Elliott, Glew: Most Influentials 2024 _ Naylor, Freeman, Rogers, Anthopoulos

So, who was the most influential Canadian in baseball in 2024? Well, we’ll call it a tie. Photos: Baseball Canada

By Bob Elliott and Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

A long way from Dodger Stadium the annual Baseball Ontario banquet was beginning.

Master of Ceremonies Blair Hains addressed the players, coaches and executives from across the province in a ballroom inside the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel. He did not start by talking about a national or provincial champ, a player or an umpire, but instead Hains (Milton, Ont.) opened with questions:

“Who here is from Peterborough?” Hains asked.

“Who here is from Windsor?”

There was a smattering of applause before Hains added: “Well, those Ontario communities had an impact on baseball on a global scale last night because that’s where Freddie Freeman’s parents were from.”

The banquet was held on Oct. 25, the night after Freeman hit a two-out, walk-off, grand slam in the bottom of the 10th for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series.

Born in Villa Park, Calif. to Canadian parents, Freeman delivered a historic moment, the first walk-off grand slam against in Series history giving the Dodgers a 6-3 win over the New York Yankees in Game 1.

Asking people for their opinions leading up to our annual top 100 most influential Canadians in baseball list, people ask: “well, what do you mean by influence.” Influence translates to power in the game. Influence gets people talking about baseball in this country rather than a cold winter’s wind. Influence creates more interest. Influence transfers to success.

We have Freddie Freeman, with his Canadian genes, as the co-winner of our 18th annual most influential Canadian in the game. Co-winner? Yep. He shares the honour with another first baseman -- Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), who the Cleveland Guardians moved a few days before Christmas to the Arizona Diamondbacks in another salary dump. This is our first tie since Year 1 when Greg Hamilton (Orleans, Ont.) of Baseball Canada and Paul Godfrey (Toronto, Ont.) of the Toronto Blue Jays shared the honour.

Freeman’s walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th with two out? That’s backyard whiffle ball/tennis ball stuff with the hitter pretending he is a major-league announcer with a bat in his hand

“That’s two out ... but the bases remain loaded ... they’re down by three ... and here comes the young slugger ... here’s the pitch ... there’s a drive ... it could be ... it might be ... it is a grand-slam homer ... ”

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This is the first time you have seen a double byline on our most influential list. Why? Because I don’t dance as fast as I used — not to mention type. So, Kevin Glew helped with our top 100. Of course, adding Kevin to the byline removes him from the list (after he was 81st in 2024). He did many of the bios, but I am to blame for the order in which they are ranked - Elliott

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Ontario Blue Jays grad Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) was dealt from the Guardians to the Diamondbacks in December.

1. Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) Cleveland Guardians/Arizona Diamondbacks (3).

Chris Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) remembers his son Josh playing ball in the backyard. He does not remember the eldest of his three sons -- all first-round selections -- giving any commentary or play by play out loud. However, he does recall every hitting opportunity had its own Game 7, bottom of the ninth when it came to “intensity and conviction.”

Naylor, like every other major leaguer, did not have a Freeman moment. He did have some moments. Awaking Sept. 18, after a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins, the Guardians sat in first place (87-65) in the Central Division, five games ahead of the Kansas City Royals and 6 1/2 up on the Twins.

Naylor hit the first pitch he saw from Twins RHP Bailey Ober to deep right tying the score at 1-1 in the second inning at Progressive Field. And in the seventh he hit a 2-2 pitch from Ober again deep to right field, tying the game again at 2-2. The drive allowed the game to move into extras.

Naylor started off as the Manfred Man runner in the 10th with Cleveland trailing 4-2. Kyle Manzardo singled home Naylor, then Andrés Giménez walked. Will Brennan singled to score the tying run and with two out Brayan Rocchio delivered the walk-off win.

He also had two-homer games in Denver in May in a 13-7 win over the Rockies and in June at home in an 8-0 romp over the Seattle Mariners. In his five-RBI game, Naylor went deep to right field with a man on in the fifth off Colorado’s Ryan Feltner giving Cleveland a 6-4 lead and in the eighth he hit a three-run bomb to right making it 13-7.

On June 19 against the Mariners, Naylor hit a two-run homer deep to right in the fifth off Mike Baumann for a 6-0 lead and he hit a solo homer deep to right centre facing Eduard Bazardo. He also singled in a run in the first to knock in four in the game.

Naylor had personal career highs with 31 home runs and 108 RBIs in 152 games as he made his first all-star appearance. His average did drop from .308 in 2023 to .247, but people in the game keep telling me that average and strikeouts don’t matter. Most say OPS does and Naylor’s dropped from .842 in 2023 to .776. Naylor led AL first baseman in RBIs (108) and homers (31).

The left-handed hitter batted .224 (35-for-156) with six homers and 29 RBIs against lefties, while facing right-handers he hit .251 (102-for-407) with 25 homers and 79 RBIs. At home, he hit .269 (76-for-283) with 17 homers and 65 RBIs, while he batted .218 (61-for-280) with 14 homers and 43 RBIs on the road.

During post-season play, Naylor hit safely in 14 of 19 career games (eight extra-base hits 11 RBIs). His two walks in the elimination Game 5 against the Yankees in Game 5 were his first walks in 81 in career post-season plate appearances. In his final 28 games of the season, he hit .304 (31-for-105) with eight doubles and 16 RBIs.

Naylor, who will earn $10.9 million from the Diamondbacks and is a season away from free agency, was moved from Cleveland to Arizona in a salary dump. Much like Gimenez, acquired by the Jays, who still has over $100 million remaining on his six years contract. And the Diamondbacks are not afraid to lock up players long term (Corbin Burnes). Plus it should be a good fit: had he played all his games at Progressive Field he would’ve hit 77 homers and had he played all games at Chase he would have hit 85, according to Baseball Savant.

Los Angeles Dodgers World Series home run hero, Freddie Freeman

1A. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6).

While Freeman’s talent on the field is well-known, not everyone realizes his deep connection to Peterborough and Windsor.

His grandparents, Bud and Irene McDonald, were from the Lift Lock city, and his mother, Rosemary, spent the early part of her childhood in the city. Her family later moved to Windsor, where his mother Rosemary met his father, also named Fred.

Freddie’s grandfather was transferred to California when Fred’s father was 12 and after three years grandpa Freeman was moved back to Windsor. They were there 15 months before a permanent transfer to California came through. During the 15 months, Freddie’s mother and father met.

Diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer, Rosemary had three children at the time: Edward, Phillip and Freddie, who was four years old. A fierce battler, Rosemary fought hard against the disease, which was in remission for almost five years until doctors discovered it had returned while she was in the hospital to have her appendix removed. The cancer spread and seven months later Rosemary passed June 13, 2000 at the unfair age of 47.

Freddie was 10 years old when he lost his mother. As a tribute to his mother’s memory, he wears a cross around his neck which contains a lock of her hair and long sleeves to cover his skin. Every time he pulls on his under shirt makes him think of her.

After circling the bases and being mobbed by teammates with his homer to end Game 1 of the World Series, Freeman raced to the screen behind home plate and screamed at his father on the other side of the netting. Pure emotion. He could have been a Canadian scoring an Olympic gold-winning goal in overtime. It was a Hollywood ending not far from Hollywood.

“I was so excited,” the father told Dodgers Nation. “I couldn’t believe that was my son. I was so proud. So excited. I’m going to watch the replays all night. He head-butted me and screamed. He was so excited. I don’t think we had any words. It was yelling at each other.”

Freddie credited his father for both his swing and approach, telling reporters after Game 1: “I am who I am because of him.” Freddie also said his father always threw him batting practice and gave him a love of the game.

He was like Kirk Gibson taking Dennis Eckersley deep in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Freeman told writers when he homered on a bad ankle: “When you’re five years old with your two brothers, and you’re playing Wiffle ball in the backyard, those are the scenarios you dream about, two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game.”

Homering in the first four games of the Series, Freeman hit a two-run single off Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in the five-run fifth as LA rallied for 7-6 victory in Game 5. He finished with 12 RBIs (tying Bobby Richardson’s record in 1960 seven-game Series) to win the MVP honors.

Freeman became the first in history to homer in six consecutive World Series games, going back to his time with Atlanta in 2021. George Springer, then of the Houston Astros, homered in four straight games in 2017, but

Freeman is the first Canadian National Team player to win the Series MVP, according to Shawn Spradling.

We once did a question and answer period and someone asked: “How do you feel about American players becoming paper Canadians to make money ... like Freddie Freeman in the WBC?”

There was a $14.4 million pool for countries in 2023 -- the bulk of which goes to the four playoff teams. Freeman, like the rest of Team Canada earned $3,947 in 2023. Freeman earned $27 million that year. You think he is playing to earn less than $4,000 or to earn his mother’s memory?

Freeman explaining why he plays for Canada to the Dodgers on X a video viewed over one million times:

Edward Rogers, Rogers Communications, executive chair of the board, company director, finance, nominating and executive committees chair

3. Edward Rogers, executive chair of the board, Rogers Communications (4).

There was a time when it was easy to knock Edward: his team didn’t spend, the only statue outside the building was of his father Ted Rogers (and we’ve heard stories of out-of-towners having their picture taken with Ted’s statue and leaving as they say, “I’ve heard of Steve Rogers and Buck Rodgers, I’ll have to look up Ted on baseball-reference.”)

No more complaints about spending or trying to spend. Edward spent in 2024. His Blue Jays were ninth in player expenses and as of this writing project to be fifth at $$235.485 million, according to Spotrac. We know his Jays were last in the AL East, they now trail only the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and the Yankees.

So Edward is trying: getting involved both in the wooing of free-agent Shohei Ohtani in Dunedin in 2023 and again this off season, he flew to California to meet Juan Soto and his agent Scott Boras.

Edward may be 0-for-2 on the No. 1 winter free agent search, but the past two years is the first time we know of his involvement with free agents. He’s not like the late George Steinbrenner -- loud, abrasive and a publicity hound -- but like George he is now involved. That has to be a good sign for Jays fans compared to the days of Belgium brewery Interbrew S.A. ownership.

Sports Business Journal named the Private Equity Investor atop it’s Most Influential People in Sports Business list for 2024. Next in 43 additional entries on the list, unranked but in alphabetical order was Edward’s Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Check out who Edward is listed with commissioners, high-profile owners and all-time greats: Gerry Cardinale of RedBird Capital Partners, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Tony Petitti, Big Ten Conference, Jim Phillips, Atlantic Coast Conference, David Berson, CBS Sports, Gary Bettman, NHL, Scott Boras, Boras Corporation, Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever, Tony Clark, Players Association, Casey Close, agent, Jeff Schwartz, Mark Steinberg, Excel Sports, Dana White, UFC, Cathy Engelbert, WNBA, Jim France, Lesa France Kennedy, Steve Phelps, NASCAR, Roger Goodell, NFL, John Henry, Tom Werner, Mike Gordon, Fenway Sports, Clark Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Fenway Sports Group, Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys, Robert Kraft, Kraft Sports Group, Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Rob Manfred, commissioner, Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers, Eric Shanks, Mark Silverman, Fox Sports, Adam Silver NBA, Mark Walter, Dodgers, PWHL and Casey Wasserman, Wasserman, LA28.

Yes, Edward is a big shooter.

The Blue Jays were valued at $21 billion, 14th in the majors by Forbes Magazine in March. That was long before Rogers Communications took over ownership of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment in September. The biggest mistake for Edward -- or rather Edward’s management team -- was not signing Vlad Guerrero before free agent Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets, raising the bar for sluggers. Tough to argue that Soto deserves more than Ohtani, but the total package makes Ohtani seem like a bargain.

What Edward has to remember is that when the Jays landed free-agents Jack Morris, Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, Dave Stewart, got Rickey Henderson to waive his no-trade clause and re-signed Joe Carter they all came to Toronto to win. When finally earning free agency and you have your pick of a variety of teams, why join a last-place club?

The Jays missed on RHP Corbin Burnes, who selected his hometown of Scottsdale, Ariz. and the Diamondbacks for a six-year, $210-million deal. He’s not the first player to value two months of spring training at home.

They were on the podium for free-agent Roki Sasaki from Japan, who signed a minor-league contract for a modest $6.5-million signing bonus. LA had $5.146 million in its bonus pool for international players. The Dodgers made two trades the day Sasaki agreed: with the Phillies and Reds to reach Sasaki’s $6.5 million signing.

The Blue Jays did the same -- as Alex Anthopoulos had done in 2015 to get extra space to sign free agent Vlad Guerrero. Toronto added triple-A OF Myles Straw and $2 million worth of 2025 international bonus pool space. But Sasaki knew the way to LA, like Ohtani. The Jays added Straw and the $13.8 million remaining on his contract, with Toronto picking up $11.8 million.

Edward’s men finally hit a home run, in OF Anthony Santander signing the ex-Baltimore Orioles slugger to a five-year, $92.5 million deal. The Jays added 2B Andres Gimenez, who has $96.5 million remaining on his six-deal deal, from Cleveland and free-agent reliever Jeff Hoffman signed a three-year $33-million deal after Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves doctors turned down the contract and the Phillies didn’t show much interest in re-signing the all-star. They also signed former Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer to a one-year, $15.5 million deal.

Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.)

4. Alex Anthopoulos, GM, Atlanta Braves (1).

One writer is a semi-regular at an Oakville restaurant on Dundas. The manager is a former Montrealer an Expos fan and enjoys taking ball. Usually it is: Expos, Expos and Expos. But on this night ... he asked, “What does Toronto need another good field-no hit player (2B Andrés Giménez) for? They should get rid of Ross Atkins. He’s been here longer than J.P. Ricciardi, longer than Gord Ash, longer than Alex Anthopoulos and he hasn’t won a post-season series. He’s been here longer than everyone but Pat Gillick and what’s he done? The young kid from Montreal hasn’t done bad?” Anthopoulos’ team ended the Jays’ 22-year October drought in 2015.

While, his Jays secured another postseason berth in 2016, he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers as assistant GM for that season and 2017, making the post-season both years. He then joined the Atlanta Braves in 2018, and has made the postseason seven straight times, including winning the 2021 Series. So starting with the Jays in 2015 his Dodgers and Braves have played in October 10 straight seasons.

The starting-rotation additions made by Anthopoulos all surpassed expectations in 2024 in their first season in Atlanta as Chris Sale won his first Cy Young award, Reynaldo López posted a 1.99 ERA in his first full season as a starter since 2019, and Spencer Schwellenbach was promoted after 24 minor league starts and had a 3.35 ERA in 21 big-league starts.

The problem for the Braves was a plethora of injuries and/or statistical regression from everyone in the starting lineup except Marcell Ozuna, with season-ending injuries to preseason Cy favorite Spencer Strider in April and 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña in May proving to be particularly devastating to the Braves, whose streak of six consecutive NL East titles ended, though they did make it to the postseason for a seventh consecutive year before losing quickly in a wild-card series at San Diego.

For 2025, the Braves have holes to fill in the rotation after the free-agent departures of Max Fried and Charlie Morton, and in the bullpen after losing top setup man Joe Jiménez (postseason knee surgery) and A.J. Minter (hip surgery in August, then free agency). They’ll also be without Acuña for the first month or two of the season.

Anthopoulos, who is said to be trying to avoid going over the luxury tax for a third straight year (but not bound by that restriction) was in on starting pitcher Walker Buehler before he signed with Boston. Anthopoulos signed free agent Jurickson Profar, coming off a career year with the Padres, to a three-year, $42 million deal to fill a hole in left field.

Blue Jays slugger Vlad Guerrero (Montreal, Que.). Will he sign long-term or not?

5. Vlad Guerrero, Blue Jays (12).

Much to the chagrin of Canadian fans, the Blue Jays have not signed this face-of-the-franchise slugger to a contract extension. He is set to become a free agent after the 2025 season and the value of his multi-year contract seems to be increasing with each passing day. He did avoid arbitration, signing a one-year deal for $28.5 million for 2025, making him the highest paid player at Rogers Centre.

On the field in 2024, Guerrero, who was selected to the all-star Game for the fourth consecutive season, topped Canadian-born major leaguers in batting average (.323), OPS (.940), hits (199), runs (98), doubles (44), walks (72) and WAR (6.2). The 25-year-old first baseman also had 30 home runs and 103 RBIs. Overall, his batting average was the second-best in the majors, while he ranked third in hits and OBP (.396). During the regular season, he was selected the AL player of the week twice.

Following the season, he won the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Tip O’Neill award, the Silver Slugger Award for AL at first and was named to the First Team. He was also named The Sporting News American League Comeback player of the year and was the Blue Jays’ nominee for the Hank Aaron Award, as the league’s top hitter.

This despite the fact that on May 4 he was hitting .231 with a .675 OPS with three homers and 11 RBIs through the seasons’ first 34 games as the Jays sat two games below .500 (16-18) tied for last. The next day they lost to take over sole possession of last in the AL East and never reached .500. He batted .348 the rest of the way with a 1.011 OPS, including 27 homers and 92 RBIs. He had 199 hits, a career-high.

Guerrero indicated to Abriendo Sports that if a long-term deal is not reached by the first day of spring training he will head into the 2025 winter wonderland of free agency. And once the barn door is open (Chris Carpenter, Jordan Romano) the horses are down the road ... destination elsewhere. While Guerrero sounds like he wants to stay, the Jays’ latest offer according to Abriendo was $340 million, after Soto signed his 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets.

The situation is reminiscent of George Bell winning the MVP in 1987, a year away from free agency and agent Randal Hendricks saying either he signs a multi-year deal or he is gone after the 1988 season. At that time the Jays considered trading Bell, could they deal Guerrero?

Phillies manager Rob Thomson (Corunna, Ont.)

6. Rob Thomson, manager, Phillies (2).

Thomson will be back for his fourth season as manager of the Phillies in 2025. The Phillies made sure of that when they rewarded the Canadian skipper with a contract extension through the 2026 season in mid-October. After the Phillies’ disappointing NL Division Series loss to the Mets, there had been speculation that Thomson, who was under contract through the 2025, wouldn’t be back. In the big picture, however, Thomson has guided the Phillies to post-season appearances in each of his first three seasons since taking over as manager.

That’s a feat that only two other skippers in big league history have accomplished – Ralph Houk with the New York Yankees from 1961 to 1963 and Dave Roberts with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2015 to 2017. During the 2024 season, Thomson (Corunna, Ont.) led the Phillies to a NL East title with 95 wins, which are the sixth-most in franchise history.

Since taking over as manager from Joe Girardi on June 3, 2022, Thomson has guided the Phillies to a 250-185 record. Before joining the Phillies as their bench coach in December 2017, Thomson spent 28 years as a coach in the New York Yankees’ organization from 1990 to 2017. For 10 of those seasons, he served on the major league staff as bench coach (2008, 2015 to 2017) and third base coach (2009 to 2014). He earned five World Series rings while with the Bronx Bombers. For his efforts, he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Our National Baseball Hall of Famers OF Larry Walker, left, (Maple Ridge, BC) and RHP Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.)

7. Fergie Jenkins, Larry Walker, Hall of Famers (5).

Jenkins turned 82 on Dec. 13 but you wouldn’t know it by looking at him or by his busy event calendar. In 2024, the Canadian legend was honoured with a Game Changer award from the Players Alliance in July and with a Sam Lacy Pioneer Award by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in August. In that same month, the Texas Rangers honoured the 50th anniversary of his outstanding 1974 season with them (in which he registered a career-high 25 wins and had 29 complete games) in a pre-game ceremony.

In July, Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) was one of four Rangers legends (along with Nolan Ryan, Ivan Rodriguez and Adrian Beltre) to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the All-Star Game at Globe Life Field. Jenkins, who had six consecutive 20-win seasons with the Cubs from 1967 to 1972, also returned to Wrigley Field several times in 2024, including for the Cubs Hall of Fame ceremony in September (in which they inducted Kerry Wood and Aramis Ramirez). He also represented the Cubs at the 2025 draft lottery in December. Despite being fresh off shoulder surgery, Jenkins was also in St. Marys for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony in June. With his arm in a sling, he ceded his duties as the presenter of the Hall of Fame jackets to Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.).

Walker finally had another Colorado Rockie join him with a plaque in Cooperstown. He was in upstate New York in July to celebrate the induction of his longtime teammate Todd Helton into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The two left-handed hitting sluggers formed a potent combination in the middle of the Rockies’ lineup for eight seasons from 1997 to 2004, so it was fitting that Walker was chosen to narrate the introduction video for Helton at the induction ceremony in July.

But Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) isn’t only remembered as a Rockie and Expo. On June 8, the Cardinals held Larry Walker bobblehead day at Busch Stadium. Walker also continued to promote his custom cigar brand Tres-Trois. The name is a homage to the No. 33 he wore so loyally during his career. Since French was the language spoken in the seats in Montreal and Spanish is spoken where he lives part of the year in Cabo San Lucas, Mex., he came up with the name Tres-Trois. Walker also continued to sign limited edition ball cards for Topps and he will be returning to Montreal for ExposFest in April 2025.

Agent Joel Wolfe, whose parents grew up in Montreal.

8. Joel Wolfe, agent, Wasserman Group (8).

Wolfe has been the agent for two of the largest contracts ever signed by major league pitchers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers, who is in year two of 12-year, $375 million package and Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole is in year five of a $325 million, nine-year deal. He also represents Japanese RHP Roki Sasaki, 23, from the Chiba Lotte Marines, who is ready to bring his 102 MPH fastball to the Dodgers. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Giants and Rangers were told they were out, leaving the Jays and the Padres on the podium.

A third-round pick from UCLA in 1991, Wolfe also negotiated the richest deal ever for a reliever. That was for Edwin Diaz, who is in the second year of a five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets. Wolfe’s parents are from Montreal and he spent summers in the Eastern Townships. Wolfe is in year five of having his Canadian passport and is World Baseball Classic eligible.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios, who signed a seven-year, $131-million extension with the Blue Jays in 2021, is another of Wolfe’s clients. Berrios will earn $18,714,285 in 2025. Other Wolfe men include: DH Giancarlo Stanton (year nine of a 13-year, $325 million, Yankees), 3B Nolan Arenado, (year five of his eight-year, $260 million, Cards), 1B Matt Olson (year four of an eight year $168 million, Braves), INF Javier Baez (six year $140 million, Tigers), RHP Tyler Glasnow (five year $136.5 million Dodgers), RHP Yu Darvish (fifth year of a six-year, $126 million package, Padres) and CF Byron Buxton (three years into a seven-year $100 million extension, Twins). Wasserman is a brand for all sports as his company also represents Connor McDavid of the Oilers and Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs.

Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman (Thornhill, Ont.)

9. Dan Shulman, Sportsnet (10).

To say it was a busy year for Shulman would be an understatement. The versatile and highly respected play-by-play announcer called 135 Toronto Blue Jays games, 25 Olympic basketball contests and 35 more college hoops games for ESPN. It’s safe to say that no other Canadian sports broadcaster was heard in more homes around the world in 2024 than Shulman.

Not surprisingly, Shulman (Thornhill, Ont.) excelled in each of his roles. Known for being one of the most prepared broadcasters in his industry, the Western University Actuarial Science grad completed his 16th season as the TV voice of the Blue Jays in 2024.

Shulman called Blue Jays games from 1995 to 2001 before returning in 2016 to provide play-by-play for Sportsnet. Starting in 1995, Shulman broadcast games for ESPN where he was the voice of Sunday Night Baseball from 2011 to 2017. He also called postseason games for ESPN Radio from 1998 to 2022, including the World Series from 2011 to 2022. For his efforts, Shulman earned the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Jack Graney Award, for his lifetime contributions to baseball, in 2020 and the Canadian Screen Award as best play-by-play announcer in 2022. The Jays broadcast crew -- featuring him with Buck Martinez, Joe Siddall, Hazel Mae, Arden Zwelling and Jamie Campbell -- ranked sixth on the 2024 Best Local Broadcasters compiled by Awful Announcing.

Former Peterborough Tiger Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.)

10. Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada (11).

Despite a productive draft for Junior National Team alumni, Canada fell to 22nd in the World Rankings, one spot ahead of Spain and behind France. The latest rankings were compiled after the U-23 World Cup, the U-15 World Cup, the U-18 World Cup, the Premier12, the World Baseball Classic, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games titles and U-12 World Cup. Canada is not the 22nd ranked country but it only received points for competing in the WBC and the World Juniors. Canada was 5-2 to finish fifth at the World Cup Qualifier in Panama.

Hamilton’s juniors were 7-4-1 in Dominican Fall camp and 3-7-1 in spring Dominican trip. In all, nine current and former members of Junior National Team were drafted, led by 2B Émilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) who went in the second round from the University of Kentucky to the Tampa Bay Rays, 58th overall in North America.

The eight others were C Nathan Flewelling (Red Deer, Alta.), Rays, third; Red Deer Braves, RHP Josiah Romeo (Caledon, Ont.), Athletics sixth Mississauga Tigers; C Connor Caskenette (Duncan, BC) Marlins, 12th Purdue; LHP Ryan Magdic (Beamsville, Ont.) Athletics, 14th Missouri; OF Micah McDowell (Coldbrook, NS), Marlins, 17th, Oregon State; SS Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) Cardinals, 19th, Ontario Blue Jays; RHP Vicarte Domingo (Vancouver, BC) Padres, 19th, University of British Columbia and OF Eric Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.) Braves 20th, Okotoks Dawgs.

Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont. via the Liftlock City) is one of those coaches who is a coach for life -- and one a needed one with the transfer portal allowing schools to rescind scholarships. Then a new place to play is needed to call home. Hamilton does his best to help. The annual Baseball Canada Fund Raiser is now known as “Greg’s banquet” around sandlots.

Former Montreal Expos C and Marc Picard’s 3B coach Joe Siddall (Windsor, Ont.)

11. Joe Siddall, broadcaster, Sportsnet (13).

With his objective and in-depth analysis, Siddall has developed into one of the best sports analysts on Canadian TV. It would be hard to find a broadcaster who offers a better education about the catching position. His thoughts about catchers receiving pitches on one knee have been particularly insightful. Siddall is also excellent at identifying subtle changes players have made in their stance and swings and sharing them with the viewers. Early in the season, when Guerrero was struggling, Siddall masterfully pinpointed the differences in the slugger’s swing from his 48-home run campaign in 2021.

Siddall completed his 11th season with Sportsnet, splitting 2024 between game broadcasts and Blue Jays Central with Jamie Campbell. Siddall (Windsor, Ont.) entered broadcasting in 2014 as a member of the Blue Jays’ radio team, alongside Jerry Howarth. He worked in that position for four years before making a seamless transition to TV as a studio analyst on Blue Jays Central. In 2022, he was recognized with the Canadian Screen Award for Best Sports Analysis or Commentary. He was a finalist for the same award the following year.

Diamondbacks co-owner Jeffrey Royer, a Toronto resident.

12 Jeffrey Royer, general partner, Diamondbacks (18).

Free-agent RHP Corbin Burnes was either going to the Giants or the Blue Jays. Except he wound up signing with the Diamondbacks for a six-year, $210 million deal which allows him to opt out after the 2026 season. The Guardians were supposed to trade 1B Josh Naylor to the Mariners because they could not afford him. Except he wound up being dealt to the desert for RHP Slade Cecconi. The Naylor deal came down a day after Diamondbacks free agent Christian Walker agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with the Astros, The D-Backs don’t twiddle their thumbs.

Arizona visits Rogers Centre June 17-19 and likely Royer will be there. Ken Kendrick and Royer (Toronto, Ont.) are equal partners of the ownership group which took over the Diamondbacks in 2004. In 2024, Arizona won 89 games -- the same number as the Braves and the Phillies, who both made post-season play. The Braves and Mets split a doubleheader with Atlanta earning the No. 5 seed because it won the season series against both the Mets and the D-backs. The Mets took the No. 6 seed because they won the series against the Diamondbacks but not the Braves.

Royer, a dual citizen since 2015, had been in the cable business for 35 years and was one of Shaw’s largest shareholders. His sons, Blake and David, who used to work for the Blue Jays baseball operations are D-Backs backers. The Diamondbacks were valued at $1.43 billion in 2024, an increase of 3%, according to Forbes, 23rd best in the majors. Forbes showed the D-Backs had $314 million in operating revenue and $33 million in revenue.

Also chairman of Baylin Technologies, Royer is a private investor with interests in telecommunications, broadcasting, medical device manufacturing, hospitality and real estate. He serves as a director of various subsidiaries of Baylin and has served as a director of more than 30 private companies and not-for-profit organizations. He received his Bachelors of Arts in Economics from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisc. home of Tony Kubek.

Okotoks Dawgs founding director John Ircandia (Calgary, Alta.)

13. John Ircandia, founding director, Okotoks (14).

The most successful program in Canada had another banner year in 2024. The Okotoks Dawgs won the Western Canadian Baseball League championship for a third straight time (eighth overall) in dramatic fashion as Connor Crowson (Okotoks, Alta.) hit a walk-off homer in the deciding game, edging the Moose Jaw Miller Express 6-5 in front of 6,342 fans for manager Lou (LSL) Pote. General manager Tyler Hollick won WCBL Executive of the Year. They drew 133,644 (plus .05%) fans to Seaman Stadium for the third best total among North American summer college leagues (of the 160 teams Baseball Digest tracked). They were behind the Madison Mallards (217,070) and the Trenton Thunder (196,837). The Dawgs averaged 4,774 fans per game behind Madison (6,202) and Trenton (5,320).

It wouldn’t be an off-season in Okotoks, unless renovations were underway at Duvernay Fieldhouse to accommodate the growing needs at the Dawgs youth academy. The Dawgs are also adding new hitting and pitching lanes equipped with new technology to measure swings, spin rates and all the other analytical niceties. Already they have Trackman, Pitchcom and other improvements to help in developing players.

Individually, Dawgs grads included: INF Jack Lines (Calgary, Alta.) went in the 12th to round the Rays for $397,500; OF Eric Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.) Braves, 20th, $337,500; OF Micah McDowell (Coldbrook, NS) Marlins, 17th, $100,000 and RHP Vicarte Domingo (Vancouver, BC), Padres, 19th round $50,000. Also drafted in 2024 were Dawgs college players RHP-OF Sam Stuhr, selected by the Athletics in the fifth round from University of Portland, INF Mason Guerra, Braves, 14th round and OF Titus Dumitru, Braves, 16th, while RHP Jay Schueler, Blue Jays, was a free-agent sign.

Former Dawgs grads that had memorable seasons included Matt Wilkinson (Surrey, BC), in the Guardians system, who won the Wayne Norton award as Canadian Baseball Network affiliated pitcher of the year, OF Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) who was better than solid at triple-A Durham (Rays), and Matt Lloyd (Calgary, Alta.) who put up good numbers at double-A Springfield (Cardinals).

Former Chilliwack Cougars RP Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) of the Guardians.

14. Cade Smith, Guardians (-).

Smith put together one of the best big-league rookie seasons ever by a Canadian reliever in 2024. The 25-year-old right-hander posted a 6-1 record and a 1.91 ERA in 74 relief appearances and struck out 103 in 75 1/3 innings. This made him the fourth Canadian reliever to fan over 100 in a big-league campaign.

The Chilliwack Cougars and Junior National Team alum topped all Canadian pitchers in ERA, games, holds (28), WAR (2.5), WHIP (0.90) and opponents’ batting average (.190). Among rookie major league relievers, Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) ranked first in innings pitched, tied for first in wins and second in games, strikeouts and holds. He allowed just two of 36 inherited runners to score, the best ratio for a relief pitcher in majors. He also topped major league relievers with a 2.7 fWAR and 1.40 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP).

His dominance continued in the playoffs when he appeared in nine games for the Guardians, which set a record for most by a Canadian pitcher in a single post-season. His 12 strikeouts in the AL Division Series were a record for a reliever. For his efforts, he was named to the Baseball America All-Rookie Team and the all-rookie second team. He finished fifth in the AL rookie of the year voting, tied for ninth in the AL Cy Young award voting and was ranked No. 10 by MLB Network among the best to make their debut in 2024. MLB Network also recently ranked him as the No. 2 reliever in the majors.

Former Blue Jays general manager Pat Gillick.

15. Pat Gillick, Phillies minority owner, Hall of Famer (15).

The 2024 season saw Gillick in uniform for the first time since the left-hander threw batting practice to the Blue Jays. Hall of Famers Joe Torre and Gillick were the managers in Cooperstown for the annual East-West classic, featuring former major leaguers like Josh Barfield, José Contreras, Ian Desmond, Prince Fielder, Dexter Fowler, Doug Glanville, Curtis Granderson, Tony Gwynn Jr., Jerry Hairston, Scott Hairston, LaTroy Hawkins, Ryan Howard, Edwin Jackson, Jeremy Jeffress, Adam Jones, Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.), Darrell Miller, Melvin Mora, David Price, Tyson Ross, CC Sabathia, Tony Sipp, B.J. Upton, Justin Upton and Chris Young in a tribute to the legends of Black baseball.

Gillick was asked what uniform he wore. He turned and asked his wife Doris: “Patrick you were a clown!” Doris was not teasing. Gillick was in a Indianapolis Clowns uni while Torre wore a Newark Eagles uniform.

He has a plaque in Cooperstown, is a member of the Phillies Wall of Fame and his name is on the Level of Excellence at Rogers Centre. Now a minority owner, the Phillies were evaluated by Forbes magazine in March of 2024 as being worth $2.92 billion, seventh best in MLB -- up two spots and 14% over 2023 with $458 million in revenue. Combined the Montgomery family estate and Gillick own 2.5% of the club. In 27 seasons as a GM, his teams (Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners and Phillies) recorded winning records in 20 seasons, with the four clubs reaching post-season play 11 times, winning three World Series rings with the Jays (1992-93) and Phillies (2008).

Former Langley Blaze Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC)

16. Tyler O’Neill, Orioles (42)

In early December, O’Neill signed a three-year, $49.5-million contract with Baltimore after an outstanding season with the Red Sox. In 2024, O’Neill topped the Red Sox with 31 home runs, while earning $5.85 million. That home run total tied him with Josh Naylor for the most home runs by a Canadian in the majors. In a six-game stretch between July 20 and July 27, O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) had three, two-run home run games. That made him the first Red Sox player to have three multi-home run games in a span of six-or-fewer games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. His second home run on July 27 (a game the Red Sox lost 11-8 to the Yankees at Fenway Park) was the 100th of his big-league career, which made him the 11th Canadian to reach that milestone.

O’Neill’s .511 slugging percentage, .847 OPS and 2.6 WAR all ranked second (to Vladimir Guerrero) among Canadian big leaguers in 2024. In 156 at bats against left-handed pitchers, he belted 16 home runs and had a .750 slugging percentage which was the highest in the majors. For his efforts, he was named the AL Comeback Player of the Year by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). In total, the 29-year-old Langley Blaze and Junior National Team alum has batted .246 with 109 home runs in 590 games in parts of seven big league seasons with St. Louis Cardinals and Red Sox.

Jays executive VP Marnie Starkman (Mississauga, Ont.)

17. Marnie Starkman, executive vice president, business operations, Blue Jays (20).

The 2024 season was supposed to be an easier year for Starkman compared to bringing Sahlen Field up to major league standards in 2021-22, or 2023 when renovations to the upper bowl at Rogers Centre were underway. The lower bowl renovations, led by Starkman were completed by opening day, yet work continued on the club suites until mid season.

Yet, Starkman in her 15th season with the club saw her workload increase after taking over full responsibilities for all business operations -- with both the Blue Jays and Rogers Centre. The change came after her co-executive vice-president Anuk Karunaratne (Vancouver, BC) joined the St. Louis Cardinals as senior vice-president, business operations. Besides representing the Blue Jays on various major-league committees, the master multi-tasker, serves as a board member on Baseball Assistance Team (BAT) and JaysCare Foundation. Starkman also coordinated the six Taylor Swift concerts.

Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon, whose parents are from Ontario.

18. Jameson Taillon, Cubs (71)

Taillon went 12-8 with a 3.27 ERA (sixth in the NL) in 28 starts for the Cubs in 2024. He struck out 125 batters in 165 1/3 innings. The 6-foot-5 right-hander had 16 quality starts (tied for eighth in the NL), while his strikeouts were third among Cubs pitchers. He finished the season with five consecutive quality starts, going 3-0 with a 0.84 ERA in September.

Born in Lakeland, Fla. and drafted out of The Woodlands, Tex., he pitched in the 2013 World Baseball Classic for Team Canada, working four innings and allowing one earned run leaving with the score tied 2-2, before the U.S. scored seven runs off the bullpen in the last two innings for a 9-4 victory. Taillon’s mother was born in Toronto and his father in St. Andrews West (near Cornwall, Ont.). In 2017, Jameson was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery and missed over a month.

RHP Alli Schroder (Fruitvale, BC) of the Canadian women’s national team.

19. Alli Schroder, Women’s National Team (58).

Schroder was a star on the field and on the screen in 2024. On the field, the 22-year-old right-hander got the start for Canada against the U.S. in the Women’s World Cup in Thunder Bay, Ont. on July 30. Canada ended up winning bronze at the tournament. It was Schroder’s seventh year with the national squad. On the screen, Schroder (Fruitvale, BC) was chosen over six other Canadian nominees to be featured in a groundbreaking documentary called “See Her Be Her,” directed by Jean Fruth and co-produced by Jeff Idelson, which shone the spotlight on girls and women in baseball from across the globe.

The film shattered many stereotypes and focused on seven players from around the world who pushed the boundaries of what’s possible both on and off the field. The film illustrates their fight for gender equality for female athletes. The documentary premiered on MLB Network on Oct. 27, between Games 2 and 3 of the World Series. Schroder is also highlighted in a companion book with the same name.

In 2021, Schroder became the first woman to compete in the Canadian Collegiate Conference when she took the mound for Vancouver Island University. Fellow Women’s National Team hurler Raine Padgham (Abbotsford, BC) followed Schroder when she pitched for Thompson Rivers University in 2024.

Former Blue Jays president Paul Beeston (Welland, Ont.)

20. Paul Beeston, Blue Jays (24).

The Jays president emeritus is still at most Blue Jays home games seated in his old booth -- or bunker -- alongside day one employee Howard Starkman, unless the latter is serving as the official scorer of the Jays games. Some people have looked up and compared them to Harold Ballard and Conn Smythe watching from Maple Leaf Gardens ... and one long-time Jays employee added “we just don’t know which one is Harold.”

Beeston is on the board of directors of the Hall of Fame under chairman Jane Forbes Clark. The other Hall of Famers on the board are Joe Torre, Craig Biggio, Tom Glavine, Ken Griffey, Jr., Cal Ripken Jr. and Ozzie Smith. Also on the board are: Bill Dewitt of the Cardinals, Ken Kendrick of the Diamondbacks, Arte Moreno of the Angels, Jerry Reinsdorf of the White Sox, former Marlins general manager Kim Ng, commissioner Rob Manfred, Harvey Schiller of USA Baseball and Thomas Tull, who produced more than 40 films, including the Jackie Robinson bio 42 and is a part owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Beeston was named No. 1 on our most influential list three times in 2008-09 and again in 2012. Our only other three-time No. 1s are Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) in 2018, 2019 and 2020, Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) in 2010, 2016 and 2017 and Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) in 2015, 2021 and 2023. We remember in 2012 after taking grief at the Baseball Canada hospitality hour from about 12 people on where they were ranked, Beeston demanded to see me. “What do you have to complain about you were No. 1?” we asked. Beeston said jokingly, “I read your list is six years old, shouldn’t I be 6-for-6?”

Free agent RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC)

21. Nick Pivetta, free agent (38).

A staple in the Boston Red Sox rotation in 2024, Pivetta led all Canadian big-league pitchers with 172 strikeouts. He had five double-digit strikeout games, giving him 16 for his career. This is tied with Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) for the third-most by a Canadian behind only Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) who had 48 and James Paxton (Ladner, BC) with 17. In his start against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 25, Pivetta collected his 1,000th strikeout in the majors. That made him the sixth Canadian to reach that milestone. In total, Pivetta went 6-12 with a 4.14 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) for Red Sox. He also tossed 145 2/3 innings, which were the second-most by a Canuck big leaguer.

On Nov. 19, he declined the Red Sox qualifying offer and became a free agent. The Victoria Eagles and Junior National Team grad has yet to sign with a big league club for the 2025 season. In total, in eight major league seasons with the Phillies and Red Sox, Pivetta, 31, owns a 56-71 record and a 4.76 ERA in 223 games (178 starts).

Rogers Communications CEO Tony Staffieri

22. Tony Staffieri, CEO, Rogers Communications (17)

Few people knew in December that Edward Rogers was flying to California to meet free agent Juan Soto and his agent Scott Boras. Staffieri knew. Like he knows everything that goes on under the Rogers/Blue Jays umbrella. Rogers and Staffieri made a trip to Tampa and then the Blue Jays facility to talk to free agent Shohei Ohtani 12 months before during the winter meetings.

The budget Jays president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins deal with is only approved after crossing Staffieri’s desk, as he decides how much Rogers Communications’ dough is spent. A member of the eight-person Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment board, Staffieri approved the pursuing of both Soto and Ohtani after his baseball ops gave the green light. The Jays were unsuccessful in either case, but they spent $218,402,819 -- ninth best in the majors, behind the Rangers and ahead of the Giants.

Forbes said the Jays had a revenue of $328 million behind the Mariners and ahead of the White Sox. The Jays are ninth in payroll (like 2023) at $218.4 million in payroll, according to Spotrac, which has the Mets at No. 1 ($350.3 M). The rest are the Dodgers ($339.8 M), Yankees ($314.7 M), Braves ($278.5 M), Phillies ($262.4 M), Astros ($260.7 M), Rangers ($250.5 M) and the Giants ($248.3 M).

Co-owner of the San Francisco Giants’ Jeff Mallett (Victoria, BC)

23. Jeff Mallett, co-owner, Giants (33).

Mallett (Victoria, BC) is a principal owner and executive committee member of the Giants. He joined the ownership group in 2002, the year they won 95 games but lost the World Series in seven games to the Anaheim Angels. He possesses World Series rings from the Giants’ championship-winning seasons in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Forbes valued the Giants at $3.8 billion in 2024, fifth in the industry (behind the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and Cubs). That’s an increase of three per cent from the previous year with $443 million in revenue. On top of the Giants, Mallet maintains partial ownership of Oracle Park, the Bay Area’s regional sports cable network, Comcast SportsNet, and the class-A San Jose Giants. Through his company, Mallett Sports Entertainment, LLC, he also has ownership stakes in the Vancouver Whitecaps (who were put up for sale in December), Derby County FC of English League and the Northern Super League, a women’s pro soccer circuit that’s set to begin play in 2025.

MLB Network’s Adnan Virk (Morven, Ont.) who works for the NHL Network and for baseball’s best TV show.

24. Adnan Virk, MLB Network (25).

Everyone remain calm. There were bad vibes emanating from New Jersey this winter. Virk was hosting Amazon Prime Monday night hockey and doing work for the NHL Network. He was back on MLB Network the first week of January. Three-time manager of the year, Buck Showalter now an MLB Network analyst calls Virk (Morven, Ont.) “One of my favourite guys to work with,” adding “he has no ego, loves the game, never has a bad day, loves what he does and always brings it.” Continued Showalter: “He takes a lot of pride in his work. Kind of guy you’d like to sit at a sports bar and watch a game with. Nothing beneath him. Very knowledgeable of the subject matter. Works well with others. Canada should be very proud of Adnan. He outworks most people.”

Said former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro (the man who traded for Roy Halladay), who is also now at MLB Network as well as the Phillies broadcast booth: “Adnan Virk is a pure joy to work with at MLB Network. His knowledge, passion and recall is infectious and impressive. He loves baseball and the stories associated with this beautiful game. I am honoured to call him a colleague and a friend.”

Hall of Fame catcher Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) on induction day.

25. Russell Martin, Canada’s greatest catcher (16).

It took an emotional Martin about five minutes to compose himself at the beginning of his Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech in June. But once he did, he delivered a moving address in which he thanked his mom (who was in attendance), his father (who couldn’t be there, but we were assured was in good health), Baseball Canada and many of his former coaches and teammates.

The greatest Canadian catcher in major league history, Martin was an easy first-ballot inductee into the St. Marys, Ont.-based shrine. Among Canadian major leaguers, he ranks in the top 10 in most career offensive categories, including third in walks (792), fourth in games (1,693), fifth in runs scored (893), sixth in hits (1,416), doubles (255) and RBIs (771), as well as seventh in homers (191) and stolen bases (101). In 14 major league seasons, the teams Martin was on were in the playoffs 10 times.

Prior to his big-league career, Martin honed his skills with the Junior National Team, and Baseball Canada now presents the Russell Martin Award, sponsored by the Toronto Blue Jays, to the Junior National Team MVP each year. These days when he’s not on the golf course, you might find Martin instructing at Blue Jays youth clinics or coaching for the national team, like he did at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Toronto Blue Jays’ assistant GM Andrew Tinnish (Ottawa, Ont.)

26. Andrew Tinnish, assistant GM, Blue Jays (27)

Jays missed out on Roki Sasaki, who since he came out early fell under international pool money. They did not get caught short-handed as they sign Dominican shortstop Cristopher Polanco for $2,297,500. It’s the 13th highest bonus in franchise history behind free-agent RHP Adonys Cardona ($2.8 million) in 2010 and aheard of 2017 first rounder RHP Nate Pearson ($2,452,900). The 5-foot-11, 180 pounder, MLB Pipeline’s 22nd ranked international prospecct,has more hitting ability than raw power, but scouts say bat is his best tool. Only two players from Polanco’s hometown of Monte Plata have made the majors OF Danny Santana who played 547 games for the Twins, Rangers, Braves and Red Sox, plus Robinzon Diaz, one of the Jays catcher of the future. Diaz played three games, however, was shipped to the Pirates for Jose Bautista.

Tinnish also signed SS Juan Sanchez of the Dominican for a $997,500 bonus, SS Elaineiker Coronado of Venezuela for $797,500 and INF Kennew Blanco, also of Venezuela $597,500. Sanchez a 6-foot-3, 200 pounder, has shown strength potential to develop plus power and already drives the ball and has a power-over-hit game. Coronado represented his country in 2023 at the U-18 World Cup and is the son Jose Coronado, who reached triple-A with the Mets as a middle infield. The 6-foot-2, Blanco is a 6-foot-2 was originally in the 2024 class but was declared ineligible to sign until 2025. His future is in the middle of the diamond as well.

Oakland A’s scout Matt Higginson hails from Grimsby, Ont.

27. Matt Higginson, scout, A’s (29).

It is getting more and more difficult for a Canadian high schoolers to be drafted. The CPBL, founded in 2015, had a high school player drafted in the first three rounds each year until 2024 when the streak came to an end. Higginson, of the A’s, a club which used to be adverse to drafting high schoolers was able to find a talent: RHP Josiah Romeo (Caledon, Ont.) of the OBA Mississauga Tigers and the Junior National Team. (CPBL grad Émilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) a FieldHouse Pirates grad went in the second round from Kentucky to the Tampa Bay Rays, signing for $1.52 Million). Higginson selected Romeo in the sixth round and gave him a $550,000 bonus. Later, he chose LHP Ryan Magdic (Beamsville, Ont.) in the 13th round from Missouri.

Of the 17 Canucks drafted and four free agents the only high schoolers signing were C Nathan Flewelling (Innisfail, Alta.) of the CarStar Braves, who went to the Rays signing for $774,000; INF Jack Lines (Okotoks, Alta.), former Okotoks Dawgs, of TNXL, also to the Rays in the 12th receiving $397,500; OF Eric Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.) of Okotoks Dawgs a 20th rounder to the Braves given a $337,500 and INF Owen Gregg (Oakville, Ont.) of the FieldHouse Pirates to the Blue Jays as a free agent. The other two drafted, who did not sign were INF Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) a former Ontario Blue Jay, of P27 and the Trenton Thunder, who went to the Cardinals in the 19th and RHP Owen Pote, (Spruce Grove, Alta.) who trained at AHP in Edmonton and pitched for the Sylvan Lake Gulls, who went to the Reds, also in the 19th. The Tigers had serious interest in drafting Lawson in the second round.

Former Blue Jays INF and current Arizona Diamondbacks coach Dave McKay (Vancouver, BC)

28. Dave McKay, Diamondbacks (22).

McKay is set to return as the Diamondbacks’ first base coach in 2025. It will be his 55th season in pro ball as a player or coach. In a phone interview in early December, the 74-year-old McKay said he is still feeling healthy and strong. On Oct. 24, 2023, McKay made Canadian baseball history when the Diamondbacks defeated the Phillies in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series. With that D-Backs’ win, McKay (Vancouver, BC) became the first Canuck on-the-field coach to be part of three different teams that have advanced to the World Series. McKay was the first base coach for the Oakland A’s when they competed in the Fall Classic for three straight years from 1988 to 1990. He had the same role with the St. Louis Cardinals’ pennant-winning squads in 2004, 2006 and 2011.

A 2001 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, McKay has earned World Series rings with the A’s in 1989 and the Cardinals in 2006 and 2011. With the D-Backs, McKay also serves as the club’s base running coach and helped transform the team into one of the best base-stealing threats in the big leagues. In 2023, the D-Backs swiped 166 bases, the second-most in the majors. The D-Backs stole 119 bases in 149 attempts in 2024.

Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae, middle, with four members of New Brunswick’s 13U squad at the national championships in Woodstock, Ont. in 2023.

29. Hazel Mae, Sportsnet (28).

In recent years at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in St. Marys, Ont., if you polled the attendees about who they most want to meet, the most popular answer would be “Hazel Mae.” After doing an outstanding job as the emcee for the previous few years, Mae decided to take 2024 off, but was still in St. Marys and when her name was announced at the ceremony, she garnered one of the loudest ovations.

In 2024, Mae completed her 23rd year of covering major-league ball. She once again excelled in her role as an in-game reporter on Sportsnet’s Blue Jays broadcasts, while doubling as the host of a popular segment on Blue Jays’ Central called the “Interview Room” in which she conducted in-depth interviews with players. Some of her guests included Justin Turner, George Springer and Daulton Varsho (together), Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero.

Throughout the regular season, she also had memorable and moving interviews with Erik Swanson when the reliever returned to the Blue Jays’ after his son recovered from life-threatening injuries he suffered when he was struck by a car during spring training and with Spencer Horwitz, who opened up about his mental health struggles.

Mae was also a star on Sportsnet’s post-season coverage. She covered the Dodgers in the NLDS and landed interviews with Teoscar Hernandez, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Blake Treinen, and Tommy Edman ... plus Mets bench coach John Gibbons. And when the Dodgers celebrated on the field after winning the World Series, Mae was there, in the thick of it, to secure interviews with Kevin Kiermaier, manager Dave Roberts, Hernandez and Freeman. Other years, she would switch microphones: Sportsnet, then TBS. In 2024, TBS did not hire freelancers, using reporters already on site.

Former Giants GM Farhan Zaidi (Sudbury, Ont.)

30. Farhan Zaidi, former GM, Giants (7).

The former San Francisco president of baseball operations, Zaidi struck out on signing Shohei Ohtani a year after striking out on Aaron Judge. But prior to the 2024 season, he signed several notable free agents for the Giants in spring training – Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, Jorge Soler and Nick Ahmed – that filled holes and helped the Giants focus on making the playoffs. But another mediocre season led to the Giants firing Zaidi and replacing him with former decorated catcher Buster Posey, who helped the Giants win three World Series but is new to the front office business.

Zaidi was hired before the 2019 season, which was Bruce Bochy’s swan song as manager, and brought a heavy analytic approach to a franchise that had been known as old school under Brian Sabean and Bobby Evans. Zaidi replaced Bochy with Gabe Kapler, who was on board with Zaidi as a new-school manager, and then replaced Kapler with veteran manager Bob Melvin in 2024. Each of Zaidi’s seasons, however, the Giants hovered around .500 except for 2021, when all went right during a franchise-record 107-win run to the playoffs, where they were beaten by the Dodgers in the first round. His off-season returns on free agents sounds a little like 1 Blue Jays Way.

Women’s National Team legend, Vancouver Canadians coach and 2024 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ashley Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.). Photo: Baseball Canada

31. Ashley Stephenson, coach, Vancouver Canadians (26).

Stephenson made history in 2024 when she became the first Women’s National Team member to be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. And if there was a more powerful and inspiring induction speech delivered in 2024 than hers in St. Marys, we certainly didn’t hear it. Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae wrote to Stephenson in a post on X:

“I can’t tell you how incredible and inspiring your induction speech was. What an outstanding role model. Thank you for all you do. You’ve motivated me to do more for the women’s game.”

When she wasn’t excelling behind the podium, Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.), who played for the Women’s National Team for 15 years, was excelling as a position coach with the Toronto Blue Jays’ class-A Vancouver Canadians. It was her second year in the role in which one of her primary responsibilities is working with the outfielders. She also served as a coach for the Women’s National Team and helped lead them to a bronze medal at the Women’s World Cup in Thunder Bay, Ont., in August. It was the second medal Stephenson has earned as a coach with the national squad to go along with the seven she collected as a player.

Legendary Montreal Expos broadcaster Jacques Doucet (Montreal, Que.)

32. Jacques Doucet, former Expos broadcaster (30).

Doucet was a finalist for the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick award for the 12th time in 2024, and once again, he wasn’t named the winner. This is getting a little old. Since 1978, three Spanish-language broadcasters – Buck Canel (1985), Jaime Jarrín (1998) and Felo Ramírez (2001) - have won the Frick Award. Why not a French-language broadcaster?

Not only was Doucet an outstanding play-by-play man, but he invented a whole new glossary of baseball terms to help French-speaking fans understand the game. For 33 seasons, Doucet broadcast Expos games as the radio voice on their French network (1972 to 2004). Prior to that, he covered the team for La Presse. He returned to the booth from 2012 to 2022 as the Blue Jays’ French-speaking TV voice on TVA. Doucet won the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Jack Graney Award in 2004 and he was elected to the Canadian ball hall in 2020. In our opinion, Doucet, who turned 84 in 2024, is long overdue for recognition from former Frick winners.

Former Expo scout Alex Agostino, right, and ex-Expo RHP Pedro Martinez, a member in good standing of Halls of Fame in Cooperstown and St. Marys.

33. Alex Agostino, cross checker, Phillies (35).

Some crosscheckers are pleased when their club selects two of his players in the draft. Agostino filled his hat in a bountiful July: drafting and signing eight and then inking four free agents. He and his area scouts (Kellan McKeon, grandson of Jack McKeon, Jeff Zone and Casey Fahy) selected: second rounder OF Griffin Burkholder, a high schooler from Chantilly, Va. for $2,497,500; fourth round SS Carson DeMartini from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($542,900); 12th round LHP A.J. Wilson of North Carolina at Charlotte ($50,000); 15th round RHP Luke Gabrysh of St. Joseph’s University ($100,000); 16th round RHP Eli Trop from Penn ($100,000); 17th round RHP Ryan Degges from North Carolina-Charlotte ($150,000); 18th round LHP Kevin Warunek of Longwood ($150,000) and LHP Erik Ritchie of East Carolina University ($125,000). Post draft he signed free agents: RHP Zack Tukis of Millersville, RHP Sam Highfill of NC State, RHP Ryan Dromboski of Penn and RHP Tanner Gresham of Army.

Previous Agostino (St-Bruno, Que.) picks fared well also: RHP Ben Brown (2017 draft, 33rd) made his debut with the Cubs and in his sixth start in on May 28, 2024 at Milwaukee, he tossed seven scoreless and hitless innings with 10 strikeouts. Brown was 1-3 with a 3.58 ERA before a neck injury shut him down June 8 ... C Logan O’Hoppe (2018 draft, 23rd), established himself as an everyday catcher in big leagues with the Angels with 20 homers, and 56 RBIs in 134 games ... Both RHP Griff McGarry (2021 fifth) from Virginia and SS Bryan Rincon (2022 14th) from Shaler HS were in the Arizona Fall League. And best of all, the Agostino roster doubled to four grandkids: twins Quinn and Nico have little sister named Ollie and son Matteo and his wife Marie-Josee welcomed little Enzo into the world.

Veteran Dodgers executive Ellen Veronica Harrigan

34. Ellen Harrigan, senior director, baseball administration, Dodgers (109).

Harrigan will soon have her fourth World Series ring. Starting out in the Blue Jays’ organization, Harrigan was there when they won championships in 1992 and 1993 and now will receive her second ring (her first was in 2020) with the Dodgers after they were victorious over the Yankees in the 2024 Fall Classic. Harrigan (Beeton, Ont.) began her career with the Jays as an administrative aide in player development in 1981 and later became the general manager of the club’s class-A New York Penn League affiliate in St. Catharines, Ont.

After a stop with the Baltimore Orioles, she moved on to the Dodgers and has risen through the organization’s ranks to hold a number of key executive positions. She completed her 24th season with the club. In total, she has worked in pro ball for 44 years. In 2023, she was recognized by Sports Business Journal as one of its “Game Changers” honorees. The award was designed to highlight “women who are having success and serving as leaders in the sports industry.”

Rockies manager Harry (Ralston) Black.

35. Bud Black, manager, Rockies (32).

The rebuilding Rockies finished in last place in the National League West division in 2024 with a 61-101 record, but clearly the team’s ownership didn’t feel manager Black was to blame. On Oct. 8, the Rockies signed him to a contract extension through the 2025 season. This will make the 67-year-old Black, whose father was born in the Edmonton area and his mother in Melville, Sask., the fifth longest tenured active manager with the same team behind only Kevin Cash (Rays), Dave Roberts (Dodgers), Brian Snitker (Braves) and Torey Lovullo (Diamondbacks).

In his eight seasons as Rockies manager, Black has a record of 537-657. He piloted the club to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2017 and 2018. In total, counting his eight-plus seasons as manager of the San Diego Padres (2007 to 2015), Black has 1,186 managerial wins, which are the 48th most in big league history.

Reds crosschecker Bill Byckowski has looked through many a chain-link fence.

36. Bill Byckowski cross checker, Reds (37).

Byckowski had a successful draft as a cross checker starting with first round pick (second overall) RHP Chase Burns, who Cincinnati gave a record $9.25 million signing bonus. He surpassed the $9.2 million given to Paul Skenes, the first overall pick in 2023. Third rounder Mike Sirota, of Northeastern, was given an $863,300 bonus and dealt to the Dodgers for Gavin Lux. The others Byckowski checked on and scouted and signed: RHP Tristan Smith, a fifth rounder, from Clemson who was given a $600,000 bonus, C Jacob Friend, sixth, Davidson, $272,500, RHP Luke Hayden, eighth, Indiana State, $197,500, C Ryan McCrystal, ninth, East Carolina, $147,500, LF Anthony Stephan, 13th, University of Virginia $150,000 and RP Trent Hodgdon, 17th, South Carolina Upstate, $150,000. He also drafted RHP Owen Pote (Sherwood Park, Alta.) in the 19th round, but Pote chose to attend Barton College.

After the draft, he signed free agent LHP Stephen Quigley. Byckowski (Erin, Ont.) remembers telling his saintly wife Candy that he was off to the airport on a scouting trip. Candy asked what school would he be scouting? Byckowski answered, “UConn.” Candy replied, “They play ball in The Yukon in February?” Byckowski explained that the University of Connecticut Huskies were playing in Daytona Beach.

Stubby Clapp (far right) was inducted onto Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence on January 11. Photo: Eugenio Matos, Baseball Canada

37. Stubby Clapp, coach, Cardinals (56).

In December, it was announced that Clapp would become the 13th inductee on Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence. Prior to playing 23 games with the Cardinals in 2001, he honed his skills with the Junior National Team. In 1991, he was an infielder on the Canadian youth team that won gold at the World Junior Baseball Championships in Brandon, Man.

While enjoying a successful pro playing career, Clapp continued to answer the call for the national team. He helped Canada to a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg. He later suited up for Canada in two Olympics – in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. He also donned the Maple Leaf during the first two World Baseball Classics in 2006 and 2009.

After his playing career, Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) entered the pro coaching ranks and worked his way up to his current position as first base coach with the Cardinals, a post he has held for six seasons. Over the years, he has also served as a coach for the national team, including for Canada’s bronze medal-winning squad at the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup and for the gold medal-winning teams at the 2011 and 2015 Pan Am Games.

Former Blue Jays scout Jamie Lehman, right, and ex-Toronto bopper Carlos Delgado watch a prospect hit at the Canadian Futures Showcase.

38. Jamie Lehman, cross checker, Astros (31),

With the Astros, he gave almost $1 million to third rounder RHP Ryan Forcucci from California-San Diego, a projected first round talent that dropped due to injury. He also signed Oregon Duck football star Bryce Boettcher in the 13th round with a $150,000 bonus. An outfielder on the diamond, Boettcher was allowed to pursue a national title before reporting to camp in 2025. Lehman’s territory has grown, rather than covering only the West coast, his area of crosschecking has expanded to Indiana, the Upper Midwest and Canada. Lehman was at the Futures Showcase which he helped get off the ground and the Astros were near-misses on a few Canadian high schoolers drafted in 2024.

Cross-checking Florida for the Jays in 2023, he scouted and crosschecked SS Arjun Nimmala, a Dover, Fla. high schooler, that the Jays selected in the first round (20th overall) who was given a $3 million bonus. Nimmala had a break out year in 2024, hitting 17 homers combined between the Florida Complex League and class-A Dunedin at age 18. However, Jays’ selections LHP Brandon Barriera, a first rounder (23rd) a high schooler from Plantation, Fla., 2023 (a $3,597,500 signing bonus), Ricky Tiedemann, third round, 2021, Golden West College ($644,800) and Landen Maroudis, fourth rounder, 2023 Clearwater, high school ($1.5 Million) all underwent Tommy John surgery. All are expected to contribute in 2025.

The Naylor family (without Josh who was on his honeymoon) at this year’s Baseball Canada banquet. From left to right: Bo, Jenice, Myles and Chris. Photo: Baseball Canada

39. Bo, Myles, Chris and Jenice Naylor (40).

Bo and Josh Naylor became the third pair of brothers since 1961 to have game-tying and game-winning RBIs in the ninth inning-or-later on April 10 against the White Sox, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The former Ontario Blue Jays Bo (Mississauga, Ont.) and Josh became the first pair of brothers to each register one-or-more hits in the same League Championship Series. Bo was 1-for-3 with a double, while Josh was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs against the Yankees. Bo played in 123 games starting 101 behind the plate and four at DH hitting .201 with 10 doubles, two triples, 13 homers, 39 RBIs and a .614 OPS. He threw out 10 of 71 attempted base stealers.

Myles hit .192 at class-A Stockton in the A’s system. The former first rounder and Ontario Blue Jays grad had 17 doubles, two triples, 11 homers and 58 RBIs in 115 games with a .643 OPS. Like his brothers Josh and Bo, he was a first rounder.

Pop Chris is the only Canadian father to have three players go in the first round: Josh (12th overall in 2015), Bo (29th overall in 2018) and Myles (39th overall in 2023). The only other person in North America to have raised three first-round sons were papa Drew, who had sons J.D. (second over all from Florida State to the Phillies in 1997), INF Stephen (15th) Florida State to the Diamondbacks and RHP Tim (28th) a high schooler from Valdosta, GA. to Cleveland.

And the dope who wrote this list last year -- not Kevin Glew -- forgot to mention mom Jenice who oversaw her three sons travelling across North America to diamonds from Miami to Long Beach, from Burlington’s Ireland Park to Mississauga’s Rivergrove. Then, watched her eldest walk down the aisle “holding up like a champ.”

Sambat CEO Arlene Anderson, Joe Carter, the first big-leaguer to use the bat, and creator Sam Holman at a Diamondbacks reception in Toronto in 2016.

40. Arlene Anderson, CEO Sam Bat (36).

Tariffs? What tariffs? Anderson has a motto to deal with the threat: Keep calm and carry a Sam Bat. Anderson forsees good karma in 2025: A) All-time home run leader and Sam Bat’s most famous slugger Barry Bonds wore No. 25 and B) inventor Sam Holman (Ottawa, Ont.) turns 80. Sam Bat hosted dealers from Korea and brought one of our their Canadian wood suppliers to the winter meetings in Dallas. The company says it maintained its position in Japan with 31 pro players expanding into Taiwan. And online sales are up 15%.

Ben Milinkovich has been doing the work lining up major-league clients, which include Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero, Alejandro Kirk, Ernie Clement and Davis Schneider. Teams and players who used Sam Bats in 2024: Diamondbacks: Joc Pederson, Ketel Marte, Alek Thomas, Christian Walker and Lourdes Gurriel, Orioles: Gunnar Henderson, Anthony Santander and Jackson Holliday; Cubs: Jorge Alfaro and Seiya Suzuki; White Sox: Nicky Lopez; Guardians: Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), Kyle Manzardo and Angel Martinez; Rockies: Jacob Stallings; Astros: Mauricio Dubon, and Jon Singleton; Royals: Sal Perez and Yuliesky Gurriel; Dodgers: Gavin Lux, Austin Barnes and Teoscar Hernandez; Marlins: Luis Arraez, Avisail Garcia and Curt Casali; Brewers: Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang and Francisco Mejia; Mets: Mark Vientos and Harrison Bader; Yankees: Jose Trevino; A’s: Zack Gelof, Drew Lugbauer and Daz Cameron; Phillies: Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos; Pirates: Oneil Cruz; Padres: Manny Machado, Eguy Rosario, Brett Sullivan and Jose Azocar; Giants: Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.); Mariners: Cal Raleigh and Tyler Locklear; Cardinals: Lars Nootbaar and Victor Scott; Rays: Jonathan Aranda; Rangers: Nathaniel Lowe, Konner Piotto (Mississauga, Ont.) and Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.), Nationals: Joey Meneses, Dermis Garcia, Ildemaro Vargas, Juan Yepez and Stone Garrett.

Canucks minor leaguers using a Sam Bat include Nate Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.), Bryce Arnold (Grimsby, Ont.), Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.), Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.), Andy Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.), Nathan Flewelling (Innisfail, Alta.) and Owen Gregg (Oakville, Ont.).

The Intentional Talk trio: former Blue Jay Kevin Millar, host Siera Santos and Ryan Dempster.

41. Ryan Dempster, Cubs/MLB Network (46).

Dempster shared his wit and wisdom as co-host of MLB Network’s “Intentional Talk” alongside Kevin Millar and Siera Santos for a second season in 2024. Dempster and Millar’s segment on the show called ‘The Flip Side’ has become must-watch TV for ball fans. Among the most memorable guests Dempster chatted with this year were actors Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, Jackson Holliday and Bowden Francis.

The national team alum also served as a game and studio analyst for the Cubs on the Marquee Sports Network. On top of his broadcasting duties, Dempster (Gibsons, BC) is a special advisor for the Cubs. During his 16 seasons in the majors he accumulated 132 wins – second-most by a Canadian. And Dempster has never forgotten his roots. One of the highlight auction items at Baseball Canada’s National Teams Awards Banquet Fund raiser each year is the behind-the-scenes Wrigley Field experience Dempster puts together to help raise money for the national team.

2024 Women’s National Team MVP Sena Catterall. Photo: Baseball Canada

42. Sena Catterall, Women’s National Team (-).

In six games at the Women’s World Cup in Thunder Bay, Ont., this summer, Catterall topped the Women’s National Team with a .500 batting average (9-for-18) and made multiple highlight-reel catches in centre field to help her squad to a bronze medal. Catterall (Pierrefonds, Que.) also led the national team with 10 runs, six stolen bases, a .625 OBP and 1.181 OPS. For her efforts, she was named the centre fielder on the tournament’s All-World Team and the 2024 Women’s National Team MVP.

Prior to her first appearance with the Women’s National Team at the World Cup qualifier in Aguascalientes, Mex. in 2019, Catterall competed for Team Quebec. Catterall is a two-sport athlete. She is also a high-scoring forward for the Clarkson University Golden Knights in Potsdam, N.Y. Catterall wasn’t able to make the Baseball Canada Awards Banquet to accept her MVP honour because her college hockey team was on a road trip. Her mother, Armenia Teixeira, accepted the honour on her behalf.

Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, middle, received Baseball Canada’s 2023 Media Recognition Award. He is pictured here with Baseball Canada CEO Jason Dickson (left) and Baseball Canada media head Adam Morissette. Photo: Baseball Canada

43. Shi Davidi, Sportsnet (48).

One the most in-depth reads by Davidi came from Oakland in June explaining Alek Manoah’s ordeal from walking off the mound at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 29, a pain in his elbow, being examined by a White Sox team doctor, an MRI -- all the while wondering whether the future contain highlights, low lights or the sidelines? An MRI was set for the following day, kicking off a wild week of veering between optimism and pessimism for the 26-year-old right-hander, culminating with season-ending surgery on June 17. Bottom line -- he was headed to a hybrid Tommy John procedure and explained to Davidi how he broke down.

It’s tough working for team-owned outlet, but this sounds hardly like something that would go into the company’s newsletter writing: “the industry seems to have treated the Blue Jays like the party guest who’s a two at 10 p.m. just waiting to become someone’s 10 at 2 a.m.” Sounds similar to a Willie Nelson hit.

Excellent reads included Justin Turner explaining a point system the Jays were using to improve the offence, getting Blue Jays scouts from Chicago in May, visiting re-habbing Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) at Buffalo in August before he retired, Dante Bichette telling Davidi in September when the Jays were in Atlanta, that his “ultimate goal is to play with Vladdy (Guerrero) forever, to win a championship with him,” and getting Jays scouts to explain how they were evaluating players at the Canadian Futures Showcase. And is informative on TV and radio as well.

Brewers scout and Langley Blaze architect Doug Mathieson checks his batting order

44. Doug Mathieson, GM Langley Blaze/Brewers scout (53).

Not one elite high-school age team in Canada -- outside of the Junior National Team -- plays a stronger schedule in the United States than Mathieson’s Langley Blaze. They make three trips a year to play pro competition in Arizona (two) and Florida (one). Tyler O’Neill’s mentor has had 170 players drafted -- including 12 first rounders -- from their spring and fall trips, this their 24th annual. Major leaguers to wear the Langley uniforms include: Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.), Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.), Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC), Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC), Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.), Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.), Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.), Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.), Edouard Julien (Quebec, Que.), Jordon Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.), Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC), Jared Young (Prince George, BC), Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), Scott Mathieson (Aldergrove, BC) and O’Neill. He could add to the total come July as Ohio’s Devin Taylor, Hawaii’s Avia Arquette and Cam Leiter (Maple Ridge, BC) were all scheduled to make the fall trip to Jupiter, Fla.

Langley captured last year’s 24-team (with clubs from Alberta, Saskatchewan and south of the border) Langley Blaze Invitational Tournament the hard way. The Blaze played their own pool games, going 3-1 and were seeded sixth on championship Sunday which meant they needed to win three games on the final day and they did beating Webber Academy 9-1, White Rock Tritons 10-2 and Delta Blue Jays 6-2. Langley clinched first in the BCPBL Premier League, winning 10-1 and 12-2 over the Whalley Chiefs to run its record in league to 29-6 and overall to 64-13. Langley did lose the provincial title final, a 5-3 loss to White Rock. McLeod Athletic Park has been upgraded with new seats and a new concession, plus three bullpen mounds. A development 13U team has been added. Blaze will be attending the Perfect Game Canada Challenge in Dorchester this June with Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) looking like an early pick in the 2026 draft.

Terriers alum Cal Quantrill made 29 starts for the Colorado Rockies in 2024.

45. Cal Quantrill, Rockies (52).

Quantrill made 29 starts in his first season with the Rockies, going 8-11 with a 4.98 ERA in 148 1/3 innings. Quantrill was acquired via trade with Cleveland in exchange for minor league catcher Kody Huff following the 2023 season. He owned a 3.30 ERA (79 innings), allowing eight home runs through his first 14 starts, nine of which were quality starts. In his final 15 starts, he had a 6.88 ERA in 69 1/3 innings and allowed 15 home runs. He tied with Austin Gomber for the second-most quality starts on the Rockies and tied with Ryan Feltner for the most starts.

The right-hander’s best month was May when he went 4-0 with a 1.71 ERA (six earned runs in 31 2/3 innings) in five starts. Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) became the first Rockies starter with at least four wins and a sub-2.00 ERA in a calendar month since Jorge De La Rosa in June 2016 (4-0, 1.96). Quantrill held opponents to a .218 batting average with runners in scoring position -- which was ninth best in the majors and sixth in the NL. He also owned the 10th-lowest opponent’s batting average with RISP in franchise history and the lowest in a full season since Jon Gray’s .184 opponent average with RISP in 2019.

Quantrill recorded his 500th career strikeout when he fanned Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich on July 4. With this, he became the 16th Canadian-born major leaguer to reach that milestone - a list that includes his dad, Paul Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.). He made one “home start” in Mexico City against the Houston Astros becoming the first Canadian to start a big-league game in Mexico. Quantrill earned $6.55 million in 2024 and is a free agent.

Former big league slugger Matt Stairs was hired as a hitting coordinator by the Okotoks Dawgs. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs

46. Matt Stairs, coast-to-coast, hitting savant (45).

In late August, Stairs was hired to be the hitting coordinator of the Okotoks Dawgs of the Western Canadian Baseball League. This was a major coup for the powerhouse Dawgs, who have won three consecutive WCBL championships. But it’s also not an entirely surprising development. Stairs has been a guest of the Dawgs at the last three sold-out WCBL All-Star games at Seaman Stadium. And Stairs, whose 265 major league home runs are the third-most by a Canadian, was no token guest on the all-star weekend. He ran a hitting clinic for kids on the day before the All-Star Game, he addressed the players on the day of the contest and then spent almost the entire pre-game around the batting cage offering hitting tips.

When he’s not in Okotoks sharing his wisdom, Stairs is back East doing the same. He serves as technical director of the Fredericton Minor Baseball Association, a position that entails going to a practice every night and offering advice to coaches. “On the weekends, I’m probably at the ballparks eight or nine hours a day watching games,” Stairs told the Canadian Baseball Network in July. “Some days, I’ll sit in my car and watch a whole practice and take notes and call the coach up the next day.”

Justin Morneau, middle, will return as the primary analyst on Twins’ TV broadcasts in 2025. Photo: YouTube

47. Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins (43).

The 2006 American League MVP served as a TV analyst on approximately 70 games for the Twins in 2024. In January, Morneau was the first guest on the MLB Network to congratulate his longtime teammate and best pal, Joe Mauer, on his election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Morneau also made the trek to Cooperstown for Mauer’s induction in July. In May, Morneau was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame. Fittingly, his plaque was placed beside Larry Walker’s in the shrine. Walker was a big influence on Morneau’s career and the two have become good friends.

On top of his broadcasting duties, Morneau serves as a special assistant to baseball operations with the Twins. He also remains very active in the greater Minneapolis community. Each December, he runs his “Winter Warm-Up Coat Drive” for the Salvation Army and in mid-December, he visited the Gillette Children’s Hospital in Minnesota to spread some holiday joy.

Royals minor league field coordinator Scott Thorman

48. Scott Thorman, minor-league field coordinator, Royals (62).

The Royals returned to post-season play in 2024 for the first time since they won the World Series in 2015. Thorman did not have any hits or throw any strikes, but he was a big reason KC was playing in October before losing to the Yankees in the AL Division Series. He managed seven years in the KC system -- class-A Burlington, class-A Lexington, class-A Wilmington, double-A Northwest Arkansas and triple-A Omaha, winning four titles. A total of 54 minor leaguers that he managed graduated to the majors, including SS Bobby Witt, who was with Thorman at Northwest Arkansas and signed an 11-year extension worth $288 million with KC.

Thorman’s assembly line of minor-leaguer who went to KC:

RHPs _ Brady Singer, Carlos Hernandez, Alec Marsh, Jonathan Bowlan, Jonathan Heasley and Mike Bender ... LHPs _ Daniel Lynch, Ángel Zerpa, Eric Skoglund, Kris Bubic, and Austin Cox ... INFs _ Maikel García, Michael Massey, Nicky Lopez, Nick Loftin, Nate Eaton, Nick Pratto, Adalberto Mondesí, Emmanuel Rivera and Witt ... OFs _ Kyle Isbel, Vinnie Pasquantino, Dairon Blanco, Drew Waters, Edward Olivares, Tyler Cropley, Nick Heath and Brewer Hicklen ... C _ Freddy Fermin, Logan Porter, MJ Melendez, Cam Gallagher, Sebastián Rivero and Nick Dini ... RPs _ Josh Staumont, Dylan Coleman, Gabe Speier, Richard Lovelady, Foster Griffin, José Cuas, Jackson Kowar, Ronald Bolaños, Collin Snider and Tyler Zuber.

The Royals’ top five prospects heading into 2025: 1B Jac Caglianone, a first rounder in 2024 who was given a $7,497,500 bonus and dominated the Arizona Fall League; C Blake Mitchell, who hit 18 homers for the Quad Cities River Bandits; C Carter Jensen, who was also at Quad Cities; RHP Ben Kudrna, a third rounder who was at double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals and LHP David Shields, a second rounder from 2024.

MLB player agents Chris Koras and Mike Bonnano

49. Chris Koras and Mike Bonanno, agents (87).

When Koras was young, hockey was his game playing for the Port Hope Clippers, Port Hope Predators, Oakville Blades, Kanata Stallions and SUNY-Brockport. It’s not his game any longer. Koras (Toronto, Ont.) is head of Klutch Baseball, after being CEO of Rep1, acquired at the end of 2023. Koras negotiated the $331 million deal the Red Sox gave Rafael Devers, and the seven-year, $106.5 million contract that Cleveland gave Andres Gimenez, whom the Blue Jays recently acquired. The Klutch stable includes Luis Severino (three-year, $67 million deal), Freddy Peralta (five-year, $15.5 million), Devin Williams (one year, $8.4 million), Gabriel Moreno ($800,000) and Jeferson Quero ($800,000) as well as top prospects like Leodalis De Vries ($4.2 million signing bonus) and Felnin Celestin (given a $4.7 million bonus).

Koras owns the Canadian production company, Game Seven Media, which has produced Canadian stories for CBC and TSN, as well as a top Netflix show Muscles and Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators. Klutch Sports Group is run by Rich Paul, who represents Lebron James, Jalen Hurts, Anthony Davis, plus singers Dolly Parton and Post Malone.

After personally spending 10-plus years at Ball Players Agency, Bonanno left when hired by Koras. Bonanno (Burlington, Ont.) represents Cubs prospect Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.), winner of the Canadian Baseball Network’s Randall Echlin award as the best Canuck hitter in affiliated ball. Caissie, the former FieldHouse Pirate, hit .278 with 29 doubles, three triples, 19 homers and 75 RBIs with an .848 OPS in 127 games. He also represents Canucks: lefty Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) who started at double-A Akron for nine games, then worked in 27 games at triple-A Columbus and was with Cleveland for eight games, pitching 12 2/3 scoreless, fanning 19; Émilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) a second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays from the Kentucky Wildcats, who received a $1.52 million bonus and RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) 6-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 25 games (23 starts), striking out 160 in 113 innings at class-A St. Lucie, class-A Brooklyn and double-A Binghamton.

Yankees scout Steve Wilson takes questions in Seoul in 2019. Sun Dong-yuhl, former head coach of the South Korean national team, is on the left.

50. Steve Wilson, international scout, Yankees (72).

It wasn’t the best year Wilson has ever had scouting for the Yankees but it was still a good year. One son, OF Tyler Wilson earned Conference player of the year honours, was drafted in the eighth round by the Yankees and elected to the Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian College First Team. Meanwhile, younger son Liam Wilson is a freshman at Harvard University.

GM Brian Cashman dipped into his farm system using international talent to acquire help at the major league level: Abrahan Ramirez, a sign out of Venezuela in 2022, and Agustin Ramirez, signed from the Dominican in 2018 (who hit 25 homers at two different levels in 2024) were sent to Miami for Jazz Chisholm. Also, John Cruz, signed out of the DR in 2022, had a strong year as the youngest player in the Florida Complex league at 17 in 2023, but struggled in 2024, was sent to the Marlins for ex-Jay Jon Berti. Roderick Arias, who signed out of Dominican Republic in 2022 for $4 million is a top five Yankees’ prospect in most publications. He was in the complex league in 2023 at 18 years old. In 2024 at age 19, he had some growing pains in the first half of the season at class-A Tampa but bounced back to have a very strong second half as one of the younger players in the league. He hit .233 with 21 doubles, eight triples, 13 homers, 74 RBIs, going 37-for-50 stealing bases with a .720 OPS. Four of the Yankees international signs reached the majors in 2024: Carlos Narvaez, signed from Venezuela in 2015, was traded to Boston for international pool money and a pitching prospect and Andres Chaparro, also signed out of Venezuela in 2015, broke in with Diamondbacks, then was acquired by the Nationals. Also, Gustavo Campero, a 2016 sign from Colombia was a Rule V pick by the Angels and Kevin Alcantara, signed from the DR in 2018, was in the trade for Anthony Rizzo. Two catchers also popped for the Yankees: Engelth Urena, signed out of the DR in 2022 for $275,000, hit .307 in the Florida Complex league with eight homers, 32 RBIs and more walks than strikeouts and Edgleen Perez, signed out of Venezuela in 2023 for 50,000, hit .276, at age 18, with more walks than whiffs. He’s what they describe as an ‘arrow north prospect.’ Both are top 30 prospects.

Joey Votto never played a regular season game for the Toronto Blue Jays, but that didn’t stop Topps from issuing this card of him.

51. Joey Votto, Future Hall of Famer? (19).

In 1970, John Wayne won an Academy Award as best actor in the movie True Grit. John Wayne fans would not place the film in his top five must-see movies (like Cahill U.S. Marshal, Rio Bravo, The Searchers, The Shootist, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon). Rather it was a career achievement award. Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) did not have an at-bat in the majors during the regular season -- aside from a first-pitch home run at Clearwater against the Phillies during spring training. Like John Wayne, this academy does not ignore careers, although we usually confine things to the calendar year. We don’t drop previous three-time winners headed to Cooperstown due to zero at-bats.

In August of 2022, Votto needed surgery on his left shoulder to repair his torn rotator cuff and biceps. He missed the World Baseball Classic and was restricted to 65 games in 2023. In 2024, he began working out at Denny Bernyi’s Pro-Teach facility in Etobicoke in January. And he was ready to spring into action during spring training. Then, he jumped from the top step of the dugout, landing on extended bat sticking out of a bat bag and injuring his ankle. He had 104 plate appearances in the rookie-class Florida Complex League, class-A Dunedin and triple-A Buffalo before retiring Aug. 21. Will he accept a job with the Reds in 2025 like the one that was offered in 2024?

Blue Jays vice chairman Roger Rai

52. Roger Rai, vice chairman, Blue Jays (66).

With the passing of the great Phil Lind, a wonderful man, a visionary, Ted Rogers’ right-hand man and an authoritative and truthful author, the No. 1 Canadian advising Edward Rogers on baseball matters is Rai. He has gone from a consultant to Edward to now in his second year as vice-chairman on the Jays web page directory.

Rai is listed ahead of Anthony Staffieri, president and CEO, of Rogers Communications and Colette Watson, president, of Rogers Sports and Media. Edward and Rai attended the University of Western Ontario in London at the same time and remain close friends. We’re told by a few people who met with Rai between games of a day-night doubleheader at Yankee Stadium he is somewhere between a very knowledgeable ball fan and a super fan with a passion for the Jays. He roots for the Jays as much as anyone in the building.

Fieldhouse Pirates alum Owen Caissie is one of the Chicago Cubs’ top prospects.

53. OF Owen Caissie, INF-OF Tyler Black, Denzel Clarke and Dante Nori, The Future.

Caissie is the highest ranked Canadian at No. 52 on Baseball America’s top 100 prospects and fourth in the Cubs’ system. The former FieldHouse Pirate was the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2024 Randy Echlin Award winner, as the best Canadian hitter in affiliated minor ball. At triple-A Iowa last season, Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) batted .278 with 29 doubles, three triples, 19 homers and 75 RBIs in 127 games. He put up an .848 OPS.

Toronto Mets grad Tyler Black made his MLB debut in 2024.

Black, who is BA’s fifth-ranked Brewers’ prospect, became the 266th Canadian to appear in the majors with his two-hit game against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 30, 2024. In that contest, he took over as a pinch runner for injured Gary Sanchez and doubled off Tyler Alexander in the third and then singled against Jacob Lopez in the fifth. A youngster with a future in broadcasting called his second hit live on Brewers TV ... that was his pop Hot Rod Black. In 18 games, the 23-year-old Black had two doubles and two RBIs and batted .204. At triple-A Nashville, the former Toronto Met hit .258 with 14 doubles, five triples, 14 homers and 67 RBIs in 102 games.

Toronto Mets alum and Oakland A’s outfield prospect Denzel Clarke.

Clarke is the eighth-best prospect in the A’s system, according to BA, after hitting .269 with 21 doubles, eight triples, 13 homers and 53 RBIs. He had a .784 OPS and was 36-for-45 stealing bases. Then Clarke (Pickering, Ont.), also a former Toronto Met, went off with the Mesa Solar Sox, hitting .382 in the Arizona Fall League with two doubles, three triples, two homers and 13 RBIs. He was 9-for-11 swiping bases and had a 1.060 OPS in 19 games.

Outfielder Dante Nori was the first Canadian-born player selected in the 2024 MLB draft.

Nori is listed 10th on the Phillies’ top 10 prospects list by BA. The top Canuck selected in 2024 (27th overall) hit .240 with a triple, nine RBIs in 14 games with the class-A Clearwater Threshers. He was 9-for-13 stealing bases and owned a .740 OPS. He’s the son of former talented Raptors scout and coach Micah Nori. Say what? You don’t think a .240 average with class-A Clearwater is enough for a first rounder (27th overall) who was given a $2,497,500 signing bonus. Well, Hall of Famer Chipper Jones hit .229 for the rookie-class Gulf Coast League with one homer in 44 games in his first seasonin the Braves’ organization.

Former MLB All-Star and Baseball Canada CEO Jason Dickson

54. Jason Dickson, CEO, Baseball Canada (63).

Three years into his tenure as Baseball Canada CEO, Dickson continues to work tirelessly to improve the profile of the sport in our country. In 2024, Dickson led Baseball Canada in their first full year of its five-year Strategic Plan which is based on three pillars and commitments: growth, development and performance and organizational excellence. One of the most successful initiatives under Dickson’s watch has been Baseball Canada’s Women in Coaching program which was designed to empower female coaches in their development.

Under Megan Cundari’s leadership, this program won the Coaching Association of Canada’s Impact Award in 2024. Dickson also played an important role in helping Thunder Bay, Ont., land the Women’s Baseball World Cup this summer. The women’s national team won bronze at the

tournament. Dickson also oversaw the appointment of the new Baseball Canada executive in July and in that same month, Baseball Canada announced a new partnership with Sponsorship Canada, a company that will help Baseball Canada unlock new sponsorship opportunities. Stubby Clapp became the 13th player on Baseball Canada’s Wall of Fame on January 11. Next should be either Blaise Lavery (Kamloops, BC) or Dickson, who both were on the 1991 gold medal junior team.

Radio legend and podcaster Robert McCown.

55. Bob McCown, The Bobcat (41).

Speaking with McCown during Christmas week, he said he may have new plans this year. The Bob McCown Podcast, co-hosted by John Shannon (Mississauga, Ont.) and McCown (Mississauga, Ont.) with Sir David Hodge (Ancaster, Ont.) coming out of the bullpen when needed, has ended. McCown had to battle back from more than one stroke. His picture hangs at Bobby’s Hideaway on Lakeshore in Port Credit. Told the picture was there, McCown replied “You mean I don’t have a full wall?”

In 2024, ball sessions included conversations with Atlanta boss Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.), former Jays president Paul Beeston (Welland, Ont.), current president Mark Shapiro, former Jays manager and Mets bench coach John Gibbons, MLB Network’s Adnan Virk (Morven, Ont.), current and former Jays broadcasters Jamie Campbell (Oakville, Ont.), Warren Sawkiw and Scott MacArthur; current and former scribes from the Toronto Star and Sun: Richard Griffin (Oakville, Ont.), Dave Perkins (North York, Ont.), Gregor Chisholm (Toronto, Ont.), Rob Longley (Burlington, Ont.), plus Bill Shaikin (Montreal, Que.) Los Angeles Times. Am not going say I batted 1.000 listening to each and every podcast, but the most impressive aspect to me featured former hockey broadcaster Hodge’s diamond knowledge.

Milwaukee Brewers scout and Toronto Mets coach Pete Orr

56. Pete Orr, scout Brewers/coach Toronto Mets (55).

On the 20-to-80 scouting scale, scouts rate Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.) as a 70 on the speed tool. They might be light. Orr (Newmarket, Ont.) drafted O’Rae as the top Canuck in the third round in 2022. O’Rae stole 62 bases in 74 attempts at class-A Wisconsin and double-A Biloxi, hitting 14 doubles, three triples, a homer, 31 RBIs and a .622 OPS. He had three, three-bag games against Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Chattanooga Lookouts and the Birmingham Barons.

Orr wears three different hats: coaching with Junior National Team and Toronto Mets as well as scouting for Milwaukee. After finishing the 2023 season with the independent Kansas City Monarchs, Andrew Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) was signed by the Brewers and spent 23 games at Biloxi and triple-A Nashville, Adam Hall (London, Ont.) spent time with the Winnipeg Goldeyes in Indy ball, but he’s going to spring training with the Brewers. Orr is in charge of player development with the Toronto Mets, working with Ryan McBride and Rich Leitch. The Brewers have spent $6,741,700 on Canadians who received six-figure signing bonuses, third among the 30 teams. The Pirates are top Dawgs spending $7.18 million followed by the Padres ($7,164,449). The Jays are 10 at $4.08 million and the Giants are last spending $705,000.

Michel Laplante stepped down as president of the Quebec Capitales after the 2024 season. Photo: Quebec Capitales

57. Michel Laplante, Quebec Capitales (-).

It’s hard to imagine the Quebec Capitales without Laplante, but we’ll have to do that in 2025. After 25 seasons and the team’s third consecutive Frontier League championship, Laplante stepped down as team president in the fall. Not to worry though, he’s not leaving baseball. He’ll continue in his role as vice-president of Baseball Quebec and will focus on securing funding for a multi-sport facility in Montreal.

When Miles Wolff was looking to establish an independent franchise in Quebec City in 1998, he contacted Laplante (Val-d’Or, Que.), who was a pitcher with the Northern League’s Madison Black Wolf. Laplante immediately came on board as a pitcher and then as an executive. In the quarter century since, he has served in numerous positions for the Capitales, including player, coach, manager, co-owner and president. During that time, Laplante has helped establish a family friendly and winning culture for the organization. While Laplante has been involved with the team, the Capitales have won 10 league titles. They are Canada’s most successful pro franchis.

Longtime Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in December. Photo: Phillies

58. Jordan Romano, Jays/Phillies (6).

In 2025, Romano will be coming out of the bullpen for the Phillies. The 6-foot-5 right-hander signed a one-year, $8.5-million contract Dec. 10 after the Blue Jays had non-tendered him three weeks earlier. The Jays didn’t think the two-time All-Star closer was worth the $7.75 million salary he was projected to make in arbitration. Romano (Markham, Ont.) insists he has no ill will towards the Blue Jays’ front office. He registered eight saves and posted a 6.59 ERA in 15 appearances for the Jays in 2024 before undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery in July.

On April 22, he pitched the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals in a 5-3 win to record his 100th career save. With that, he became just the fourth Canadian and fifth Blue Jay to reach that milestone. He joins Éric Gagné (Mascouche, Que.), who had 187 saves in 10 years, John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.), who amassed 144 in 11 seasons and John Hiller (Toronto, Ont.), 135 in 15 seasons. In 59 games in 2023, Romano matched his career-high with 36 saves. The hard-throwing right-hander also had 36 saves in 2022, which earned him the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Tip O’Neill Award. In his three full seasons as Jays closer, his ERA was never higher than 2.90. Originally chosen in the 10th round of the draft by the Jays in 2014, the Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum has pitched in six major league seasons.

Astros scout Jim Stevenson

59. Jim Stevenson, domestic scouting supervisor, Astros (64).

Who loves JUCO players? Who loves late-round picks? Or undrafted players? Stevenson does and he has a rare set of eyes able to see the future. His undrafted RHP Logan VanWey, from Missouri Southern, was 9-1 with a 3.22 ERA and four saves with the triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, fanning 98 in 72 2/3 innings, while undrafted teammate RHP Ray Gaither from Dallas Baptist in 2021, was 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA with one save in 51 games with Sugar Land. Also, infielder Tommy Sacco, a 14th round TCU Horned Frogs pick from 2022, hit .248 with 11 homers, 41 RBIs and a .722 OPS at double-A Corpus Christi and Sugar Land, while SS Caden Powell, a sixth rounder out of Seminole State (Oak), batted .247 for the class-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers with four homers, 34 RBIs and a .667 OPS. Powell was National JUCO player of the year, batting .502, slugging 1.088 with 17 doubles, seven triples, 32 homers and 104 RBIs. Stevenson also selected 19th rounder Twine Palmer, who pitched in two games at Fayetteville and signed defensive SS Max Holy as a free agent out of Central Missouri State.

For the first time in a few years, Stevenson did not have a minor leaguer make the majors. He had four big leaguers play in 2024: Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.), who batted .240 with 17 doubles, a triple, six homers, 26 RBIs and a .643 OPS, Ramon Laureano, who spent time with the Guardians and the Brewers, batting .259 with 16 doubles, 11 homers, 33 RBIs and a .748 OPS in 98 games, Adrain Houser, who went 1-5 with a 5.84 ERA and one save with 45 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings with the Mets and Dallas Keuchel former Cy Young award winner who made four starts with the Brewers.

Calgary Redbirds alum Michael Soroka signed a one-year, $9-million deal with the Washington Nationals in December. Photo: Nationals

60. Michael Soroka, White Sox/Nationals (126).

The good news was Soroka was healthy again. The bad news is he was wearing No. 40 for the White Sox, who set a single-season MLB record with 121 losses. The 41-121 White Sox had a .253 winning percentage, finishing 51 1/2 games behind Cleveland. In 2024, Soroka pitched 79 2/3 innings -- the most since 2019 when he was second in the Cy Young award balloting when he pitched 174 2/3 innings with the Braves. He did not pitch in either 2021 or 2022 due to injuries. His season was split in two: as a starter, the former Calgary Redbird was 0-5 with a 6.39 ERA in nine outings, walking 24 and striking out 24 in 43 2/3 innings. After a move to the bullpen, he pitched better, but his record was 0-5 again. He had a 2.75 ERA with 20 walks and 60 strikeouts in 36 innings. On the season, he was 0-10 with a 4.74 ERA across 25 appearances. On Dec. 19, he signed a one-year, $9-million contract with the Nationals.

Even though the DH is in the NL, Soroka’s deal includes a $50,000 bonus for earning a Silver Slugger with the Nationals. The other bonuses: $100,000 for league MVP, $100,000 for Cy Young award, $50,000 for 2nd-through-5th place Cy Young finishes, $100,000 for World Series MVP, $100,000 for comeback player of the year, $75,000 for LCS MVP, $25,000 for a Gold Glove award and $25,000 for an all-star election or selection.

The innovative Tom Tango, also known as TangoTiger.

61. Tom Tango, Advanced Media, MLB (61).

We’ve mentioned this proud Canadian many times, but as we mentioned years ago, it’s not his real name. Tom Tango or “TangoTiger” are his online aliases. Yet, this is not a man who operates in the shadows behind fake names like BaseballForever, 02Slider or Backdoorchange monikers. He runs the Tango on Baseball sabermetrics site and is the senior database architect of stats for MLB Advanced Media. He introduced the wOBA metric to measure overall offensive contributions and developed FIP (fielding independent pitching) to assess the quality of a pitcher’s performance than other statistics, such as ERA. He has worked for the Mariners, Blue Jays and the Cubs. In 2020, he was awarded SABR’s Henry Chadwick award which honours researchers, historians, analysts, and statisticians whose work has most contributed to our understanding of the game.

Best Statscast numbers from the 2024 ... Most barrels: Leader _ Aaron Judge, 105, Blue Jays leader: Vlad Guerrero 72; Most five-star catches: Leader: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jays: Daulton Varsho; Bat tracking (Average bat speed): Leader _ Giancarlo Stanton 81.3, Jays: Guerrero 73.9; Outs Above Average leader: Jacob Young, 20, Jays: Varsho 16; Highest average exit velocity (minimum 300 at-bats): Leader: Judge, 96.2 mph, Jays: Guerrero 93.2; Sprint speed (minimum 10 competitive runs): Leader: Bobby Witt, 30.5 ft/sec; Jays: Jonatan Clase, 30.0 ft/sec.

Legendary Toronto Star baseball writer Dave Perkins won the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2024 Jack Graney Award. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

62. Dave Perkins, Jack Graney winner (-).

It was early in the season when the narrative among Blue Jays fan about a struggling Vlad Guerrero was his excellent “exit velocity.” The only problem was Guerrero only had three home runs in 34 games at the time. Asked about Guerrero on the Bob McCown podcast, Perkins replied: “I like to see the ball coming off the bat, but in a No. 3 hitter I’d like to see someone who doesn’t remind me of Matty Alou.” Alou had 6,220 plate appearances in his 15-year career and hit 31 home runs. Guerrero rediscovered his home run stroke. Perkins retained his wit.

Perkins began writing for the Globe and Mail in 1973 and moved to the sports department of the Toronto Star in 1977, covering the Jays from 1985 to 1989 as a beat man and as a baseball columnist from 1989 to 1993. After that, he was named the Star sports editor in 1993 and found a fine replacement in hiring Jack Graney Award winner Richard Griffin away from the Expos as his replacement. For his outstanding career, Perkins was voted the Canadian Hall of Fame’s 2024 Jack Graney Award winner.

Sportsnet’s Jamie Campbell talks with Ethan Timmers (Strathroy, Ont.) on Blue Jays Central. Photo: Sportsnet

63. Jamie Campbell, Sportsnet (59).

Campbell does not simply work in the baseball industry. He lives baseball. Summer vacation? Well, where else would a man take his sons other than a ballpark? Jamie, who finished his 14th season on Blue Jays Central (20th in broadcasting) took his youngest son, Jack, then 15, on a Western Canadian Baseball League tour. There was zero chance dad can pick a fave among Medicine Hat, Sylvan Lake or Okotoks because “each was spectacular in its own way.” Jack might be partial to discovering they had won the 50/50 draw in Medicine Hat winning $1,300. Pop’s idea was to immediately celebrate with a stop at Dairy Queen on the way back to the hotel. Alas, the winning celebrants arrived 15 minutes after last call. The next day they made the drive to Red Deer and the first people they saw when arriving at the Marriott was agent Blake Corosky (Toronto, Ont.) and Nathan Flewelling’s parents. Flewelling was selected by the Rays in the third round. Campbell said he followed the remainder of the summer college league season, and the Dawgs’ championship, saying, “I’m a fan for life.” He hopes to have a Saskatchewan-based tour, visit Edmonton’s new field and West Coast games in either Victoria or Nanaimo.

Jamie’s older son, Kaden, then 18, had his own baseball holiday. They went to Wrigley Field to see the Blue Jays about a month after the WCBL trip. Campbell was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia four years ago (Jan. 11, 2021). He continues to receive treatments, adding “with this thing, every day is a blessing.” He has also used his platform to raise awareness for charitable events such as the Move for Melanoma. On Sept. 15, he spoke to Ethan Timmers (Strathroy, Ont.), 13, on air about the youngster’s recent diagnosis of Hodgkins Lymphoma. Jamie was honoured with an Alumni Achievement award from Toronto Metropolitan University in November and has set up a bursary for students of the Matawa First Nation.

Mal Romanin and Richard Griffin are the co-hosts of an excellent baseball podcast called “Exit Philosophy.”

64. Richard Griffin, Scott MacArthur, Our Pal Romanin (67).

Griffin has a wealth of knowledge, a ton of experience, a deep love of the game and many say is the best read for perspective on the struggling Jays franchise. He is a man who has worked both sides of the fence. He was the crack P.R. man of the Montreal Expos for 22 seasons and won the Bob Wirz award, which means his name is on a plaque in Cooperstown. Next was 24 years pounding out copy on the Blue Jays for the Star. After that came four years working in the Blue Jays media relations department and now the past two years writing for his Griff’s The Pitch on the Substack. It is worth a follow if you are a Jays fan.

Besides keeping a busy pace on the writing he does 1-on-1 interviews with Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez (must viewing), his former partner Pat Tabler, GM Gord Ash and Ernie Whitt, as well as former Montreal Expos Moises Alou, Darrin Fletcher, Kevin Malone, Steve Rogers and broadcaster Rodger Brulotte. Griffin (Oakville, Ont.) talked ball on his Exit Philosophy podcast, first with co-host Scott (162) MacArthur. MacArthur returned to school, so Griffin went to the bullpen for Our Pal Mal Romanin, another ball fanatic. Romanin, director of communications, is bringing the first Perfect Game Collegiate League franchise to Canada. Owned by Dead Red Sports and Entertainment, the team will play in St. Catharines at George Taylor Field, home of the former Jays affiliate in the class-A New York Penn-League. How much of a ball guy is Romanin? He named his son Mattingly Romanin, a former Terrier, after Don Mattingly, who is a coach with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Left-hander James Paxton closed out his major league career with a return stint with the Boston Red Sox in 2024.

65. James Paxton, Red Sox/Dodgers (102).

On Aug. 5 Paxton pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk as the Red Sox beat the Royals 9-5 in Kansas City. It was his ninth win of the season -- eight with the Dodgers and his first with the Red Sox. It would be his final victory. He only made one more start, when he suffered a torn right calf in an Aug. 11 outing against Houston, leaving after facing only three hitters Paxton had a career mark of 73-41 for a win percentage of .640 -- tops among Canadian pitchers with 75 or more decisions. The other leaders: Rich Harden (Victoria, BC) 59-38, .608; Jesse Crain (Toronto, Ont.) 45-30, .600; Russ Ford (Brandon, Man.) 100-71, .585; Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) 43-34, .558; Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) 284-226, .557; John Hiller (Toronto, Ont.) 87-76, .534 and Rheal Cormier (Cap-Pele, NB) 71-64, .526.

Paxton was a first round pick of the Jays in the 2009 draft (37th overall) but went unsigned in what one Jays executive called the franchise’s biggest mistake. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Mariners the next year. Paxton won 43 games with Seattle (including a no-hitter at the Rogers Centre on May 8, 2018), 16 more with the Yankees, eight with the Red Sox and eight with the Dodgers.

Fellow Milwaukee Brewers executives and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Doug Melvin and Gord Ash

66. Doug Melvin and Gord Ash, Brewers (50).

Melvin was the GM of the Texas Rangers from 1994 to 2001 and then the Brewers for 13 years, but long before he was a GM, he was a minor leaguer throwing winter bullpens in the same gym as Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins getting ready for the next season. He pitched in the minors for six seasons in the Pirates and Yankees farm systems. And before that he played high school basketball with Bill Lankhof the legendary ball writer for the Toronto Sun. Lankhof always maintained, “I played with Doug ... I remember it well because he never passed me the ball.”

So, when Lankhof had his 72nd birthday in November a bunch of his friends made the trek to see him in Orangeville. Ash, who the great Jim Proudfoot once called “the most honest GM I ever dealt with,” (and Proudfoot covered the Argos, Leafs and Jays) showed for Lankhof’s birthday. First on Ash’s agenda was getting his picture taken with Lankhof to text Melvin. How ‘bout that? Ash, vice president projects and the man responsible for building the Brewers’ new complex in the Dominican Republic, wasn’t trying to coddle favor. Basically, he was being a good man.

Former Canadian Baseball Network Jim Ridley scout of the year winner Padres Chris Kemlo

67. Chris Kemlo, cross checker, Padres (62).

The next Canadian to break into the majors? FieldHouse Pirates Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) would be the answer most close to the Canadian scene would give. He is a knock-knock-knocking on the door of the Wrigley Field clubhouse. Who drafted him? Kemlo. Kemlo scouted and signed the outfielder giving him $1,200,004 million bonus as a second round pick -- 45th overall in North America in 2020.

This past July, Kemlo signed fifth round 3B Kyle Fountain, a high schooler from Firth, Neb. and gave him a $1.7 million above-slot bonus. He also drafted and signed Vicarte Domingo (Vancouver, BC), a 19th rounder from University of British Columbia Thunderbirds and the Edmonton Riverhawks. His free-agent sign Braden Nett from St. Charles Community College was 5-2 with a 3.88 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 65 innings at class-A Fort Wayne and double-A San Antonio. His 2021 draft Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.) is coming off Tommy John surgery.

The Padres think Kemlo is doing such a good job they have added Kansas and Oklahoma to his cross checker duties for 2025. Kemlo coached the Toronto Mets for two seasons where he helped develop Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) who made his big-league debut with the Brewers in 2024, Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) a Rule V pick of the Marlins and Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) headed for the A’s soon. He has turned his tutoring to the 9U and 12U Clarington Orioles where his sons Kershaw and CJ play, as an assistant coach.

Ontario Blue Jays president Corey Eckstein

68. Shady Ashamalla, Corey Eckstein, Neal Prabhu, Jeff Wolburgh, Ontario Blue Jays (76).

Eckstein is president of the Ontario Blue Jays, who only had one player drafted in 2024 -- Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.), selected in the 19th round by the Cardinals. He elected to play for the Florida Gators. Fear not for the Ontario Blue Jays. Jordan Jacob (Maple, Ont.) is one of the top Ontario high schoolers for the 2025 draft. His younger brother Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.), eligible for the 2027 draft, reminds some of Mo Vaughn or Prince Fielder in the batter’s box. Jordan has been compared to San Diego’s Fernando Tatis, but without the pop of his younger brother. They had previously played for Scarborough and North Toronto. Also, RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.), who set a Canadian Futures Showcase record for velocity in 2024, Ryan McDonagh (Milton, Ont.) and Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) have all been clocked at 95 MPH

Dr. Shady Ashamalla, co-owner of GRIT Athletics

GRIT Athletics Toronto purchased the Ontario Blue Jays and moved from Wolfedale in Mississauga to Tomken. There are a lot of sure-handed infielders in the facility — like SS Owen Ralph (Toronto, Ont.) but the best hands in the building belong to Dr. Ashamalla, head of general surgery at Sunnybrook Hospital and consultant surgeon for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Prabhu is an architect and associate professor at OCAD University. Wolburgh is a Venture Capitalist and president/CEO of BearTrade Corp. The new facility has six batting cages and isn’t as large as The Athlete Matrix, yet security is much tighter.

Twins scout Walt Burrows, in his pre-Minnesota Twins days, wearing a Blue Jays pullover at a clinic.

69. Walt Burrows, scout, Twins (51).

Burrows is in his 35th year of scouting (30 full-time with the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau and the Twins, plus five part-time). He is the senior Canadian scout in terms of service. Burrows drafted and signed RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) in the fifth round in 2016. Balazovic pitched in 18 games with the Twins in 2023 and 24 for the triple-A St. Paul Saints and the Doosan Bears in Korea in 2024. Besides scouting Canada, Burrows added Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana to his portfolio.

Twins drafts from the the northwest, before Burrows was given the territory, include, Trevor Larnach, a Twins’ first rounder in 2018 (20th overall) out of Oregon State, given a $2.55 million signing bonus. Larnach played 59 games with the Twins in 2024. Spencer Steer, whom the Twins selected in the third round in 2019 belted 20 home runs in 158 games for the Reds last season. So there is talent there.

Great Lake Canadians co-owners Adam Stern, left, and Chris Robinson

70. Chris Robinson, Jamie Romak, Adam Stern, Great Lake Canadians (60).

Robinson coached the Canadian Premier League all-stars, along with Chad Matton of the Windsor Selects and Perry Scott of the Ontario Blue Jays. They split two exhibition games against Australia, then went 3-0 in pool play, scoring 17 runs and allowing one run before losing out to a hurricane. Mathias McKinnon (Riguad, Que.) pitched 4 2/3 innings and Jack Potts (London, Ont.) 2 1/3 to combine on a Perfect Game perfect game in a 4-0 win over WOW Factor. Charlie Firth (Ottawa, Ont.), Noah Powell (Toronto, Ont.) and Nathan Wall (Chatham, Ont.) each worked four innings on the trip, while Elliot Lascelles (Toronto, Ont.) had six hits and three RBIs, Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) doubled, homered and had four RBIs, while Jack Ward (Paris, Ont.), Jamie Moore (London, Ont.), Zach Barker (Bolton, Ont.) and Christian Iriotakis (Toronto, Ont.) had two hits apiece.

It was a good year for Stern’s Canadians alumni as RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.), a fifth-round choice from Mississippi State was promoted to the Royals&’ 40-man roster. In 2024, Cerantola was 3-4, with a 2.97 ERA and one save in 37 games (seven starts) at double-A Northwest Arkansas and triple-A Omaha, fanning 101 in 72 2/3 innings. Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.) stole 62 bases and drew 87 walks at class-A Wisconsin and double-A Biloxi in the Brewers' system. Since forming in 2014, the organization has had 79 Division I commitments and 16 draft selections. Also active in 2024 were Adam Hall (London, Ont.), who batted .263, with three doubles, 17 RBIs and a .654 OPS in 54 games with Brewers’ affiliates in Wisconsin and Biloxi; Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.), 0-0, with a 1.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts in six innings, class-A Brooklyn Mets, and Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) 6-5, 4.66 ERA in 25 games (17 starts), 64 whiffs in 94 2/3 innings, double-A Reading Phillies.

Former major leaguer Jamie Romak (London, Ont.)

Romak is a rising star among Perfect Game organizers for his organization and evaluation skills. The former Tip O’Neill Award winner, was set to coach the older team in Jupiter at the Perfect Game World Wood Bat championship which was banged by the impending hurricane. A13U age group has been added to the Canadian Premier Baseball League. This will give the Canadians nine different teams for 2025.

Winnipeg Goldeyes longtime GM Andrew Collier was named the American Association’s Executive of the Year in 2024. Photo: Winnipeg Goldeyes

71. Andrew Collier, Winnipeg Goldeyes (110).

In September, Collier was named the American Association’s Executive of the Year. In his 23rd season as Goldeyes’ general manager, Collier helped assemble Sam Katz’s club that went 56-43 and finished atop the West Division before losing to the Kane County Cougars in the finals. On top of his team’s strong performance in 2024, Collier (Portage La Prairie, Man.) saw home attendance rise to an average of 3,714 fans a game. He also played a key role in securing a new high-definition video board and in the construction of two new hospitality spaces in left field at Blue Cross Park.

Collier, who started in the Goldeyes’ ticket department in the team’s first season (1994), also captured the American Association’s executive of the year honour in 2014. The University of Manitoba grad is also the treasurer and a founding board member of the Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation. The foundation was established in 1995 and has donated close to $3 million to children’s charities in Manitoba.

Terriers coach and The Baseball Zone owner Rick Johnston

72. Rick Johnston and Kevin Horton, The Baseball Zone, Terriers (65).

Johnston, who is helping coach the Terriers 13U team, was again a guest speaker at the annual OBA Best Ever coach’s clinic. Terrier grads in the pros include free agent Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) who was 8-11, with a 4.98 ERA in 29 starts, striking out 110 in 148 1/3 innings with the Rockies; Trevor Brigden (North York, Ont.) 3-1, 7.64 ERA, one save, 45 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings, triple-A Durham, Rays; LHP Connor O’Halloran (Mississauga, Ont.) 6-9, 5.64, 105 whiffs in 103 2/3 innings, class-A Dunedin and class-A Vancouver, Blue Jays and LHP Jordan Woods (Oakville, Ont.) 1-2, 4.65, 40 strikeouts in 31 innings, rookie-class Royals Florida Complex League. C Colin Cymbalista (Pickering, Ont.), of the Hutchinson Blue Dragons, earned Canadian Baseball Network First Team honours, hitting .393 with 17 doubles, four triples, 12 homers, 70 RBIs and a 1.156 OPS. He transferred to Nebraska this spring. Meanwhile, C Josh Cote (Midland, Ont.) hit 21 homers for the Northeastern Community College Plainsmen to make the Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian Third Team. He had a 1.219 OPS with nine doubles, two triples, 21 homers and 65 RBIs in 54 games. He transferred to Toledo. LHP-OF Keegan O’Hearn (Oshawa, Ont.), of the University of Michigan, is gaining interest from scouts heading into the 2025 draft. The Terriers are forging ahead with a program that embodies strength and a player centric focus.

Kevin Horton of The Baseball Zone with daughter RHP Emma during the ALS Double Play charity day.

One of the first hires when The Baseball Zone opened in Mississauga 22 years ago, Horton is now a co-owner, purchasing 50% of facility from Nicole and Mike Tevlin. He ran the second ALS Double Play charity fundraiser, which raised $5,000 for to help find a cure for ALS which has felled legendary scribe Bill Lankhof, who was always a better scribe than either one of us. Horton is coaching the 11U Markham Mariners and his son, Carter, giving orders to former Junior National Team player and assistant coach Johnston. TBZ has a strong grassroots program for the community.

St. Louis Cardinals scout Jason Bryans, who hails from Windsor, Ont., had a successful draft year in 2024.

73. Jason Bryans, Cardinals, area scout (74).

A lot of area scouts consider it a successful draft if one of their players is drafted and signed. Bryans (Windsor, Ont.) wound up with four, led by University of Cincinnati C Josh Kross selected in the sixth round and given a $369,100 signing. The other three were Notre Dame LHP Jack Findlay, eighth, $400,000; RHP Nolan Sparks, University of Rochester, 13th, $250,000 and RHP Mason Burns, 14th, Western Kentucky University, $80,000.

His first-round pick from 2019, LHP Zack Thompson (19th overall), from Kentucky who was given a $3-million bonus, appeared in five games for St. Louis, making two starts, he was 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA striking out 20 in 17 innings. Bryans (Windsor, Ont.) also covers Canada for St. Louis, selecting Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) in the 19th round as contingency draft.

Baseball America founder and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Allan Simpson.

74. Allan Simpson, author, historian (54).

Simpson, the founder of Baseball America, is only the third Canadian to be on the BBWAA Award of Excellence ballot more than once. The late Neil MacCarl (Toronto, Ont.), of the Toronto Star, was on it twice in the 1990s, but did not win. Formerly head of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame selection committee, Simpson is still a voting member of the committee. Most of his energy these days is going towards assembling a massive database on every player drafted since 1965 -— some 80,000 players with about 30 fields per player. He estimates he is probably about 70% done and will tackle the list of Canadians again once that project is complete.

He has also begun the task of making a deep dive into compiling a master list/database of all Canadians signed to pro contracts since 1946, or drafted through the years. The project is still a work in progress. He is looking at even those who signed, but never played a pro game. Where to start and where to finish. The first Canadian drafted was INF Jim Chapman (Victoria, BC) in the third round of the 1970 January draft from Columbia Basin College. The commissioner’s office disallowed the pick since Canadians attending U.S. schools were not eligible for the draft until 1985. Chapman signed a year later as a free agent with the Expos.

University of British Columbia Thunderbirds head coach Chris Pritchett has led UBC to six berths at the NAIA World Series Opening Round. Photo: UBC Athletics

75. Chris Pritchett, UBC head coach (103).

In 2024, Pritchett completed his ninth season as head coach of the UBC T-Birds. He has an overall record of 244-165 and a conference record of 138-74. With him at the helm, the T-Birds have secured six berths to the NAIA World Series Opening Round. For his efforts, he has been named co-winner of the NAIA West Coach of the Year twice (2017, 2019). Also, two more players from UBC’s program were selected in the 2024 draft: RHP Sean Heppner (Delta, BC) was taken in the 12th round by the Guardians and fellow righty Vicarte Domingo (Vancouver, BC) went in the 19th to the Padres. This was in addition to seven previous UBC players selected since Pritchett took over the T-Birds on July 4, 2015.

Pritchett came to Vancouver in 1995 to play for the triple-A Canadians (then a California Angels’ affiliate). He stayed for parts of four seasons, and after a 13-year pro career - including 61 games in parts of four big league campaigns with the Angels and Phillies - he was back as a UBC volunteer in 2006 and 2007. After serving as a hitting coach with class-A Vancouver (an A’s affiliate) in 2007 and scouting for the Red Sox for six years, he took over as UBC’s head coach from Terry McKaig. Pritchett became a dual citizen in 2022 and obtained his Canadian passport.

StellarAlgo CEO Vincent Ircandia

76. Vincent Ircandia, CEO StellarAlgo (69).

Front Office Sports established the Best Employers in Sports Award in 2019 to recognize organizations across sports that are doing the best for their employees, whether it be leadership, commitment to diversity and inclusion, employee wellbeing, or philanthropic/social endeavors. Ircandia’s StellarAlgo was recognized with this honour for a fifth time in December. The others to be so honored include the Allied Sports, Atlanta Hawks, BETMGM, Guardian, Hurrdat Sports, Nashville Predators, NOCAP NIL brands, Parity, Portland Pickles, Prep Network, #tagbord, WIT and WSC Sports.StellarAlgo was ranked 408th fastest-growing company in North America on the 2024 Deloitte

Technology Fast 500. Deloitte Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies — both public and private — in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2020 to 2023. The NBA signed a multiyear deal with StellarAlgo, with the NBA investment arm “taking an ownership stake in the firm as it looks to grow its portfolio.” The partnership was signed after the Nets, Trail Blazers, Bucks and Kings forged their own relationships.

Scribing in the shade, MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson

77. Keegan Matheson, MLB.com (116)

Due to the fact he is respected and he is there so often, Matheson is treated like Helen Thomas, who covered the White House for United Press International and Hearst Newspapers for 56 years. Thomas, who covered 10 different presidents always got the nod to ask the first question to kick off a presidential press conference. When skipper John Schneider eventually arrives for his post-game press conferences, Matheson usually bats leadoff -- the same way Mike Rutsey did. But Rutsey hit lead off because he was old. Not the case with Matheson (Halifax, NS). He’s a young buck with a passion for the game.

Matheson is a go-to voice for U.S. based and non-ownership media and is one of the best sources for Blue Jays information on social media. The man has a presence and could easily be heard or seen on radio or TV saying “and last night Toronto teams had an oh-fer as the Maple Leafs, Raptors and Blue Jays all lost.”

Pitching coach Mike Steed, of the Class-A Rome Emperors (Braves), wearing Glorious 4th of July uniforms.

78. Mike Steed, pitching coach, Braves system (80).

With the class-A Rome Emperors Steed had pitchers moving in and out -- like a barber shop on a Saturday morn. Right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach, a second rounder in 2021, made six starts at Rome, was promoted to the double-A Mississippi Braves and then moved to the TV League making 21 starts. He was 8-7 with a 3.35 ERA, striking out 127 in 123 2/3 innings for the Braves. The Rome staff had the second lowest walk totals and the second-best ERA (3.47) in the South Atlantic League.

Pitching helped Rome to a first-half championship. Rome lost in the semi-final to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, which are not named after Hot Rod Black. On top of Schwellenbach, six other pitchers Steed worked with in Rome were promoted to double-A. They were (Rome numbers first, then Mississippi): Ryan Bourassa (2-2, 2.79 six saves, 25 games, 0-1, 9.00, five games), Lucas Braun (4-2, 4.34, 12 games, 5-2, 2.38, 13 games), Drue Hackenberg (3-3, 3.64, 12 games, 3-2, 3.13 ERA, nine games), Landon Harper (3-2, 4.39, 10 games, 2-1, 1.41, one save, 22 games), Rolddy Muñoz (1-1, 5.23 ERA, one save, seven games, 2-2, 3.98, three saves, 31 games), Elison Joseph (1-0, 1.33, five saves, 20 games, 1-0, 1.33, five saves, 20 games) and Jhancarlos Lara (1-2, 3.92, five games, 1-2, 3.92. five games).

Steed, who also might be promoted to double-A if he keeps this pace up, worked with RHP Adam Maier (Vancouver, BC), 1-1 with a 3.58 ERA in six starts fanning 21 in 16 2/3 innings. The former Ontario Blue Jays and GTA Stars coach learned under Hall of Fame scout Jim Ridley (Burlington, Ont.). In the off season, Steed works with former Ontario Blue Jays in the off season.

Founder of the Webber Academy, Dr. Neil Webber shakes hands with Webber Wildcats pitching coach and senior director of operations Chris Reitsma.

79. Chris Reitsma, Webber Wildcats (82).

Reitsma is the pitching coordinator and senior director of operations at the Webber Baseball Academy in Springbank, Alta. The Academy was established by Dr. Neil Webber in 2021 and Reitsma has been on board since its inception. Reitsma (Calgary, Alta.) boasts an impressive

resume that includes seven seasons as a big leaguer after being selected in the first round by the Boston Red Sox in 1996. He was with the national team on multiple occasions, including the 2008 Olympics and has served as the pitching coach for the Junior National Team. He has also been a highly respected scout with the Orioles and now with the Royals. Among the players he scouted and encouraged his employer to sign are INF Adam Hall (London, Ont.), Orioles’ second-round pick in 2017 and RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.), Royals’ fifth-round pick in 2021.

Five Webber Wildcats players were selected to play in the Canadian Futures Showcase in September: two-way player Cohen Miller (Calgary, Alta.), INF Nicholas Homeniuk (Calgary, Alta.), INF Tyson Dyck (Wymark, Sask.), RHP George Robbins (Calgary, Alta.) and 1B Zach MacDonald (Red Deer, Alta).

Sportsnet baseball scribe Ben Nicholson-Smith

80. Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet (97).

It is not easy working for a company that owns the team you cover. BNS, as he is known around Rogers Centre, can do the job whether it is pounding away at his laptop, holding a microphone in front of the camera or recording the ‘At The Letters’ podcast with Arden Zwelling. One of his best big reads was a deep dive into the Jays’ past drafts. Did you know that (based on WAR) they ranked fourth (26.8) behind the Cardinals, Dodgers and Guardians after the 2016 draft under scouting director Brian Parker? Steve Sanders took over after the 2016 season for three drafts and then Shane Farrell until 2024.

If you read Nicholson-Smith, you would know from 2016 to 2023 that the Jays dropped to eighth (with a combined WAR of 37.8) behind the Guardians, Cardinals, Dodgers, Orioles, Twins, Diamondbacks and Padres. And if you read BNS, you would know that from 2017 to 2013 numbers removing 2016 drafts -- Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Shea Langeliers, Josh Winckowski and Zach Jackson -- the Jays slipped all the way down to 20th (11) ahead of only the Marlins, Dodgers, Mets, Nationals, Rangers, A’s, Giants, Pirates and Rockies. Now, Farrell has bolted to the Tigers, while Marc Tramuta -- in his second tenure with the Jays, after working under J.P. Ricciardi -- takes over as scouting director.

Ryan McBride and Rich Leitch, of the Toronto Mets, saw one of their grads, Tyler Black, reach the big leagues in 2024 and there are a few other former Mets on the cusp of making their major league debut. Photo: Toronto Mets.

81. Ryan McBride and Rich Leitch (-).

In 2023 the Ontario Blue Jays had five grads in the majors (believed to be a record by veteran scouts): two Naylor brothers, Josh and Bo (Mississauga, Ont.), Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.), Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.) and RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.). The Mets are making a run to be the top elite program in the country: Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) made his debut with the Brewers in 2024, while C Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) was a Rule V pick by the Marlins from the Rangers this off-season, and Pop pitched for the Mets before joining the Ontario Blue Jays.

Now OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) is not far away from being promoted to the Athletics. RHP Jonah Tong (Markhamn, Ont.) is the 10th ranked prospect for the New York Mets and LHP Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) is 17th amongst the Rangers’ prospects, according to MLB Pipeline. Also, C Ryan Leitch played with the class-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws in the Phillies system in 2024. Ryan McBride and Rich Leitch’s program had three players on the Junior National Team in 2024: Elliot Lascelles (Leaside, Ont.), RHP Keegan Russell (Whitby, Ont.) and LHP Ryan Press (Toronto, Ont.). The Mets are about to move from Richmond Hill to Aurora, once Leitch finishes construction.

Toronto Star baseball writers Mike Wilner and Gregor Chisholm.

82. Gregor Chisholm (94) and Mike Wilner, The Star (99), Toronto Star.

Chisholm had the lead of the year in 2023 (“Traffic has been a nightmare in this city. It got even worse, when Ross Atkins threw his manager under the bus”) after the GM said

removing José Berríos in favor of LHP Yusei Kikuchi was manager John Schneider’s decision ... “they are John’s meetings.” Yet on the bus from the hotel to Target Field, Atkins discussed the plan. Chisholm shared his strong opinions throughout the dismal 2024 season.

Wilner interviews a lot of people: his Will Wagner piece -- the infielder recovering from surgery who is no longer the Jays second baseman but says he can play third-- was a good read. He wrote that the “Roki Sasaki screw-up” and spending almost 12 million for OF Myles Straw is “a fireable offence for the front office.” He hosts his Deep Left Field podcast and once again hosted the Baseball Canada fundraiser.

Benoit Rioux was the winner of the 2024 Baseball Canada Media Recognition Award. Photo: Baseball Canada

83. Benoit Rioux, Le Journal de Montreal (-).

We first met Rioux at the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Phoenix. From listening to his questions, we could tell he was a hard worker, a professional and an idea man. Baseball Canada recognized Rioux’s diligence, awarding the Cégep de Jonquiére grad its special recognition award. Rioux worked for TVA Sports and QMI Agency in 2011. He wrote books on legends Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) and the late Derek Aucoin (Lachine, Que).

No baseball event is too big or too small for Rioux to write: junior sandlot ball, women’s World Cup, players in the July draft, Québec Capitales or Trois-Riviéres Aigles of the Frontier League. He also wrote about major-leaguers like Édouard Julien, Charles LeBlanc, Otto Lopez and Abraham Toro and Expos Fest, the fundraiser which brings in former Expos. How baseball-minded is Rioux? Well, he and 20 pals from Ste-Julie, Que. travelled to Doubleday Field in Cooperstown to play a game. Rioux joined former winners Shi Davidi (Sportsnet), Kevin Glew (CanadianBaseballMetwork.com/Cooperstowners in Canada), Alexis Brudnicki (MLB.Com) and Mike Wilner (Sportsnet) as winners of the Baseball Canada award.

Edmonton Riverhawks GM Steve Hogle worked hard to help the Riverhawks set WCL attendance records in 2024. Photo: Rotary Club of Edmonton Whyte Avenue

84. Steve Hogle, general manager, Edmonton Riverhawks (-).

The Riverhawks attracted 116,781 fans to their games at RE/MAX Field this summer to break their own West Coast League attendance record from the previous year. They also set a single-game WCL record when 9,071 fans showed for their 16-3 Canada Day win over the Port Angeles Lefties. So how did they do it? Fun theme nights, crazy contests, affordable tickets, relentless marketing, a lively social media presence and it didn’t hurt that the product on the field was also good. The Riverhawks finished atop their division in the season’s first half and earned their first playoff berth in franchise history.

Hogle oversaw all of this. His resume boasts previous tenures with the Edmonton Oilers, WHL’s Saskatoon Blades and as the GM of Hockey Edmonton. He also worked previously in the CTV Edmonton newsroom. He has teamed with managing director and Oilers Hall of Famer Randy Gregg to make the Riverhawks a success on the field and in the community.

College summer ball attendance at the 160 teams in 2024, according to Baseball Digest

Over-all rank Team League Total Avg

3rd Okotoks Dawgs WCBL 133,644 4,774

4th Edmonton Riverhawks WCL 116,871 4,675

15th Victoria HarbourCats WCL 69,577 2,577

32nd Saskatoon Berries WCBL 50,195 1,931

47th Sylvan Lake Gulls WCBL 32,093 1,539

54th Nanaimo NightOwls WCL 35,920 1,471

66th Medicine Hat Mavericks WCBL 35,932 1,284

76th Thunder Bay Border Cats NorthWL 38,227 1,124

94th Kelowna Falcons WCL 23,776 914

101st Regina Red Sox WCBL 22,096 850

102nd Fort McMurray Giants WCBL 839 608

107th Lethbridge Bulls WCBL 22,383 799

126th Edmonton Prospects WCBL 10,566 415

128th Moose Jaw Miller Express WCBL 11,242 432

133rd Kamloops NorthPaws 6,013 309

143rd Swift Current 57s 6,774 242

145th Brooks Bombers WCBL 6,011 223

148th Weyburn Beavers WCBL 5,464 195

Vauxhall Academy Jets coach Les McTavish

85. Les McTavish, coach, Vauxhall Academy (68).

The Jets won the Missoula Montana and PBA tournament in Lethbridge, going 27-13 on the season. Alumni in the minors include Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC), who combined to hit .216 with 18 doubles, 21 homers, 71 RBIs and .711 OPS in 129 games at class-A Dunedin and triple-A Buffalo; LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.), 5-5, 4.63 ERA, striking out 105 in 93 1/3 innings, Dunedin, double-A New Hampshire and Buffalo and LHP Wesley Moore (Surrey, BC), 0-0, 4.23 ERA, one save, striking out 33 in 27 2/3 innings, at double-A Reading and class-A Jersey Shore. Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.) is coming off surgery.Jets top hitters this season were Luke Wheatley (Calgary, Alta.), Karsen Haney (Lethbridge,Alta.), Callum Thomson (South Pinette, PEI) and Easton Kitura (Spruce Grove, Alta.), while the best on the mound were Shaemus Ryan (Calgary, Alta.), Jimmy Boulanger (Abbotsford, BC), Brett Getz (Medicine Hat, Alta.) and Jack Baxter (Quispamsis, NB). McTavish’s children are all athleticlly inclined -- sons Shaye at University of Pikeville and Bren at Midland, while daughter Teya played Team Alberta volleyball.

Mississauga Tigers head of college placement Greg Byron (left) and catching coordinator Damon Topolie. Photo: Mississauga Tigers

86. Greg Byron, Damon Topolie, Sean Travers, Mississauga Tigers (85).

The highest ranked drafted high schooler who played in Ontario drafted in 2024 was Tiger RHP Josiah Romeo (Caledon, Ont.). The OBA player went in the sixth round (166th overall) to the A’s. Scout Matt Higginson (Grimsby, Ont.) gave Romeo a $550,000 bonus. Byron coached with the Central Arkansas Bears, Iowa Hawkeyes, triple-A Memphis Redbirds (Cards), triple-A Rochester Red Wings (Twins) and the Austin Peay Govenors, after pitching indy ball with Quebec Capitales, Washington Wild Things and New York State Federals. Byron had many of the 22U Tigers players which beat the East York Bulldogs at the national final 4-1 at Beazley Field in Dartmouth, N.S. In the gold medal game, RHP Wes Johnston (Toronto, Ont.) pitched a complete-game four-hitter, while Blake Simpson (Toronto, Ont.) hit a solo homer. With the

Tigers up 2-1, Marc Nellis (Toronto, Ont.) hit a two-run homer. Kris Markham (Mississauga, Ont.) and his son, James, guided the Tigers to wins: 20-2 win over Newfoundland, Nova Scotia 15-11, Manitoba 5-1, East York 12-1 and New Brunswick 5-3 in the semi-final. In the gold medal game,

Topolie is the man young catchers turn to when they need lessons. “After all ... catchers are the best athletes,” he is fond of saying within earshot of pitchers ... infielders ... and outfielders or former pitchers ... former infielders ... and former outfielders. His C Brady Cerkownyk (Etobicoke, Ont.) received the third highest signing bonus in 2023 after hitting 27 home runs at Connors State to earn Canada Baseball Network player of the year. A 15th round selection by the Detroit Tigers, he was given a $397,500 bonus. He had only 52 at-bats before suffering an injury in 2024. Topolie wasn’t with the Toronto Maple Leafs after 27 years and 798 games with the Intercounty team.

Mississauga Tigers director of player development Sean Travers. Photo: Mississauga Tigers

Aside from the usual excursions his 16U team makes, Travers took his players to Fenway Park to New York and to the Dominican Republic. A year ago, former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston praised Travers for his work ethic in teaching youngsters and then later helping place them at universities or colleges. Romeo was awarded Cito Gaston scholarship money a year ago. Over the years, Travers, a former Ontario Blue Jays head honcho, was involved in the development of the likes of major leaguers 1B Josh Naylor and C Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), Twins RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.), Jays farmhand OF Dasan Brown (Oakville, Ont.), 1B Jon Waltenbury (Bowmanville, Ont.), a former Twin, LHP Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.) and Joey Hawkins (Whitby, Ont.). Hawkins went pro and now is head coach at Missouri State. Ex-Tiger David Stanley -- who made the Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian Second Team (hitting .426, 25 doubles, six triples, three homers, 69 RBIs, 1.158 at Connors State) -- had a 2024 to remember.

Longtime college coach Mike McRae guided William & Mary to a 32-26 record in 2024 before becoming the associate head coach/pitching coach for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Photo: William & Mary Athletics

87. Mike McRae, Rutgers (44).

In July 2024, McRae was hired to be the associate head coach/pitching coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. This came after he led William and Mary to a 32-26 record and a CAA Tournament appearance in his third season as their head coach. Prior to his tenure at William and Mary, McRae (Niagara Falls, Ont.) was the pitching coach at VCU from 2018 to 2021. That followed an impressive 13-year stretch as head coach of the Canisius Golden Griffins where he was named MAAC Coach of the Year three times and piloted the Griffs to 11 straight appearances in the MAAC tournament, three regular season titles, two tournament championships and its first two NCAA Tournament appearances.

McRae’s first head coaching position came with Niagara University, where he was named MAAC Coach of the Year in 2003. Prior to his storied collegiate career, McRae coached the Junior National Team at the 1996 and 1997 World Championships.

Cleveland Guardians farm director Stephen Osterer and Guardians pitching rehab lead Chris Mears

88. Stephen Osterer and Chris Mears, Guardians (90).

On Nov. 27, the Guardians promoted Osterer to the position of vice-president player development/farm director. He takes over this position from Rob Cerfolio, who departed to join the Cardinals’ front office. The 2025 season will be Osterer’s sixth with the Guardians. The Cornell alum spent the last three years as the director of pitching development. Prior to landing with the Guardians, Osterer (Ottawa, Ont.) founded and operated the Baseball Development Group, a high-performance training facility in Toronto.

Following the 2024 season, the Guardians hired former big-leaguer and 2004 Olympian Chris Mears (Ottawa, Ont.) as their pitching rehab lead. After pitching 10 pro seasons – including 29 appearances with the Detroit Tigers in 2003 – Mears joined the Boston Red Sox as an area scout in 2007. He worked in that capacity through the 2015 season when he was promoted to the position of Red Sox pitching crosschecker. Most recently, he spent five seasons as the Red Sox pitching coordinator.

Canadian big league umpires Stu Scheurwater, left, and Alex Tosi

89. Stu Scheurwater and Alex Tosi, major-league umpires (93).

Both worked 119 big-league games during the 2024 regular season, with Scheurwater (Regina, Sask.) having 31 plate assignments.

Tosi had 30 plate assignments and worked the New York Mets-Milwaukee Brewers NL Wild Card series. He had home plate in the opener as the Mets won 8-4 at American Family Field before 40,022. He worked right field in Game 2 as the Brewers knocked off the Mets 5-3 to even the series. And he had left field when the Mets scored a 4-2 win to advance to play the Phillies. Tosi (Markham, Ont.) is a former right-hander with the Illinois Wesleyan University Titans.

Blue Jays Canadian scout Patrick Griffin is always lurking, never missing a pitch.

90. Patrick Griffin, scout, Blue Jays (78).

The Blue Jays’ top Canadian scout was shut out in the draft, but that didn’t mean he was laying in a hammock. Griffin travelled the country looking for talent and the Blue Jays were in on a number of Canuck players. After the draft was complete, he signed free-agent INF Owen Gregg (Oakville, Ont.) from the FieldHouse Pirates. Plus he assisted on out-of-area looks at players.

For the Canadian Futures Showcase in September, an annual event that features the best high school players from coast to coast, he selected all the position players, while T.J. Burton chose the pitchers for the most-attended event for grade 11s, grade 12s, pro scouts and college recruiters. He also had the thankless experience of making up the teams and fielded the usual “why isn’t my Johnny playing this game?” questions.

Eric Gagne holds an ownership stake in B45 bats. Photo: Radio Canada

91. Eric Gagne, B45, ball gear and apparel (73).

Approved by major league licensing for more than a decade, yellow birch bats are handcrafted by former pros. Based in Québec City, B45 is known for its quality and innovation in the wood baseball bat industry. B45’s website claims its birch is hard like maple and flexible as ash, while having a significantly lower breakage rate enhancing hitting performance, lowering cost, and adding a measure of safety. Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.), who was with the A’s, and Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.), who was with the Angels in 2024 and has signed with the Braves, are both brand ambassadors.

B45 moved to a new ownership group led by former big leaguer Gagné, Canada’s only Cy Young award winner -- besides Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.). Gagne won the Cy Young award in 2003 when he saved 55 games with the Dodgers. During one stretch, he converted 107 saves out of a possible 111 opportunities becoming the fastest to ever get to 100 saves in a career. Also using B45’s birch weapons: Elly De La Cruz (.259 average, 25 homers, 76 RBIs, 67 stolen bases, .809 with the Reds), Austin Wynns (.368, 0, 2, .979, Reds), Jake McCarthy (.285, eight, 56, .749, Diamondbacks), Luis Rengifo (.300, six, .763, Angels), Kyle Manzardo (.234, five, 15, .703, Guardians), Hunter Renfroe (.229, 15, 52, .689, Royals), Austin Hays (.256, two, six, .672, Phillies), Bryan De La Cruz (.233, 21, 68, .654, Pirates), Chadwick Tromp (.250, zero, six, .625, Braves), Keibert Ruiz (.223, 13, 57, .619, Nationals), Gustavo Campero (.239, one, six, .619, Angels), Ildemaro Vargas (.246, one, 30, .611 with Nationals), Andruw Monasterio (.208, one, 16, .575, Brewers), Brooks Lee (.221, three, 27, .585, Twins) Curtis Mead (.238, one, seven, .569, Rays), Chuckie Robinson (.129, 0, 0, .326, White Sox) plus minor leaguers Max Stassi and Wade Meckler who both signed with the Giants for 2025.

Elizabeth Benn is a free agent after leaving her role as the New York Mets’ director of major league operations. Photo: New York Mets

92. Elizabeth Benn, Mets/free agent executive (39).

The best Canadian free agent on the market this off-season might be Benn. She was hired to be the New York Mets’ director of major league operations on February 28, 2022. After three seasons with the Mets, Elizabeth (Toronto, Ont.) has left the organization to pursue other opportunities. Her position with the Mets made her the highest-ranking female in baseball operations in the franchise’s history. In her role, she was responsible for (among other things) roster construction, management and transactions.

Elizabeth landed her job with the Mets after working in the Major League Baseball head office in New York for five years, including as their senior coordinator of baseball operations. With MLB, she helped establish the “Take the Field” program, which is now an annual professional development event that gives women the opportunity to learn from current baseball employees and network with their peers. It includes sessions that focus on coaching, player development, scouting and baseball operations. Benn, who was often the only female on her High Park Little League teams in Toronto when she was growing up, is a leader and an inspiration in her field. This off-season she helped out at a MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation (YDF) event. YDF is a joint MLB/MLBPA initiative that focuses on improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs around the world.

TSN baseball writer/analyst Scott Mitchell. Photo: X

93. Scott Mitchell, TSN (105).

Mitchell has carved out a niche for himself as a go-to resource for evaluating and ranking Blue Jays prospects. It is not easy work and involves more research than “the Jays won 3-1 or lost 4-2 last night.” He is an extremely important radio/TV voice that is not Rogers. Besides doing a strong job covering the local nine like a Hudson’s Bay blanket -- like the Jays pursuit of free-agent Roki Sasaki -- Mitchell (Oshawa, Ont.) does not simply report the score.

His top five Canadians from January 2024 and how they fared: No. 1 Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) -- reached the majors with the Brewers; No. 2 OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) of the Cubs -- was Canadian Baseball Network affiliated hitter of the year; No. 3 OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) -- impressed in his second season with the double-A Midland RockHounds; No. 4 INF Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) of the A’s -- made his pro debut and No. 5 LHP Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) of the Rangers -- made 21 starts with the class-A Hickory Crawdads and double-A Frisco Roughriders. His top five for 2025: 1. FieldHouse Pirates’ Caissie, Cubs, 2. Toronto Mets’ Clarke, A’s, 3. Toronto Mets’ Black, Brewers, 4. Toronto Mets’ RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) New York Mets and 5. Toronto Mets LHP Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) Rangers.

Baseball Saskatchewan high-performance director Greg Brons is shown here with right-hander Logan Hofmann. Photo: Tara Hofmann

94. Greg Brons, Team Sask coach (79).

Brons is the high-performance director of Baseball Saskatchewan. His passion and hard work helped Saskatchewan earn Province of the Year honours from Baseball Canada for the 10th time since 1986. Thanks largely to Brons’ efforts, Saskatchewan was ranked first by Baseball Canada in “Coach and Umpire Development.” On the field, Brons coached the Saskatchewan squad to a fourth-place finish at the Baseball Canada Cup in Fort McMurray, Alta. His team upset Ontario in the quarterfinals. In his position as high-performance director, his fingerprints are on every provincial Saskatchewan squad, including the team that won silver at the senior National Championships in Tecumseh, Ont., and the one that finished fourth at the Ray Carter Cup (15U) in Laval, Que.

Brons also oversees the Saskatchewan women’s teams who enjoyed a very successful year. They won silver at the 21U Baseball Canada Championships in Summerside, PEI and finished fourth at 16U National Championships and at the Women’s National Championships in Quebec City.

Kaitlyn McGrath, former Blue Jays beat writer for The Athletic, has moved on to become manager of communication at Tennis Canada.

95. Kaitlyn McGrath, The Athletic (136).

Kaitlyn is one of the latest in a long line of impressive women on the Toronto media scene ... such as pioneer Alison Gordon (Toronto Star), plus scribes like Rose DiManno (Star) Christie Blatchford (Sun, Post), Hazel Mae (Sportsnet), Alexis Brudnicki (MLB.com), Lindsay Dunn (Citytv) and Julia Kreuz (MLB.com). Working first alongside Mr. John Lott at The Athletic and then solo on the beat for the past seven-plus years, Kaitlyn added nuance to the Blue Jays news of the day.

Kaitlyn is one of the reasons the platform has so many subscribers across North America and now Kaitlyn is leaving the platform. Said Ken Rosenthal, “Kaitlyn worked hard for The Athletic and established herself as a force on the Blue Jays beat. Our readers loved her and we will miss her.” She recently accepted a position as the manager of communications for Tennis Canada.

Championship-winning executive Jim Devellano still wears many hats, including being a vice-president with the Detroit Tigers and a part-owner of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. Photo: Saginaw Spirit

96. Jim Devellano, Detroit Tigers executive (77).

On top of being a vice-president with the Detroit Tigers, this Hockey Hall of Famer is a minority owner and board member of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis. He has owned 4% of the Indianapolis club since 2009, which represents the second largest number of shares behind principal owner Bruce Schumacher.

Devellano (Scarborough, Ont.) also continues in his role as senior vice-president and alternate governor of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. He is also a part-owner and alternate governor of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. Devellano joined the Tigers in 2001 and became close friends with former GM David Dombrowski and when Dombrowski visits Rogers Centre, Devellano was usually seated at his table in the lunch room or in his private box. In total, Devellano has been a part of 15 pro championship-winning teams: including seven Stanley Cups with the Islanders (1980, 1981, 1982) and Red Wings (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008) and two American League titles with the Tigers (2006, 2012).

Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame director of operations Scott Crawford and board chair Jeremy Diamond. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

97. Scott Crawford and Jeremy Diamond, Canadian Hall of Fame (95).

Crawford recently celebrated his 25th anniversary with the Canadian ball hall. During that time, he has risen from intern to director of operations. The hardworking jack-of-all-trades had a busy and successful 2024 that began with the hiring of the museum’s first full-time care of collections and public engagement supervisor, Lindsay Earle (who has been outstanding in her role) and finished with the Hall’s membership drive. In between, Crawford oversaw the induction voting, set up a display on Jackie Robinson Day at Rogers Centre, booked over 900 events on the Hall grounds, presented the 2023 Tip O’Neill award to Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), gave countless museum tours (including one to Davis Schneider’s parents) and worked tirelessly behind-the scenes to organize a historic and unforgettable induction ceremony in June. Crawford also represented the Hall at ExposFest and at the Baseball Canada and Baseball Ontario banquets.

It would be hard to find someone more devoted to their job than Crawford. In the off-season when someone wants a tour of the museum, Crawford often rearranges his weekend schedule to accommodate them. If a groundskeeper is sick, you can likely find Crawford out preparing a field or on a tractor cutting the outfield grass.

Under Diamond, the roadway through the Hall’s grounds was renamed Ferguson Jenkins Way. He is often the spokesperson for the Hall of Fame. With more than two decades of experience fundraising, Diamond worked hard for the Hall in 2024. Don’t expect Diamond to fund a roof project on the main diamond. There are more pressing matters than that. Besides bettering the St. Marys gem, the University of Waterloo grad is the founding CEO of the RCAF Foundation, a public historian and not-for-profit sector leader.

Canadian Girls mastermind Dana Bookman

98. Dana Bookman, Canadian Girls (96).

The Canadian Girls League has programs in two provinces -- Ontario and BC -- and had around 500 players and 50 teams in 2024. The league holds the belief that ALL girls who want to play should be able to play in the male-dominated sport. Bookman points out that all of her staff and all of the league’s coaches are female, which adds another layer of female participation as well as a “See it, to be it” element.

Bookman explained studies they have done show this is quite impactful with both the players and community. Her son, Nathan O’Neill, plays for the Toronto Titans and made the Perfect Game all-tournament team WWBA North championship at Muncie, Ind.

Fieldhouse Pirates VP and director of baseball operations Jimmy Richardson. Photo: Premier Sports Academy Inc.

99. Jimmy Richardson and Lee Delfino, coaches, FieldHouse Pirates (106).

Doesn’t matter where you look: MLB Pipeline, Baseball America or Scott Mitchell’s thorough rundown on the top prospects ... OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) of the FieldHouse Pirates is the top Caunck. And he was named the Canadian Baseball Network’s top affiliated hitter of 2024. OF Quinn Carson (Oakville, Ont.) was signed as a free agent after the draft. Pirates to watch for down the road are OF Quinn Carson (Oakville, Ont.), OF Kenyon Sikkema (Hamilton, Ont.), C Evan York (Cambridge, Ont.), RHP Julian Sabourin (Hamilton, Ont.), INF Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.), INF Nicholas Cote (Oakville, Ont.) and Anthony Unga (Oakville, Ont.). A total of 10 Pirates went to the Canadian Futures Showcase at the Rogers Centre.

Fieldhouse has some serious coaching depth in Bob Hooper, Travis Kayler, Jordan Stamp, John Mariotti, Travis Kayler, Josh Hare and Wayne Forman. Delfino was drafted twice by the Toronto Blue Jays before and after dominating as an East Carolina Pirate and then dominating with the IBL’s Brantford Red Sox.

Frank Gallo celebrated his 50th season of coaching sandlot baseball in 2024. Photo: Toronto Observer

100. Frank Gallo, coach.

We attempted to write a story on Gallo in 2024 -- after all it was his 50th season coaching sandlot ball in Scarborough. He didn’t want any part of it, back then or at the Best Ever Clinic staged by the OBA. Well, Frank we’re going to get some recognition one way or another.

1B Jordan Jacob (Maple, Ont.) is with the Ontario Blue Jays. Last year in Dorchester, we asked Jacob the most influential person in your baseball life besides your father? His answer: “Frank Gallo. I still talk to him today and I hope to continue talking to him for a long time. He’s a favourite coach of mine.” Asked his best day on the ball field Ontario Astros OF Ryan Yankowich (Toronto, Ont.) answered: “During the high school championships playing for Neil McNeil and coaches Fortunato Colangelo and Frank Gallo we were down five runs and walked off the other team for the win.”

101. Rest in Peace _ Brad Antchak (Delta, BC), Tom Arnold (St. Thomas, Ont.), Paul Burgess (Leamington, Ont.), Bill Gleed (Toronto, Ont.), Jean-François Hamelin (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.), Darryl Harding (Scarborough, Ont.), Hans Havas (Vancouver, BC), Ronald Homuth (Stratford, Ont.), Bruce Huff (London, Ont.), Kaye Kaminishi (Vancouver, BC), Dean Oberle (Kitchener, Ont). Ed Poffenroth (Okotoks, Alta.), Larry Seminoff (Penticton, BC), Ed Shaw (Burlington, Ont.), Kevin Sheehy (Scarborough, Ont.), Steve Tait (Hamilton, Ont.), John Upham (Windsor, Ont.), Larry Wood (Hamilton, Ont.).

Antchak passed away on Aug. 18 at the age of 28. During his youth, he honed his skills in the Whalley Little League and with the North Delta Blue Jays. Out of high school, he was selected by the Houston Astros in the 39th round of 2014 draft as a shortstop. Rather than sign, he headed to the University of Louisiana Lafayette (NCAA Div. 1) where he played two seasons (2016-17). He batted .253 with five home runs and 15 stolen bases in 91 games in his sole prof season with the independent Frontier League’s Quebec Capitales in 2018.

Arnold passed away on Oct. 24 at the age of 63. He spent 40 years as an esteemed coach in Southwestern Ontario. From 2013 to 2021, he coached the Great Lake Canadians 15U squad. “Not only instrumental in developing our players, Tommy was a mentor to all of our staff, a role he loved and was greatly appreciated for,” the Great Lake Canadians wrote in a statement on Oct. 27.

Burgess passed away on Oct. 4 at the age of 83. He was a longtime director of clubhouse operations in the Houston Astros’ minor league system, working mostly in Kissimmee, Fla. Among those paying tribute to Burgess after his death was former Astros right-hander Chris Sampson. “We lost a good man!” Sampson wrote on his Facebook page. “Thank you, Paulie, for always being there for me during my career. You will be missed.” Burgess was also the owner and operator of Burgess Refreshments and Burgess Baits at the dock in Leamington, Ont.

Gleed passed away on Nov. 19 at the age of 91. For a stretch, the much-respected business leader was the vice-president of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame when it was in Toronto. Gleed also enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the insurance industry, retiring as the president and CEO of the Citadel Assurance Co. Over the course of his life, he volunteered on many charitable boards, including Canadian Blood Services, the North York General Hospital Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Toronto Rotary Club.

Hamelin passed away on July 5 at the age of 45. He was a highly respected umpire at the national level who had been scheduled to work the Ray Carter Cup (15U national championships) this summer. Hamelin also served tenures as a coach, equipment manager and member of the board of directors for Ligue de Baseball Mineur LBM St-Jean in Quebec.

Darryl Harding (Scarborough, Ont.) is presented an award by Gold Glover Devon White.

Harding passed away on Aug. 12 at the age of 53. For the past 30 years, he was a devoted and much-loved coach in the Scarborough Baseball Association. In September 2016, he was named a Seat 21 (21 refers to Roberto Clemente) honoree by the Blue Jays for dedicating more than 1,200 hours each year to youth baseball. At the time of his death, he was the president of the Wexford-Agincourt League.

Havas passed away on July 3 at the age of 75. Havas started working for the Vancouver Canadians in 1978 and held many roles with the club, but he was best known as an usher at Nat Bailey Stadium. Canadians fans know him best as the guy who led the Chicken Dance every game from the top of the third-base dugout. Over the years, Havas also spent time as an usher at Vancouver Canucks, B.C. Lions, Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver Warriors games.

Homuth passed away on Dec. 27 at the age of 79. The Stratford, Ont., native was a hardcore Blue Jays fan who travelled to 31 different major league stadiums, many of them with his daughter, Jennifer. He also coached many of his son David’s ball teams when David was growing up. Homuth was a proud Ford employee for over 40 years.

Huff passed away on June 27 at the age of 90. He took over as editor of the London Free Press in 1966 at the age of 32. His “Off the Cuff” column was a must-read for sports fans for many years. In 1980, he moved on to the Toronto Sun and then to the Toronto Star from 1994 to 1999. In his storied career, he covered championships in all major sports, including the World Series. In 2008, he was inducted into the London (Ontario) Sports Hall of Fame.

Kaminishi passed away on Sept. 28 at the age of 102. He was the last surviving member of the Vancouver Asahi. As a child, Kaminishi dreamed of playing with the Asahi, an exciting team of Japanese Canadians that captured several West Coast championships in the 1920s and 1930s. His dream came true when he joined the Asahi as a 17-year-old third baseman in 1939. He and his teammates, along with 22,000 other Canadians of Japanese descent, were sent to internment camps during the Second World War. When he was freed from the camp, his family’s lumber company on Vancouver Island had been seized by the government. With the family business gone, Kaminishi moved to Kamloops and held several jobs over the course of his life, including working for B.C. Hydro and as a liquor store clerk before operating a motel. In 2003, the Vancouver Asahi were inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Ont. and Kaminishi attended the ceremony and continued to proudly represent the Asahi at various events. In recent years, the Asahi has been honoured with a postage stamp and with a Canadian Heritage Minute, which Kaminishi narrated and appeared in.

Oberle passed away on Dec. 30 at the age of 65. He was named Baseball Ontario’s 2024 Don Gilbert Umpire of the Year in October. Oberle was a long-time Intercounty Baseball League umpire and umpire instructor. He also served a term as president of Tecumseh Minor Baseball. Away from the diamond, he was a highly respected volleyball official and worked as a groundskeeper at Cambridge Golf Club.

Ed Poffenroth (Okotoks, Alta.)

Poffenroth passed away on Nov. 6 at the age of 103. He was a highly respected proctor in Okotoks, Alta., who was largely responsible for the Okotoks Dawgs landing in the Alberta town in 2007. He also helped initiate the construction of Seaman Stadium, the Dawgs’ state-of-the-art ballpark, in Okotoks. His grandson, Ryan, was a relief pitcher on two of the Dawgs’ early championship-winning squads.

Seminoff passed away on June 23 at the age of 76. He was a highly respected B.C. coach, longtime Baseball BC executive and former Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres scout. Among his proudest accomplishments was founding and creating the Grand Forks International tournament in 1975. This is an annual international invitational tourney hosted at James Donaldson Park in Grand Forks, BC. that was once the largest invitational tournament in Canada. Among the players who played at this tournament over the years are Larry Walker, Jason Bay, John Olerud and Josh Beckett.

Shaw passed away on Sept. 30 at the age of 93. He was a nationally certified umpire who worked in Ontario and Alberta. He was also a renowned umpire instructor who many credit for giving them their start in the profession. Shaw also served on Baseball Ontario’s Umpires Committee for many years. In 2009, he received the Order of Niagara.

Sheehy passed away on March 10. He devoted close to 45 years to baseball in the Scarborough, Ont., area. Among the positions he held were president of the Scarborough Baseball and Birchmount Baseball associations. He also coached in both organizations and umpired for over 35 years. To honour his memory, the Scarborough Baseball Association presented the Kevin Sheehy Memorial Trophy to the champions of their 15U and 18U divisions this year.

Tait passed away on Oct. 23 at the age of 42. He grew up in Hamilton, Ont., and was a longtime youth coach in the city. Nine years ago, he joined the Fieldhouse Pirates where he coached their 17U squad, served as an infield coach in the off-season and became the organization’s inbound recruiter. Each fall, he managed the Pirates’ college tour which helped the players to be seen by schools south of the border. It also showed players what they could expect at the next level of baseball.

Upham passed away on May 22 at the age of 83. He rose from the Windsor, Ont., minor ball ranks to become a two-way player with the Chicago Cubs in 1967 and 1968. In 1959, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an outfielder, but it wasn’t until 1964 that he started pitching professionally. On Nov. 29, 1965, he was selected by the Cubs from the Phillies in the minor league draft. Upham made his major league debut on April 16, 1967. He entered a game started by Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.). On May 19, 1967, in his first major league at bat with the Cubs, he hit a pinch-hit single off Dodgers legend Don Drysdale. After his career, he settled in Windsor and enjoyed a successful teaching career. He also become a highly respected coach locally, provincially and for the national team.

Wood passed away on Sept. 15 at the age of 73. For close to two decades, he was a cornerstone and widely respected executive of the Intercounty Baseball League’s Hamilton Cardinals. During that time, he was also an influential voice on IBL committees and helped shape many of the league’s rules and policies. For his efforts, he was posthumously named the winner of the David E. Hastings Trophy, which is handed out annually to an executive who has made a lasting impact on their team and the IBL. Wood was also a founding member of Hamilton Cardinals Rep Baseball and was the organization’s first president.

And there are more to come …. so stay tuned …

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