By Bob Elliott
He was winning bantam home run derbies as a minor bantam at Mississauga’s Rivergrove Park.

He was competing front of 41,000 in the Junior Home Run Derby at Target Field, sharing a seat watching with Jose Bautista, Justin Morneau and Giancarlo Stanton last July.

And now, slugger Josh Naylor will be paid by the Miami Marlins, the same organization that pays Stanton.  

The Mississauga first baseman agreed to a $2.25 million US signing bonus Friday morning.

Naylor, who plays for the Ontario Blue Jays and coach Danny Bleiwas, as well as the Canadian Junior National Team, was drafted by the Marlins 12th over-all in North America on June 8. 

He was the highest position player ever selected in the draft and his signing bonus is third highest behind only right-hander Jameson Taillon of The Woodlands, Tex. (chosen second by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who signed for $6.5 Million in 2010) and lefty Adam Loewen of Surrey, B.C. (fourth over-all to the Baltimore Orioles, who was given a $3.2 Million bonus).

A total of 19 of the 30 Canadians drafted in June have signed including six for six-figure amounts before their first at-bat or bullpen session:

The Atlanta Braves gave Calgary right-hander Michael Soroka, the New York Yankees gave lefty Jeff Degano of Surrey, a $650,000 bonus, the Chicago Cubs gave Whitby lefty Ryan Kellogg $376,700, the Blue Jays gave Mississauga catcher Owen Spiwak $100,000 bonus and Naylor.

Outfielder Miles Gordon of Oakville and the Great Lake Canadians was selected in the fourth round, 115th over-all. Slot money for that spot is $493,400. 

 

Top Signing bonuses to 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
2002 1 Orioles LHP Adam Loewen, Surrey, BC, Whalley Chiefs/Canadian Jr National Team $3.2 Million
2015 1 Marlins 1B Josh Naylor, Mississauga, Ontario Blue Jays/Canadian Jr National Team $2.25 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 $1.125 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
2015 2  Yankees 2nd LHP Jeff Degano, Surrey, B.C. Indiana State $650,000 
2013 3 Mariners OF Tyler O’Neill, Maple Ridge, BC, Langley Blaze, $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 Junior 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
2007 1 Blue Jays RHP Trystan Magnuson, Vancouver, BC, University of Louisville $462,500
2014 4 Brewers 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 Junior 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
2015 5 Cubs LHP Ryan Kellogg, 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 
2009 6 Phillies RHP Steven Inch, Edmonton, Alta. Vauxhall Academy/Canadian National Junior Team $300,000
2004 7 Reds LHP Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette, St. Laurent, Que. Academie Baseball Canada/Canadian National Junior Team $300,000

2002 20 Padres C George Kottaras, Markham, Ont., Connors State College $300,000
1994 32 Mariners LHP Jordan Zimmerman, Carsland, Alta., Blinn Jr. College $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 US
2004 16 Brewers RHP Alexandre Periard, St-Eustache, Que. Academie Baseball Canada/Canadian National Junior 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 Junior 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 Junior Team $200,000

2007 16 Mariners RHP Colin Buckborough, Niagara Falls, Ont., Bullett Proof Prospects/Canadian National Junior Team $200,000
2001 5 Brewers RHP Judd Richardson, Caledon, Ont., U of Miami Ohio $185,000
1996 3 Blue Jays RHP Yan Lachapelle, Gatineau, Que., Academie du Baseball Canada $185,000
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. $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
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

2011 8 Brewers C Dustin Houle, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze//Canadian National Junior Team $150,000 
2011 11 Reds RHP Vaughn Covington, Vancouver, BC, Vancouver Cannons/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000
2010 10 Astros LHP Evan Grills  Whitby, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000
2009 15 Dodgers 3B Jeff Hunt, Cambridge, Ont., Intercounty Terriers/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000
2008 16 Jays OF Mike Crouse, Port Moody, B.C. North Shore Twins/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000

2010 16 Jays OF Dalton Pompey, Mississauga, Ont., Oakville Royals/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000
2010 32 Rangers RHP Steve McKinnon  Duncan, BC, Nanaimo Pirates/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000
2009 5 Cubs SS Wes Darvill, Langley, B.C. Langley Blaze/Canadian National Junior Team $144,200
2012 7 Brewers LHP David Otterman, Vancouver, BC, UBC $141,700 
2008 11 Rays RHP Brad Furdal  Ancaster, Ont., Inter County Terriers/Canadian Junior 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 Junior Team $132,000
2006 7 Twins 1B Jonathan Walterbury, Whitby, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays $128,500
2009 8 Brewers OF Chad Stang, Surrey, B.C. Midland College  $125,000
2003 48 Mets SS Jonathan Malo, St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que., Northeastern Oklahoma A&M $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
2012 6 Pirates 3B Pirates Eric Wood, Pickering, Ont. Blinn College $100,000 

2015 10 Blue Jays C Owen Spiwak, Mississauga, Ont. Odessa College $100,000
2013 13 Mariners 3B Lachlan Fontaine, North Vancouver, BC North Shore Twins $100,000 
2012 15 Yankees RHP Dayton Dawe, London, Ont., Ontario Terriers $100,000 
2008 16 Brewers RHP Stosh Wawrzasek, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze/Candian National Junior Team $100,000
2011 26 Blue Jays SS Justin Atkinson, North Surrey BC, Langley Blaze/Canadian National Junior Team $100,000

2012 26 Blue Jays RHP Nathan DeSouza, Milton, Ont. Ontario Blue Jays//Canadian National Junior Team $100,000
2010 34 Reds SS Brandon Dailey, Brantford, Ont., Ontario Terriers/Canadian National Junior Team $100,000
2007 35 Pirates RHP Tom Boleska, Burlington, Ont., High Point University $100,000