Edwin Encarnación
A fearsome slugger whose thunderous bat flip celebration became as famous as his tape-measure home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Dominican baseball player·Birthday: January 7·Millennials
Biography
Edwin Encarnación didn't just hit home runs; he launched events. The Dominican-born power hitter arrived in Cincinnati as a capable third baseman, but it was in Toronto where he transformed into 'Parrot Man', a nickname earned for his signature home run trot where he would tuck one arm like a wing. After a trade from Oakland, he found his destructive groove, forming one half of a terrifying duo with José Bautista. For five seasons, he was a model of consistent, devastating production, routinely blasting over 35 homers and driving in well over 100 runs. His three straight All-Star selections were a testament to his dominance. He later took his show on the road, providing crucial power for Cleveland, Seattle, and the Yankees, always bringing the palpable threat of a game-changing swing. More than statistics, Encarnación played with a palpable joy that made his home runs a spectacle, cementing his place as one of the most entertaining and feared right-handed hitters of his era.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Edwin was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Edwin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Edwin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Hit 42 home runs in a single season for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016, leading the American League.
- Selected as an American League All-Star three consecutive times from 2014 to 2016.
- Recorded eight consecutive seasons with at least 30 home runs from 2012 to 2019.
- Drove in over 100 runs in five different seasons during his peak years.
Did You Know?
His iconic home run celebration, where he rounded the bases with one arm tucked in, was nicknamed the 'Parrot Walk'.
He hit a walk-off home run for the Cleveland Indians in the 2017 American League Division Series.
Despite being known as a DH, he played over 700 games at third base earlier in his career.
He and his wife named their son after former teammate and fellow slugger Justin Morneau.
“You don't look for the fastball; you wait for it and then you attack.”
