20 Best Canadian-Born MLB Players of All Time

There have been productive Canadian-born players in MLB throughout its history. While only a handful of Canadians have ever been priced among the MVP favourites in the baseball betting markets, it’s worth noting that 35 Canadian-born ballplayers have accumulated more than 10 bWAR.

Based on their career bWAR, these are the 20 best Canadian-born players in baseball history. 

Greatest Canadian Baseball Players

20. Érik Bédard, Pitcher

Enjoying a short peak, Érik Bédard was among the MLB odds favourites for the AL Cy Young Award in 2007. Between 2006 and 2009, Bédard was worth 12.7 bWAR and posted a 131 ERA+. 

19. Rich Harden, Pitcher

After being selected in the 17th round of the 2000 draft, Rich Harden had a solid career in the big leagues. He had a 117 ERA+ across 170 appearances.

18. Paul Quantrill, Pitcher

A highly durable reliever after some struggles as a starter, Paul Quantrill led the majors in pitching appearances in 2002 and 2003. 

17. Ryan Dempster, Pitcher

A two-time All-Star, Ryan Dempster’s best season came in 2006 when he finished sixth in Cy Young voting after posting a 2.96 ERA. 

16. George Wood, Left Fielder

George Wood made his debut for the Worcester Ruby Legs in 1880. Between 1881 and 1887, Wood had a 128 OPS+. 

15. Pete Ward, Third Baseman

Pete Ward received MVP votes in 1963 and 1964, but his peak was cut short by a car accident in 1965. He was troubled by injuries for the rest of his career. 

14. George Selkirk, Outfielder

A five-time World Series winner with the New York Yankees, George Selkirk averaged 4.5 bWAR per 162 games across his nine-year career.

13. Corey Koskie, Third Baseman

Picked in the 26th round in 1994, Corey Koskie exceeded all expectations. He had a successful nine-year career in the majors, peaking with 6.3 bWAR in 2001.

12. Jason Bay, Left Fielder

Rookie of the Year and a three-time All-Star, Jason Bay was one of the best offensive outfielders in the 2000s. Bay averaged 30.2 home runs per season between 2004 and 2009. 

11. Tip O’Neill, Left Fielder

In 1887, Tip O’Neill led the major leagues in bWAR. He had a career OPS+ of 144 and a .326 batting average.

10. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., First Baseman

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is already a five-time All-Star and one of the best players of his generation. He’s going to climb this list in the years to come.

9. Justin Morneau, First Baseman

Justin Morneau is best remembered for winning the AL MVP in 2006. He also finished as a runner-up in 2008 and was one of the best hitters in baseball for almost a decade.

8. Terry Puhl, Outfielder

Terry Puhl was a reliable outfielder for the Houston Astros. Puhl averaged 23 stolen bases per 162 games and was an above-average hitter in all but one season between 1977 and 1985. 

7. John Hiller, Pitcher

A lefty reliever, John Hiller, pitched 125.1 innings in relief in 1973. Between 1967 and 1978, he had a 142 ERA+. 

6. Russ Ford, Pitcher

In Russ Ford’s second season in the majors, he led baseball with 11.4 bWAR. Four years later, he topped the Federal League in ERA+. 

5. Jeff Heath, Left Fielder

Despite only earning two All-Star selections, Jeff Heath was the recipient of MVP votes on five occasions. Heath recorded a career batting average of .293. 

4. Russell Martin, Catcher

An elite defensive catcher, Russell Martin rightly earned MVP consideration in seasons when he was a productive hitter. Martin averaged 4.0 bWAR per 162 games between 2006 and 2016.

3. Joey Votto, First Baseman

One of the most universally loved players in MLB history, Joey Votto won an MVP and twice led the majors in OBP. Votto was renowned for an elite eye, but also had plenty of power and could hit for a high average.

2. Larry Walker, Right Fielder

Larry Walker is a Hall of Famer with an MVP award to his name and seven Gold Gloves. Walker spent most of his career with the Colorado Rockies, resulting in some outrageous offensive numbers. 

1. Fergie Jenkins, Pitcher

Fergie Jenkins had five top-three Cy Young finishes, including his spectacular 1971 season when he won the honour. Jenkins pitched more than 4500 innings in his career and was worth 84.4 bWAR.