After BP with DBacks, Yerzy watches from on high with co-owner Royer

By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
Now, there is a cable TV network that knows how to run a show.

Andrew Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) formerly of the Toronto Mets took batting practice with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night at the Rogers Centre.

And then Jeffrey Royer, co-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and a Shaw TV director, entertained Patricia Wong and David Yerzy -- the catcher’s parents -- in a box at the Rogers Centre Tuesday night.

Diamondbacks scouts Doug Mathieson (Langely, BC) and Tim Wilken made sure that they landed, Yerzy, the top Candian high school player 52nd over-all, and then gave him had a signing bonus of $1,214,100 Million US. That amount was the 11th highest bonus ever given a Canadian. 

And Royer, long-time Shaw exec and Diamondbacks co-owner, plus the new Arizona employee, saw the DBacks score a 4-2 win over the Rogers Communications-owned Toronto Blue Jays.

Yerzy was one of four this past week to receive six-figures bonuses:

INF Abraham Toro-Hernandez (Greenfield Park, Que.) a fifth rounder from the Seminole State Trojans was given a  $250,000 bonus by Canadian Baseball Network 2015 Scout of the Year Jim Stevenson. 

OF Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.) of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, an eighth round pick of the Detroit Tigers was paid a $181,600 bonus.  

INF Daniel Pinero (Toronto Ont.) of the Virginia Cavs, a ninth round choice of the Tigers was paid a $169,600 bonus amount. 

They join Padres RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.), Stanford University $3,963,045, selected eighth over-all; RHP Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, BC) University of British Columbia who the Diamondbacks gave a $496,700 bonus; INF Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) from Pitt University was given $415,000 by the Texas Rangers. 

C Andrew Yerzy (Port Hope, Ont.) of the Toronto Mets with his parents Patricia and David.

Six-figure signing bonuses for Canadians
Year    Round    Team    Position    Name     Home Town     School/Team    Bonus
2010 1 Pirates RHP Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, Tex., The Woodlands HS, $6.5 Million
2016 1 Padres RHP Cal Quantrill, Port Hope, Ont., Stanford University $3,963,045
2002 1 Orioles LHP Adam Loewen, Surrey, BC, Chipola College, $3.2 Million
2015 1 Marlins 1B Josh Naylor, Mississauga, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays $2.5 Million
2014 2 Mariners OF Gareth Morgan, North York, Ontario Blue Jays/Canadian National Jr Team $2 Million

2015 1 Braves RHP Michael Soroka, Calgary, Alta., Calgary PBF Redbirds/Canadian National Jr. Team $1,974,700
2007 1 Mariners RHP Phillippe Aumont, Gatineau, Que. ABC/Canadian National Jr Team $1.9 Million
2002 1 Rockies LHP Jeff Francis, North Delta, BC, University of British Columbia, $1.85 Million
2008 1 Brewers C  Brett Lawrie, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze/Canadian National Jr Team $1.7 Million
2000 1 Braves INF Scott Thorman, Cambridge, Ont. Team Ontario/Canadian National Jr Team $1.25 Million

2016 2 Diamdondbacks C Andrew Yerzy Toronto, Ont. Toronto Mets/Canadian National Jr Team $1,214,100 Million
2010 1 Rangers C Kellin Deglan, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze/Canadian National Jr Team $1 Million
1997 1 Padres SS Kevin Nicholson, Surrey, BC, Stetson College, $830,000
2013 3 Mariners OF Tyler O’Neill, Maple Ridge, BC, Langley Blaze, $650,000
2015 2 Yankees 2nd LHP Jeff Degano, Surrey, B.C. Indiana State $650,000 

2002 2 Reds INF Joey Votto, Etobicoke, Ont., Etobicoke Rangers $600,000
2007 1 Reds RHP Kyle Lotzkar Tsawwassen, BC  Langley Blaze/Canadian National Jr Team $594,000
1997 1 Orioles OF Ntema Ndungidi, Montreal, Que., Academie Baseball Canada, $500,000
2010 16 Yankees LHP Evan Rutckyj, Windsor, Ont. Windsor Selects/Detroit Jet Box $500,000
2016 4 Diamondbacks RHP Curtis Taylor, Port Coquitlam, BC, University of British Columbia $496,700

2007 1 Blue Jays RHP Trystan Magnuson, Vancouver, BC, University of Louisville $462,500
2014 4 Brewers 4th OF Demi Orimoloye, Orleans, Ont., Ottawa-Nepean Canadians/Canadian Jr. National Team $450,000
2005 3 Indians OF Nick Weglarz, Stevensville, Ont., Team Ontario/Canadian National Jr Team $435,000
2006 4 Dodgers INF Kyle Orr, Victoria B.C., Victoria Mariners $435,000
1996 2 Red Sox RHP Chris Reitsma, Calgary, Alta., Calgary Rockies $425,000

2005 3 Tigers C Chris Robinson, Dorchester, Ont., University of Illinois $422,500
2016 4 Rangers INF Charles Leblanc, Laval, Que. Pitt University $415,000
2015 5 Cubs LHP Ryan Kellogg, Whitby, Ont., Arizona State $376,700
1997 1 White Sox RHP Aaron Myette, Surrey, BC, Central Arizona Community College $375,000
2001 3 Braves OF Adam Stern, London, Ont., University of Nebraska $348,000

2007 3 Rockies C Lars Davis, Grande Prairie, Alta., University of Illinois $337,000
2011 4 Blue Jays RHP Tom Robson, Ladner, BC, Langley Blaze, $325,000
1994 32 Mariners LHP Jordan Zimmerman, Carsland, Alta., Blinn Jr. College $300,000
2002 20 Padres C George Kottaras, Markham, Ont., Connors State College $300,000
2004 7 Reds LHP Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette, St. Laurent, Que. Academie Baseball Canada/Canadian National Jr Team $300,000 

2009 6 Phillies RHP Steven Inch, Edmonton, Alta. Vauxhall Academy/Canadian National Jr Team $300,000
1999 3 Twins C Justin Morneau, New Westminister, BC, North Delta Blue Jays $295,000
2013 5 Orioles LHP Travis Seabrooke North Monaghan, Ont. Ontario Terriers $291,800
2013 10 Cardinals SS Malik Collymore, Mississauga, Ont. Ontario Blue Jays, $275,000
2010 3 Blue Jays OF  Marcus Knecht, North York, Ont., Connors State College $250,000

2014 6 Astros RHP Brock Dykxhoorn, Goderich, Ont., Central Arizona College $250,000
2016 5 Astros INF Abraham Toro-Hernandez Greenfield Park, Que. Seminole State College $250,000
2004 16 Brewers RHP Alexandre Periard, St-Eustache, Que. Academie Baseball Canada/Canadian National Jr Team $243,000
2003 4 Braves 3B Jamie Romak, London, Ont., London Badgers $240,000
2004 11 Mariners OF Mike Saunders, Victoria, BC, Victoria Mariners/allahassee College $237,500

2010 4 Padres INF Chris Bisson Orleans, Ont. University of Kentucky $234,000
2007 4 Royals RHP Mitch Hodge Vancouver, BC, White Rock Titons/Canadian National Jr Team $225,000
1995 3 Rangers RHP Ryan Dempster, Gibsons, BC $200,000
2004 5 Rangers C Mike Nickeas, Vancouver, BC, Georgia Tech University $200,000
2007 6 Reds RHP Evan Hildebrandt, Abbotsford, BC, Abbotsford Cardinals/Canadian National Jr Team $200,000

2007 16 Mariners RHP Colin Buckborough, Niagara Falls, Ont., Bullett Proof Prospects/Canadian National Jr Team $200,000
1996 3 Blue Jays RHP Yan Lachapelle, Gatineau, Que., Academie du Baseball Canada $185,000
2001 5 Brewers RHP Judd Richardson, Caledon, Ont., U of Miami Ohio $185,000
2016 8 Tigers OF Jacob Robson Windsor, Ont. Mississippi State $181,600
1993 2 Brewers SS Danny Klassen, Leamington, Ont., John Carroll HS, Port St. Lucie, Fla. $180,000

2010 7 Brewers RHP Joel Pierce, Windsor, Ont. Windsor Selects $175,000
2001 5 Mariners 2B John Cole, Kanata, Ont., University of Nebraska $170,000
2003 5 Yankees RHP Cory Stuart, White Rock, BC, University of British Columbia $170,000
2016 9 Tigers INF Daniel Pinero, Toronto Ont. Virginia $169,600
2001 5 Dodgers RHP Steve Nelson, Cole Harbour, N.S., Dartmouth Mooseheads $165,000

2005 7 Marlins RHP Chris Leroux, Mississauaga, Ont., Winthrop University $152,000
1997 2 Indians RHP Robbie Vael, Surrey, B.C., Eastern Utah $150,000
2008 16 Jays OF Mike Crouse, Port Moody, B.C. North Shore Twins/Canadian National Jr Team $150,000
2009 15 Dodgers 3B Jeff Hunt, Cambridge, Ont., Intercounty Terriers/Canadian National Jr Team $150,000
2010 10 Astros LHP Evan Grills  Whitby, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays/Canadian National Jr Team $150,000

2010 32 Rangers RHP Steve McKinnon  Duncan, BC, Nanaimo Pirates/Canadian National Jr Team $150,000
2010 16 Jays OF Dalton Pompey, Mississauga, Ont., Oakville Royals/Canadian National Jr Team $150,000
2011 8 Brewers C Dustin Houle, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze//Canadian National Jr Team $150,000
2011 11 Reds RHP Vaughn Covington, Vancouver, BC, Vancouver Cannons/Canadian National Jr Team $150,000
2009 5 Cubs SS Wes Darvill, Langley, B.C. Langley Blaze/Canadian National Jr Team $144,200

2012 7 Brewers LHP David Otterman, Vancouver, BC, University of British Columbia $141,700
2008 11 Rays RHP Brad Furdal  Ancaster, Ont., Inter County Terriers/Canadian Jr Team $140,000
1995 24 Blue Jays LHP Mark Curtis, St. Albert, Alta., Penscaola Jr. College $135,000
2008 16 Reds OF Carter Morrison, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze/Canadian National Jr Team $132,000
2006 7 Twins 1B Jonathan Walterbury, Whitby, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays $128,500

2003 48 Mets SS Jonathan Malo, St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que., Northeastern Oklahoma A&M $125,000
2009 8 Brewers OF Chad Stang, Surrey, B.C. Midland College  $125,000
2001 6 Blue Jays SS Lee Delfino, Pickering Ont., East Carolina University $122,500
2006 7 Blue Jays OF Jonathan Baksh, Mississauga Ont., Florida Tech University $122,500
2007 6 Mets RHP Guillaume Leduc, Boucherville, Que., Academie Baseball Canada $120,000

2003 40 Twins RHP Adam Hawes, Victoria Harbour, Ont., Connors State Jr. College $118,000
1993 2 Expos RHP Martin Mainville, Montreal, Que., Academie Baseball Canada $115,000
2000 6 Expos RHP Shawn Hill, Georgetown, Ont., Team Ontario $115,000
2011 15 Cubs C Justin Marra, Toronto, Ont. Ontario Blue Jays $110,000
2004 7 Brewers RHP Craig Langille, Bedford, NS, Dartmouth Juniors $107,000

2003 4 Giants RHP Brooks McNiven, Vernon, BC, University of British Columbia $105,000
2007 35 Pirates RHP Tom Boleska, Burlington, Ont., High Point University $100,000
2008 16 Brewers RHP Stosh Wawrzasek, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze/Candian National Jr Team $100,000
2010 34 Reds SS Brandon Dailey, Brantford, Ont., Ontario Terriers/Canadian National Jr Team $100,000
2011 26 Blue Jays SS Justin Atkinson, North Surrey BC, Langley Blaze/Canadian National Jr Team $100,000

2012 6 Pirates 3B Pirates Eric Wood, Pickering, Ont. Blinn College $100,000
2012 15 Yankees RHP Dayton Dawe, London, Ont., Ontario Terriers $100,000
2012 26 Blue Jays RHP Nathan DeSouza, Milton, Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Canadian National Jr Team $100,000
2013 13 Mariners 3B Lachlan Fontaine, North Vancouver, BC North Shore Twins $100,000
2015 10 Blue Jays C Owen Spiwak, Mississauga, Ont. Odessa College $100,000

2016 11 Diamondbacks RHP Jake Polancic, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze $100,000