NOTES FROM THE NAT: Vancouver Canadians news

Happy reading.

10. Rashun Dixon: The Bullet has thrown out runners in three straight games, good enough for the Northwest League lead, one ahead of teammate Tyreace House among others, and is the lone C to hit a HR this year.  He is batting .417 at Nat Bailey this year, in three games.  The 18 year old is one of the top prospects for the A’s.

9. The rest of the Outfielders: Jose Crisostomo in four games is batting .400, and being only 20 years old is flashy and exciting on the field.  El Rey, as we call him (which means The King in Spanish), is riding a three-game hitting streak.

Conner Crumbliss is batting just below the Mendoza Line, but he is in my Top 5 for must-see players this year, after hitting nearly .400 in college, and the fact he leads the league in walks (8), and triples (1).

Tyreace House was featured in the Province (see below), and is the fastest OF I have ever seen at Nat Bailey (no joke), after being Oakland’s 6th round pick last year.

8. Middle Infielding corps: Whether it’s Nino Leyja batting .290, Michael Gilmartin with a pair of multi-hit games, or Ryne Jernigan who is climbing up the league average leaders, Vancouver has one of the best MI groups in recent years, and Jernigan, Leyja and Gilmartin are batting a combined .266. 

7. Promotions galore: With 6 great promotions, and one exciting first pitch, this six-game set is sure to excite all fans, of all ages.  

Tonight it is a Kids Jersey giveaway on A&W Family Fun Sunday, tomorrow you can bring your dogs and pick up an exciting Webkinz golden retriever toy, as well as a Fireworks Extravaganza on Tuesday to bring in Canada Day, a few hours early.

Canada Day is a Nooner with a workout towel giveaway, before a Noisemaker gate giveaway Thursday, mixed in with a special first pitch.

The six-game set concludes with a Nooner and Hot Dog Eating contest on Friday.

6. Great rotation: Tonight the lone lefty on the C’s (Julio Ramos) toes the rubber likely against Wilber Bucardo of Salem, who gave up just one run in his 5 innings of work Tuesday evening against Boise.

Chad Lee (right) could face Jose Valdez tomorrow, a 6′7 RHP who missed last season.

Tuesday night is Joselito Adames, the C’s Opening Day starter, against Orlando Yntema, who is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA going into this series, having made his NWL debut against Vancouver last season.

Canada Day will be Ricardo Penalba, a good righty for the C’s from Panama, against the second Bucardo on the Volcanoes, Jorge, who has given up just two runs in nearly 10 innings of work this year.

Big Hector Garcia goes Thursday, against Javier Hernandez who intimidates batters with his 6′4 frame.  Batters should tee off Hernandez if they’re not scared, as opposing batters are batting .265 against the 21 year old from Venezuela. 

Friday will likely be a rematch of tonight, although Ramos may be replaced by Pedro Vidal.

5. Home debuts: Three players at least will make their Nat Bailey debuts either tonight or tomorrow, in Catcher Ryan Ortiz, 1B Anthony Aliotti or SS Michael Gilmartin.  

Once more players in Arizona get passports, such as Myrio Richard, Ryan Quigley and Murphy Smith, they’ll probably report to Vancouver, which could be as early as this week.

4. Potential last series at home: With more incoming players than they can hold, potentially the stars of the Canadians could be on their way up soon, including Rashun Dixon, Nino Leyja, Jose Crisostomo, and pitchers Chad Lee and Hector Garcia (left), to name a few.  This would be a great chance to see all starting pitchers this week, as well as those shining at the dish and in the field.

3. If the Province is into the team, why aren’t you?: With a two-page spread on the Canadians today, it looks as though The Province newspaper is into the club, with stories on Tyreace House, and Ryan Ortiz.

Steve Ewen is doing a fantastic job, to go along with Lyndon Little of The Sun.

2. Team 1040 games limited: Only two games are on the Team 1040 this week, tonight and Tuesday, so if you aren’t at a computer to listen to the others online at Canadiansbaseball.com, seeing them in person is the best you can do.  

Rob Fai gives the call to all 6 in-stadium, on the in-game FM station.

1. It’s Salem for heaven sakes: There is no bigger rivalry in the last couple years, other than maybe Everett-Vancouver, for the Canadians than against the top dogs in the division, Salem-Keizer.

The Volcanoes, year in and year out are stacked, and mostly have returning players.  They are up two games on Vancouver for the West Division lead, and they do not come back after this 6-game series, unless there is a rain-out this week (look at the forecast there won’t be).

Tim Lincecum (right) made his pro debut here a few years back, for the same Volcanoes (parent club is San Francisco), and such stars as Sharlon Schoop of Netherlands fame, and Matt Downs who is now in the MLB (two years removed from Vancouver), mean this is your only chance to see some of the best prospects in Baseball.

See you at The Nat. 

Every baseball team has its traditions. At Safeco Field, you’ve gotta do the sushi. In Cincinnati, you’ve got to do the smokies. In New York, when watching the Yankees, you’ve got to be an ignorant douchebag. In LA, you have to leave during the seventh inning stretch, and in Toronto, you have to say, "Who is pitching for us again?" and pound away on your cellphone.

There’s no arguing about these - they’re just tradition. They go without saying.

The Vancouver version of baseball tradition is to lose the home opener (or any sold-out game) horribly.

What’s it been, like, eighteen years since the C’s won their home opener? Perhaps not quite that much, but it sure feels like it, and 2009 was no exception.

The C’s sent Joselito Adames to the mound, and he improved upon his Stockton form slightly, bringing his minors ERA down to 4.00 with a 5 inning, 2ER effort that saw him strike out 4 and walk a pair.

But then we entered the Ronny Morla zone and everything went to heck… ‘Morla less’.

With six hits and two walks surrendered in 1.1 innings pitched, The Mauler gave up three earned runs to put the C’s well and truly into unwinnable territory.

Jonathan Joseph apparently thought Morla’s performance was worth imitating, because he dished four earned runs in a single inning, giving the Flipperkids an extra digit on the scoreboard.

With the game basically lost by pitchers, the C’s bats didn’t pull much out of the bag to keep the fans entertained on opening day.

6′2" Mississippi born right fielder Rashun Dixon put one over the wall to at least end the shut-out, and 1B Wilfredo Sosa and 2B Nino Leyja joined the party with a pair of singles each, but Everett’s LF Ryan "They Come To Snuff The" Royster cancelled them out all by himself with a 4-5 night, driving in three runs and knocking out a double (first game report of the season and we’ve already got an Alice in Chains reference!).

Everett CF Kalian Sams chipped in with a 3-5 night with 3 more RBIs and Fred "Maria" Bello didn’t suck, rolling out with two doubles and 2 walks from 3 ABs. Pitchers Lewis, Reid and Rios only gave up one scoring hit between them and 5,132 fans kicked the seat in front of them in boredom until the fireworks kicked in.

Sunday saw a turnaround in form as the C’s rode some top notch hurling to a 3-1 victory. The bats weren’t exactly aflame, but Rashun "Mason" Dixon was again the star for the Canadians, rolling out a 2-4 game, driving in one.

Outfielder Connor "Crumbly" Crumbliss (pictured above) registered a triple, and DH Kent "John Boy" Walton drove one in on a 1-4 night.

But it was the pitching that ate the frogs Sunday afternoon, as Panama’s own Ricardo Penalba threw 5 innings of 7K, 4H, 0BB, 0ER ball. Northwestern College recruit Pat Schultz broke up the shutout, giving away 3 walks and a pair of hits in a 2.2IP, 1ER spell, but closer Jose "Goose" Guzman shut it down for the final four outs, locking down the victory for the boys in red and white in front of 4,193.

Monday brought about a chance to win the opening series of the season, and the C’s didn’t throw that chance away with another spell of serious pitching and vengeful offense.

Nino "The Playa" Leyja took his average to .364 with a 205 night, driving in one, while John Boy Walton drove in two on the back of a 2-4 night from the DH spot. AA drop-down catcher Gabriel Ortiz went 2-4 at the plate, driving in two more, but he should, being as he was hitting .280 in the Texas League before he came down to short-season ball. 3B Ryne Jernigan brought up the bottom end, going 1-2 with a pair of doubles and a ribby.

But all of that was mere window dressing as the pitching foursome of Hector Garcia, Kyle Christensen, Paul Smyth, and Daniel Straily came in with furious anger, destroying all before them. In striking out the side in the one inning he tossed, Smyth gets the nod of the night.

The C’s traveled to the Dustbowl Tuesday night for the first game in the first road series of the year against the Tri-City Dust Devils. It was a tight one, but a two-run opening frame for the home team and a backup run in the 5th was enough to get the dusty ones home.

John Boy and The Playa once again provided the offensive push with a pair of 2-4 outings, while Crumbly drew two walks in a 0-2 night. Dixon and catcher Rodney Rutherford drove in a run a piece, but Tri-City’s tight hurling kept the good guys at bay with a 3-2 loss.

First impressions? Obviously this is a very different team than the one that will grace the field in a few weeks time, when draftees sign contracts. But considering the fact that we’re usually playing a ragtag group of Dominicans bound for the Arizona League at this stage of the season most years (and this year is little exception) due to the inevitable wait for draftees, a 2-4 start is nothing to sneeze at.

The pitching has shown life, and John Boy, Mason-Dixon and The Playa are certainly showing spark with the bat.

If anyone can pull a clubhouse together to weather the early storm, it’s Rick Magnante. The big test will be how these guys react when the bonus babies arrive and compete with them for spots. Last season, that’s when the C’s fell to pieces. The year before, it spurred them to dominance.

This year…?

It may have taken two games, but the Vancouver Canadians are back in the win column, and if you go back to last season, they have won 6 of their last 8 games in total.

Last night’s offence was driven by Rashun Dixon, who accounted for the only run-scoring hit (a solo HR), and today was much of the same for the young hitter, who had his second multi-hit game of the season.

Mix that in with stellar pitching by Ricardo Penalba, who battled injuries this week, and you have a Canadians win.

Nooner Lineup:

CF Tyreace House

RF Conner Crumbliss

DH Kent Walton (top left)

LF Rashun Dixon

SS Leo Gil

C Gabriel Ortiz

1B Wilfredo Sosa

3B Marcos Luis

2B Nino Leyja

SP Ricardo Penalba

Facing Nick Czyz of the Aquasox, Vancouver got on the board quickly, but not before Penalba was spectacular on the hill from the get-go.  Of the four batters he faced in the first, three of them went down either swinging or watching, and Gerardo Avila was stranded after his double.

In the C’s part of the first, with one gone and Conner Crumbliss on first, Kent Walton doubled-in Crumbliss for the game’s first run, but Walton hesitated on going to third, and was tagged out by Hawkins Gebbers.  Rashun Dixon singled, but the inning ended on Leo Gil’s ground out.  1-0 C’s.

They piled it on in the 2nd, on a play not likely to be re-created anytime soon.

With Gabriel Ortiz on first base, Wilfredo Sosa attempted to do a sacrifice bunt, but it went soaring in the air.  After an error trying to pick off Ortiz on the play, Gerardo Avila’s throw went air born into right field, allowing Ortiz to head to second, and then third, where he got lucky because RF Ryan Royster’s throw was way off, and despite being given the hold sign by Rick Magnante, Ortiz charged home to double the lead.

South Africa’s Anthony Phillips tripled in the 3rd, but nothing came of it for Everett, and Vancouver’s next great chance came in the 5th with Nino Leyja on first.  Everett’s pitcher Czyz tried to pickoff the young 2B, but the catch wasn’t made, and Leyja headed to 2nd, then 3rd on Tyreace House’s single.

With only one gone, it looked as though Vancouver would get another run, but a lineout (and a near double-play), and a fly out ended the inning.

The 5th also marked the end for Ricardo Penalba who finished the game near the 80 pitch mark, after 5 innings.  He gave up just four hits, and struck out 7, including three in the first.  Penalba pitched a gem, there is no better way to say it.

Bo Schultz came into replace him, and despite allowing the first two hitters on base, he struck out the power hitting Kalian Sams, and got Guy Welsh to fly out, before Wellinton Dotel ended the inning on a ground out.

With Schultz in his third inning of relief, Everett tried to pile it on, and see if he had a tired arm.  With one gone and runners on the corners, Vancouver couldn’t finish the double play, allowing Ryan Royster to score, but even with runners on the corners again, Jose Guzman came into close out the game, and got the final out of the 8th. 

With Vancouver’s lead cut in half, their offence had to help out the bullpen, and that they did.  Conner Crumbliss hit a triple to center, that had the 4,192 fans on their feet, before he scored on Rashun Dixon’s two-out single in the 8th to extend the lead to a pair.

Guzman allowed a single, then struck out Fred Bello, before a 6-4-3 double play got the C’s a win, their first of the year. 

Game Notes:

- The last player to have back-to-back multi-hit games, was actually mutli players, in David Thomas and Dusty Coleman, who did so on the last two games of 2008.

- Crumbliss has two stolen bases on the year, after swiping second base two games in a row.  He leads the NWL in that category.

- Two of the three triples in the NWL this year came today, with Crumbliss and Anthony Phillips of Everett being tied with Scott Beerer of the Tri-City Dust Devils.

- Vancouver is now 7-2 all-time with both Marcos Luis and Leo Gil in the lineup.

- Jose Guzman picked up his 16th save as a Vancouver Canadian (2008-2009)

- Nat Notes Hitter of the Game: Conner Crumbliss (1-3, 3B, BB, 2 Runs)

- Nat Notes Pitcher of the Game: Ricardo Penalba (5 IP, 4 H, 7 Strikeouts, Win)

In front of a sellout crowd of 5,132, the Vancouver Canadians were in it til the 6th, when Everett kicked off 8 unanswered runs, which was the difference for the Flipper Kids and the C’s.

Everett featured a roster that won’t be in tact for Tuesday, after the Vancouver series, because their mentality was pretty much, if you have a passport, get down to Vancouver.

C’s lineup:

CF Tyreace House

LF Conner Crumbliss (left)

DH Kent Walton

RF Rashun Dixon

SS Leo Gil

C Gabriel Ortiz

1B Wilfredo Sosa

3B Ryne Jernigan

2B Nino Leyja

SP Joselito Adames

Facing Adames was a lineup full of experience for Everett, who had South Africa’s Anthony Phillips (right) led off.  He struck out but reached base on a passed ball on strike 3, before advancing to second on a one-out single by Gerardo Avila, but Phillips was gunned out on the throw from Conner Crumbliss to Ryne Jernigan at third.

The Vancouver half of the first got the fans out of their seats, as Tyreace House singled to open the frame, before heading to 2nd on a walk, and stealing third.  The aggressive decision by Rick Magnante could’ve paid off big time, but Kent Walton flew out, Rashun Dixon got a questionable Strike 3 call, and Leo Gil much of the same.

A run came up on the board in the 3rd, as with a runner on third and none out, Ryan Royster singled home Fred Bello to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

Conner Crumbliss’ second walk of the game opened the C’s half, before he stole second.  Back-to-back outs put the C’s in an awkward situation, and then Leo Gil was beaned in the shoulder.  Gabriel Ortiz ended the inning, striking out.

Two innings after he crossed home, Fred Bello doubled in the 5th, before being sacrificed over to 3rd.  Bello scored again, on a Royster base hit, before a routine 6-4-3 double-play ended the threat.

Crumbliss finally registered an official at-bat in the 5th, flying out, as did Kent Walton, but Rashun Dixon hit one of the straighest home-runs I have ever seen at Nat Bailey, and it went a mile into the LF sky.  Dixon’s first was just a bomb.  And, it was ‘close’ enough to the A&W Mug, so fans got free coupons.  Suddenly 2-1.

Unfortunately, the pulling of starter Joselito Adames who had a great first outing, marked the start of an Everett out-burst.

Ronny Morla’s first relief appearance with Vancouver in two years happened in the 6th, when he gave up back-to-back singles, and then the runners moved up on a sac fly.  Ben Billingsley did fly out, but then Ryne Jernigan allowed a pair to score on his throwing error to first.  4-1.

Morla remained in during the 7th, but with runners on first and second with one gone, a RBI double to Guy Welsh opened up the game once again.  A balk resulted in another run, 6-1.  Morla was then replaced by Jonathan Joseph, who walked a batter before picking up the 4-3 double-play (Leyja tags, throws to #3 position).

Fred Bello’s second double led-off the 8th, and he later scored for the third time on a Ryan Royster hit.  Kalian Sams homered in Royster, Garardo Avila and himself, on a shot that wouldn’t stop until it had just cleared the Nat Bailey fence.

Joseph’s day was done, and in came Jorge Arrioja who got an out, an error, then another out.

Rashun Dixon beat out an infield hit for a single in the 8th off of reliever Jose Rios, but he was stranded on 2nd after Sosa popped up to end the inning.

Tyreace House and Conner Crumbliss both struck out, but it wasn’t their fault, in the 9th as the game ended, because by the 7th, this one wasn’t as exciting as the first 6 innings were.

Game Notes:

- 4 hits by Ryan Royster, who went 4-5 with a double, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored.  He holds an .800 average for the year.

- 6 for 9 is what you’ll get if you combine Kalian Sams’ and Guy Welsh’s stats, as the pair each had there hits, including Sams’ home-run, and Welsh’s double.

- 3 Canadians players had multi-hit nights, in Rashun Dixon, Nino Leyja and Wilfredo Sosa.  The only other Canadians to have had hits was Gabriel Ortiz and Tyreace House.  Dixon of course, had a HR.

- 3 stolen bases by the Canadians, with Leyja, House and Conner Crumbliss each picking up one.

- Everett starter Taylor Lewis was spectacular, giving up four hits and 3 walks during 6 innings of work, allowing an earned run and striking out 6.

- Joselito Adames was just as good, going 5 strong, surrendering 4 hits, 2 walks, a pair of earned runs, and picking up 4 K’s on the day.  Adames wasn’t helped out by the offence, besides four or five players who contributed.

- 1.2 innings of relief by Jorge Arrioja, who allowed one blemish, a hit, while striking out one.

- 4 years since a Canadian had hit a HR on Opening Day (Haas Pratt, 2005). 

- Ben Billingsley went 0-4, which means he is now 0-20 with 7 K’s at Nat Bailey Stadium, lifetime. 

- Nat Notes Hitter of the Game: Rashun Dixon (2-4, HR, RBI, Run, 2 K)

- Nat Notes Pitcher of the Game: Joselito Adames (5 IP, 5 HR, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, Loss)

Baseball fans in the lower mainland come in two varieties - those who bought their tickets early for tonight’s home opener at Nat Bailey Stadium, and those who won’t be allowed in.

The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club have announces that tonight’s June 20th season opener vs. the Everett Aquasox is sold out.

But that doesn’t mean ticketholders should take their time getting to the ballpark. In fact, when gates open at 6 p.m., the first 2,500 fans through the gate will receive a bonus in the form of a free 2009 Vancouver Canadians magnetic schedule.

In addition, after the game, Granville Island Brewing will presents one of seven fireworks displays at The Nat this season, which usually means the 6500 standing-room-only capacity of the ballpark is added to by a few thousand people camping outside.

The team is quick to point out that tickets are still available for the Sunday, June 21st Father’s Day game, which starts at 1:05pm, as well as Monday night’s series finale.

Canadians right-handed pitcher Joselito Adames will send down the first heater of the season for the C’s in what the team hopes will be the first home opener victory in four seasons. Adames started the season with the High-A California League Stockton Ports where he pitched long relief.

Returning players from previous Vancouver seasons include pitchers Hector Garcia, Chad Lee and Ronny Morla, catcher Rodney Rutherford, 3B Ryne Jernigan, and middle infielders Marcos Luis and Leonardo Gil. Oakland’s high draft picks will be arriving as they sign their contracts and are assigned to the club.
 
C’s Manager Rick Magnante will also set a record as the first manager to stick with the Vancouver ball club for four seasons running. Long-time pitching coach Craig "Lefty" Lefferts will resume looking after the bullpen after a couple of years out with medical issues.

Fans can listen to tonight’s game on TEAM1040 Sports Radio starting at 7:00pm with Rob Fai, Chris Pritchett and Lou Filippo. 

(Republished in the Vancouver Sun)

Crowd to be a factor:

For the second time in three seasons, the Vancouver Canadians have a sellout for Opening Day, and with clouds expected to clear in the next three or so hours, it will be a great night for Canadians baseball.

The last time the season opener was soldout was in 2007.

Most of these players have never played in front of 5,000+, so this will not only be a new team and a new league, but a new atmosphere as well.

I for one, can’t wait.  Tickets (albeit limited) remain for the Fathers Day Nooner tomorrow at 1:05, and the game Monday at 7:05.

If you didn’t get tickets to see Joselito Adames and the C’s, listen to the game on the Team 1040, with Rob Fai, Chris Pritchett and Lou Filippo.  

Experience means nothing:

No current Everett Aquasox player has ever faced Joselito Adames in a professional game, so there will be no ‘inside edge’ to a guy who has hit well off of him.

If indeed Ronny Morla comes into relieve Adames, as put on the C’s website, Wellington Dotel comes in 1-4 with 2 K’s against the C’s hurler, and Ryan Royster is 1-2 with a solo HR.  Anthony Phillips has a double in two at-bats against Morla, and Ben Billingsley (right) is 1-6 with a HR and 3 strikeouts.

Billingsley, in fact, is 0-16 with 7 strikeouts lifetime at Nat Bailey Stadium.  If he is in the starting lineup tonight, that is certainly something to look at.

On the Vancouver side, the most a player has faced a Everett pitcher is twice (Leo Gil, 0-2 vs Philip Roy), but Nino Leyja is 1-1 with a RBI triple off of Kyle Brown, and Ryne Jernigan is 1-1 against both Luke Burnett who is starting Monday, and Eddy Hernandez.

The Aquasox hitter who has hit best off a C’s pitcher is Ryan Royster who is 2-3 with 2 RBi and a double against Jose Guzman, and Ben Billingsley who is 1-1 with a 2 RBI double off Guzman as well.  Then again, that was in Everett.

On this day in Canadians history (June 20):

The first nine inning no-hitter at Nat Bailey Stadium was on this day when Rick Waits tossed a gem against the Portland Beavers in 1986.

C’s pitching coach Craig Lefferts (Lefty is left) allowed a season-high 5 ER while playing against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a MLB rookie.

9 years ago today, the C’s took to the field for the first time in franchise history, at Yakima, Washington.

Sean Doolittle and JD Pruitt combined to be 5-9 on June 20, 2007, with a double and a HR (Pruitt), which was JD’s first of 7 over a two-year span.  Vancouver won 7-3.

Since 2002, Vancouver is 4-2 on this day in NWL competition.

Opening Day Facts:

No Canadians hitter has hit a HR on Opening Day since Haas Pratt (shown, right) did so in 2005.

The C’s last won on Opening Day in 2006, on June 19th.

No Canadian has had there hits on OD since Ramiro Mendez in 2007, resulting in a promotion later that week.

Since 2000, the C’s have captured just one Opening Day victory, and current skipper Rick Magnante is 1-2 on Opening Days.

In their history, Vancouver is winless (0-2) while facing Everett in the first game of the season.

In the last four seasons, Vancouver has won 3 of 4 Opening Day series.

Did you know…:

Only 13 times last year did the C’s lead-off hitter not reach base successfully via a hit, walk or hit-by-pitch.

54 of the Canadians 76 games last year had at least one error by the good guys.

The single-game high by one player was 4, when Jason Christian (left) and Francisco Tirado each had a quartet of errors on August 5th and July 13th respectively.   

On days ‘clear or sunny’ by Minor League Baseball, Vancouver was 23-27.

Against Everett in 2008, the C’s were an even 6-6, and 4-2 at Nat Bailey Stadium.   

In the last 3 years on Fireworks nights, Vancouver is 5-13.  

With an RHP on the hill to start, Vancouver was 17-29 (Righty Joselito Adames is starting tonight).

When the Team 1040 broadcasts a Canadians game (since 2000), the Canadians are 46-44.

With Rick Magnante as Manager, since 2006, Vancouver has given up the lead only 3 times in the 9th.

If Leo Gil and Marcos Luis both find themselves in the lineup, they may have an extra boost, as last year when that happened, Vancouver was 6-2.  

I didn’t think it would come out three days before Opening Day, so expected to have more time on my hands in advance of Saturday, so the Top 5 list will be a ‘recap 5 list’, that will come out later this week in one post.

The new roster is the one that will be used on Opening Day, but many promotions/demotions will likely happen after this homestand, as most drafted players are just getting passports, which take 10 days to process.

13th rounder Murphy Smith is in that boat, as is Michael Gilmartin.  Dan Tenholder was rumoured to come to Vancity, so he could be facing the same issue.  It’s not like in years past where players can join the C’s on roadtrips and bus back using just ID, because new border regulations mean you have to have a passport, and many players simply do not.

None-the-less, there are 3 pitchers drafted in 2009, one infielder, and a pair of outfielders who will make their pro debuts this weekend.

Just one pitcher is left-handed (Julio Ramos), but many such as Smith and potential Ryan Quigley will be up here in no time.

Those drafted are Nathan Long (26th, UT Arlington, right), Paul Smyth (Kansas) and Dan Straily (Marshall).  For position players there is Jeremy Wells (Patten), Conner Crumbliss (Emporia State) and Kent Walton (BYU).  

Notable pitchers include Kyle Christensen, a highly touted high school pick from a few years ago, Jose Guzman, last year’s Canadians save leader (all-time as well), Pedro Vidal, Bo Schultz and Juston Street, whose brother Huston is the closer for the Colorado Rockies.

Ronny Morla and Hector Garica are both returning as well.  Joselito Adames has been named Opening Day Starter.

Gabriel Ortiz is back from AA Midland, and Rodney Rutherford has switched to catcher, from 3B in his return to Vancouver.

The infield consists of Wilfredo Sosa at 1B, Marcos Luis, Jeremy Wells, Nino Leyja and Leo Gil up the middle, and Ryne Jernigan at Third.  At least Gil can play the hot corner as well.

Outfielders are Jose Crisostomo, Conner Crumbliss, Rashun Dixon, Tyreace House and Walton.

Full roster, here.