Canadians to watch in the 2022 MLB season

Last year, 14 different players born in Canada played in an MLB game. Two were All-Stars, two made their big league debuts, three hit more than 30 home runs and two played in the postseason.

Even though there weren’t many MLB games played north of the border with the Blue Jays being away from Toronto most of the season due to COVID-19, it was still a successful year for Canadians at the big league level.

With a new season one sleep away, TSN.ca takes a look at some of the prominent Canadians at the big league level and breaks down where they’re at heading into 2022.

Birthplace: Montreal

Born in Montreal while his father played for the Expos, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. needs no introduction.

Fairly or unfairly, Guerrero fell slightly short of expectations in his first two seasons and came into 2021 with something to prove. And did he ever deliver.

In other seasons, Vlad Jr. might have run away with the American League MVP Award. He led the junior circuit in on-base percentage (.401), slugging percentage (.601), OPS+ (169) and finished in a tie with Kansas City’s Salvador Perez for the home run crown with 48. He was probably the best offensive player in baseball last season. The trouble was, he wasn’t one of the better starters, too. And that was the difference in making Shohei Ohtani the unanimous MVP.

Just having turned 23, Guerrero heads into his fourth MLB season as one of baseball’s brightest stars. Does he think he and the Blue Jays can keep climbing this season?

“What we did last year was a trailer. Now, you guys are going to see the movie,” Guerrero said last month during spring training.

Birthplace: Markham, Ont.

Jordan Romano established himself as a reliable late-inning option for Charlie Montoyo’s squad in 2020 but