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(Photo: Colorado Rockies)
OTTAWA-With much of Canada still covered in the white stuff and sub-zero temperatures, it seems as if baseball season is still too far off in the distance. There is hope however, as spring training camps are now open across Florida and Arizona.
The 2014 Major League baseball season saw 17 Canadians play in at least one game, which was down from 23 in 2013. A modern-day record 26 Canadians appeared in the big leagues in 2011.
Currently, 21 Canadians are participating in big league spring training as either 40-man roster members or non-roster players with an invite to big league camp.
It was a rough start to spring training for Canadians as it was revealed yesterday that the newest member of the Toronto Blue Jays, Michael Saunders, suffered a torn meniscus and will require surgery that will sideline the Victoria, BC native until sometime around the All-Star break.
Saunders is one of five Canadian players in camp with Canada’s only MLB club joining fellow newcomer Russell Martin (Montréal, QC) along with uber-prospect Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, ON) on the 40-man, while Andrew Albers (North Battleford, SK) and Jeff Francis (Delta, BC) are non-roster invitees. All five players have previously represented Canada in international competition.
Former Blue Jay Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) is now a member of the Oakland Athletics, while reliever John Axford (Port Dover, ON) is trying to earn a spot with the Colorado Rockies after pitching for Cleveland and Pittsburgh in 2014.
Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) is in spring training with the Colorado Rockies for the second consecutive season and enters the 2015 campaign as the defending National League batting champion. Joey Votto (Etobicoke, ON) and the Cincinnati Reds are hoping for a healthy 2015 after the former MVP missed significant time in 2014.
Here is the complete list of Canadians in big league spring training:
* Indicates player on 40-man roster
Blue Jays
*C Russell Martin (Montréal, QC)
*OF Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, ON)
*OF Michael Saunders (Victoria, BC)
LHP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, SK)
LHP Jeff Francis (Delta, BC)
White Sox
RHP Jesse Crain (Toronto, ON)
C George Kottaras (Scarborough, ON)
Indians
RHP Dustin Molleken (Regina, SK)
Tigers
1B Jordan Lennerton (Langley, BC)
Athletics
*Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC)
Luke Carlin (Aylmer, QC)
Mariners
*James Paxton (Ladner, BC)
Phillies
*Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, QC)
Reds
*Joey Votto (Etobicoke, ON)
Brewers
*Jim Henderson (Calgary, AB)
Pete Orr (Newmarket, ON)
Chris Leroux (Mississauga, ON)
Diamondbacks
Jamie Romak (London, ON)
Rockies
*Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC)
John Axford (Port Dover, ON)
Dodgers
Erik Bedard (Navan, ON)
Please note: RHP Jameson Taillon, who represented Canada at the 2013 World Baseball Classic, is in big league camp with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
