Elliott: Maier, Zibin year’s top dogs, join top six-figure signing bonuse$
Former UBC Thunderbirds RHP Adam Maier (North Vancouver, BC), left, a seventh-round pick and ex-Langley Blaze RHP Jacob Zibin (Langley, BC), a 10th-round selection each received $1.2 million signing bonuses to top all Canucks.
December 25, 2022
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
The draft more so in July of 2022 than other years showed that it is not the round, but the bonus money a drafted player receives which is most important.
Usually the top player from Canada receives the highest bonus. Yet, the top two players slipped in the rankings, not hearing their name called until the seventh round or later.
Big whoop?
Well, RHP Adam Maier (North Vancouver, BC) went in the seventh round and received a round record bonus of $1.2 million from the Atlanta Braves.
And RHP Jacob Zibin (Langley, BC) was chosen in the 10th round by the Cleveland Guardians and received a bonus of $1.2 million. Another round record.
The top Canuck selected was INF Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.) who went in the third round to the Milwaukee Brewers after excelling for the Great Lake Canadians and the Junior National Team. He received $597,500, which isn’t chicken feed by any means.
A total of 15 players were drafted and all but two signed. Plus another seven free agent Canucks signed.
* * *
The six-figure signing bonuses for 2022 …
RHP Adam Maier, 7th round (215th) – Atlanta Braves - Signed $1.2 million. Hometown: North Vancouver, BC School: Oregon University
RHP Jacob Zibin, 10th (301st) – Cleveland Guardians - $1.2 Million. Born: Toronto, Ont., Hometown: Langley BC, Teams: Junior National Team, Langley Blaze.
Former Great Lake Canadians INF Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.) was the top Canuck selected in 2022.
INF Dylan O’Rae, 3rd (102nd) – Milwaukee Brewers - $597,500. Hometown: Sarnia, Ont. Teams: Junior National Team/Brewers Langley Blaze/Great Lake Canadians
C Lamar King, 4th (120th) – San Diego Padres - $502,800, Born: Vancouver, BC, Hometown: Perry Hall, MD School: Calvert Hall College.
INF David McCabe, 4th (125th) – Atlanta Braves - $476,500. Hometown: Oshawa, Ont., School: University of North Carolina-Charlotte
INF Nate Ochoa, 6th (171st) – Washington Nationals - $375,000. Hometown: Burlington, Ont. Team: Trenton Thunder, (Draft League), FieldHouse Pirates.
RHP Cedric De Grandpre, 13th (395th) – Atlanta Braves - $237,500. Hometown: St-Simon, Que. School/Team: Chipola College, West Virginia Black Bears (Draft League).
RHP Jonah Tong, 7th (209th) – New York Mets - $226,000. Born: Markham, Ont. Teams: Toronto Mets, Frederick Keys, (Draft League).
C Ryan Leitch, Signs FA contract with Philadelphia Phillies - $125,000. Hometown: Whitby, Ont. Born: Clarksburg, WV. School, Team: Marshall University.
LHP Adam Tulloch 15th (451st) - Cleveland Guardians - $125,000. Born: Toronto, Ont. Hometown: Weston, Fla. School: Arizona State University.
LHP Jordan Woods, Signs FA contract with Kansas City Royals - $125,000. Hometown: Oakville, Ont. Team: Ontario Terriers.
RHP Eli Saul, 13th (378th) – Arizona Diamondbacks -- $120,000. Hometown: Vancouver, BC. School: Sacramento State University.
LHP Nathan Landry 15th (459th) - Boston Red Sox - $112,500. Hometown: Victoriaville, Que. School: University of Missouri
RHP Mathieu Voros, Signs FA contract with New York Mets - $100,000. Hometown Anjou, Que. Teams: TNXL, Académie de baseball du Canada.
* * *
You may notice that the listings of the players tied at the same level are in a different order now. We used to rank by rounds in a case of a tie.
But we figured since this is a money list the $100,000 the Pirates gave RHP Tom Boleska (Burlington Ont.) of High Point was worth more than the $100,000 handed out by the Mets to RHP Mathieu Voros (Anjou, Que.) of the Académie de baseball du Canada in 2022.
Six-figure signing bonuses for Canadians ….
Year Round Team Position Name Hometown Province School/Team Bonus
Pitching for Canada in the WBC RHP Jameson Taillon (The Woodlands, Tex.) — eligible since his parents were Canadian, received the largest signing bonus ever given to a Canuck.
2010 1 Pirates RHP Jameson Taillon The Woodlands TX The Woodlands HS $6.5 million US
2016 1 Padres RHP Cal Quantrill Port Hope Ont. Stanford University $3,963,045
2002 1 Orioles LHP Adam Loewen Surrey BC Whalley Chiefs/Junior National Team $3.2 M
2018 1 Indians C Noah Naylor Mississauga Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $2,578,138
2015 1 Marlins 1B Josh Naylor Mississauga Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $2.5 M
2021 1 Brewers INF Tyler Black, Stouffville, Ont., Wright State $2.2 M
2014 2 Mariners OF Gareth Morgan North York Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $2 M
2015 1 Braves RHP Michael Soroka Calgary Alta. Calgary PBF Redbirds/Junior National Team $1,974,700
2007 1 Mariners RHP Phillippe Aumont Gatineau Que. ABC/Junior National Team $1.9 M
2002 1 Rockies LHP Jeff Francis North Delta BC University of British Columbia $1.85 M
2008 1 Brewers C Brett Lawrie Langley BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $1.7 M
2001 28 Cards RHP Blake Hawksworth North Vancouver BC Bellevue (WA.) Community College $1.475 M
2017 2 Twins RHP Landon Leach Pickering Ont. Toronto Mets/Junior National Team $1.4 M
2017 2 Orioles INF Adam Hall London Ont. Great Lake Canadians/Junior National Team $1.3 M
2016 2 Diamondbacks C Andrew Yerzy Toronto Ont. Toronto Mets/Junior National Team $1,214,100
2020 2 Padres Owen Caissie Burlington Ont. FieldHouse Pirates/Junior National Team, $1,200,004
2022 7 Braves Adam Maier North Vancouver, BC, Oregon $1.2 M
2022 10 Guardians Jacob Zibin Langley, Ont. Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $1.2 M
2000 1 Braves INF Scott Thorman Cambridge Ont. Team Ontario/Junior National Team $1.125 M
2013 2 Cubs LHP Rob Zastryzny Edmonton Alta. Missouri $1.1 M
One-time Langley Blaze C Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) spent time with the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays taxi squad, but never appeared in a big-league game.
2010 1 Rangers C Kellin Deglan Langley BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $1 M
2021 2 Mets RHP Calvin Ziegler, Heidelberg, Ont. Great Lake Canadians $910,000
2020 3 Trei Cruz, Born: Toronto, Raised: Houston, Rice University $900,000
2021 5 Rangers LHP Mitch Bratt, Newmarket, Ont. Toronto Mets $850,000
1997 1 Padres SS Kevin Nicholson Surrey BC Stetson College $830,000
2019 3 Jays OF Dasan Brown Oakville Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $800,000
2020 3 Angels OF David Calabrese Maple Ont. Ontario Blue Jays $744,200
2021 4 A’s OF Denzel Clarke, Pickering, Ont., Cal State Northridge $700,000
2020 3 Cubs OF Jordan Nwogu Ottawa Ont. University of Michigan $678,600
2002 2 Twins RHP Jesse Crain Toronto, Ont. University of Houston $650,000
2013 3 Mariners OF Tyler O’Neill Maple Ridge BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $650,000
2015 2 Yankees LHP Jeff Degano Surrey BC Indiana State $650,000
2018 3 Marlins OF Tristan Pompey Mississauga Ont. Kentucky $645,000
2002 2 Reds INF Joey Votto Etobicoke Ont. Etobicoke Rangers $600,000
2019 3 Yankees OF Jacob Sanford, Cole Harbour, NS Western Kentucky $597,500
2022 3 Brewers INF Dylan O’Rae Sarnia, Ont., Great Lakes Canadians $597,500
2007 1 Reds RHP Kyle Lotzkar Tsawwassen BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $594,000
2016 5 Twins RHP Jordan Balazovic Mississauga Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $515,000
2019 4 Padres RHP Matt Brash Kingston Ont. Niagara University $512,400
2022 4 Padres C Lamar King Vancouver, BC, Calvert Hall College $502,800
Former ABC OF Ntema Ndungidi (Montreal, Que.) signed for $500,000.
1997 1 Orioles OF Ntema Ndungidi Montreal Que. Academie Baseball Canada $500,000
2010 16 Yankees LHP Evan Rutckyj Windsor Ont. Windsor Select $500,000
2015 4 Reds CF Miles Gordon Oakville Ont. Great Lake Canadians/Junior National Team $500,000
2021 5 Royals RHP Eric Cerantola, Oakville, Ont., Mississippi State $500,000,
2016 4 Diamondbacks RHP Curtis Taylor Port Coquitlam BC University of British Columbia $496,700
2019 18 Twins INF Edouard Julien Quebec City, Que. Auburn $493,000
2021 11 Braves LHP Adam Shoemaker, Cambridge, Ont. Great Lake Canadians $477,500
2022 4 Braves INF David McCabe Oshawa, Ont. North Carolina-Charlotte $476,500
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/ABC/Junior National Team $450,000
1996 2 Red Sox RHP Chris Reitsma Calgary Alta. Calgary Rockies/Junior National Team $425,000
2005 3 Tigers C Chris Robinson Dorchester Ont. University of Illinois $422,500
2016 4 Rangers INF Charles Leblanc Laval Que University of Pittsburgh $415,000
2005 3 Indians OF Nick Weglarz Stevensville Ont. Team Ontario/Junior National Team $435,000
2006 4 Dodgers INF Kyle Orr Victoria BC Victoria Mariners/Junior National Team $435,000
2007 2 Braves 1B Freddie Freeman Orange, Calif. $409,500
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
2011 7 Cubs 1B Trevor Gretzky Westlake Village CA Oaks Christian HS $375,000
2018 4 Red Sox C-1B Kole Cottam, Memphis, TN Kentucky, $375,000
Former FieldHouse Pirates INF Nate Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.)
2022 6 Nationals INF Nate Ochoa Burlington, Ont. FieldHouse Pirates $375,000
2018 6 Astros RHP RJ Freure Burlington Ont. Pitt University $348,800
2001 3 Braves OF Adam Stern London Ont. Nebraska $348,000
2007 3 Rockies C Lars Davis Grande Prairie Alta. Illinois $337,000
2011 4 Blue Jays RHP Tom Robson Ladner BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $325,000
2019 12 A’s T.J. Schofield-Sam Brampton Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $320,000
1994 32 Mariners LHP Jordan Zimmerman Caresland Alta. Blinn College $300,000
2002 20 Padres C George Kottaras Markham Ont. Connors State $300,000
2004 7 Reds LHP Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette St. Laurent Que. Academie Baseball Canada/Junior National Team $300,000
2009 6 Phillies RHP Steven Inch Edmonton Alta. Vauxhall Academy/Junior National Team $300,000
2019 26 Jays Jean-Christophe Masson, Levis, Que. Academy Baseball Canada/ Junior National Team $297,500
1999 3 Twins C Justin Morneau New Westminister BC North Delta Blue Jays/Junior National Team $295,000
2013 5 Orioles LHP Travis Seabrooke North Monaghan Ont. Ontario Terriers/Junior National Team $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
2010 4 Royals LHP Kevin Chapman Coral Springs FL Florida $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
2019 7 Mariners LHP Adam Macko Stony Plain, Alta. Vauxhall Academy $250,000
2004 16 Brewers RHP Alexandre Periard St-Eustache Que. Academie Baseball Canada $243,000
Ex London Badger INF Jamie Romak (London, Ont.)
2003 4 Braves 3B Jamie Romak London Ont. London Badgers/Junior National Team $240,000
2004 11 Mariners OF Mike Saunders Victoria BC Tallahassee College $237,500
2022 13 Braves RHP Cedric De Grandpre St-Simon, Que. Chipola College $237,500
2010 4 Padres INF Chris Bisson Orleans Ont. Kentucky $234,000
2022 7 Mets RHP Jonah Tong Markham, Ont. Toronto Mets $226,000
2007 4 Royals RHP Mitch Hodge Vancouver BC White Rock Titons/Junior National Team $225,000
2019 5 Cubs Josh Burgmann, Nanaimo, BC Washington $225,000
2016 33 Pirates RHP Austin Shields Dundas Ont. Great Lake Canadians $205,000
1995 3 Rangers RHP Ryan Dempster Gibsons BC North Shore Twins $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/Junior National Team $200,000
2007 16 Mariners RHP Colin Buckborough Niagara Falls Ont. Bullett Proof/Junior National Team $200,000
2015 18 Reds LHP Isaac Anesty Guelph Ont. Ontario Blue Jays $200,000
2021 18 Cubs RHP Dominic Hambley, Victoria, BC Victoria Mariners $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. Miami of Ohio $185,000
2016 8 Tigers OF Jacob Robson Windsor Ont. Mississippi State $181,600
1993 2 Brewers SS Danny Klassen Leamington Ont. Port St. Lucie, Fla. $180,000
2010 7 Brewers RHP Joel Pierce Windsor Ont. Tecumseh Thunder/Junior National Team $175,000
2001 5 Mariners 2B John Cole Kanata Ont. Nebraska $170,000
Former UBC Thunderbirds RHP Cory Stuart (White Rock, BC) was drafted by the New York Yankees.
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 NS Dartmouth Mooseheads $165,000
2021 14 Blue Jays INF Damiano Palmegiani, Surrey, BC, College of Southern Nevada, $157,500
2005 7 Marlins RHP Chris Leroux Mississauaga Ont. Winthrop $152,000
1997 2 Indians RHP Robbie Vael Surrey BC Eastern Utah $150,000
2008 16 Blue Jays OF Mike Crouse Port Moody BC North Shore Twins/Junior National Team $150,000
2009 15 Dodgers 3B Jeff Hunt Cambridge Ont. Intercounty Terriers/Junior National Team $150,000
2010 10 Astros LHP Evan Grills Whitby Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $150,000
2010 16 Blue Jays OF Dalton Pompey Mississauga Ont. Oakville Royals/Junior National Team $150,000
2010 32 Rangers RHP Steve McKinnon Duncan BC Nanaimo Pirates/Junior National Team $150,000
2011 8 Brewers C Dustin Houle Langley BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $150,000
2011 11 Reds RHP Vaughn Covington Vancouver BC Vancouver Cannons/Junior National Team $150,000
2021 8 Tigers RHP Jordan Marks, Bright’s Grove, Ont. University of South Carolina-Upstate $150,000
2017 7 Dodgers RHP Zach Pop Brampton Ont. Kentucky $147,500
2021 7 Brewers OF Tristan Peters, Winkler, Man. Southern Illinois $147,500
2009 5 Cubs SS Wes Darvill Langley BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $142,000
2012 7 Brewers LHP David Otterman Vancouver BC University of British Columbia $141,700
2008 11 Rays RHP Brad Furdal Ancaster Ont. Intercounty Terriers/Junior National Team $140,000
1995 24 Blue Jays LHP Mark Curtis St. Albert Alta. Penscaola Jr. College $135,000
Patriotes Rive Sud OF Ben Pelletier (Varennes, Que.) was a Phillies draft pick
2015 34 Phillies OF Ben Pelletier Varennes Que. Patriotes Rive Sud/Score International $135,000
2008 16 Reds OF Carter Morrison Langley BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $132,000
2003 48 Mets SS Jonathan Malo St-Roch-de-l’Achigan Que. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M $125,000
2006 7 Twins 1B Jonathan Walterbury Whitby Ont. Ontario Blue Jays $128,500
2009 8 Brewers OF Chad Stang Surrey BC Midland College $125,000
2017 12 Astros RF Jonathan Lacroix Montreal Que. Seminole State College $125,000
2018 14 Padres LHP Erik Sabrowski Edmonton, Alta. Cloud County CC $125,000
2018 15 Cardinals RHP Michael Brettell Fonthill Ont. Great Lake Canadians/Junior National Team $125,000
2018 25 Twins C LaRon Smith Spruce Grove, Alta., Okotoks Dawgs/Junior National Team $125,000
2019 27 Braves Indigo Diaz, Langley, BC, Michigan State $125,000
2020 5 Pirates RHP Logan Hofmann Muenster, Sask. Northwestern State $125,000
2021 13 Rangers LHP Thomas Ireland, Regina, Sask. Polk State College $125,000
2021 15 Rangers RHP Evan Elliott, Toronto, Ont., Prairie Baseball Academy, $125,000
2022 15 Guardians LHP Adam Tulloch Weston, Fla./Toronto Arizona State $125,000
2022 FA Phillies C Ryan Leitch Whitby, Ont. Marshall University $125,000
2022 FA Royals LHP Jordan Woods Oakville, Ont. Ontario Terriers $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
2022 13 Diamondbacks RHP Eli Saul Vancouver, BC Sacramento State $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
2022 15th Red Sox LHP Nathan Landry Victoraville, Que., Missouri #112,500
2011 15 Cubs C Justin Marra Toronto Ont. Ontario Blue Jays $110,000
Dartmouth Juniors RHP Craig Langille (Bedford, NS)
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/Junior National Team $100,000
2010 34 Reds SS Brandon Dailey Brantford Ont. Ontario Terriers/Junior National Team $100,000
2011 9 Braves OF Chase Larsson Vancouver BC Cameron University $100,000
2012 6 Pirates 3B Eric Wood Pickering Ont. Blinn College $100,000
2012 15 Yankees RHP Dayton Dawe London Ont. Ontario Terriers/Junior National Team $100,000
2012 26 Blue Jays RHP Nathan DeSouza Milton Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $100,000
2013 13 Mariners 3B Lachlan Fontaine North Vancouver BC North Shore Twins/Junior National Team $100,000
2013 20 Reds C Morgan Lofstrom Kelowna BC Okanagan Athletics/Junior National Team $100,000
2015 10 Blue Jays C Owen Spiwak Mississauga Ont. Odessa College $100,000
2015 17 Reds 2B JD Salmon-Williams Brampton Ont. Ontario Blue Jays $100,000
2015 22 Reds RHP Darren Shred Brampton Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $100,000
2016 11 Diamondbacks RHP Jake Polancic Langley BC Langley Blaze $100,000
2016 23 Diamondbacks 1B Luke Van Rycheghem Kent Bridge Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $100,000
2017 13 Nationals OF Eric Senior Toronto Ont. Midland College $100,000
2017 15 Cubs INF Jarred Young Prince George BC Old Dominion University $100,000
2017 22 White Sox RHP Bryan Saucedo Toronto Ont. Davenport University $100,000
2017 23 Indians RHP Jordan Scheftz North York Ont. Central Florida $100,000
2021 15th Rays RHP Conor Angel, Pointe-Claire, Que., University of Louisiana at Lafayette $100,000.
2022 FA Mets RHP Mathieu Voros, Anjou, Que. Académie de baseball du Canada, $100,000.
(Major league service time in BOLD.)