Key was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the 1982 amateur draft.[3] He worked his way up the Blue Jays’ minor league system during 1982 and 1983, putting up respectable numbers with the Florence Blue Jays (South Atlantic League), the Medicine Hat Blue Jays (Pioneer League), the Knoxville Blue Jays (Southern League), and the Syracuse Chiefs (International League) before heading to Toronto.
Key made his Major League debut on April 6, 1984, and was utilized in relief situations through his inaugural year, notching 10 saves and a 4.65 ERA.[4] He wore number 27 in his first season and 22 for the duration of his Blue Jays career.
Key moved into the starting rotation in 1985 and quickly became a cornerstone in the rotation, leading the Blue Jays to their first postseason appearance that year. In 1987, Key led the major leagues with a 2.76 earned run average and finished second behind Roger Clemens in voting for the American League Cy Young Award.
In Game 4 of the 1992 World Series, Key made his final start for the Blue Jays, surrendering one run over 7+2⁄3 innings to earn a 2-1 win and put the Jays up 3 games to 1. He left the game to a tremendous ovation. Key would appear once more in the series, as a reliever in the 10th and 11th innings of the 6th and deciding game, earning another winning decision in the series.
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Key was so good in 92 WS often not talked about enough!