Barrie Red Sox

Here are 19 Canadians whose light shone brightly in 2005:

Jason Bay, the NL All-Star outfielder from Trail, British Columbia, played in all 162 Pirates games, batting .306 and slugging .559 for the season (both 8th best in the NL, 14th best in MLB), amassing 32 homeruns and 101 RBI while tying the major league record for 21 consecutive successful stolen bases to begin a season. The outfielder made several highlight reel catches, had four assists, and made only four errors in 330 total chances defensively. New Westminster, BC's Justin Morneau had an impressive sophomore year, belting 22 homers, 23 doubles. He was the team leader with 79 RBI for the Twins. Second baseman Pete Orr, from Richmond Hill, Ontario, batted an even .300 while appearing in 112 games during his rookie season with the Atlanta Braves. Orr wears uniform number four, in honour of Canadian hockey legend Bobby Orr. Maple Ridge, BC star Larry Walker hammered 15 homeruns and batted .333 for the second half of the season in helping the St. Louis Cardinals reach the playoffs, despite appearing in just 100 games due to injuries. Port Hope, Ontario's Paul Quantrill had 50 relief appearances and a 2-2 mark for a season where he was shipped from New York Yankees to the San Diego Padres, and then finished with the Florida Marlins. Quantrill had appeared in a major league record 80-plus games for four consecutive seasons heading into 2005. His 841 career appearances ranks 27th all-time in major league history. Calgary's Chris Reitsma chalked up 15 saves and a 3.93 ERA with the NL East winning Braves. He led the Braves in saves and appearances (76). St. John, New Brunswick native Matt Stairs ripped 13 homers and 66 RBI in just 127 games, and led the Royals with his .373 on-base percentage. Vancouver's Jeff Francis notched 14 wins with the Colorado Rockies, who have one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball in Coors Field. He led the Rockies staff, all NL rookie pitchers, as well as all Canadian pitchers in wins, starts (33), innings pitched (183.2) and strikeouts (128). Francis finished sixth in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Montreal's Eric Gagné managed eight saves in eight save opportunities, striking out 22 batters in just 13 innings, and also chalked up a win and a 2.70 ERA before yet another promising season was shelved due to an arm injury in mid-June. Gibsons, BC native Ryan Dempster converted 33 out of 35 save opportunities for the Chicago Cubs, striking out 89 batters in 92 innings and compiling a 3.13 ERA. He was MLB's Relief Pitcher of the Month for September. Navan, Ontario's Erik Bedard put up big numbers (5-1, 2.08 ERA in nine starts) for the Baltimore Orioles before a mid-season injury set him back almost two months. He finished with a 6-8 record, 4.00 ERA, striking out 125 and allowing only 139 hits in 142 innings. Toronto's Jesse Crain racked up 12 wins and a 2.73 ERA with the Minnesota Twins, finishing seventh in major league winning percentage and leading the Twins with 75 appearances. Crain finished eighth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Victoria's Rich Harden, who's season was cut short due to injury, won ten and led all Canadian major league pitchers with a 2.53 ERA while striking out 121 hitters in 128 innings. Anola, Manitoba native Corey Koskie, who missed almost half the season due to injury, hit 11 homers, 20 doubles and had 36 RBI in just 97 games with the Toronto Blue Jays. Moncton, New Brunswicker Rheal Cormier sported a 4-2 record in 57 relief appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies, striking out 34 hitters in 47 innings. Aaron Gueil was called up for the final 33 games of the season and batting .294 with the Kansas City Royals. Prior to call up he crushed 30 homeruns and 95 RBI in 128 Triple-A games, and was named Omaha Royals Player of the Year. Pete Laforest ,from Hull, Quebec was called up in August by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and saw action in 24 games where he compiled 11 hits, 3 doubles and a homerun. Prior to being called back to The Show, Laforest smacked 21 homeruns, 18 doubles, and 52 RBI in just 70 games for a .578 slugging percentage with Triple-A Durham. Adam Stern, of London, Ontario, made the leap to the major leagues and appeared in 36 games for the Boston Red Sox in his rookie season, mainly as a defensive specialist. Stern had two stints on the disabled list, limiting him to a total of 15 at bats in the major leagues and 81 in the minor leagues. St. Marys, Ontario's Mark Teahen became the Royals full-time third baseman as a 23-year-old, batting .246 with 110 hits, 55 RBI and seven homers in his rookie season.