* INF Malik Collymore (Mississauga, Ont.) played for the Ontario Blue Jays who had the most current players or alumni drafted (six) and the Canadian Junior National Team (17). .... MLB open workouts 2014 Canadian draft list 2013 Canadians in the Minors  2013 Canadian collegians playing summer ball 2013 Canadians in College  Letters of Intent

 

By Bob Elliott

Which program had the most players drafted or signed this year?

Each will tell a player’s family in recruiting sessions that they can “get players to the next level.”

Counting scholarships is one excellent way of measuring a program’s success rate. Another is looking at the number of players and alumni selected in the 2012 draft or signed by major league clubs.

And this season the Ontario Blue Jays, coached by Danny Bleiwas and Sean Travers, had the most.

In a year that only 21 Canadians, were selected the lowest draft total since 1992 (20), as the new Basic Agreement eliminated rounds 41-through-50. A total of 14 signed, plus three free agents.

The Ontario Blue Jays had six players or alumni drafted: Malik Collymore (Mississauga, Ont.), RHP Sean Ratcliffe (Ajax, Ont.), INF Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) and C Owen Spiwak (Mississauga, Ont.) from this team plus alumni C Mike Reeves (Peterborough, Ont.) of Florida Gulf Coast University OF Julian Service (Whitby, Ont.) of Northeast Texas College.

This year Team Ontario was second this year with four former players: Collymore, Ratcliffe, Pinero and Spiwak

A year ago the Ontario Blue Jays led with seven players selected.

In 2011 the Ontario Terriers and the Ontario Blue Jays shared the lead with four players drafted or signed.

The Academy Baseball Canada and the Toronto Mets shared top honours in 2010 with each program having four players selected.

The Langley Blaze and Alberta-based Vauxhall Academy were the most productive in 2009 with six apiece.

The Ontario Blue Jays had most in 2008 with six, edging the Blaze by one.

The top 10 list over the last five years shows the Ontario Blue Jays with 28 players drafted.

In second spot are the Terriers and the the ABC with 18, followed by the Langley Blaze with 17. Next are the Vauxhall Academy Jets with 12 and the Windsor Selects with 11.

The 2013 rundown

Ontario Blue Jays, coached by Danny Bleiwas and and Sean Travers (6): INF Malik Collymore (Mississauga, Ont.) 10th, Cardinals; RHP Sean Ratcliffe (Ajax, Ont.) 18th, Toronto Blue Jays; INF Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) 20th round, Astros; C Mike Reeves (Peterborough, Ont.) 21st round, Florida Gulf Coast University, Toronto Blue Jays; C Owen Spiwak (Mississauga, Ont.) 26th round, Mets; OF Julian Service (Whitby, Ont.) 37th round, Northeast Texas College, Twins.

Team Ontario 16s, coached by Marc Picard (4): INF Malik Collymore (Mississauga, Ont.) 10th, Cardinals; INF Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) 20th round, Astros; C Owen Spiwak (Mississauga, Ont.) 26th round, Mets; OF Julian Service (Whitby, Ont.) 37th round, Northeast Texas College, Twins.

Academy Baseball Canada, coached by Joel Landry (2): INF Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) 32nd round, Brewers; C Simon Gravel (Terrebonne, Que.) signs as a Free Agent by Boston Red Sox.

Ontario Terriers, coached by Scott Van de Valk (2): LHP Travis Seabrooke (Peterborough, Ont.) 5th round, Orioles; RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope Ont.) 26th round, New York Yankees.

Vauxhall Academy Jets, coached by Les McTavish (2): 3B-OF Adam Nelubowich (Stony Plain, Alta.) 18th round, Washington State University, Astros; INF Chris Thibideau (Cole Harbour, N.S.) 40th round, Padres.

Abbotsford Cardinals, coached by Corey Eckstein (1): RHP Kurtis Kostuk (Abbotsford, BC) 38th round, Diamondbacks.

Broward Bangers, coached by Mike Moss (1): C Simon Gravel (Terrebonne, Que.) signs as a Free Agent by Boston Red Sox.

Canisius College Griffins, coached by Mike McRae (1): Jon Fitzsimmons (London, Ont.), Wilson Tobs, signed free-agent contract with Royals.

Central Michigan University Chippewas, coached by Steve Jaska (1): RHP Dylan Rheault (Sudbury, Ont.) 19th round, Orioles.

Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles, coached by Dave Tollett (1): C Mike Reeves (Peterborough, Ont.) 21st round, Toronto Blue Jays.

Langley Blaze, coached by Jamie Bodaly and Doug Mathieson (1): Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) 3rd round, Mariners.

London Badgers, coached by Mike Lumley (1): RP Jon Fitzsimmons (London, Ont.) signed free-agent contract with Royals.

London Majors, coached by Roop Chanderdat (1): RHP Dylan Brooks (Dorchester, Ont.) 30th round, Giants.

University of Missouri Tigers, coached by Tim Jamieson (1): LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) 2nd round, Cubs.

New Mexico Jr. College Thunderbirds, coached by Josh Simpson (1): RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) 4th round, Nationals

New Mexico State Aggies, coached by Rocky Ward (1): RHP Tom Brendel (Victoria, BC) signed free-agent contract with Arizona Diamondbacks.

North Shore Twins, coached by John Harr and Larson Bauck (1): INF Lachlan Fontaine (North Vancouver, BC) 12th round, Mariners.

Northeast Texas Community College Eagles, coached by Josh Stewart (1): OF Julian Service (Whitby, Ont.) 37th round, Twins.

Okanagan Athletics, coached by Evan Bailey (1): C Morgan Lofstrom (Kelowna, BC) 20th round, Reds.

Ontario Nationals, coached by Shawn Gillespie (1): RHP Dylan Brooks (Dorchester, Ont.) 30th round, Giants.

Royal Repentigny, coached by Danny Prata (1): C Simon Gravel (Terrebonne, Que.) signs as a free agent by Boston Red Sox.

Sierra College Wolverines, coached by Rob Willson (1): RHP Andrew Cooper (Belle River, Ont.) 11th round, Nationals.

Sudbury Hitmen, coached by Tony Rheault (1): RHP Dylan Rheault (Sudbury, Ont.) 19th round, Central Michigan, Orioles.

Tecumseh Thunder, coach by Dave Cooper (1): RHP Andrew Cooper (Belle River, Ont.) 11th round, Sierra College, Nationals.

Toronto Mets, coached by Ryan McBride (1): RHP Daniel Procopio (Toronto, Ont.) 22nd round, New York Mets.

Victoria Eagles, coached by Bob Mabee (1): RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) 4th round, New Mexico Jr. College, Nationals.

Washington State University Cougars, coached by Donnie Marbut (1): 3B-OF Adam Nelubowich (Stony Plain, Alta.) 18th round, Astros.

Wilson Tobs, coached by Austin Love (1): RP Jon Fitzsimmons (London, Ont.) signed free-agent contract with the Kansas City Royals.

Windsor Selects, coached by Buzz Morris and Chris Soulliere (1): RHP Daniel Procopio (Toronto, Ont.) 22nd round, New York Mets.

And the top team to play for when it came to current players or grads drafted or signed the Canadian Junior National Team  (17): RF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC), 3rd round, Langley Blaze, Mariners; RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) 4th round, New Mexico Jr. College, Nationals; LHP Travis Seabrooke (Peterborough, Ont.) 5th round, Ontario Terriers, Orioles; INF Malik Collymore (Mississauga, Ont.) 10th, Ontario Blue Jays, Cardinals; INF Lachlan Fontaine (North Vancouver, BC) 12th round, North Shore Twins, Mariners; 3B-OF Adam Nelubowich (Stony Plain, Alta.) 18th round, Washington State, Astros; RHP Sean Ratcliffe (Ajax, Ont.) 18th, Ontario Blue Jays, Toronto Blue Jays; INF Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) 20th round, Ontario Blue Jays, Astros; C Morgan Lofstrom (Kelowna, BC) 20th round, Okanagan Athletics, Reds; RHP Daniel Procopio (Toronto, Ont.) 22nd round, Toronto Mets, New York Mets; C Owen Spiwak (Mississauga, Ont.) 26th round, Ontario Blue Jays, Mets; RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope Ont.) 26th round, Ontario Terriers, New York Yankees, RHP Dylan Brooks (Dorchester, Ont.) 30th round, London Majors, Giants; INF Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) 32nd round, ABC, Brewers; RHP Kurtis Kostuk (Abbotsford, BC) 38th round, Abbotsford Cardinals, Diamondbacks; INF Chris Thibideau (Cole Harbour, N.S.) 40th round, Vauxhall Academy, Padres and RP Jon Fitzsimmons (London, Ont.) Wilson Tobs, signed free-agent contract with Royals.