Canadians and Visas

[batman]

This is really interesting... it looks like our Canadian draft choices won't be able to play until 2005 because we've met our "visa quota" for minor league players already.

 

EDIT: Shoutout to Nikip43 for posting a link to a better version of this article on one of the draft posts. Here's the link:

 

www.theglobeandmail.com/s...ory/Sports

 

Check it out.

 

"U.S. Visa Issue Clouds Picture For Canucks," The Canadian Press (Quoted in the Hamilton Spectator), Byline Shi Davidi, June 5, 2004

Quote:

---

There's more reason than usual for eligible Canadians to feel anxious as the Major League Baseball draft approaches next week.

 

The quota on the visa foreigners require to play minor-league ball in the United States has already been met for 2004, meaning Canucks chosen Monday and Tuesday won't be able to start their pro careers down south this season.

 

That has some clubs rethinking their draft-day plans when it comes to Canadians, adding to the stress young ball players up north were already feeling as they nervously await their fate.

 

"It's certainly an issue," says Walt Burrows, Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau's Canadian supervisor. "I don't think it's going to help. Some teams might want to let a kid slip, others might deal with it."

 

Indeed, there seems to be two schools of thought on how the visa problem will affect Canadians. The scouting director for one team said that unless a Canadian player was significantly better than others available, they would go for an American kid.

 

"If you've got two guys who are really close, you're going to take the one who can play," he says. "You want to be able to see what you have and get them playing and developing."

 

But Dick Groch, special assistant to Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin for scouting, doesn't think it will be much of an issue.

 

"I don't think it's altered our plans. We never walk away from a prospect," says Groch.

 

Up until this year getting the required visa -- an H2B visa, issued to a wide variety of seasonal workers -- hadn't been an issue. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issue up to 66,000 of them per year, usually more than enough.

 

But growth in the tourism and landscaping industries has led to increased demand for H2Bs and last year the United States granted 13,000 over its quota. Amid the security-conscious environment post-9/11, the government vowed to be more vigilant in keeping tabs on the number of visas handed out. This year the limit was met March 10 and the State Department said no more would be available for 2004.

 

The visa issue has somewhat pulled the spotlight from what it is considered a solid crop of Canadian prospects up for grabs.

 

Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette, a left-handed pitcher from St. Laurent, Que., could be the first Canuck to go. A scouting report on MLB's website projected him as a "future left-handed starter at major league level. Will have three quality pitches." Baseball America ranked him as the 93rd best prospect available, while Slam Sports' Canadian Baseball website had him as the top Canadian.

 

Mike Nickeas, a catcher born in Vancouver but raised in the States, is another strong prospect following a solid career at Georgia Tech.

 

Third baseman and right-handed pitcher Mike Saunders of Victoria and right-hander Alexandre Periard of St-Eustache, Que., are considered the other top-level prospects in the country.

---

~Bill

[tyguy20204]

Interesting.

[MassBrew]

Three of the nine Canadians drafted on Day One are Brewers:

 

www.canoe.ca/SlamBaseball..._2004.html

[MassBrew]

Oh Canada!

 

slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseba...92246.html

 

Milwaukee likes home-Brews

Bob Elliott explains how the Milwaukee Brewers are set to become Canada's ball team

By BOB ELLIOTT -- Toronto Sun

 

Say hello to Canada's team -- the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Maybe the Brewers aren't No. 1 in Pointe Aux Trembles, Que., or with those lining up to buy tickets in front of the SkyDome.

 

Yet, in the 17-to-21, cleat-wearing, dream-chasing demographic, the Brewers are No. 1.

 

The annual Major League Baseball draft of high schoolers and collegians concluded yesterday with the Atlanta Braves picking in the 50th round with the 1,498th overall selection.

 

37 CANADIANS OVERALL

 

A total of 37 Canadians were picked, the least since 2000 when 35 were chosen. Clubs, or at least some, were operating without a net in the wake of the US work visa situation.

 

The U.S. cap for any work visa was reached in March, so players can be signed only to 2005 contracts, but they can attend instructional league in the fall.

 

Still, the Brewers drafted more than twice as many (seven) players as any other team. The Atlanta Braves and the Jays were next with three each.

 

Look for Brewer caps coming to a diamond near you, although we think that Cheesehead triangle might be a little tough to deal with while wearing a batting helmet.

 

Chatham's Doug Melvin is the Brewers general manager and Gord Ash, former Blue Jays GM, is Melvin's assistant.

 

Dick Groch of Marysville, Mich., is the man responsible for putting together the scouting network across Canada.

 

Groch's group includes Halifax's Brad Lalor, J.P. Roy of Quebec City, Kingston's Sam Dempster, Toronto's Paul Solarski, Richard Cleamons of Richmond Hill, Jay Lapp of London, Ont., Mike Labossiere of Brandon, Man., Dale Tilleman of Tabor, Man., and John Harr of Surrey, B.C.

 

During his days with the New York Yankees, Groch signed Derek Jeter.

 

The Brewers chose right-hander Craig Langille of Bedford, N.S., as the top Canuck high schooler in the seventh round, much like in 2001 when Steve Nelson of Cole Harbour, N.S., was the top high schooler going to the Dodgers.

 

He bumped himself in his final two starts, a no-hitter in front of former Seattle Mariners GM Pat Gillick and Jays director of Canadian scouting Kevin Briand.

 

Milwaukee also drafted lefty Andrew Albers of North Battleford, Sask., in the 12th; righty Alexandre Periard of St-Eustache, Que., in the 16th; righty Ryan Patterson of Duncan, B.C., in the 29th; righty Kris Dabrowiecki of Toronto in the 34th; catcher Chris Copat of Calgary in the 35th and reliever Jamie Metzner of Langley, B.C., in the 46th.

 

As a reference point for where the Brewers' seven selections stand, the Anaheim Angels led all teams with five Canadians selected in 2003; the Dodgers were top dogs in 2002 with seven; the Jays had eight in 2001 and six in 2000.

 

During that time frame, the Brewers drafted two Canadians: Caledon's Judd Richardson in 2001 and Thornhill's Michael Reiss in 2000.

 

The top area high schooler was outfielder Tim Smith, selected in the 21st round by the New York Mets. Smith showed well for Team Ontario and the Team Canada Junior Team, so well that Mets scout Claude Pelletier selected him. Pelletier is the scout, who, while working for the Dodgers, found free-agent Eric Gagne, the reigning National League Cy Young award winner.

 

Smith was followed closely by Waterloo infielder Steve Hornastaj of the Ontario Blue Jays.

 

Toronto selected Bobby Scott of Victoria, B.C., in the 20th round, the highest Jays pick since Pickering's Mike Roga went in the 12th in 2002.

 

The Jays' other Canadian picks were lefty Jon Hesketh in the 42nd and first baseman Jordan Lennerton, both of Langley, B.C.

 

Looks like the Metzner kid goes by Jamie and not Louis as listed -- MassBrew