Cruz, Pompey underway in Indy ball
Former Rice Owl and 2020 Detroit Tigers draft pick Trei Cruz (Toronto, Ont.) is playing in the Constellation Energy League since there aren’t any minor league teams. Photo: Rice University Athletics
By George Farelli and Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
The first Canadian-born player to see pro action was none other than Trei Cruz, son of former major leaguer Jose Cruz.
Cruz, drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the third round (73rd overall) made his debut with the Eastern Reyes del Tigre in independent Constellation Energy League. Managed by Dave Eiland, 2B Cruz was hitless in a 10-4 win over Team Texas.
The Tigers gave Cruz a $900,000 signing bonus. While it is unusual for a player to make his debut in an independent league, these are not usual times.
Also making his debut and batting lead off with Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) in an 8-5 Sugar Land Lightning Sloths loss to the Sugar Land Skeeters.
Former Blue Jays Cy Young award winner Roger Clemens and his son Koby Clemens are managing the Texas team.
While the Frontier League didn’t get off the ground, like a lot of others … some leagues have made headway and are on the diamond
American Association, which is running a six-team circuit based in three stadium markets: OF Michael Crouse (Port Moody, BC) of the Chicago Dogs, INF Wes Darvill (Richmond, BC), LHP Evan Grills, (Whitby, Ont.) RHP Dylan Rheault, Garson, Ont.) and INF Eric Wood, (Pickering, Ont.) all of the Winnipeg Goldeyes
Constellation Energy League: Has former Blue Jays pick Pompey and Tigers pick Cruz.
Pecos League: Zero Canadians are active with any of the four teams.
Atlantic League: A little bit of this, a little of that. The Lancaster Barnstormers will play possible games against the York Revolution. The Somerset Patriots will have a two-team, 12-game league” to play on Fridays and Saturdays during the rest of the summer (starting July 17, 2020). All games will be in Somerset, NJ against the New Jersey Blasters. The York Revolution will play a series of games against Lancaster. The High Point Rockers, Long Island Ducks, and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will not operate.
United Shore Pro Baseball League: Unable to confirm if any Canadians are involved in this league.
Due to the COVID-19 virus, some leagues will not play, some will have shortened seasons regular seasons.
Quebec league: Hopes for a four-team league -- two clubs in Quebec City and two in Trois-Rivieres -- made up 100% Canadians was not able to get off the ground.
Frontier League: Will not play after merging with the after the Can-Am League. The Florence Freedom will join up with the Lexington Legends (scheduled to be the Class-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals until the minor-league season was cancelled, Gateway Grizzlies plan to play, the Joliet Slammers will play a 27-game, four-team “City of Champions Cup” tournament with former Frontier League and free agents from minor league teams, the Joliet Slammers, Joliet Tully Monsters, Chicago Deep Dish, and NERDS® Herd.
The Evansville Otters, Lake Erie Crushers, Quebec Capitales, Trois-Rivieres Schaumburg Boomers, Southern Illinois Miners and Windy City Thunderbolts will not play.
Pacific Association: No formal announcement yet.
Empire Professional League: No formal announcement yet.
All in all that is a lot of lost jobs.