Guerrero, J. Naylor, O`Neill, Young, Clapp lead Canuck award haul
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) during a game last spring.
Guerrero, J. Naylor, O`Neill, Young, Clapp lead Canuck award haul
By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
Putting together some details on the amazing 2018 season Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) had in the Blue Jays system, including the awards won plus other recognition and honours received since the end of his season, we discovered just what a great year it was for Canadians in the Minors.
Guerrero’s listing of postseason awards and honours is quite impressive. The thought came to mind, that it might be worthwhile to compile a similar inventory for other Canadians who enjoyed a successful 2018, which resulted in them also receiving postseason recognition.
Included below are details re players and the 2018 awards or honours ... a total of 54 for 22 Canadians and while I think the list is pretty comprehensive, I don’t doubt there are others which I’m have not yet discovered.
Reviewing this list and considering the limited number of Canadians who were active (114) in the minor leagues last year, and based on the volume and quality of these awards or honours, I think it’s safe to say that Canadian players are certainly having a positive impact on the game at this level.
Minor Leagues - 2018 Canadian Award Winners
Andrew Albers, Orix Blue Wave (2)
Japan Pacific League FGN Postseason All Star Team ( LHP )
Canadian Baseball Network Indy/Foreign League’s Pitcher of the Year
Jordan Balazovic, Twins (1)
MiLB.com Ranked No. 30 on Minnesota Twins Top 30 Prospects List
Sebastien Boucher (1)
Can Am League IND Postseason All Star Team (DH )
Windsor Selects grad Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.)
Stubby Clapp, Cardinals (3)
Pacific Coast League AAA Manager of the Year
Pacific Coast League AAA Manager Postseason All Star Team
Baseball America Minor League Manager of the Year
Vlad Guerrero, Jr. (17)
Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year
Baseball America All Minor League All Star Team (3B )
USA Today Minor League Player of the Year
YAHOO Sports Minor League Player of the Year
ESPN.com (Keith Law) Minor League Prospect of the Year
MLB Pipeline Minor League Player of the Year
MLB Pipeline Minor League Hitter of the Year
MLB Pipeline All Minor League Prospect Team of the Year (3B)
Canadian Baseball Network Minor League Offensive Player of the Year
MiLB.com Toronto Blue Jays Organization - Minor League All Star (3B)
MiLB.com Ranked No. 1 on Toronto Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects List
MiLB.com The Toolshed All Minor League All Star Team (3B)
Offthebenchbaseball.com All Minor League All Star Team (3B)
CalltothePen.com Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Hitter of the Year
Eastern League AA Postseason All Star Team (3B)
Guerrero after his walk-off homer in Montreal what was for many Jays fans the No. 1 highlight of the season.
MiLBYs Top Offensive Player in the Minor Leagues
Arizona Fall League Postseason All Star Team (3B)
Adam Hall, Orioles (2)
MiLB.com Baltimore Orioles Organization - Minor League All Star (SS)
MiLB.com Ranked No. 28 on Baltimore Orioles Top 30 Prospects List
Otto Lopez, Blue Jays (1)
Northwest League A Postseason All Star Team ( OF )
Ontario Blue Jays Josh Naylor (Toronto, Ont.)
Josh Naylor, Padres (4)
Texas League AA Postseason All Star Team (OF)
FriarsonBase.com (Michael Black) San Diego Padres - Minor League All Star (1B)
MiLB.com San Diego Padres Organization - Minor League All Star (OF)
MiLB.com Ranked No.15 on San Diego Padres Top 30 Prospects List
Noah Naylor, Indians (1)
MiLB.com Ranked No.4 on Cleveland Indians Top 30 Prospects List
Tyler O’Neill, Cardinals (4)
Baseball America All Triple A Minor League All Star Team (OF)
Pacific Coast League AAA Postseason All Star Team (OF)
St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year
MiLB.com St. Louis Cardinals Organization - Minor League All Star (OF)
Former Ontario Blue Jay INF Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.)
Daniel Pinero, Tigers (1)
MiLB.com Detroit Tigers Organization - Minor League All Star (3B)
Tristan Pompey, Marlins (1)
MiLB.com Ranked No.16 on Miami Marlins Top 30 Prospects List
Zach Pop, Orioles (1)
MiLB.com Ranked No. 26 on Baltimore Orioles Top 30 Prospects List
Cal Quantrill, Padres (1)
MiLB.com Ranked No.11 on San Diego Padres Top 30 Prospects List
Ontario Blue Jays and Windsor Selects grad Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.)
Jacob Robson, Tigers (2)
MiLB.com Ranked No.18 on Detroit Tigers Top Thirty Prospects List
CalltothePen.com Runner Up as Detroit Tigers Minor League Hitter of the Year
Jamie Romak, SK Wyverns (1)
Canadian Baseball Network Indy/Foreign League’s Offensive Player of the Year
Jordan Romano, Blue Jays (3)
Canadian Baseball Network Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Eastern League AA Postseason All Star Team (RHP)
MiLB.com Ranked No.25 on Texas Rangers Top 30 Prospects List
Michael Soroka, Braves (1)
MiLB.com Ranked No.1 on Atlanta Braves Top 30 Prospects List
ABC grad Abraham Toro (Longueuil Que.)
Abraham Toro, Astros (1)
MiLB.com Ranked No.22 on Houston Astros Top 30 Prospects List
Rowan Wick, Padres (1)
FriarsonBase.com (Michael Black) San Diego Padres - Minor League All Star (RP)
Andrew Yerzy,, Diamondbacks (2)
Northwest League A Postseason All Star Team (DH)
MiLB.com Ranked No.15 on Arizona Diamondbacks Top 30 Prospects List
Okanagan Athletics grad Jared Young (Prince George, BC)
Jared Young, Cubs (3)
Chicago Cubs Minor League Player of the Year
MiLB.com Chicago Cubs Organization - Minor League All Star (1B)
CalltothePen.com Chicago Cubs Minor League Hitter of the Year