Canadian baseball notes: Tyler Black, Dylan O’Rae, Andre Dawson, Jamie Lehman

November 29, 2023

By Kevin Glew

Cooperstowners in Canada

Some Canadian baseball news and notes from the past few days:

Black, O’Rae named to Brewers’ Organization All-Star Team

Canadians Tyler Black and Dylan O’Rae have been named infielders on the Milwaukee Brewers’ Organization All-Star team, assembled by MILB.com.

The team was unveiled on Monday.

Black, 23, was named third baseman on the squad. The Stouffville, Ont., native split 2023 between the double-A Biloxi Shuckers and the triple-A Nashville Sounds, batting a combined .284 with a .417 on-base percentage (OBP) in 123 games. The Toronto Mets and Butler Prospects alum had 25 doubles, 12 triples, 18 home runs, 73 RBIs, 105 runs and 55 stolen bases. His combined 12 triples were the most in the entire affiliated minor league ranks and he also topped Brewers’ minor leaguers in runs, stolen bases and extra-base hits (55).

For his efforts, he was named a Southern League All-Star and the Brewers’ co-Minor League Player of the Year.

O’Rae, 19, was named second baseman on the Brewers’ Organization team. Before he received a promotion in August, the Great Lake Canadians and Junior National alum was leading the Rookie Ball Arizona Complex League in OBP (.522) and stolen bases (28) and was fourth in batting average (.362).

The Sarnia, Ont., native continued to showcase tremendous plate discipline in the class-A Carolina League, batting .330 with a .439 OBP in 23 games for the Carolina Mudcats. He also added 16 stolen bases to finish with a combined 44 steals. This made him one of just two players in the affiliated minor league ranks to register at least 40 stolen bases in 60 or fewer games.

In total, the Brewers’ 2022 third-round pick hit a combined .349 with a .491 OBP and 57 walks in 60 games.

To see a complete list of Brewers’ Organization All-Stars, click here.

Dawson wants Expos logo off Cooperstown plaque

According to a Chicago Tribune article published yesterday, Andre Dawson has sent a letter to Jane Forbes Clark, the chair of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, to ask for the cap on his plaque to be changed from a Montreal Expos logo to a Chicago Cubs logo.

The 69-year-old ex-slugger disagreed with the Hall’s decision to picture him in an Expos cap when he was inducted in 2010.

“I just felt my preference all along was as a Cub, despite playing 11 years in Montreal,” Dawson told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. “I had my reasons, and I think that should’ve been something we sat down and discussed.”

Dawson expanded further to Sullivan about why he preferred the Cubs cap.

“It was an eye-opening experience for me,” Dawson said about playing for the Cubs. “The adoration of the fan base, the welcoming from the city itself and the joy of being able to experience that feeling in the second half of my career . . . I was one of the more popular players in Montreal, but I wouldn’t consider myself an organizational icon or the most popular . . . When push came to shove and I became a free agent, I think it was handled poorly and in a sense I was really forced out. The change of scenery in Chicago rejuvenated me because of how warmly I was received.”

In his first season after leaving Montreal, Dawson enjoyed an MVP campaign with the Cubs in 1987, belting 49 home runs and knocking in 137 base runners. He spent five more seasons at Wrigley, earning four more All-Star nods, before splitting his final four big league campaigns between the Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins.

However, Dawson began his major league career with 11 seasons with the Expos. After playing 24 games with the Expos in 1976, he hit .282 and belted 19 home runs in 1977 to earn National League Rookie of the Years honours. Over his next nine seasons with the Expos, the five-tool outfielder was selected to three All-Star Games, won three Silver Slugger Awards and captured six Gold Gloves. In his 11 seasons in Montreal, Dawson accumulated 225 home runs, 838 RBIs and 2,679 total bases – all numbers that rank second in Expos history.

Lehman, Shaw to depart Blue Jays

Bob Elliott, of the Canadian Baseball Network, reported on Monday that longtime Blue Jays scout Jamie Lehman (Brampton, Ont.), who most recently evaluated talent in Florida for the Blue Jays, has left the organization for a position as West Coast cross checker with the Houston Astros. Lehman will work under general manager Dana Brown, who drafted Lehman, a right-handed pitcher at the time, for the Expos in the 29th round in 2003. Lehman had been scouting with the Blue Jays for 15 years.

Also, when announcing that longtime team travel and clubhouse operations director, Mike Shaw, was the co-winner of the team’s 2023 John Cerutti “Good Guy” Award (along with recently retired third base coach Luis Rivera), the Blue Jays shared that Shaw is leaving the organization after 28 years.

The Halifax, N.S. native joined the Blue Jays in 1996 and worked in the Ticketing department. He then moved to Communications before shifting to Team Travel and Clubhouse Operations where he has spent the last 19 seasons. He was twice voted by his MLB peers as the Travel Secretary of the Year in 2014 and 2021. A Blue Jays news release indicates that Shaw “will be leaving the Blue Jays in December to pursue another MLB opportunity next season.” Bob Elliott tells me that Shaw is headed to the Atlanta Braves.

Happy Birthday Otto Velez!

Happy 73rd Birthday to former Blue Jays OF/DH Otto Velez!

He batted .257 with 72 home runs and a .372 OBP in 522 games in parts of six seasons with the Blue Jays from 1977 to 1982. His best month as a Jay was the first regular season month in franchise history. In 17 games in April 1977, Velez batted .442, posted a 1.397 OPS and had five home runs and 18 RBIs. For his efforts, he was voted the American League Player of the Month.

Fun Fergie Fact

Here’s another amazing fact about Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) that I stumbled upon this week. The Oakland A’s won their third consecutive World Series title in 1974. But during that regular season, Jenkins, in his first season with the Texas Rangers, made five starts against the A’s. In those starts, he went 5-0 with a 0.60 ERA with five complete games and two shutouts.