February 2, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The Canadian Baseball Network named the winners of its 2023 awards for top Canadian minor league hitter and pitcher and top foreign/independent ball hitter and pitcher on Friday.

Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont..), who had a .417 on-base percentage (OBP) and a minor league-leading 12 triples in 123 games between double-A and triple-A in the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization, is the Randy Echlin Award winner, as the top Canadian minor league hitter in the affiliated ranks

Meanwhile, right-hander Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.), who had 15 saves and struck out 95 batters in 62 2/3 innings between double-A and triple-A in the Cleveland Guardians’ system, has been named the Wayne Norton Award winner as the Canadian minor league pitcher of the year.

In the foreign or independent ball ranks, Kole Cottam, who was born in Memphis, Tenn., but his family is from Burlington, Ont., of the Atlantic League’s Spire City Ghost Hounds, was named the Murray Zuk Award winner, as offensive player of the year, while right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.), of the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League, received the Claude Pelletier Award, as top Canadian pitcher.

Black split 2023 between the double-A Biloxi Shuckers and the triple-A Nashville Sounds, batting a combined .284 with a .417 OBP in 123 games. The Toronto Mets and Butler Prospects alum had 25 doubles, 12 triples, 18 home runs, 73 RBIs, 105 runs and 55 stolen bases. His combined 12 triples were the most in the affiliated minor league ranks and he also topped Brewers’ minor leaguers in runs, stolen bases and extra-base hits (55). He also ranked first among Canadian minor leaguers in runs, hits (128) and total bases (231). For his efforts, the 20-year-old infielder was named a Southern League All-Star and the Milwaukee Brewers co-Minor League Player of the Year.

Smith struck out 95 batters in 62 2/3 innings in 47 appearances between the double-A Akron RubberDucks and the triple-A Columbus Clippers in the Cleveland Guardians’ organization in 2023. Signed by the Guardians as a free agent in 2020 out of the University of Hawaii, the Junior National Team and Abbotsford Cardinals grad topped all Canuck minor league pitchers in appearances, saves (15) and strikeouts per nine innings (13.6). For his efforts, he was added to the Guardians’ 40-man roster in November.

Cottam was born in Memphis, Tenn., and his family is from Burlington, Ont. The right-handed hitting slugger batted .290 with 30 home runs and 75 RBIs for the independent Atlantic League’s Spire City Ghost Hounds in 2023. His .578 slugging percentage was the second highest in the Atlantic League. For his efforts, the former Boston Red Sox fourth-round pick was named the catcher on the Atlantic League Postseason All-Star Team. Cottam also topped Canadians in the independent or foreign ranks in home runs, RBIs and total bases (229).

Dykxhoorn posted a 10-7 record and a 2.83 ERA in 25 starts for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He topped the Lions in wins, starts and innings pitched (149 2/3). The 6-foot-8 right-hander, who also won the Claude Pelletier Award in 2021, led all Canadian pitchers in the independent or foreign ranks in innings pitched and ranked third in wins (10), strikeouts (104) and WHIP (1.156).

Nine baseball experts were polled for the Canadian Baseball Network’s annual awards that have been handed out in 14 previous years. Each award has been named after a Canadian who has made significant and long-lasting contributions to baseball. Randy Echlin (1950 to 2011) was a judge and former head of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Selection Committee, while Wayne Norton (1942 to 2018), Murray Zuk and Claude Pelletier have served as legendary scouts in Canada.

Previous Winners

Offensive Player Of The Year (Affiliated Minor Leagues)

(Starting in 2011 the award was named after the The Honourable Mr. Justice Randall Echlin, former head of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame selection committee and a man with a baseball-shaped heart the size of a box of new Rawlings.)

2008 _ Tim Smith (Toronto, Ont.) Rangers.

2009 _ Tyson Gillies (Langley, BC) Mariners.

2010 _ Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) Brewers.

2011 _ Taylor Green (Comox, BC) Brewers and Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) Jays.

2012 _ Oscar Taveras (Montreal, Que.) Cardinals.

2013 _ Sean Jamieson (Simcoe, Ont.) Diamondbacks.

2014 _ Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) Blue Jays.

2015 _ Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) Mariners.

2016 _ Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) Mariners.

2017 _ Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) Mariners/Cardinals and Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) Blue Jays.

2018 _ Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) Blue Jays.

2019 _ Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.) Astros.

2020 _ Minor league seasons cancelled, COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 _ Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) Blue Jays.

2022 _ Edourd Julien (Quebec, Que.) Twins

2023 _ Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) Brewers

(Bold face indicates major league service time.)