Orioles starter Erik Bedard, of Navan, Ont., has the talent to be one of the top pitchers in baseball. (Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press).

The early 1990s was a fun time for Canadian baseball fans.

Outfielder Larry Walker of Maple Ridge, B.C., had established himself as a full-time major leaguer with the Montreal Expos and the Toronto Blue Jays were winning back-to-back World Series titles (1992 and 1993).

At the same time, Moncton’s Rheal Cormier was breaking into the majors as a starting pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, while outfielder/infielder Matt Stairs was ready to embark on what is now a 13-plus year career.

Many more would follow. This season’s arrival of Scott Thorman in Atlanta and Ryan Braun in Kansas City made it 22 Canucks in the majors – the most since 1884 when 28 Canadians played in three major leagues.

“Canadians began to get more notice a few years ago [2002] when [Colorado Rockies pitcher] Jeff Francis and [Baltimore Orioles left-hander Adam] Loewen went in the first round [of the MLB draft],” Washington Nationals pitcher Shawn Hill, who hails from Georgetown, Ont., told the Toronto Sun this past June.

“There are a lot of good Canadian kids in the minors now. It would be good to get the number to 25-30 players in a few years.”

Below are the 22 Canadians who appeared in the major leagues this season:

Jason Bay, 28 – Trail, B.C.
After a slow start to the season, the cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Pirates' lineup became the first major leaguer since Sammy Sosa and Shawn Green in 2001 to hit 10 home runs in 10 games (May 18-28). A .286 hitter, Bay surpassed his career-highs in home runs and RBIs with 35 and 109, respectively.
Projected 2007 role: Bay will remain the Pirates' cleanup hitter and biggest offensive threat.

Erik Bedard, 27 – Navan, Ont.
The six-foot-one left-hander faded at the end of May last year, but has been a model of consistency in 2006 for the Baltimore Orioles. Bedard won seven consecutive decisions from June 16 to July 23 and finished 15-11 overall with a 3.75 earned-run average and 171 strikeouts in 196 1/3 innings.
Projected 2007 role: Will continue his development as the staff ace.

Ryan Braun, 26 – Kitchener, Ont.
The right-handed relief pitcher made his major-league debut for the Kansas City Royals on Sept. 2 and didn't surrender an earned run in his first three games. Sidelined most of 2005 following shoulder surgery, Braun posted a 0-1 record and 6.74 earned-run average with two blown saves in nine appearances for Kansas City.
Projected 2007 role: Could figure in next year's battle for the Royals' closer job.

Rheal Cormier, 39 – Moncton, N.B.
Was lights out in the first half of the season – 1.59 earned-run average in 43 appearances with St. Louis – prior to July 31 trade to Cincinnati. In 21 games with the Reds, Cormier went 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA and allowed 21 hits in 14 innings.
Projected 2007 role: Key member of bullpen after signing a one-year contract extension through 2007 with a club option for 2008.

Jesse Crain, 25 – Toronto
Coming off a stellar 2005 season (12-5, 2.71), the Minnesota Twins' set-up man won only two of seven decisions in the first half with a bloated 5.03 earned-run average. The six-foot-one, 205-pounder settled down after the all-star break with an impressive 1.93 ERA in 32 games. Crain had a 4-5 record overall with a 3.52 ERA.
Projected 2007 role: Will remain one of the Twins' primary set-up men.

Ryan Dempster, 29 – Sechelt, B.C.
The right-handed closer converted only 24 of 33 save chances for the Chicago Cubs after leading the National League in save percentage (94.2) last year. Dempster struggled down the stretch, going 0-4 with an 11.36 earned-run average in 12 appearances from Aug. 29-Sept. 24. His 4.80 ERA was the highest since 2003 when he played for Cincinnati.
Projected 2007 role: Is expected to return to closer role.

Jeff Francis, 25 - Vancouver
Who says pitchers can't survive in the thin air of Colorado? The Rockies' six-foot-five southpaw improved steadily following a rough April (0-2, 4.50 earned-run average in five starts) and boasted a respectable 4.30 ERA at hitter-friendly Coors Field. With a 13-11 record, Francis failed to match his 2005 win total (14) but shaved nearly two runs off his 2005 earned-run average (4.16 from 5.68).
Projected 2007 role: Staff ace.

Eric Gagne, 30 – Montreal
Los Angeles Dodgers closer had his season cut short in early July after surgery to repair a herniated disc. Having averaged more than 50 saves from 2002 to 2004, Gagne appeared in just two games this season, collecting one save. He missed most of 2005 following right elbow surgery and was shelved earlier this season with a nerve problem in his right elbow.
Projected 2007 role: He's expected to be ready by spring training in 2007, but has a $1 million buyout option in his contract.

Aaron Guiel, 33 - Vancouver
The former Kansas City Royal was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees on July 5 after batting .220 in 19 games. Guiel produced in a limited role with New York, hitting .256 with four home runs in 82 at-bats.
Projected 2007 role: At 33, he will probably be vying for a bench spot, perhaps with the Yankees.

Rich Harden, 24 – Victoria
Another season of hope for the Oakland Athletics' hard-throwing right-hander went awry. Sidelined from June 4 to Sept. 20 with a sprained ligament in his right elbow, Harden came back with a strong three-inning effort (one run, seven strikeouts) against Cleveland on Sept. 21. A 10-game winner in 2005, he finished with a 4-0 record and 4.24 earned-run average in nine starts this season.
Projected 2007 role: Staff ace, barring more injuries.

Shawn Hill, 25 – Georgetown, Ont.
The right-handed starter was shut down for the season by the Washington Nationals in mid-August because of soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow. Hill, who battled arm stiffness in his final start on June 28 against the Toronto Blue Jays, went 1-3 with a 4.66 earned-run average after missing the entire 2005 campaign following Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery.
Projected 2007 role: Barring a setback, he will compete for a spot in the starting rotation.

Jason Bay, of Trail B.C., enjoyed another steller season at the plate in 2006. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images).

Corey Koskie, 33 – Anola, Man.
His first season in the National League didn't go quite as expected. The Milwaukee Brewers third baseman didn't play after suffering a concussion while making a spectacular defensive play on July 8. In 76 games, Koskie – a former Toronto Blue Jay – hit .261 with 12 home runs and 33 runs batted in.
Projected 2007 role: Koskie is under contract for next season and could reclaim his old job in spring training.

Adam Loewen, 22 – Surrey, B.C.
The Baltimore Orioles’ rookie left-hander was a big contributor in the second half of the season, sporting a 6-4 record and 4.72 earned-run average in 15 games (14 starts) and 6-6, 5.37, totals overall. Long touted for his ability, Loewen was 0-2 with a 7.09 ERA in nine appearances (six starts) before he was sent to triple-A Ottawa on June 25.
Projected 2007 role: Loewen will be given another chance to secure a starting job.

Russell Martin, 23 – East York, Ont.
He earned a promotion from triple-A Las Vegas on May 6 when Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dioner Navarro injured his wrist. A converted third baseman, Martin took over the No. 1 role and hit .282 with 10 home runs and 65 RBIs in 121 games.
Projected 2007 role: Starting catcher for years to come.

Scott Mathieson, 22 - Vancouver
After splitting time among the Philadelphia Phillies and their double-A and triple-A affiliates this season, the right-handed starting pitcher was called up for good on Sept. 1. However, he left six pitches into his start on Sept. 2 with a sprained right elbow. In nine games (eight starts) with the big club, he was 1-4 with a 7.47 earned-run average.
2007 projected role: Will battle for fifth-starter's job.

Justin Morneau, 25 – New Westminster, B.C.
Minnesota Twins first baseman went from injury risk in 2005 to American League MVP candidate this season. Morneau rebounded from a slow start to ignite the Twins' push for an American League Central pennant. He appeared in 157 games and posted a .321 average with 34 home runs and 130 runs batted in.
2007 projected role: Perhaps a move to the cleanup spot in the batting order behind catcher Joe Mauer.

Pete Orr, 27 – Richmond Hill, Ont.
The Atlanta Braves' utility infielder is the first to admit his confidence took a hit by the struggles created by a lack of playing time. A .300 hitter in his rookie campaign of 2005, Orr frequently sat in favour of Wilson Betemit earlier this season and was hitting just .229 in his first 105 at-bats. After Betemit was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 28, Orr hit .406 in August and finished the season with a .253 average.
Projected 2007 role: The Braves' primary utility player.

Chris Reitsma, 28 – Calgary
The 2006 season ended for the Cincinnati Reds closer when he felt numbness in his right hand during a July 1 game against Baltimore. It was the second time in a three-week period that Reitsma was put on the disabled list with ulnar neuritis. Reitsma began the season as the Braves' closer but was ineffective, posting an 8.68 earned-run average and blowing four of 12 save opportunities in 27 games.
2007 projected role: A bullpen job if Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery isn't required.

Matt Stairs, 38 – Fredericton
It took a trade and a waiver claim this season but Stairs found himself in a pennant race with the Detroit Tigers. The former Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals designated hitter batted .247 overall with 13 homers and 51 RBIs in 117 games.
Projected 2007 role: A soon-to-be free agent, Stairs might opt to retire after playing for nine teams in 14 seasons.

Adam Stern, 26 – London, Ont.
The five-foot-11 outfielder managed four runs batted in during a 10-game stint with the Boston Red Sox before he was sent to triple-A Pawtucket on April 20. In July, Stern was pulled off waivers after the Tampa Bay Devil Rays claimed him. Boston had intended to ship Stern to the Baltimore Orioles to complete the Javy Lopez trade.
Projected 2007 role: Was dealt to Baltimore on Oct. 3 and will compete for a backup job with the Orioles.

Mark Teahen, 25 – Redlands, Calif.
Although he was born and raised in southern California, Teahen has dual citizenship because his father Mike was born in St. Marys, Ont. Teahen's promising season with the Kansas City Royals was cut short on Sept. 8 when he had arthroscopic surgery to repair a partial labrum tear in his right shoulder. He batted .290 in 109 games with 18 home runs and 69 RBIs.
Projected 2007 role: He will battle top prospect Alex Gordon for the third-base job in spring training.

Scott Thorman, 24 – Cambridge, Ont.
The Braves' six-foot-three, 235-pound slugger made his first big-league start on June 18, less than 24 hours after being told to head to Atlanta from triple-A Richmond. Thorman collected his first hit two days later against Toronto and first home run on July 5 as a pinch hitter versus St. Louis. The first baseman/outfielder appeared in 55 games with Atlanta this season, averaging .234 with five homers and 14 RBIs.
Projected 2007 role: Will battle for a roster spot next spring.