Looking back at Canadians picked in the first round of past MLB draft
The MLB draft begins Monday night and a couple of Canadian players will likely be selected over the first and second rounds. Here’s a look at how some of Canada’s other first-round picks have fared in their careers:
ADAM LOEWEN, 2002
Loewen was selected fourth overall by the Baltimore Orioles and maintains the distinction of being the highest Canadian-born player ever selected in the MLB draft (Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon, who was born in Texas to Canadian parents, went second overall in 2010). Loewen was drafted as a pitcher but converted to an outfielder over a seven-year span that saw him toiling in the minor leagues. The Surrey, B.C., native attempted another comeback — heading back to the mound in 2015 — but couldn’t get much going to keep himself on a big-league roster. Loewen last pitched in the majors in 2016, appearing in eight games (six innings) for Arizona and allowing 10 earned runs. The 34-year-old is in triple-A with Texas this season.
JEFF FRANCIS, 2002