The land north of the border is viewed by many as hockey nation. However, not a single Canadian team made the NHL playoffs this past season. That was difficult to swallow, but the Toronto Blue Jays post-season run in MLB certainly brought an entire country together in October 2015. With a 77-59 record, they hold a slim one game lead over the Boston Red Sox, and three over the Baltimore Orioles, in the AL East. With strong September play, they will look to have Canadians up on their feet at the diamond, not just the rink, next month.
Baseball Canada Strong in 2016
It is not just Canada’s team that has excelled this season; many of the players that hail from the Great White North are having noteworthy campaigns as well. The Blue Jays have three Canadians wearing the blue and white after the September call up of Dalton Pompey, but two have been key contributors to Toronto’s success since the season began in April.
Toronto Blue Jays
First-time All-Star Michael Saunders is having a career-year and, given his impending free agent status, is doing so at the right time. His .267 batting average is thirty points above his career average and, in his 110 games played this season, has already set a new career high in home runs with 23. He is also encroaching on a new career high RBI total. He recorded 57 in 2012 as a member of the Seattle Mariners but, with 54 this year and 26 games remaining, should eclipse that total as well.
He has certainly proven himself this season and with another Toronto outfielder hitting the free agent market, it would be a smart move for Mark Shapiro to offer Saunders a new deal. A three-year, $12 million deal seems safe and would allow the team to see if 2016 was a fluke or something he will build on.
The man behind the plate, Russell Martin, has been center stage the past month, having recorded ten home runs and 28 RBI over his last thirty games while batting .294. Over the course of the season, he has reached 17 homers and 64 RBI and, with a strong September, could surpass the career-high home run total of 23 he set last season.
Martin has played in over 1400 career games and the 33-year-old will likely finish his career as a Blue Jay. His bat has been a welcome addition to the lineup since his arrival, but his ability to throw out 47% of base stealers over his illustrious career is even more impressive. His career stat line of .256/158HR/679RBI may not get him into Cooperstown, but someday his name will be proudly represented in St. Mary’s Ontario at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Around the League
Outside of the Blue Jays, there are many other Canadian born talents that traded in their sticks and skates for cleats and bats. Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds is performing at an elite level in 2016, but playing on a team that has under performed has forced it under the radar. He has 22 home runs, 79 RBI, and a nearly-1.000 OPS. He has done all this while maintaining a .312 average. After signing a ten year, $225 million deal with the Reds back in 2014, he is certainly earning his money. Votto has played in over 1200 career games and has a stat line of .311/214HR/711RBI. Of all the current Canadian players, he may have the best chance of being enshrined in Cooperstown when his playing days are over.
The Chicago White Sox have two Canadian players on their squad, with Brett Lawrie and Justin Morneau suiting up in the black and white. Although he has not played since July 21, Lawrie was putting together a decent 2016. The 26-year-old has 12 home runs and 36 RBI this season, and the former 2008 first round pick looked to finally be putting all the pieces together.
Morneau did not sign with Chicago until June 9, but has been a welcome addition to the team. In 42 games, he is batting .260 with five home runs and 19 RBI. The 35-year-old is certainly in his final playing days, but has had an impressive career batting .281. He is also close to reaching career milestones in home runs and RBI currently sitting on 246 and 979 respectfully.
Pitchers
There are two Canadian pitchers worth noting who are pitching at the MLB level. First is Seattle Mariners starter James Paxton. At 27 years old, he is still relatively new to the majors, having only recently surpassed 250 innings. He has put together decent numbers in 2016, with a 3.83 ERA over 91.2 innings while striking out 82. He has struck out 218 in his young career and, although it may be a small sample size, his 3.40 career ERA shows promise.
The other is long-time reliever, and former closer, John Axford of the Oakland Athletics. The 33-year-old may have an elevated ERA of 4.64 in 2016, compared to his career 3.65, but is still pitching at a strikeout-per-inning-level, which all teams hope to have from their bullpen. In 438.1 innings he has registered 507 strikeouts. Back in 2011, as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers recorded 46 saves in 48 opportunities. Like Martin and Morneau, his numbers will not get him into Cooperstown; however, expect him at an induction ceremony in St. Mary’s at some point down the road.
The Blue Jays have rejuvenated baseball in Canada and, with players like Martin, Saunders, and Votto stepping up around the league, the nation should be proud and excited about Canadian contributions to the league this season and for many to come.
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