Vancouver fans catch glimpse of future
Canada Day 150 celebrations with the Blue Jays’ Class-A Vancouver Canadians will get an extra boost this weekend.
In addition to the mini-Canadian flags, fireworks and sold-out crowds of 6,000-plus, the Canadians will showcase six inspiring additions to their roster.
They’ve received a half-dozen players from this month’s major-league draft, including catcher Riley Adams, a third-round pick, and first baseman Kacy Clemens, an eighthrounder and son of former Blue Jays Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens.
“We’re the only minor-league baseball team in Canada, so the good thing is we get a home game on Canada Day — at least every year since I’ve been here,” said general manager J.C. Fraser, in his 11th season with the Canadians.
“The other day . . . the middle of our lineup (third through fifth hitters) was all new players who were just drafted and just starting their professional careers.”
Adams and Brock Lundqvist, an outfielder drafted in the sixth round, were both hitting over .400 through their first 20 at-bats with Vancouver. Both had five RBIs and 13 total bases, with Lundqvist posting a 1.210 onbase plus slugging mark while Riley was at 1.149.
Shortstop Kevin Vicua ranks 16th among Northwest League batters who qualify (30 or more at-bats) with a .316 average.
The Blue Jays also sent second baseman Cullen Large (sixth round) and a pair of right-handed pitchers, Donnie Sellers (11th) and Matt Shannon (12th), to Vancouver.
There could be more on the way not far down the road after the Jays signed their top two picks — shortstop Logan Warmoth (22nd overall) and righty Nate Pearson (28th). While fielding questions before Wednesday night’s Jays- Orioles game, both prospects told the Star’s Richard Griffin that joining Toronto is “a dream come true” — even though Pearson grew up a Tampa Bay Rays fan and uses ace right-hander Chris Archer as a role model.
Clemens is the most familiar name for Canadians fans, who filled Nat Bailey Stadium to 97 per cent capacity on average in 2016.
A 22-year-old out of the University of Texas exited his senior year leading the Longhorns in most major offensive categories, including average (.305), on-base percentage (.414), slugging (.532), homers (12), runs batted in (49), runs (48), and hits (67).
In his first 24 at-bats in the Northwest League, Clemens posted a .333 average with a homer and seven RBIs.
He’s also chasing Lundqvist and Adams in OPS with a .907 mark.
Adams weighs in at 225 pounds and at six-foot-four is probably the biggest catcher in the Jays system.
Adams was originally drafted by the Cubs, but stayed at the University of San Diego and hit for power in the middle of the lineup.
Baseball America scouting reports suggest he needs to work on his mechanics behind the plate, but has a plus arm
Lundqvist, meanwhile, was originally drafted by Oakland, but instead spent three years at Long Beach State.
He checks in at six-foot and 210 pounds. His early claim to fame, though, is his twisted handlebar moustache.
Teammates at Long Beach State tried to match his look, but reportedly struck out.
As for Warmoth, the North Carolina product says he’s ready for wherever the Jays decide to send him to get his career started.
“I trust the organization,” he said Wednesday.
“I’m just going to go out there and play the game every day in the minor leagues and hopefully that time comes. . . . Whatever the team needs and whatever the organization has in mind I’m open to.”