By Zane Miller
In the 20-season long history of the current Vancouver Canadians, there have been 20 different starting pitchers to lead the team in wins in each season. Also during this time, Vancouver has gone 4 for 7 in championship finals appearances, to go along with eight playoff appearances in total. These are the top five starting pitchers that I felt have stood out the most during the team history of the Canadians.
5. Will McAffer (Active 2018-pres.)
The 746th overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Tulane picked up a record of 7-2 with three home runs, 12 earned runs and 22 hits allowed on 29.1 innings pitched, taking a 3.68 ERA in the process. The Canadians finished the season with a 40-36 record, missing the playoffs.
4. Philip Brua (Active 2011-12)
Brua pitched to a 7-1 record in his MiLB debut in the 2011 season, giving up three home runs, 12 earned runs and 33 hits over 40 innings to claim 2.70 ERA on the year. The Canadians reached the 2011 playoffs with a 39-37 record, beating the Eugene Emeralds in the first round two games to one, then taking down the Tri-City Dust Devils in three games to win the first championship in franchise history.
In 2012, Brua had a reduced role with the team, going 2-0 while pitching only 7.1 innings, with no home runs, one earned run and two hits allowed for a 1.23 ERA, as Brua spent most of the season in low-A with the Lansing Lugnuts. Vancouver went on to make the 2012 playoffs with a 46-30 record, beating the Everett AquaSox in two games to make the finals, where the team eliminated the Boise Hawks in three games to win back-to-back championships, as well as the second championship overall in team history.
3. Scott Deal (Active 2006)
The 161st overall pick in the 2005 draft out of Curtis High School in Washington went 8-4 with the Canadians in 2006, with three home runs, 33 earned runs and 73 hits allowed in 76 innings pitched, going on to earn a 3.91 ERA. Vancouver finished 2006 with a winning record at 39-37, although it would not be enough to qualify for the playoffs.
2. Nate Long (Active 2009-10)
The 783rd overall pick in the 2009 draft went 1-2 in his MiLB debut season, allowing five home runs, 27 earned runs and 45 hits in 36.1 innings pitched for a 6.69 ERA. The Canadians went 36-40 on the season, with the team unable to qualify for the 2009 playoffs.
In 2010, Long had a much more successful season with the Canadians, scoring an 8-2 record while giving up four home runs, 30 earned runs and 95 hits over the course of 87 innings pitched, taking a 3.10 ERA. The team earned a 42-34 record on the year to reach the 2010 playoffs, but would be eliminated in the first round courtesy of the AquaSox.
1. Javier Avendano (Active 2012)
Avendano dominated in the 2012 season, earning an 8-1 record with only three home runs, 11 earned runs and 53 hits allowed in 78 innings pitched for an impressive 1.27 ERA. With this, the Canadians qualified for the 2012 playoffs with a 46-30 record, which tied with the 2014 season as the team’s best regular season showing as of this writing. As mentioned earlier, the team knocked out Everett two games to none, then defeating the Boise Hawks two games to one to earn back-to-back championships.
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