After 4 starts for Vancouver, Dawson reported left elbow pain, and fearing Tommy John surgery, was rested for the remainder of the season.

[3] Dawson spent the entire 2014 campaign with the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts, making 14 appearances (10 starts) before being shut down in July due to arm fatigue.

[2] He began the 2015 season with Lansing, where he was named a Midwest League All-Star, and was selected to play for the Canada national baseball team at the Pan American Games, winning the gold medal.

[4] After the Games he returned to Lansing and continued his run of success, earning his league-leading 12th win[5] before being called up to the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays on August 1.

[2] He played the entire 2016 season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, where he posted a 10–4 record, 4.22 ERA, and 95 strikeouts in a career-high 1341⁄3 innings pitched.