Shushkewich: Five Canadians playing for FCL Blue Jays

Fieldhouse Pirates grad Aiden Taggart (Grimsby, Ont.) is on the Toronto Blue Jays’ FCL roster to begin their season. Photo: Dunedin Blue Jays

April 30, 2026

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

The Florida Complex League is one of the two remaining leagues still awaiting its first pitch, with the Dominican Summer League also on the horizon.

That changes on Saturday for the FCL Blue Jays, who will begin their campaign at the Bobby Mattick Complex against the FCL Phillies at 10:00 am E.T.

For those who follow Canucks in the pro rankings, there are five players listed on the Blue Jays FCL roster to begin the 2026 season.

Aiden Taggart – RHP

Grimsby, Ont.

Of the group listed in this article, Aiden Taggart is the only player to make his pro debut since being signed as an undrafted free agent early in the 2025 season.

In 10 relief appearances last year, Taggart allowed eight earned runs and one home run in 11 2/3 innings, while striking out 13 batters.

The Blue Jays also had Taggart make one appearance for the class-A Dunedin Blue Jays this season, then sent him back to the FCL. The right-hander pitched against the Clearwater Threshers on April 19. He tossed a clean frame, getting a fly out before fanning the next two batters. In that appearance, Taggart threw 12 pitches and was hitting the low-90s with his sinker and using a cutter, changeup and slider.

If Taggart can similarly attack the strike zone in the FCL, the Ontario product will likely end up in class-A before the end of the year.

Owen Gregg – SS

Oakville, Ontario

Last year was supposed to be the debut for infielder Owen Gregg but an injury sidelined him for the entire campaign. The Oakville, Ont., native signed with the Blue Jays as an amateur free agent following the 2024 draft. He didn’t appear in affiliated ball that year, instead, he was allowed to suit up for Canada at the U-18 Pan American Championship.

While he hasn’t appeared in an affiliated game, Gregg recently played against the Junior National Team during their Extended Spring Training camp trip. The right-handed hitter belted a solo home run in that contest.

The 19-year-old FieldHouse Pirates alum still has time on his side. He has a late December birthday that saw him drafted at 17 years old. Healthy heading into the year, Gregg is a player to keep an eye on.

Tim Piasentin – 3B

Coquitlam, B.C.

The Blue Jays selected two Canadians in the 2025 MLB draft and Tim Piasentin found himself heading to pro baseball after hearing his name called in the fifth round.

Piasentin was the highest-ranked Canadian prep player heading into the 2025 draft, and with good reason. The Junior National Team grad excelled at the Canadian Futures Showcase in the fall of 2024, winning the Home Run Derby. He features an easy swing from the left side.

Similar to Gregg, he faced the JNT squad earlier this month, going 1-for-4 with a double. This will be Piasentin’s debut season after the Blue Jays kept him in the complex following the draft, and the 20th-ranked prospect in the farm system should get regular reps at third base.

Sam White – 3B

Aurora, Ont.

Keeping the undrafted free agent signing train rolling, the next to get on board is Sam White, a versatile player that can hit for both contact and power.

White spent three years with the West Virginia Mountaineers and was the club’s go-to second baseman entering the 2025 season. A shoulder injury forced him to the DH spot during the season. This likely hurt his draft stock. In his junior season, White led the team in batting average (.361) and hits (69) while ranking second in RBIs (46), runs (47), and doubles (17), earning ABCA All-East Region First Team honours.

That shoulder injury may have played a part in the Blue Jays deciding to keep White on the sidelines following the signing, as he finished the year on the IL. Look for White to be a quick mover in the Blue Jays' farm system if the bat can transfer from his D1 playing days.

Micah Bucknam – RHP

Abbotsford, B.C.

It was a bit interesting to see a college arm like Micah Bucknam listed on the FCL Blue Jays roster heading into the 2026 season, but now we know why.

The right-hander was placed on the full-season injured list on March 26. We don’t know the extent of the injury.

The outcome is unfortunate for Bucknam, who was looking solid after spending his junior season at Dallas Baptist University. He made 13 starts for the Patriots, posting a 4.62 ERA with 32 runs allowed in 62 1/3 innings while striking out 80, authoring an 11.6 K/9 with an impressive 3.6 BB/9.

Things were trending in the right direction for Bucknam, a name the Blue Jays liked so much they drafted him twice (first back in 2021, a 16th-round selection out of high school). Now fans will have to wait one more year to see the former Abbotsford Cardinal and the Jays current No. 18 ranked prospect.