Elliott: Brewers climb 3 spending spots with Tyler Black bonus, Jays 8th
Former Toronto Mets’ INF Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) was the top Canuck and that raised the Milwaukee Brewers three spots when it came to Canuck spending (six-figure deals only).
February 1, 2022
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
When a club drafts the top Canuck, a hike in our official six-figure signing bonuses unofficial standings can be expected.
The Milwaukee Brewers chose Toronto Mets alum Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) with their second first-round pick. Black was the sixth best college hitter selected and the 33rd player chosen overall in North America.
The slot amount for the 33rd spot was $2,202,200 US. Milwaukee general manager Matt Arnold and scouting director Tod Johnson gave the former Wright State Raider a $2.2-million bonus and the Brewers jumped in our standings from seventh overall to fourth of 31 clubs -- counting the Montreal Expos and the Washington Nationals -- to have given out $100,000 or more to a player.
The Brewers have now spent $5,807,500 on Canadians -- counting six-figure amounts only. At one time or another, the organization has been run or has Canucks in high-ranking positions: Doug Melvin (Chatham, Ont.), Gord Ash (Toronto, Ont.), Taylor Green (Comox, BC) and Peter Orr (Newmarket, Ont.).
In addition to Black, the Brew Crew also selected former Pembina Valley Oriole OF Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) a seventh round pick from Southern Illinois University.
Former Langley Blaze INF Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) was the Milwaukee Brewers other Canuck first rounder.
Previous Brewer drafts include major leaguers INF Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) of the Langley Blaze, a first-rounder, given $1.7 million in 2008 and SS Danny Klassen (Leamington, Ont.), a second-round pick in 1993, from Port St. Lucie High (Fla.), who was given $180,000.
The other Brewers selected were OF Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) of the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians, given $450,000 as a fourth-rounder in 2014; RHP Alexandre Periard (St-Eustache, Que.), Academie Baseball Canada, 16th round, $243,000, 2005; RHP Judd Richardson (Caledon, Ont.) from Miami of Ohio, fifth round, $185,000, 2001; RHP Joel Pierce (Windsor, Ont.), Tecumseh Thunder, $175,000, seventh, 2010; C Dustin Houle (Langley, BC), Langley Blaze, $150,000, eighth, 2011; LHP David Otterman (Vancouver, BC) University of British Columbia, $141,700, seventh, 2012; OF Chad Stang (Surrey, BC), Midland College, $125,000, eighth, 2009; RHP Craig Langille (Bedford, NS), Dartmouth Juniors $107,000, seventh, 2004 and RHP Stosh Wawrzasek (Langley, BC), Langley Blaze, $100,000, 16th, 2008.
The San Diego Padres remain No. 1 spending $7,164,449, the bulk of which went to RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope Ont.) Stanford University ($3,963,045), a first-rounder in 2016, OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) FieldHouse Pirates $1,200,004 million, second round, 2020, SS Kevin Nicholson (Surrey BC), Stetson College $830,000, first-rounder in 1997; RHP Matt Brash (Kingston Ont.) Niagara $512,400, fourth, 2019. C George Kottaras (Markham Ont.) Connors State College $300,000, 20th, 2002 and INF Chris Bisson (Orleans Ont.) Kentucky $234,000, fourth, 2010.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are second in spending at $7.03 million, most of which went to RHP Jameson Taillon of The Woodlands Tex. High, who went second overall (behind Bryce Harper) and was given $6.5 million.
Former Vauxhall Academy Jet INF Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) was drafted and signed by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Canada’s team -- at the gate, at the merchandise window and on the TV -- the Blue Jays remain eighth having spent a combined $3,457,500. The Jays did draft and sign INF Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC), a 14th rounder, for $157,500 from the College of Southern Nevada.
The Texas Rangers, who have now coughed up $3,065,000 to move up three spots to 12th after signing LHP Mitch Bratt, of the Toronto Mets, a fifth-rounder, for $850,000, LHP Thomas Ireland (Regina, Sask.), Polk State, 13th round, $125,000 and RHP Evan Elliott (Toronto, Ont.), 15th rounder, Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs and Ontario Terriers, $125,000.
Besides Black, the Texas trio and Palmegiani, the Canucks who were given six-figure signing bonuses in 2021 included:
Former Great Lake Canadians RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.), wound up being the New York Mets top pick, when they didn’t sign their No. 1.
_ RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.), a second-rounder and Great Lake Canadian grad, given $910,000 by the New York Mets.
_ OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) a fourth-rounder and former Toronto Met, was paid $700,000 by the Oakland A’s.
_ RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) a fifth-rounder from Mississippi State was given $500,000 by the Kansas City Royals. He pitched for the Great Lake Canadians as well.
_ LHP Christian MacLeod (Huntsville, Ala.) another fifth-rounder, also from Mississippi State, also received $500,000 from the Minnesota Twins.
_ RHP Jordan Marks (Bright’s Grove, Ont.) of the University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartans went in the eighth to the Detroit Tigers. The Great Lake Canadians grad was given $150,000.
_ LHP Adam Shoemaker (Cambridge, Ont.) went in the 11th round for $477,500 to the Atlanta Braves. GM Alex Anthopoulos signed the former Great Lake Canadian himself.
The total amount of six-figure amounts handed out
Team by team breakdown