Otto the Swato was a power-hitting outfielder and DH for the expansion Blue Jays. In April 1977 (the Jays’ first month as a franchise), Velez won AL Player of the Month honors with a .442 batting average and .865 slugging average (figures that remain monthly team records). On May 4, 1980 against Cleveland, Velez had the Blue Jays’ first three-homer game on the way to tying an AL record with four HR in a doubleheader.
