Though the main focus of this site is the Toronto Blue Jays and their farm system, I thought I'd take up a different aspect of what was the original mandate of Batter's Box. This was meant to be a home for baseball from a Canadian perspective, and it is worthwhile shining a light on the next crop of ballplayers that will join the likes of Martin, Morneau, Votto and Harden in the big leagues.
I've compiled a list of the top Canadian baseball prospects a list that will be updated every few months as games are played and the stocks of players rise and fall. For the time being it will be a top 10 list but may eventually expand to 20, using the generally accepted definition of any players who is under contract to a major league team and retains his rookie status. So, no, you will not find any college or independent league players on this list.
First of all, the thorny question of who is a Canadian must be dealt with. I will use a loose definition: anyone born in Canada or anyone who has family ties to Canada it worked for Mark Teahen. So presto, Scott Campbell you are a Kiwi-Canadian. And hey there, Cale Iorg, you were born in the Great White North so you make the list too.
These profiles are meant to be vignettes, not exhaustive profiles. To give you an idea of how these players are viewed in the context of baseball prospects in general, I've listed Baseball America organisational rankings, BaseballHQ grades (from 2010 Minor League Baseball Analyst), and John Sickels grades.
Notes: The Sickels grades are taken from his website www.minorleagueball.com and are provisional rankings that mat have been changed in his annual prospect book. HQ grades potential and probability of reaching that potential on separate scales. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being an inner circle Hall of Famer and 5 being an MLB reserve, a player's potential is graded. On a scale of E to A, the probability of reaching that potential, from 10% to 90%, is graded. So a grade of 9C means a 50% chance of reaching the Elite (i.e All-Star caliber) player level.
Here are my top 10 Canadian prospects (2010 opening day):
1 Michael Saunders Victoria, BC 23- of- SEATTLE
drafted 2004, 11th round by Mariners
#2 prospect in Seattle organisation (Baseball America)
rated 7b by Baseball HQ; Sickels: B
An exciting power-speed combination who must reduce his strikeouts to reach his potential. He has the speed to steal 20+ bases but hasn't since 2007. He clubbed 30 extra base hits in 248 AB in 2009 at triple-A Tacoma, but struggled in his major league debut season in 46 games
Saunders is major league ready, though he has been send back to AAA so he can play everyday in the wake of the Milton Bradley acquisition. He'd be pretty good to have around as a spare outfielder, but with Eric Byrnes and Ryan Langerhans around the Mariners don't need Saunders for that role.
2 Nick Weglarz Stevensville, ON- 22 OF CLEVELAND
drafted 2005, 3rd round by Indians
#6 prospect in Cleveland organisation (Baseball America)
rated 9d by Baseball HQ; Sickels: B-
Exhibits exciting power potential and the door seems to be wide open for him in Cleveland. He got a taste of the big time playing in the 2009 WBC and the Futures game. A marginal defender, he has the bat to succeed at corner outfield, though a move to first base in a few years is possible. Travis Hafner leaps to mind as a comparison if all goes well for Weglarz.
He may never hit for average, but his high walk totals should keep his OBP at respectable levels. He may start in AA, though a promotion to AAA shouldn't be long in arriving then a shot at the everyday LF job in spring 2011.
3 Brett Lawrie Burnaby, BC 20- 2b- MILWAUKEE
drafted 2008, 1st round by Brewers
#2 prospect in Milwaukee organisation (Baseball America)
rated 9c by Baseball HQ; Sickels: B+
According to most prospect lists, Lawrie is the best Canadian prospect in the minor leagues, but his lack of pro experience and defensive question marks preclude me from ranking him that high.
A high-school catcher, he asked to be converted to second base after the draft. His pro career was put on hold because of his participation in the 2008 World Junior Championships and the summer Olympics. Lawrie spent the bulk of 2009 in the Midwest league before a brief sojorn in AA Huntsville. It remains to be seen if he will stick at second base, but if not he has the bat to be an asset at third base or corner outfield. He's expected to start 2010 in the Florida State League.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him in Milwaukee this season for a look-see in if the Brewers are out of the race. By 2011 he should be knocking on the door for a full time big league job.
4 Phillipe Aumont Gatineau, PQ 21- rhp- PHILADELPHIA
drafted 2007, 1st round by Mariners
#4 prospect in Seattle organisation (Baseball America)
rated 9d by Baseball HQ; Sickels: B-
A much hyped high-school phenom, his prospect status took a hit when the Mariners converted him to relief. Traded to the Phillies, he looks set to continue on a path to becoming a big league closer. He features a heavy sinker, a four-seamer in the high 90s, and an effective slider. He'll need to improve his command considerably and if/when he does he will be big-league ready. He should start at AA this spring.
5 Tyson Gillies Vancouver, BC 21 OF PHILADELPHIA
drafted 2006, 25th round by Mariners
#8 prospect in Seattle organisation (Baseball America)
rated 8c by Baseball HQ; Sickels: C+
Involved in the Roy Halladay-Cliff Lee trade, along with fellow Canadian Phillipe Aumont. Gillies has been mentioned on a few prospect lists, but remains a sleeper who could be a year away from elite prospect status. It would not surprise me if Gillies turned out to be the class of this list. He has all the skills to become an everyday centerfielder at the top level BaseballHQ notes his above average arm and range.
Though we must temper our enthusiasm due to the Cal League hitter-haven context, Gillies hit .341 with 60 walks/81 strikeouts at High Desert and was 44 of 63 in steal attempts. If he makes enough contact he should be a .290 plus hitter in the majors with walks and a bit of pop.
He'll start at AA Reading, with a possible mid-season promotion to AAA.
6 Rene Tosoni Toronto, ON 23 OF MINNESOTA
drafted 2005, 36th round by Twins
#12 prospect in Minnesota organisation (Baseball America)
rated 8c by Baseball HQ; Sickels: C
Though born in Toronto, Tosoni played high school ball for Coquitlam in the BC Premier League, then went to Chipola JC in Florida before the Twins re-drafted him in 2005.
He doesn't possess outstanding tools, but does everything reasonably well. Scouts expect him to hit for average and he seems like 4th outfielder material at this point. He was one of four Canadians on the 2009 World team in the Futures game.
Tosoni missed most of 2008 with a broken foot but had a bounce-back season at AA New Britain in 2009. With prospects Ben Revere and Aaron Hicks coming up fast, the Twins outfield picture is crowded and I hope that Tosoni isn't the one squeezed out.
7 Cale Iorg Toronto, ON 24 SS DETROIT
drafted 2007, 6th round by Tigers
#13 prospect in Detroit organisation (Baseball America)
rated 7d by Baseball HQ; Sickels: C
Well he WAS born in Canada. Cale is the son of Blue Jays icon Garth Iorg. He played high-school ball in Knoxville and then a year at University of Alabama before leaving on a two-year Mormon mission in Portugal, during which time he played no baseball.
Considering his lack of baseball activity, Iorg has handled the minor leagues well. He put up decent numbers in his first full season in the Florida State League (.251/.329/.405, 35w, 111k, 32xbh in 383 AB), before a down year in AA in 2009 . He has the defensive tools to stick at shortstop, but his hitting approach needs much refinement.
The two years of lost development will be difficult to overcome. Iorg's bat is still several years from being major league ready, so at this point he profiles as a utility infielder of the John McDonald variety.
8 Blake Hawksworth North Vancouver, BC 27 rhp ST.LOUIS
drafted 2001, 28th round by Cardinals
#8 prospect in St.Louis organisation (Baseball America)
rated 8d by Baseball HQ; Sickels: C
Though born north of the border, Hawksworth is a product of Sammamish, Washington.
Once the top prospect in the Cardinals organisation according to Baseball America (2003), Hawksworth's long detour-laden road to the big leagues came to a happy end in 2009 with 40 effective innings in the Cardinals bullpen.
He has a fastball-change-up combo with low 90s heat and good command. There is some speculation that the Cards will try him as a starter, though the likely course for him is to remain a key member of the bullpen in 2010.
9 Taylor Green Comox, BC 23 3b MILWAUKEE
drafted 2005, 25th round by Brewers
#20 prospect in Milwaukee organisation (Baseball America)
rated 7c by Baseball HQ; Sickels: C
Another product of the BC Premier League, Green is one of 5 Canadians ranked among the top 30 Brewers prospects by Baseball America. Green started out at 2B but has since moved to the hot corner.
Green had two excellent years hitting for average and power with very good K/W numbers in A ball, before a wrist injury at the tail end of 2008 sapped his production in 2009. If he rebounds he could move into the top 5 on this list by next season.
10 Chris Leroux Montreal, PQ 25 rhp FLORIDA
drafted 2005, 7th round by Marlins
#18 prospect in Florida organisation (Baseball America)
rated 7c by Baseball HQ; Sickels: C
A converted catcher (to reliever) at Winthrop U., Leroux had TJ surgery just before the 2005 draft. After missing nearly two full seasons, Leroux has put up excellent numbers the last three as a minor league reliever, including 55K/17W and a 2.70 ERA in 60 innings last season at AA Jacksonville. Though blasted in 7 innings with the Marlins, Leroux's fastball/slider combo is good enough to assure him of more trials in the future.
Others to watch:
hitters:
Cole Armstrong, C, 26 (White Sox)
Chris Robinson, C, 25 (Cubs)
Scott Campbell, 3b, 25 (Blue Jays)
Shawn Bowman, 3b, 25 (Mets)
James Van Ostrand, 1b, 25 (Astros)
Chris Dennis, OF, 21 (Brewers)
Wes Darvill, SS, 18 (Cubs)
pitchers:
John Axford, rhp, 27 (Brewers)
R.J. Swindle, lhp, 26 (Rays)
Scott Mathieson, rhp, 26 (Phillies)
Trystan Magnuson, rhp, 24 (Blue Jays)
Scott Diamond, lhp, 23 (Braves)
Phillippe Valiquette, lhp, 23 (Reds)
Alex Periad, rhp, 22 (Brewers)
Kyle Lotzkar, rhp, 20 (Reds)
Nick Bucci, rhp, 19 (Brewers)
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20100405052540728