Feb

Yankees hire Boucher to scout Canada

Via Bob Elliott, the Yankees have hired Denis Boucher to be their scout for Quebec and Eastern Canada, where they haven’t had one since 2005. Boucher has previously scouted for the Expos and Nationals, and B-Ref chronicles all of his coaching experience. The Yankees are apparently the only team without a Canadian player, majors or minors, so it’s good to see them get back up there.

As player development becomes more and more competitive, teams are looking at more unconventional sources of talent. The best draft eligible prospects from Canada this year are Evan Grills and Evan Rutckyj, both lefty pitchers from Ontario who are projected as 3rd-5th rounders. That doesn’t include University of Kentucky southpaw James Paxton, who has Canadian roots and should go in the top 20 picks. (h/t Steve)

Categories : Asides, Draft

9 Comments»

Tom Swift says:

February 22, 2010 at 5:41 pm

Do the Canadians play much beisbol in high school and college? The cold weather probably truncates the season.

pat says:

February 22, 2010 at 5:54 pm

Truncates.. good word.

Reply

Steve H says:

February 22, 2010 at 5:42 pm

Considering he’s scouting Canada, it has to be prounounced Boo-shay right? Like the Waterboy?

Andy In Sunny Daytona says:

February 22, 2010 at 5:56 pm

First name must be “DEN-knee”.

Reply

All Praise Be To Mo says:

February 22, 2010 at 5:49 pm

Slow news day…

Benjamin Kabak says:

February 22, 2010 at 6:59 pm

Yeah, man. Those two Chan Ho Park posts with nearly 300 comments combined and the earlier Johnny Damon post with 100+ comments. Very slow news day.

Comments like this will only get you in the RAB doghouse. That’s a warning.

Reply

pat says:

February 22, 2010 at 5:54 pm

I knew there was some sort of Yankees-Paxton connection. He was selected by the Jays in 2009 with the supplementary pick they received from our Burnett signing. Obviously he ended up spurning the Jays. Sucks for them.

Salty Buggah says:

February 22, 2010 at 6:15 pm

Confidence Level: 12

Park and Boucher in the same day? Nice. Both solid moves.

/not sarcasm

Accent Shallow says:

February 22, 2010 at 7:29 pm

This is a good thing.

I always wonder why the Yankees don’t use their financial advantage to get more/better scouts, so this is a start. No region should go uncovered.