OTTAWA- The 2014 Major League Baseball season officially opens today with ten Canadians appearing on opening day rosters.
Jesse Crain (Toronto, ON) of the Houston Astros will open the season on the disabled list.
In 2013, 17 Canadians appeared on Opening Day rosters with three of them on the disabled list and 23 Canadians in total played at least one MLB game during the season.
A modern-day record 26 Canadians appeared in the big-leagues in 2011.
The Seattle Mariners lead the way with two Canadians on their 2014 Opening Day roster, while the Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians and Colorado Rockies each have one
LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC) has earned a spot in the Seattle Mariners starting rotation after making his MLB debut last September posting a 3-0 record in four starts. Paxton joins fellow BC native, OF Michael Saunders (Victoria, BC) on the Mariners roster.
Three players on the list will be starting 2014 with a new club as RHP John Axford (Port Dover, ON) joins the Cleveland Indians, RHP Jesse Crain (Toronto, ON) moves back to his home state to pitch for the Houston Astros, and 1B Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) goes to the Mile-High City to play for the Colorado Rockies.
All three players joined their new clubs after signing as free agents during the off-season.
The National League Central division features three Canadian players including former National League MVP 1B Joey Votto (Etobicoke, ON), former All-Star catcher Russell Martin (Montréal, QC) with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers closer RHP Jim Henderson (Calgary, AB).
Here in Canada, 3B Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) is an integral piece of a Toronto Blue Jays team that will look to rebound after finishing fifth in the AL East in 2013.
Canadian born OF Jim Adduci (Burnaby, BC) rounds the list of ten after he cracked the Texas Rangers opening day roster.
In February, RHP Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC), who won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2013, announced that he will not be playing in 2014 due to family and health reasons.
Dempster, who has one year remaining on his contract, was placed on the restricted list shortly after the announcement.
*Disabled List
AL East
Toronto Blue Jays – 3B Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC)
AL Central
Cleveland Indians- RHP John Axford (Port Dover, ON)
AL West
*Houston Astros- RHP Jesse Crain (Toronto, ON)
Seattle Mariners- OF Michael Saunders (Victoria, BC)
Seattle Mariners-LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC)
Texas Rangers-OF Jim Adduci (Burnaby, BC)
NL Central
Cincinnati Reds- 1B Joey Votto (Etobicoke, ON)
Milwaukee Brewers- RHP Jim Henderson (Calgary, AB)
Pittsburgh Pirates- C Russell Martin (Montréal, QC)
NL West
Colorado Rockies- 1B Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC)
