By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
Under the dream scenario everyone would have shown.

Now, the start of the fourth World Baseball Classic can’t come soon enough.

Will Ernie Whitt and Greg Hamilton have to pick up hitch hikers on the way to Miami and Marlins Park?

Eight-year veteran reliever John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) has bowed out joining former No. 1 picks LHP Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC) and C Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC), who were scratched from the original roster.  

RP Jesen Dygestile-Therrien, 23 (Montreal, Que.) takes over for Axford, 33; LHP Ryan Kellogg, 23, (Whitby, Ont.) replaces Loewen, 32, and C Mike Reeves, 26, (Peterborough, Ont.) takes over for the injured Delgan, 24.
  
Dygestile-Therrien was 3-3 with a 2.59 ERA and four saves at three stops in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He pitched at Double-A Reading-AA, Class-A Clearwater and the Rookie-Class Gulf Coast Phillies.

The deep end of the pool keeps getting deeper.

Canada, which entered the year as the No. 8th ranked country in the world, will have to impress in Miami to gain any points in the standings.

Deglan, a former No. 1 pick by the Texas Rangers, was injured, so now management has turned to Reeves of the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Loewen has a chance to make the Texas Rangers bullpen and make it back to the majors. The major league minimum is $535,000 US this year. Members of the winning team each received about $121,000 four years ago. However, for players with the eight teams eliminated -- which could be Canada -- the amount was roughly $5,500 US. What would you do?

At the annual Baseball Canada banquet a month ago Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) was looking forward to playing shortstop at the WBC in Miami. The Toronto Blue Jays catcher had been cleared to play despite the fact he had post-season surgery, unlike four years ago when both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Canucks did not want him risking injury by playing up the middle.

Now, there are insurance problems with Martin’s contract for WBC play, due to a 2016 injury and the end-of-season knee surgery. Martin is the Jays highest-paid player and will earn $20 million US this year, year III of his five year deal given him by president Paul Beeston and GM Alex Anthopoulos. Including this season he is owed $60 million his final three years.  

Meanwhile, outfielder Michael Saunders (Victoria, BC) said he would play as long as he was a free agent. Free-agent Saunders signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.  

While Martin will attend the games and watch, Jonathan Malo (Joliette, Que.) of the Quebec Capitales of the independent Can Am League and rangy Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) a June 2016 draft by the Detroit Tigers will vie for time at short.

Since Saunders and Martin are not available the Canada lineup goes from five players who appeared in the majors in 2016, to three: Freddie Freeman (Fountain Valley, Calif.), both of his parents are Canadians, Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) and Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.).

Morneau had 218 at-bats in 58 games with the Chicago White Sox, while Pompey had two at-bats with the Blue Jays. Morneau is looking for a job and Pompey while employed by the Jays has yet to find a spot on the 2017 Toronto roster. Freeman was an every day player playing in 158 games and finishing ahead of Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) in the NL MVP voting.

Canada competes in Miami from March 9-12 in the same pool as the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Team USA. We’re hearing Canada is leaning toward RHP Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC), who came out of retirement to pitch will face the Dominican and Phillies prospect Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) will face Columbia. 

In the first three WBC events Canada has gone 3-5, becoming the first team not to advance to the second round despite a winning record (2-1) losing on run differential in 2006 at Phoenix. Three years later Canada lost an exciting game to Team USA and was upset by Italy. And four years ago Canada lost to Italy, beat Mexico and lost a late lead to Team USA.
 
Martin can’t be faulted for not being active this time. He was excited to play a month ago. Now, depending upon who you talk to either the insurance underwriter would not provide coverage or the WBC (MLB and the Players Association) would not pay the high premium. Either way the WBC should have given a yes or no long before the January banquet.

Eric Gagne (Magouche, Que.) has also dusted off the rust. Veterans Chris Leroux (Mississauga, Ont.), Scott Richmond (North Vancouver, BC) are on the roster, along with relievers who pitched in the majors last season: Jim Henderson (Calgary, Alta.) Dustin Molleken (Regina, Sask.) and LHP Kevin Champman, whose father is from Toronto making him eligible and former major leaguer Scott Mathieson (Vancouver, BC) who pitched in Japan. 

George Kottaras (Scarborough, Ont.) will be behind the plate with either Morneau or Freeman at first, Peter Orr, who did not play last year, at second, Jamie Romak, who played in Japan last season at third and Malo or Pinero at short.

OF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC), 21, Baseball America’s double-A player of the year will be in the outfield with Rene Tosoni, who played Indy ball and Pompey.

Hamilton and Whitt hope that there aren’t any more defections before Canada works out Monday March 6 at Dunedin.

Next, Canada will play the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday in Dunedin and the New York Yankees in Tampa on Wednesday. And on Thursday Canada opens against the Dominican in Miami.

Pitchers
LHP Andrew Albers, 31, North Battleford, Sask.
Drafted 10 round, 2008 from University of Kentucky by Padres.
Organization: Atlanta Braves.

2016 Twins
Twins W-L ERA G IP BB SO
0-0 5.82 6 17.0 6 16

Rochester-AAA

W-L ERA G IP BB SO    
10-6 3.69 21 124.1 30 84

Majors: Three seasons with Twins and Jays: 2-5 won-loss record 4.41 ERA, 15 walks, 42 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings.    

Minors: In six seasons with rookie class Arizona League Padres, Gulf coast League Twins, Quebec-IND,  class-A Fort Myers, double-A New Britain, triple-A Rochester, Buffalo, Lancaster-IND; 41-27 won-loss record, 3.24 ERA, 137 walks, 488 strikeouts in 610 2/3 innings.

In Korea: With Hanwha Eagles 6-13, 5.89 in 28 games, with 40 walks and 107 strikeouts in 151 1/3 innings.

LHP Kevin Chapman, 28, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round from University of Florida in 2010.
Organization: Houston Astros.

2016 Astros
W-L ERA G IP BB SO
0-0 9.00 9 8.0 4 6

2016 Fresno-AAA
W-L ERA G IP BB SO
3-4 4.87 51 61.0 27 76
    
Majors: Parts of four seasons with the Astros 3-1, 4.09 ERA, one save, in 58 games, 31 walks, 48 strikeouts in 55 innings.

Minors: Pitched seven seasons at Class-A Wilmington, double-A Northwest Arkansas, Corpus Christi, triple-A Oklahoma City, Fresno with a 17-17 record, a 3.82 ERA in 291 games with 182 walks and 431 strikeouts in 346 2/3 innings. 

LHP Shane Dawson, 23, Drayton Valley, Alta.
Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 17th round from the Prairie Baseball Academy in 2012.
Organization: Toronto Blue Jays

2016 New Hampshire-AA
W-L ERA G IP BB SO
10-4 4.22 26 134.1 72 95    

Minors: Pitched five seasons for rookie-class Blue Jays, Bluefield, class-A Vancouver, class-A Lansing, Dunedin, double-A New Hampshire going 32-20 with a 3.44 ERA in 85 games walking 148 and fanning 357 in 394 2/3 innings.

RHP Ryan Dempster, 39 Gibsons, BC.
Drafted in third round by the Texas Rangers in 1995 draft. 
Organization: Chicago Cubs

2016 Assistant to Cubs GM Jed Hoyer and president Theo Epstein, partook in four champagne celebrations. 
W-L ERA G IP BB SO
Has not pitched since Game 1 of World Series, Oct. 23, 2013. Canada’s first pre-season game is March 7, 2017 -- 1,201 days. He will be well rested

Majors: Pitched 16 seasons with the Cubs, Marlins, Reds, Red Sox and Rangers, 132-133, 4.35 ERA, in 579 games, 1,071 walks, 2,075 strikeouts in 2,387 innings.

Minors: Pitched in eight seasons at Rookie-class Gulf Coast Rangers, class-A Hudson Valley, Charleston, Kane County, Brevard County Lansing; double-A Portland, triple-A Charlotte, Iowa 33-29 with 3.75 ERA in 96 games with 193 walks and 471 strikeouts in 539 1/3 innings.

RP Jesen Dygestile-Therrien, 23, Montreal, Que. 
Drafted in the 17th round from the ABC by the Philadelphia Phillies, 2011.
Organization: Philadelphia Phillies.

2016 Reading-AA, Clearwater-A, Gulf Coast Phillie-Rookie
W-L ERA G S IP BB SO
3-3 2.59 39 4 55.2 27 76

Minors: Five seasons at Rookie-Class Gulf Coast Phillies, class-A Lakewood, Williamsport, Clearwater, double-A Reading; 14-12 won-loss 3.64 ERA, 109 walks, 244 strikeouts in 269 1/3 innings.

RP Eric Gagne, 41, Mascouche, Que.
Signed by Los Angeles Dodgers as free agent in 1995 pitching for Canada at the Atlanta Olympic qualifier.

2016 Ottawa-IND
W-L ERA G IP BB SO
0-0 1.80 1 5.0 0 6    

Majors: Pitched 10 years with the Dodgers, Rangers, Brewers, Red Sox with a 33-26 record, 3.47 ERA and 187 saves in 402 games, 226 walks, 718 strikeouts in 643 2/3 innings.

Minors: Pitched nine seasons at class-A Savannah, Vero Beach, double-A San Antonio, Frisco, triple-A Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Nashville, IND Quebec, Trois-Rivieres, Ottawa 42-25, 3.89 ERA in 116 games with 235 walks and 219 strikeouts in 624 1/3 innings. 

RP Jim Henderson, Calgary, Alta.
Drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 26th round from Tennessee Wesleyan in 2003.
Organization: Free agent.

2016 Mets
W-L ERA G IP BB SO
2-2 4.11 44 35.0 14 40

2016 Las Vegas-AAA
W-L ERA G IP BB SO
0-2 4.50 8 8.0 4 10        

Majors: Four seasons with the Brewers and Mets, 10-11 won-loss record, 3.61 ERA, 55 walks, 177 strikeouts in 137 innings.

Minors: 14 seasons at rookie-class Gulf Expos, Arizona League Brewers, class-A Vermont, Potomac, Wisconsin, Brevard County, St. Lucie, double-A Savannah, Tennessee, Huntsville, Biloxi, Binghamton, triple-A Iowa, Nashville, Colorado Springs, Las Vegas, 41-41 record, 4.00    ERA, 298 walks, 556 strikeouts in 688 2/3 innings.

LHP Ryan Kellogg, 23, Whitby, Ont. 
Drafted 5th round, 2012 from Arizona State by Chicago Cubs.
Organization: Chicago Cubs.

2016 South Bend-A
W-L ERA G IP BB SO    
9-7 3.03 24 130.2 26 107      

Minors: In two seasons rookie class Eugene, class-A South Bend 9-8 won-loss record, 3.31 ERA, 34 walks, 121 strikeouts in 152 1/3 innings.

RHP Chris Leroux, 32, Mississauga, Ont.
Drafted by the Florida Marlins in the seventh round Winthrop University in 2005.
Organization: Free agent.

2016 Buffalo-AAA
W-L ERA G IP BB SO
8-11 4.87 26 140.1 46 93     

Majors: Parts of six seasons with the Pirates, Yankees and Marlins going 1-3, 6.03 ERA in 65 games walking 35 and striking out 66 in 71 2/3 innings.

Minors: In 10 seasons at Rookie-class Gulf Coast Marlins Yankees 2 Gulf Coast, class-A Jamestown, Greensboro, Jupiter, Bradenton, double-A Jacksonville, Altoona, Reading, triple-A New Orleans, Indianapolis, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Lehigh Valley, Colorado Springs, Buffalo with a 43-47 record and a 4.07 ERA with five saves in 4.61 games walking 230 and striking out 584 in 689 2/3 innings.

RP Scott Mathieson, 32, Aldergrove, BC
Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 17th round of the 2002 amateur draft from the Langley Blaze.
Organization: Yomiuri Giants. 

2016 Yomiuri
W-L ERA S G IP BB SO
8-4 2.36 1 70 80.0 22 98
    
Majors: Three seasons with the Phillies 1-4, 6.75 ERA in 15 games, 21 walks, 34 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Minors: Rookie-class Phillies, class-A Batavia, Lakewood, double-A Reading, triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Lehigh Valley going 32-37, 3.75 ERA in 201 games, 234 walks, 646 strikeouts in 648 1/3 innings.

In Japan: Five seasons, 21-20, 2.32 ERA in 300 games with 95 walks and 353 strikeouts in 306 2/3 innings.     

RP Dustin Molleken, 32, Regina, Sask. 
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Prairie Baseball Academy in the 15th round in 2003.
Organization: Detroit Tigers.

2016 Tigers
W-L ERA G IP BB SO
0-0 4.32 4 8.1 5 8    

2016 Toledo-AAA
W-L ERA S G IP BB SO
2-4 3.58 1 42 60.1 30 56

Majors: Pitched in the majors one season with the Tigers 0-0, 4.32 ERA in four games with five walks, eight strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.

Minors: Pitched 13 seasons at Rookie-class Gulf Coast Pirates; class-A Williamsport, State College, Hickory, Lynchburg, double-A Altoona, Tulsa, triple-A Colorado Springs, Nashville, Columbus, Toledo, going 40-29 with a 4.64 ERA in 365 games with 238 walks and 588 strikeouts in 651 1/3 innings.

In Japan: Pitched two seasons for Nippon Ham Fighters going 2-1, 3.38 ERA in 28 games with 10 walks, 23 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings.

      
RHP Nick Pivetta, 23, Victoria, BC
Drafted in the fourth round by the Washington Nationals in 2013 from New Mexico Junior
Organization: Philadelphia Phillies.

2016 Reading-AA, Lehigh Valley-AAA
W-L ERA G IP BB SO
12-8 3.27 27 148.2 51 138

Minors: Pitched four seasons at Rookie class Gulf Coast Nationals, class-A Auburn, Hagerstown, Potomac, double-A Harrisburg, Reading, triple-A Lehigh Valley going 35-25, 3.72 ERA in 87 games, 160 walks, 364 strikeouts in 444 2/3 innings.

RHP Scott Richmond, 37, North Vancouver, BC
Signed by the Blue Jays after pitching for the independent Edmonton Cracker-Cats.
Organization: Fubon Guardians, Taiwan.

2016 EDA Rhinos
W-L ERA G IP BB SO
9-8 4.78 29 152.2 61 117

Majors: Four seasons with the Jays going 9-14 with a 5.27 ERA in 36 games with 61 walks and 139 strikeouts in 169 innings.

Minors: 11 seasons pitching with Edmonton and Wichita-IND, class-A Dunedin, double-A New Hampshire, Round Rock, triple-A Syracuse, Las Vegas, combining for a 63-76 record with a 5.05 ERA, 12 saves in 258 games, with 374 walks and 884 strikeouts in 1,115 2/3 innings.

Taiwan: 9-8 with a 4.78 ERA in 29 starts with 61 walks and 117 strikeouts for the EDA Rhinos.   

RP Rowan Wick, 24, North Vancouver, BC
Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth round Cypress College in 2012 draft.
Organization: Cardinals.
 
2016 Palm Beach-A, Springfield-AA
W-L ERA G S IP BB SO
2-0 2.44 44 6 44.1 20 57

Minors: In two seasons on the mound  at rookie-class Cardinals, class-A Palm Beach, double-Springfield 2-1, 2.72 ERA, six saves, in 47 games with 2 walks, 58 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings and five seasons at the plate which included additional stops at class-A Johnson City, State College and Peoria 194 games, 670 at-bats, 37 doubles, six triples, 34 homers, 119 RBIs, .248 average and .802 OPS.

Catchers    
George Kottaras, 33, Markham, Ont.
Drafted 20th round, 2002 from Connors State College by Padres.
Organization: Free agent.

2016 Triple-A Sacramento/Gwinnett
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS    
41 109 15 19 2 14 .174 .565

Majors: 7 years with the Brewers, Red Sox, Royals, Indians, Cardinals, Blue Jays and A’s, 313 games, 722 at-bats, 155 hits, 40 doubles, three doubles, 32 homers, 101 RBIs, .215 average .737 OPS.

Minors: 11 seasons at Rookie-class Idaho Falls, at class-A Fort Wayne and Lake Elsinore, double-A Mobile, triple-A Portland, Pawtucket, Nashville, Columbus, Buffalo, Charlotte, Sacramento and Gwinnett; 699 games, 2,383 at-bats, 627 hits, 150 doubles, five triples, 84 homers, 362 RBIs, .263 average, .800 OPS.

Mike Reeves, 26, Peterborough, Ont.
Drafted 21st round from Florida Gulf College by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Organization: Toronto Blue Jays.

2016 Class-A Dunedin (Jays)
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS    
53 164 23 40 3 16 .244 .713

Minors: 4 seasons at class-A Vancouver, Lansing,  Dunedin, 264 games, 1,977 at-bats, 185 hits, 27 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 78 RBIs, .232 average, .625 OPS. 

Infielders
1B Freddie Freeman, 27, Fountain Valley, Calif. 
Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the second round from Orange, Calif. HS in 2007.
Organization: Braves.

2016 Braves
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS    
158 589 102 178 34 91 .302 .968

Majors: Seven years with the Braves playing 909 games with 3,298 games, 206 doubles, 14 triples, 138 homers, 515 RBIs, .288 average and .857 OPS.

Minors: Six seasons at Rookie-class Gulf Coast Braves, class-A Rome, Myrtle Beach, double-A Mississippi, triple-A Gwinnett playing 432 games with 1,609 at-bats, 105 doubles, nine triples, 51 homers, 277 RBIs, .302 average, .837 OPS. 

INF Jonathan Malo, 33, Joliette, Que.
Drafted in the 48th round by the New York Mets from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in 2003. 
2016 Quebec-IND
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS    
93 364 65 103 6 42 .283 .749

Minors: Played 12 seasons at class-A Brooklyn, St. Lucie, double-A Binghamton, triple-A Buffalo, Quebec-IND playing in 1,108 games with 3,745 at-bats along with 173 doubles, 24 triples, 65 homers and 437 RBIs, batting .258 with a .709 OPS. 

DH-1B Justin Morneau, 35, New Westminster, BC
Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the third round from the North Delta Blue Jays in 1999.
Organization: Free agent

2016 White Sox
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS    
58 203 16 53 6 25 .261 .731

Majors: Played 14 with the Twins, Rockies, Pirates and White Sox appearing in 1,545 games with 5,699 at-bats, 349 doubles, 23 triples, 247 homers, 985 RBIs, .281 average and an .828 OPS.

Minors: Played 10 seasons with the Rookie-class Gulf Coast Twins, Elizabethton, class-A Quad Cities, Fort Myers, double-A New Britain, Birmingham, triple-A Rochester, Colorado Springs, Charlotte in 512 games with 1,942 at-bats, with 128 doubles, 12 triples, 90 homers, 384 RBIs and a .312 average with a .908 OPS.

1B Josh Naylor, 19, Mississauga, Ont.
Drafted by the Miami Marlins in the first round (12th over-all) in 2015.
Organization: San Diego Padres

2016 Greensboro-A, Lake Elsinore-A  
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS    
122 481 59 127 12 75 .264 .710

Minors: Has played two seasons at rookie-class Gulf Coast Marlins, class-A Greensboro and Lake Elsinore, appearing in 147 games with 579 at-bats, 33 doubles, three triples, 13 homers, 91 RBIs, a .275 average and a .720 OPS.

2B Peter Orr, 37, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Signed by the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent in 1999 from the Ontario Blue Jays.
Organization: Scout, Milwaukee Brewers.

2016
Did not play.

Majors: Played eight years in 443 games with 689 at-bats, with 24 doubles, eight triples, three homers and 46 RBIs, battling .257 with a .617 OPS.

Minors: Played 14 seasons at class-A Jamestown, Myrtle Beach, double-A Greenville, triple-A Richmond, Columbus, Syracuse, Lehigh Valley, Nashville, Colorado Springs playing 1,320 games with 4,598 at-bats, 201 doubles, 67 triples, 54 homers, 461 RBIs, 221 stolen bases.

Daniel Pinero, Toronto, Ont.
Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 9th round of the 2016 draft.
Organization: Detroit Tigers.

2016 A-Connecticut, Gulf Coast
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS    
50 166 26 45 2 22 .271 .750 

Minors: One season at Rookie-Class Gulf Coast, class-A Connecticut 50 games, 166 at-bats, 26 runs, 45 hits, eight doubles, one triple, two homers, 22 RBIs, .750 OPS.

3B Jamie Romak, 31, London, Ont. 
Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round from the London Badgers in 2003.
Organization: San Diego Padres.

2016 Yokohama, Japan
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS    
30 71 7 8 0 2 .113 .374    

Majors: Played two seasons with the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks appearing in 27 games with three doubles, four RBIs hitting .167 with .481 OPS.

Minors: Appeared in 13 seasons at rookie-class Gulf Coast Braves, Danville, Rome, class-A Hickory, Lynchburg, Wilmington, double-A Altoona, Northwest Arkansas, Springfield, triple-A Omaha, Memphis, Albuquerque, Reno playing 1,258 games with 4,447 at-bats, 295 doubles, 17 triples, 200 homers, 749 RBIs, batting .255 with an .808 OPS.  

3B Eric Wood, 24, Oshawa, Ont.
Drafted the Pittsburgh Pirates in the sixth round from Blinn College Buccaneers in 2012. 

2016 Altoona-AA
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS
118 402 63 100 16 .249 .782    

Minors: Five seasons at Rookie-Class Gulf Coast Pirates, class-A State College, West Virginia, Bradenton, double-A Altoona playing 471 games with 88 doubles, 16 triples, 31 homerrs, 203 RBIs, a .255 batting average and a .714 OPS.

Outfielders

Michael Crouse, New Westminster, BC
Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 16th round of the 2008 draft.
Organization: Free agent.

2016 New Britain/Lancaster-IND
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS    
125 453 74 130 10 67 .287 .783

Minors: Played seven seasons Rookie-class Blue Jays, class-A Lansing, Dunedin, double-A New Hampshire and Lancaster and New Britain in the independent Atlantic League combining for 672 games, 2,311 at-bats, 582 hits, 123 doubles, 29 triples, 67 homers, 307 RBIs, 201 stolen bases, .252 average, .755 OPS.  

LF Tyler O’Neill, 21, Maple Ridge, BC
Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the third round in 2013 from the Langley Blaze.
Organization: Mariners.

2016 Jackson-AA
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS    
130 492 68 144 24 102 .293 .882

Minors: Four seasons at rookie-class Arizona League Mariners, class-A Everett, Clinton, Bakersfield, double-A Jackson playing in 333 games with 1,260 at-bats, 66 doubles, nine triples, 73 homers, 249 RBIs, with a .277 average and a .867 OPS.            

CF Dalton Pompey, 24, Mississauga, Ont.
Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 16th round from the Oakville Royals in 2010.
Organization: Blue Jays.

2016 Blue Jays
G AB R H HR RBI SB BA OPS    
8 2 3 0 0 0 2 .000 .000

2016 Buffalo-AAA
G AB R H HR RBI SB BA OPS    
93 337 48 91 4 28 18 .270 .702

Majors: Parts of three seasons with the Jays playing 59 games having 135 at-bats with nine doubles, two triples, three homers, 10 RBIs, a .222 average and a .676 OPS.

Minors: Played seven seasons with Rookie-class Gulf Coast Blue Jays Blue Jays, Bluefield, class-A Vancouver, Lansing, Dunedin, double-A New Hampshire, triple-A Buffalo  playing 508 games with 1,945 at-bats, 81 doubles, 31 triples, 33 homers, 189 RBIs, .281 average and a .773 OPS.

 
OF Rene Tosoni, 30, Port Coquitlam, BC
Drafted by the Minnesota Twins from Chipola College in the 36th in 2005.
Organization: Sugar Land. 

2016 Sugar Land-IND
G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS    
94 356 49 107 7 41 .301 .847

Majors: Played one season with the Twins in 60 games with 172 at-bats, with seven doubles, a triple, five homers, 22 RBIs, a .203 average and a .618 OPS.     

Minors: Playing seven seasons at rookie-class Elizabethton, Gulf Coast Twins, class-A Beloit, Fort Myers, double-A New Britain, Huntsville, triple-A  Rochester, IND Sioux City, Sugar Land playing seven seasons in 577 games with 2,044 at-bats, 102 doubles, 17 triples, 45 homers, 250 RBIs, .257 average, .728 OPS.     

Not playing

1B Joey Votto, Etobicoke, Ont., Cincinnati Reds
C Russell Martin, Montreal, Que., Toronto Blue Jays
INF Brett Lawrie, Langley, BC, Chicago White Sox
RP John Axford, Port Dover, Ont., Oakland A's

LHP James Paxton, Ladnner, BC, Seattle Marinenrs
RHP Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, Tex., Pittsburgh Pirates
OF Michael Saunders, Victoria, BC, Philadelphia Phillies

LHP Rob Zastryzny, Edmonton, Alta., Chicago Cubs
LHP Adam Loewen, Texas Rangers
LHP Scott Diamond, Guelph, Ont., SK Wyverns, Korea  
C Jordan Deglin, Surry, BC, New York Yankees organization

LHP Evan Grills, Whitby, Ont., Colorado Rockies organization
RHP Mike Soroka, Calgary, Alta. Atlanta Braves organization
SS Sean Jamieson, Simcoe, Ont., Arizona Diamondbacks