For all the storylines that dominated the 2009 WBC, namely Japan winning its second title in a row, there was one that didn't make international headlines, but caught my eye; Canada finishes 13th out of 16 teams. While I understand that we are still a country trying to catch up to everyone else in terms of youth development, this WBC was supposed to be Canada's coming out party. Featuring names like all-star catcher Russell Martin, now-MVP 1B Joey Votto, 1B Justin Morneau who won an A.L.
MVP in 2006, plus multi-time all-star OF Jason Bay, the lineup was daunting. While the pitching staff was relatively young (at the time, only 2 of their 13 pitchers were 30+ years old), the line-up was supposed to support them. It did against Canada's first game, which was against the vaunted United States, with the U.S. narrowly escaping with a 6-5 win. But the pitching and hitting both let Canada down in its do-or-die second game, a 6-2 loss to Italy. With Canada ousted from the tournament, there may have been some cause for concern at the time, but it doesn't seem like it anymore.
Current players and those on the cusp of the MLB.
Like I said, there is already a wealth of Canadian talent in the majors. Besides MVPs Morneau and Votto, and all-stars Martin and Bay, there is a strong pitching contingent. P Jeff Francis (BC) of the Kansas City Royals has been hurt for parts of the last 2 seasons, only going through about 2/3 of his scheduled starts, but his numbers are right back to around his career average for E.R.A. and W.H.I.P (walks & hits/innings pitched) and he's still only 30. P Erik Bedard (ON) of the Seattle Mariners is also making the injury comeback trail.
He has not had a fully healthy season since 2006, but is looking to do so this year. His E.R.A. is about one full run above his career average, but he is still trying to find his rhythm after inconsistent pitching for the last 4 years. P Phillippe Aumont (QC) is a big, young (22) pitcher in Philadelphia's farm system who is currently sporting a 3.50 E.R.A. for Double-A Reading, but has 25 strikeouts in 18 innings with only 5 walks, meaning the inflated E.R.A. is just because he throws a lot of strikes, which is good for a young pitcher. He looks like he might be called up this year, if not, certainly next year. P Scott Diamond (ON) is a 24-year old playing Triple-A baseball in the Minnesota Twins farm system. Currently sporting a 5.03 E.R.A. that is skewed by 2 bad starts out of 7, he will get great coaching in an organization that stresses pitching and defence and should be just fine in years to come.
Finally, perhaps the most prized Canadian prospect in baseball right now is playing Triple-A ball in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system, a 21-year old third baseman from BC named Brett Lawrie. He is tearing up the Pacific Coast League, hitting .337 with 9 HR and 31 RBI in only 39 games. Also, nearly one of every two of his hits are extra base hits, with 9 HRs, 3 triples and 14 doubles, or 26 out of 57 total hits (45.6%), which is a testament to his raw power. He is expected to make his Jays debut any week now.
There are still some players that are a few years away.
There are many players still in the Minors mill that may be great one day. First and foremost is Toronto native, and Toronto drafted, OF Marcus Knecht, taken with Toronto's 9th pick in the 2010 draft. Still only 20 years old, he is playing single-A ball, and playing very well. He is a player that hits for average, hitting .330 but only having 48 total bases on 32 hits this season. But he could be a great top-of-the-lineup guy going forward for the Jays. BC-born P James Paxton (originally a Jays draftee, he re-entered the draft and was taken by Seattle), is a hard-throwing 22-year old lefty who is off to an impressive start in single-A with a 2.65 E.R.A. and averaging over a K/IP.
There is also another big lefty that was originally drafted by the Jays, 19-year-old Jake Eliopoulos, who refused to sign and was consequently drafted by the L.A. Dodgers, who is highly touted but doesn't have any professional numbers to report yet. The highest Canadian pitching prospect might not even pitch for Canada in the future. The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted 19-year old RHP Jameson Taillon 2nd overall in the 2010 draft, and he is ripping up the single-A South Atlantic League with a 1.80 E.R.A. in four starts (1-0) and 14 K in 15 IP. He was born in Florida and went to school in Texas, but both his parents were born in Canada, so he has dual citizenship. Which country he pitches for is still a decision that is years away, but we can only hope to see him in the Maple Leaf.
Nowhere to go but up.
After an abysmal 13th place showing at the 2009 WBC, there really is only up to go from here. And with the talent currently in the majors, about to be called up to the majors, and still developing in the lower minor league systems, there is a beaming future for Canadian baseball on the international stage.
*professional statistics courtesty of ESPN.com; minor-league statistics courtesy of baseball-reference.com
Michael Clifford - I'm a sports fan that follows all major sports, with hockey, baseball, basketball and American football being my most closely watched ...
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