Kirwer, LeBlanc, Sabrowski, Taylor selected in Rule 5 minor league draft

Sherwood Park Dukes alum Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was selected by the Seattle Mariners from the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization in the Rule 5 minor league draft on Wednesday. Photo: Vancouver Canadians

December 8, 2021

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Four Canadians were selected in the Minor League Rule 5 draft on Wednesday.

The Toronto Blue Jays lost two Canucks when Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was chosen by the Seattle Mariners and right-hander Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, BC) was taken by the Washington Nationals.

Meanwhile, outfielder Charles LeBlanc (Laval, Que.) was selected by the Miami Marlins from the Texas Rangers’ organization and left-hander Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) was snagged by the Cleveland Guardians from the San Diego Padres.

The Rule 5 draft has been postponed until the lockout is over, but the minor league draft proceeded as scheduled Wednesday afternoon. Contrary to the big league Rule 5 draft, there are no roster restrictions for minor league picks. As soon as a player is chosen, the selecting squad pays $24,500 to their prior team. The player is then added to their new club’s triple-A roster, but they can later be reassigned to another level.

This means that Kirwer, LeBlanc, Sabrowski and Taylor will be playing in new organizations in 2022.

Details about each Canadian …

Kirwer was selected in the first round of Wednesday’s draft by the Seattle Mariners from the Blue Jays. The Sherwood Park Dukes and Niagara University alum just completed his fourth season of pro ball. In 83 games between the Blue Jays’ class-A and double-A affiliates in 2021, the 6-foot, 180-pound outfielder, who turned 25 in March, posted a .370 on-base percentage and stole a career-best 43 bases.

Pitt Panthers alum Charles LeBlanc (Laval, Que.) changed his jersey from the Texas Rangers affiliate to the Miami Marlins.

LeBlanc is now a member of the Miami Marlins’ organization after he was selected in the first round of Wednesday’s draft from the Texas Rangers. An ABC alum, the 25-year-old outfielder has suited up for five seasons in the Rangers’ organization. In 2021, he batted .229 with 17 home runs in 96 games for the triple-A Round Rock Express. The Rangers loved his ability to make contact but were worried about his defence at second base when he was selected from the Pitt University Panthers.

Left-hander Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) will join the Guardians’ after he was selected from the Padres

Sabrowski will join the Cleveland Guardians’ organization after he was taken from the Padres in Wednesday’s first round. The Albertan left-hander who pitched at Cloud County, made his pro debut this season, posting a 2-0 record and a 1.86 ERA, while striking out 41 batters in 29 innings, in eight appearances (three starts) with the Padres’ High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps. He follows fellow Canucks and ex-Padres Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) and Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) to the Guardians’ organization.

RHP Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, BC), a Blue Jays farmhand, was claimed by the Washington Nationals.

Taylor was selected from the Blue Jays’ organization by the Washington Nationals in the second round. The 26-year-old right-hander split 2021 between double-A and triple-A in the Blue Jays’ system, registering a 5.71 ERA in 30 appearances. The UBC grad was originally chosen by the Arizona Diamondbacks and scout Doug Mathieson in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB draft. He will be entering his sixth pro season.