in Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS. While his teams didn’t secure a World Series title during his career, Bautista’s impact in crucial playoff moments adds weight to his Hall of Fame case. In 20 postseason games, Bautista batted .243/.364/.541 with six home runs and 16 RBI.

The problem facing Bautista is that his stretch of dominance wasn’t quite long enough. Despite being a solid double-digit home run threat for most of his career, his six-year stretch from 2010-2015 included six straight All-Star appearances, three Silver Sluggers, and four finishes in the top 10 for MVP voting, was the bulk of his career accolades. He was a great hitter during that stretch, but it just wasn’t long enough to garner enough statistical measures to bolster his Hall of Fame campaign. He was the heart and soul of his time with the Blue Jays and even had some good years defensively. Unfortunately, his playing time was limited as he had just three seasons with 150+ games played. Injuries and the dropoff in production following the 2015 season will hurt Bautista’s chances of going to the Hall of Fame.

Ultimately, Bautista was one of the best sluggers in baseball for six years, but the lack of his statistical peripherals throughout his career will make him likely to fall off the ballot in his first year. No doubt he was a great hitter and a great study in later bloomers in baseball, but when measured up to baseball’s immortals, and even others on the ballot currently, he doesn’t stack up unfortunately. Bautista may not end up in Cooperstown, but he etched his name in Blue Jays history and folk lore and that’s good enough.