The Blue Jays, as an organization, took a big step on Tuesday, and it had little to do with a 9-0 rout of the Texas Rangers.
Instead, the Jays drafted some Canadian talent, and they didn't wait until the 22nd round to do it.
Clearly, our country has put some impressive talent on the field in recent years. Justin Morneau has become one of the best players in the American League; Russ Martin is an All-Star catcher. Joey Votto will earn some MVP votes in 2009. And Jason Bay has made Red Sox Nation forget Manny.
Of course, none of these men play for the Blue Jays. Nor do any of the top Canadian prospects in baseball right now. Nick Weglarz (Cleveland), Michael Saunders (Seattle), Phillippe Aumont (Seattle) and Brett Lawrie (Milwaukee) are all employed elsewhere.
The Jays intend to change that.
With the 37th choice in Tuesday's draft, Toronto selected a left-handed pitcher from British Columbia named James Paxton. In the second round, they chose Newmarket, Ontario's Jake Eliopoulos. Paxton is a client of Scott Boras, so excessive bonus demands may be an issue, and Eliopoulos is a raw talent short on experience. Still, the Jays were unfazed.
And that's good news.
Les McTavish, head coach at the Vauxhall Academy in Alberta, watched three of his own players get drafted by other organizations (Edmonton's Steven Inch by the Phillies; Stony Plain, Alberta's Adam Nelubowich by the Mariners; Glace Bay, Nova Scotia's Brandon Petite by the Astros). Yet he was downright aglow at Toronto's selections.
McTavish's point was simple. If the Blue Jays can develop their own home-grown star, it would serve as a huge shot in the arm to Canadian baseball.
Eliopoulos told the Toronto Sun's Bob Elliott that getting selected by the team he'd grown up watching was "a dream come true."
Here's a tip of the cap to the Blue Jays for making it happen.
