Vancouver Canadians
Interview with Taylor Cole: Right-Hander Now on a Different ‘Mission’
41 month ago
Taylor Cole was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2011 draft (photo credit: Vancouver Canadians)
While Taylor Cole was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007 and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008, he joined the Blue Jays’ organization in 2011 after being selected in the 29th round.
Cole admitted that he did not sign in 2007 as he felt he would greatly benefit from playing college ball. In 2008, he also mentioned that he decided to bypass the draft and serve on a mission, which, interestingly enough, was in Toronto, Ontario.
In fact, Cole’s two-year mission was initiated thanks to advice from Baltimore Orioles’ Jeremy Guthrie. Cole told JaysProspects: “After my first year in college, at the age of 19, I served a two-year mission for my church in, of all places, Toronto Canada. I have grown to love Canada from both serving my mission in Toronto and playing my first year of pro ball in Vancouver. Serving the mission was a very difficult time, but I know that it was the right thing to do for me at that time in my life.”
After his mission, Cole returned back to the game, attending Brigham Young University, a school that combines both the importance of church and athletics. There, as a softmore, he posted a 5-5 record with a 2.99 ERA. “BYU was a great school in which I spent the first year back from my mission,” Cole stated. “It was a good transition because they were able to help me get back in baseball shape because they deal with return missionaries coming home each year. I am grateful for the time spent there and the lifelong friends that I made.” (more…)
Interview with Garrett Maines: Catching up with the Young Catcher
12 months ago
Garrett Maines joined the Blue Jays organization in 2010
Garrett Maines joined the Blue Jays in 2010 after spending a year with the Midwest Sliders of the Frontier League in 2009. Since this time, he has caught numerous games for the GCL Blue Jays and the Vancouver Canadians.
The Blue Jays were fortunate to be able to sign Maines as he had previously been drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 19th round of the 2009 draft.
“In June 2009, while at my parent’s house, in front of over 20 people, I chose to say no to the Pirates because the benefits of staying in school and keeping my eligibility outweighed the benefits of signing a professional contract at that point in time,” Maines said. “Going into that draft I had a certain amount of expectations that had to be met in order for me to leave college just a few credits short of a double-major. I elected to pursue my degree but in the midst of it I had a change of mind and decided it was time to turn pro.”
Re-pursuing his career in baseball, Maines joined the Midwest Sliders of the Frontier League where he played in 22 games as the team’s catcher. After a successful stint in Independent ball, he signed with the Chicago Cubs early in 2010 but was sent to the Blue Jays GCL instructional team as a non-drafted free agent following spring training. (more…)
Interview with Zack Breault: A Right-Handed Pitcher with Strong Canadian Pride
13 months ago
Zack Breault was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010.
“Working out at Rogers Centre was definitely a great experience,” stated Canadian, Zack Breault. “Knowing that potentially one day you could be warming up in that same bullpen was something that was amazing to take in.”
Breault, however, may someday earn that opportunity as he was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as an undrafted free-agent in 2010. Originally from Amherstburg, Ontario, the young right-handed pitcher admitted that being signed by his home team was an amazing experience; an experience, however, he was blessed to have.
“Growing up in Canada, people are usually more accustomed to the hockey scene but many players including Larry Walker, Matt Stairs, and Justin Morneau really gave Canadian baseball players, like me, an opportunity and hope that they too could play at that level one day,” Breault stated.
And playing at that level is something that Breault has been pursuing since being signed. In fact, in his first year with the Blue Jays organization, the young Canadian finished the season with a 2-2 record and a 6.32 ERA, starting in all 15 of his games. Despite the fact his ERA was a little higher than he originally had hoped, Breault was optimistic and full and cheerful about his season. He indicated that he started the year strong (he was the opening day pitcher) and finished it strong – having helped win a Championship. “The way my first season in pro ball ended could not have been any better,” he said. (more…)
Vancouver Canadians Season Recap – Pt. 1: Playoffs
03 months ago
With the Nat Bailey dust now long settled on the 2011 campaign, it is time to look back on the season, the playoffs and the prospects who made their mark in Vancouver.
If you have to tag a single word to the Canadians’ 2011 playoff run it would be, “clutch.” The team of future Jays turned around an abysmal second half road record winning three-straight games on unfriendly diamonds, shirked frustrating offensive numbers and pitched their way through a drama filled playoff to win their first Northwest title. This was all the more impressive after three players got call-ups to the Lansing Lugnuts and a change in coaching altered the complexion of the squad.
Not only did the Canadians battle under the leadership of their new skipper, Rich Miller, but they shone in the playoff spotlight where Vancouver fans were treated to the emergence of players who rose to the challenge and surpassed expectations.
In this first recap segment, we’ll look at a few of the sleepers who stepped up in a big way in the playoffs and deserve a good hard look going into 2012 Spring Training. (more…)
140 Characters with…… Justin Nicolino
03 months ago
Justin Nicolino went 5-1 with a 1.03 ERA with the Vancouver Canadians this season
With baseball officially in the off-season, thoughts now turn towards the prospects, and specifically, where they will rank on their teams “Top 30″ list.
Justin Nicolino made a strong case in 2011 to be at the top of the deep starting pitching heap for the Jays. The Orlando native was gracious (and brave) enough to participate in this edition of “140 characters with…..”.
For the first time reader, the “140″ is an interview that has no rules except that question and answers need to be contained to Twitter Direct Messages, so thus, to 140 characters or less.
It was a joy to exchange messages with Nicolino, and we here at @JaysProspects can’t thank him enough for his time.
@DougPlourd: Justin, thanks for taking the time to do a “140 characters” with me. We here at @JaysProspects are big fans. You ready to do this?
@J_Nicolino22: Always! (more…)
Interview with Phil Brua: Can this Young RHP ‘Phil’ the Rotation?
04 months ago
In his first year with the Toronto Blue Jays organization, Brua posted a 7-1 record with a 2.70 ERA
After signing with the Toronto Blue Jays this past spring, Phil Brua was quickly assigned to the Vancouver Canadians where he posted an incredible 7-1 record with a 2.70 ERA. So quickly, however, fans never really got an opportunity to learn about the young 22-year-old from Ohio. Recognizing this, Brua sat down with JaysProspects to share more about himself and his favourite moments that have led him to the Blue Jays organization.
While Brua admits that he is thankful for the opportunity to play for the Blue Jays, the Blue Jays’ organization is actually quite fortunate they were able to sign the young right-hander. In fact, Brua had originally been in contact with the San Diego Padres, and had signed a contract with the Traverse City Beach Bums of the Frontier League. “The draft didn’t pan out the way that I had hoped it to, leaving me with the reality of really never playing baseball again. I was scared and frantically started putting together a resume and needed to start looking for work.” (more…)
The Northwest League Championship
05 months ago
It was ten days ago on a sun-soaked Sunday afternoon that the Vancouver Canadians topped the Tri-City Dust Devils in one of the most exciting games ever played at old Nat Bailey Stadium. For our readers that couldn’t be in Vancouver, JaysProspects was there covering the hustle and heart that the C’s brought to the field that day. For anyone who wanted to get a bit of the atmosphere- here you are. Enjoy!