PITTSBURGH -- With his unlikely path to the big leagues littered along the way with obstacles, Jason Bay knows a little something about rising to the occasion when the odds are stacked against him.
As he attempts to become the first Canadian and Pirates player to win the Rookie of the Year Award, his experience as an underdog should come in handy.
Unlike most kids in Trail, British Columbia, Bay preferred swinging a baseball bat to a hockey stick. After helping his town's team advance to the 1990 Little League World Series, he was hooked.
"Going there and playing in front of that many people really piqued my interest for baseball," said Bay.
However, making his mark in the game would not be easy. Because Bay's high school did not have a baseball team, he had to travel across the border to play for an American Legion team in Idaho. From there, he played junior college baseball at North Idaho College -- not exactly a hotbed for baseball scouts in search of the next Brian Giles. In fact, the North Idaho baseball program is now defunct.
Bay's baseball odyssey continued at Gonzaga University. After winning the West Coast Conference batting title as a senior, he was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 22nd round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft.
Three years and two organizations later, the up-and-coming prospect was traded to the Pirates as part of a deal that sent Giles to the San Diego Padres. Bay was immediately penciled in to replace the Bucs' former franchise centerpiece in left field.
What some might consider pressure, Bay viewed as opportunity. After all, he'd traveled a longer road to the Major Leagues than most.
"I'd been traded two times prior to that, so trades were nothing new to me," said Bay. "But this time it was for an All-Star player. There were a little bit of expectations, but I never looked at it that way.
"I'm not trying to go out there doing what he did. I hope people don't expect me to do that. I'm just going out there trying to establish myself. Once the games started, I wasn't thinking about anything but doing my job."
Bay stepped up to the challenge by hitting .291 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 27 games with the Pirates. The highlight of his season was an eight-RBI night against the Cubs on Sep. 19, 2003.
After establishing himself as Pittsburgh's starting left fielder of the future, Bay was met by another challenge. An aching right shoulder required surgery in November. And, despite efforts to rehab the injury during the offseason, Bay was forced to sit out all of Spring Training and the first month of the 2004 campaign.
Jason Bay / LF
Born: 09/20/78
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
"It was very tough," said Bay. "But the reality was there was nothing I could do. I just had to move on."
Bay didn't exactly tear up the league upon his return. On June 15, he sat staring dejectedly into his locker following a second four-strikeout night in five days. A shot at the Rookie of the Year Award was the last thing on his mind. He was struggling to prove that he belonged in the big leagues.
"I think I tried to do too much too fast when I first came back," said Bay. "It really tests you as a person as far as whether you can handle the failure and can you handle not doing well. I think that made me a better ballplayer and a better person dealing with it."
Since then, it's been mostly smooth sailing for the slugger. Bay was the June and July winner of the National League Rookie of the Month, and he heads into the Pirates off day Monday as the Major League rookie leader in home runs (24), RBIs (75) and slugging percentage (.576). He also ranks second in batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.370).
Despite Bay's impressive credentials, Padres shortstop Khalil Greene has seemingly become the choice du jour among some in the national media. Greene's supporters say his defense and importance to a contending should earn him the nod over Bay.
Bay's teammates and manager couldn't disagree more.
"The other rookies are good," said Bucs shortstop Jack Wilson. "But to do what he is doing, leading in all categories after missing a month -- the numbers don't lie. The numbers he has put up, with his rankings, it should be no contest."
"Take the numbers he's put up and he's blowing every other rookie out of the water," said Pirates skipper Lloyd McClendon. "What else does he have to do?"
The ever-modest Bay has resisted stumping for himself.
"I never expected things to go this well this fast," said Bay. "I'm just glad I'm having a good year and proving to people that I can play."
However, he admits that he would be honored to become first Pirate and Canadian to capture the award.
"To have the whole country behind you and be the first Canadian Rookie of the Year, you can't beat that," said Bay. "It's the same with the Pirates. It's kind of hard to believe no Pirate has won when you see all the [retired] jerseys hanging above the [clubhouse] lockers, and all the names that have come through there.
It's all going to come down to the voting at the end. If it happens, it does. If not, I'm still pleased with the way things have gone."
Considering all Bay has been through just to get to the big leagues, it's hard to fathom the perpetual underdog coming up short of beating the odds once again.
Ed Eagle is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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Jason Bay / LF
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