Covering stories for Canada’s only major league team here at Blue Jays Nation means that we also like to keep an eye on what’s happening with Canadian baseball in general. There are typically around 15 to 20 Canucks on major league rosters most seasons, with 26 being the most on an opening day roster back in 2011. In 2024, we saw 18 Canadians on opening day rosters, a number that has a good chance of climbing as we head into next season.

Some of the players on this list played for Team Canada at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, while all twenty have the chance to be on the 2026 roster. There is a good chance that one of these players will eventually take home a Tip O’Neill Award, given annually to the best Canadian baseball player. It was announced on Thursday that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took home the honour for the second time in his career.

Proximity to the Major Leagues, positional value, and ceiling have all been considered when forming this top prospects list. Players range from 19 to 27 years old, hailing from five different provinces, and represent eleven major league teams. To be eligible as a prospect for this rankings list, each player must still have rookie eligibility heading into 2025. Without further ado, let’s start the countdown with a Tampa Bay Rays prospect fresh off his first professional season.

Hometown: Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.

Organization: Tampa Bay Rays

Position: Left-handed pitcher

Acquired: 18th round, 2023 draft (TB)

The Blue Jays drafted Pilon in the 18th round of the 2022 draft as the youngest player taken that year but he decided to return for one more year of high school and travel ball (albeit at a different school). A year later, the Rays snagged him in the same round of the 2023 draft, this time persuading him to sign thanks to an over-slot $172,000 signing bonus.

The 2024 season marked Pilon’s first in professional baseball, one in which he was just 18 years old for the duration of the entire campaign. The left-hander appeared in twelve games (nine starts) in the Florida Complex League, spinning a 3.28 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 61 punchouts and 32 walks through just 46 2/3 innings. This performance earned him a call-up to single-A Charleston, where he continued to flash his potential. Through four games (three starts), the Quebec native managed a 3.21 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 22 strikeouts and 14 walks through 14 innings. He pitched at least 2 2/3 innings in each outing, topping out at five complete innings.

According to Baseball Reference, Pilon was 3.6 years younger than the average single-A ballplayer in 2024, showing that he may be a relatively fast riser through the Rays system. The notable flaw with his 2024 numbers was the walks, which led to a higher-than-ideal WHIP for the season.

Given his age and the strikeout stuff that he has already shown, Pilon has a chance to be a top Canadian pitching prospect if he continues to develop over the next couple of seasons.

The Rays farmhand doesn’t blow anyone away right now with his high 80’s and low 90’s fastball, but his mid-70s curveball has already proven to be his go-to strikeout pitch and should continue to improve. His third pitch is a changeup in the low 80s, an offering that he will likely have to continue to rely on to become an effective starting pitcher. At 6-foot and just turning 19 years old, Pilon lacks some of the desired projectability that teams typically covet at his age but he will continue to develop and add weight to his frame that should lead to some added velocity on his fastball.

The Rays will undoubtedly hope he continues to develop him as a starter, with the option of moving him to the bullpen down the road if necessary. Last year’s numbers remind me of Blue Jays relief prospect Kai Peterson, another 6-foot lefty who wowed with strikeout numbers while dealing with command issues. However, Pilon is three years younger and therefore offers more potential for long-term success.

Despite making it up to single-A as an 18-year-old, the Rays will likely be cautious with the French Canadian in 2025.

I would expect a modest increase on the 60 2/3 innings he pitched in 2024, perhaps again mixing starts with relief appearances. He will likely remain in Charleston for the majority of the season, with the chance to see some time in high-A if things go well for him.