Aaron Wideman

Aaron J. Wideman
(A.J.)

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 190 lb.
• High School Streetsville Secondary School

• Born June 8, 1985 in Mississauga, ON Canada

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Aaron Wideman pitched nine seasons in the minor leagues and played for the Canadian national team. He went 37-37 in the minors.

Wideman was drafted by the Montréal Expos in the 11th round of the 2003 amateur draft. He debuted professionally with the GCL Expos, going 2-4 with a save and a 2.03 ERA; he struck out 37 and walked 7 in 40 innings. Had he qualified, he would have made the Gulf Coast League's top 10 in ERA. In 2004, he was 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA for the Vermont Expos. Had he qualified, he would have trailed only Anibal Sanchez in ERA in the New York-Penn League. He had a 0.87 WHIP that year.

In March of 2005, Wideman was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays for Tyrell Godwin. He had a 7-10, 4.91 record for the Lansing Lugnuts, facing his first challenge. His strikeout to walk ratio remained good at 3.18:1. He was with Team Canada for the 2005 Baseball World Cup, going 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA and picking up a victory over the South African national team.

Wideman battled injuries in 2006, going 1-4 with a 5.00 ERA in his 11 games for Lansing. In 2007, he was back in form, posting a 3-0, 3.74 record for Lansing and 11-5, 3.61 for the Dunedin Blue Jays. He led Toronto farmhands in wins that season.

Wideman was back with Team Canada for the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament, pitching five scoreless innings. He was used in "easy" roles, facing South Africa and Spain, the two bottom-dwellers in the tourney.

Sources

• 2004-2008 Baseball Almanacs
• IBAF site
• 2007 Blue Jays Media Guide