Canadian baseball notes: Julien, Loewen, Votto, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

June 4, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Cooperstowners in Canada

The Minnesota Twins sent infielder Edouard Julien down to triple-A on Sunday.

In a corresponding move, the Twins have activated third baseman Royce Lewis from the injured list.

After a strong rookie campaign with the Twins in 2023, Julien (Quebec, Que.) went just 13-for-72 (.181 batting average) in 27 games for the Twins in May and saw his batting average dip to .207. In total in 58 contests with the Twins in 2024, Julien has 35 hits – including seven home runs – and 17 RBIs.

In 109 regular season games with the Twins in 2023, Julien set a record for most home runs by a Canadian second baseman in a major league season with 16. He also topped Twins’ regulars in walks (64) and on-base percentage (OBP) (.381). For his efforts, he finished seventh in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.

That impressive campaign came on the heels of his outstanding performance with Canada at the World Baseball Classic that saw him go 7-for-13 (.538 batting average) with two home runs and five walks in four games.

Selected in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB draft by the Twins, the Junior National Team alum enjoyed a breakout minor league season in 2022 when he batted .300 and posted a .441 OBP in 113 games for the double-A Wichita Wind Surge. He also belted 17 home runs, walked 98 times and stole 19 bases.

Loewen made draft history 22 years ago today

On this date 22 years ago, the Baltimore Orioles selected Adam Loewen (Surrey, B.C.) with the fourth overall pick in the MLB draft. That remains the highest that a player born in Canada has been selected.

The 6-foot-6 left-hander proceeded to played parts of five big league seasons with the Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks between 2006 and 2016.

Remarkably, after suffering two stress fractures in his throwing elbow, Loewen abandoned pitching and made it back to the big leagues as an outfielder with the Blue Jays in September 2011.

He later returned to the big league mound with the Phillies (2015) and the D-Backs (2016).

Five picks after the Orioles selected Loewen in 2002, the Colorado Rockies chose Jeff Francis (North Delta, B.C.) ninth overall.

Record number of Canadians chosen in the 2002 MLB draft

A record 48 Canadians were taken in the 2002 MLB draft. On top of first-rounders Loewen and Francis, the Cincinnati Reds chose Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) in the second round (44th overall), while the Los Angeles Dodgers took Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) in the 17th round.

Among the other future big leaguers from Canada taken in the 2002 MLB draft:

-10th round – C Luke Carlin (Hull, Que.), Detroit Tigers

-10th round – LHP Dave Davidson (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Pittsburgh Pirates

-17th round – RHP Scott Mathieson (Aldergrove, B.C.), Philadelphia Phillies

-20th round – C George Kottaras (Scarborough, Ont.), San Diego Padres

-30th round – C Chris Robinson (Dorchester, Ont.), New York Mets

Happy Birthday to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Ont.!

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame opened its doors in St. Marys, Ont., on this date in 1998 after transitioning from Toronto.

I wanted to wish Happy Birthday to an institution that has come to mean so much to me.

And thank you to Scott Crawford, the director of operations, for all his efforts over the years.