C’s Recap – 2023 Offseason in Review

Here is a look back at what has happened involving past and present Vancouver Canadians since the end of Game 4 of the Northwest League finals on September 16.

September 18 – 2021 Vancouver Canadians shortstop/third baseman Orelvis Martinez is named the International League Player of the Week.

September 18 – 2022 Vancouver Canadians pitcher Ricky Tiedemann is promoted from Double-A New Hampshire to Triple-A Buffalo.

September 20 – C’s second baseman Michael Turconi (2022-2023) and righthander Matt Svanson (2022-2023) are named to the Northwest League Post Season All-Star Team.

September 20 – Canadians outfielder Cam Eden (2019, 2021-2022) is called up to Toronto from Buffalo.

September 21 – C’s pitcher José Espada (2017-2018) gets called up to San Diego from Triple-A El Paso.

September 22 – C’s righthanders Conor Larkin (2022-2023), Trent Palmer (2022), Fitz Stadler (2018), C.J. Van Eyk (2021), lefthander Ricky Tiedemann (2022), third baseman Damiano Palmegiani (2023) of Surrey, B.C. and outfielders Dasan Brown (2022-2023) of Oakville, Ontario and Will Robertson (2019, 2021) are assigned to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League. Canadians bullpen coach Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2023) is named the pitching coach and C’s trainer Roelvis Vargas (2022-2023) joins the support staff.

September 22 – Canadians first baseman Spencer Horwitz (2019, 2021) named Buffalo Bisons Most Valuable Player and infielder Tanner Morris (2019, 2021) names Bisons Comeback Player of the Year.

September 23 – C’s utility man Rafael Lantigua (2021) becomes second Buffalo Bison to hit 40 doubles and score 100 runs in the modern era.

October 1 – Canadians outfielder Cam Eden records his first major league hit against Tampa Bay with a single off José López.

October 2 – C’s pitchers Zach Logue (2017), Chase De Jong (2013) and Daniel Norris (2012) elect free agency. Logue split last year with the Detroit Tigers and Triple-A Toledo, De Jong was with Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and Norris pitched for the Cleveland Guardians.

October 8 – Canadians outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. (2012) is named to the Atlantic League Post-Season All-Star Team after batting .331 with 22 home runs and 24 stolen bases for Charleston.

October 12 – C’s outfielder Alan Roden (2023) and C’s pitcher Chad Dallas (2022-2023) are named the Toronto Blue Jays Hitting and Pitching Prospects of the Year by MLB Pipeline.

October 16 – Canadians pitcher Donnie Sellers (2017) announces his retirement.

October 18 – Baseball America reports C’s catcher Jommer Hernández (2022-2023) and pitcher Leam Mendez (2023) have signed minor league deals with the Toronto Blue Jays.

October 18 – Canadians second baseman Nick Podkul (2018) signs a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies according to Baseball America.

October 18, 2023 – Canadians second baseman Lane Thomas (2015) is named a Gold Glove finalist in right field for the Washington Nationals.

October 23 – C’s outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. and first baseman/outfielder Connor Panas (2015) of Toronto, Ontario are selected by the Dubai Wolves in the new Baseball United League. Panas played for Lincoln of the American Association and hit .296 with 22 homers last season.

October 25 – Canadians pitcher Mark Simon (2022) signs a contract with the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association after pitching for Missoula over the past two seasons.

November 2 – Canadians first baseman/third baseman Damiano Palmegiani (2022) is selected to take part in the Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby.

November 2, 2023 – C’s second baseman Tim Locastro (2014) is placed on waivers by the New York Mets.

November 2 – Canadians outfielder Nelson Cruz (2022) announces his retirement after a 19-year career in the majors.

November 3 – C’s outfielders Dasan Brown (2022-2023) and Will Robertson (2019, 2021), infielder Damiano Palmegiani (2022), lefthander Ricky Tiedemann (2022) and righthander C.J. Van Eyk (2021) are selected for the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game.

November 3 – Canadians outfielder Jonathan Davis (2014) elects free agency after spending the year with Triple-A Toledo in the Detroit Tigers system and the Miami Marlins.

November 6 – Canadians second baseman Jon Berti (2011) has his team option picked up by the Miami Marlins for one year at $3,625,000 after batting .294 with a .798 OPS, seven home runs and 43 runs batted in.

November 6, 2023 – C’s utlility man Rafael Lantigua (2021), infielder Abiezel Ramirez (2023), catcher/first baseman Lyle Lin (2023) and pitchers Jol Concepcion (2021-2022), Rothier Hernández (2021) all elect free agency.

November 6 – C’s second baseman Tim Locastro becomes a free agent after playing for the New York Mets and Triple-A Syracuse. C’s pitchers Danny Young (2015) and pitcher Patrick Murphy (2016) elect free agency. Young pitched for Atlanta and Triple-A Gwinnett last season and Murphy threw for Triple-A St. Paul in the Minnesota Twins organization. C’s shortstop Logan Warmoth (2017) and outfielder Chavez Young (2017) also become free agents. Warmoth played at Double-A Arkansas in the Seattle Mariners organization while Young made stops at Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pittsburgh Pirates system.

November 8 – C’s catcher Phil Clarke (2019, 2021), first baseman Spencer Horwitz (2019, 2021), second baseman Michael Turconi (2022-2023), third baseman Damiano Palmegiani (2022), shortstop Orelvis Martinez (2021), outfielders Alan Roden (2023), Rafael Lantigua (2021) and Devonte Brown (2023), righthander Chad Dallas (2022-2023), lefthander Ricky Tiedemann (2022) and lefty reliever Ian Churchill (2023) are named Toronto Blue Jays Organization All-Stars by MiLB.com.

November 10 – Baseball America reports C’s utility man Sebastian Espino (2021) and C’s pitchers Abdiel Mendoza (2022-2023) and Juan Nuñez (2017-2019, 2022-2023) return to the Toronto Blue Jays on minor league deals.

November 11 – Canadians infielder Damiano Palmegiani (2022) collects two hits, a walk and three runs scored as the Surprise Saguaros defeat the Peoria Javelinas 6-5 in the Arizona Fall League Championship final. C’s outfielder Dasan Brown (2022-2023) and pitcher Conor Larkin (2023) experience their second championship of the season.

November 11 – Canadians pitcher Ricky Tiedemann (2022) is named the Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Year after a 2.50 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 18 innings.

November 14 – Canadians pitcher Adam Macko (2023) of Stony Plain, Alberta is selected for the Toronto Blue Jays 40-man roster.

November 14 – Canadians pitchers Adam Kloffenstein (2019, 2021-2022) and Sem Robberse (2021-2022) are added to the St. Louis Cardinals 40-man roster. The two were acquired in a deal from Toronto for reliever Jordan Hicks. C’s hurler Nick Frasso (2022) was also added to the 40-man roster of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

November 16 – C’s utility man Rafael Lantigua (2021) signs a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

November 17 – C’s lefty Ricky Tiedemann (2022) is rated the fourth-best prospect and infielder Damiano Palmegiani (2022) is rated the 22nd-best prospect in the Arizona Fall League by Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline. Palmegiani is also named to the All-AFL Team.

November 17 – C’s pitcher José Espada (2017-2018) granted free agency.

November 21 – Canadians righthander Patrick Murphy (2016) signs a one-year deal with an option to pitch for the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Japanese Baseball League.

November 25 – C’s pitcher José Espada (2017-2018) signs a minor league deal with San Diego.

November 28 – C’s utility man Davis Schneider (2019, 2021-2022) is named the Toronto Blue Jays Rookie of the Year by the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

November 28 – Canadians Levi Weber (2022-2023) is named the Northwest League’s Groundskeeper of the Year.

November 29 – Baseball America unveils its Top 10 prospects in the Toronto Blue Jays organization with seven players having Vancouver Canadians connections. Ricky Tiedemann (1), Orelvis Martinez (2), Addison Barger (5), Leo Jiménez (7), Davis Schneider (8), Alan Roden (9) and Connor Cooke (10).

November 29 – Baseball America announces its Best Tools selections in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system.

• Best Hitter for Average – Alan Roden (2023)
• Best Power Hitter – Orelvis Martinez (2021)
• Best Strike-Zone Discipline – Leo Jiménez (2022)
• Fastest Baserunner & Best Defensive Outfielder – Cam Eden (2019, 2021-2022)
• Best Athlete – Dasan Brown (2022-2023)
• Best Fastball – Ricky Tiedemann (2022)
• Best Curveball – Adam Macko (2023)
• Best Slider – Connor Cooke (2022-2023)
• Best Changeup (Splitter) – Rafael Sánchez (2023)
• Best Defensive Catcher – Phil Clarke (2019, 2021)
• Best Defensive Infielder – Josh Kasevich (2023)
• Best Infield Arm – Addison Barger (2022)
• Best Outfield Arm – Garrett Spain (2022-2023)

November 30 – The Toronto Blue Jays sign utility man Rafael Lantigua (2021) and outfielder Steward Berroa (2022) to minor league contracts.

December 6 – C’s utility men Trevor Schwecke (2019, 2021-2022) and Angel Del Rosario (2023) are selected in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft with Schwecke selected by the Philadelphia Phillies and Del Rosario going to the Minnesota Twins.

December 12 – FanGraphs releases its Top 31 Toronto Blue Jays prospects list with 20 former C’s on the list. Ricky Tiedemann (1), Orelvis Martinez (2), Addison Barger (4), Leo Jiménez (5), T.J. Brock (6), Adam Macko (7), Yosver Zulueta (8), Josh Kasevich (9), Connor Cooke (14), Cade Doughty (15), Chad Dallas (16), Spencer Horwitz (18), Alan Roden (19), Dahian Santos (20), Hagen Danner (21), C.J. Van Eyk (22), Dasan Brown (23), Alex De Jesús (24), Damiano Palmegiani (25) and Hayden Juenger (26).

December 14 – C’s outfielder Reggie Pruitt Jr. (2017) rejoins the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association by signing a one-year deal. He finished second in the AA with 39 stolen bases in 2023.

December 15 – C’s designated hitter Rowdy Tellez (2014) signs a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates worth $3.2 million.

December 18 – C’s pitcher José Espada (2017-2018) signs a one-year contract with the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Baseball League after being released by the San Diego Padres five days earlier.

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Just a reminder that the Vancouver Canadians begin their season in Spokane on Friday, April 5 and their home opener is Tuesday, April 9 against the Hillsboro Hops.