Elliott: Blue Jays' Brown leads nine newcomers into six-figure club
OF Dasan Brown (Oakville, Ont.) has switched from an Ontario Blue Jays uniform to a Toronto Blue Jays one. The top Canadian selected this year is in Dunedin. Photo: Eddie Michels.
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
As we have heard more than one agent say over the years “It’s not the round that matters ... it is the signing bonus.”
No less than nine Canadians were added to our list of players receiving six-figure bonuses. Some were over slot, some were under. As Justin Morneau (New Wesminster, BC) always says “You make your money in the majors -- not on draft day.”
Ontario Blue Jays OF Dasan Brown (Oakville, Ont.) was the top Canadian receiving an $800,000 from the Toronto Blue Jays. Scouting director Steve Sanders and scout Kory Lafreniere (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) gave Brown more than the assigned slot of $678,600. He was a third-round pick being selected 88th over-all in North America.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers OF Jacob Sanford (Cole Harbour, NS) was given $597,500 as a third rounder by the New York Yankees. Sanford signed for the slot of $554,300.
Next was fourth rounder RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont. -- Canada’s first capital) from the Niagara University Purple Eagles, who signed for $512,400, the slot value.
INF Edouard Julien (Quebec City, Que.) Auburn Tigers fell to the 18th round, where he was scooped up by the Minnesota Twins. After breaking Frank Thomas’ freshman RBI record, Julien had already said he was coming back for his junior year. He spent about six days on Cape Cod and was signed. The Twins had left over money from their top 10 picks so they were able to jump their bonus from $125,000 to $493,000.
The same went for Oakland A’s and scout Matt Higginson (Grimsby, Ont.). In the 12th round. Higginson chose INF T. J. Schofield-Sam (Brampton, Ont.) of the Ontario Blue Jays. Since the A’s had leftover cash after signing their top 10 picks, they were able to move Schofield-Sam’s bonus from $125,000 to $320,000.
Heading into the draft the Toronto Blue Jays sat 12th among teams when it came out giving out six-figure bonuses. In the 26th round, the Jays chose OF Jean-Christophe Masson (Levis, Que.) of Academy Baseball Canada. Since Toronto had extra cash from the top 10 picks Lafreniere was able to move the bonus from $125,000 to $297,500.
The always active Seattle Mariners chose LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) from the Vauxhall Academy Jets in the seventh round. The M’s gave him a $250,000 bonus, above the slot of $203,400.
The Chicago Cubs chose RHP Josh Burgmann (Nanaimo, BC) from the Washington Huskies. The Cubs gave Burgmann a bonus of $225,000, which was less than the slot of $318,200.
And the final six-figure man was RHP Indigo Diaz (Langley, BC) of the Michigan State Spartans given a $125,000 after being selected in the 27th round by the Atlanta Braves.
Six-figure signing bonuses for Canadians
RHP Jameson Taillon might have been born in Lakeland, Fla. but the fact his mother grew up in Toronto and his father was from near Cornwall, Ont. made him eligible for the World Baseball Classic. He pitched 3 2/3 scoreless agaianst Team USA.
Year Round Team Position Name Hometown Province School/Team Bonus
2010 1 Pirates RHP Jameson Taillon The Woodlands TX The Woodlands HS $6,500,000 US
2016 1 Padres RHP Cal Quantrill Port Hope ON Stanford University $3,963,045
2002 1 Orioles LHP Adam Loewen Surrey BC Whalley Chiefs/Junior National Team $3,200,000
2018 1 Indians C Noah Naylor Mississauga ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $2,578,138
2015 1 Marlins 1B Josh Naylor Mississauga ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $2,500,000
2014 2 Mariners OF Gareth Morgan North York ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $2,000,000
2015 1 Braves RHP Michael Soroka Calgary AB Calgary PBF Redbirds/Junior National Team $1,974,700
2007 1 Mariners RHP Phillippe Aumont Gatineau QC ABC/Junior National Team $1,900,000
2002 1 Rockies LHP Jeff Francis North Delta BC University of British Columbia $1,850,000
2008 1 Brewers C Brett Lawrie Langley BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $1,700,000
Cards RHP Blake Hawksworth (North Vancouver, BC) came from a family that got things done — his granpda Jack Poole was credited with bringing the Olympics to Vancouver.
2001 28 Cards RHP Blake Hawksworth North Vancouver BC Bellevue (WA.) Community College $1,475,000
2017 2 Twins RHP Landon Leach Pickering ON Toronto Mets/Junior National Team $1,400,000
2017 2 Orioles INF Adam Hall London ON Great Lake Canadians/Junior National Team $1,300,000
2016 2 Diamondbacks C Andrew Yerzy Toronto ON Toronto Mets/Junior National Team $1,214,100
2000 1 Braves INF Scott Thorman Cambridge ON Team Ontario/Junior National Team $1,125,000
2013 2 Cubs LHP Rob Zastryzny Edmonton AB Missouri $1,100,000
2010 1 Rangers C Kellin Deglan Langley BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $1,000,000
1997 1 Padres SS Kevin Nicholson Surrey BC Stetson College $830,000
2019 3 Jays OF Dasan Brown Oakville ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $800,000
2002 2 Twins RHP Jesse Crain Toronto, University of Houston $650,000
The New York Yankees selected LHP Jeff Degano (Surrey, BC) in the second round in 2015.
2015 2 Yankees LHP Jeff Degano Surrey BC Indiana State $650,000
2013 3 Mariners OF Tyler O’Neill Maple Ridge BC Langley Blaze/ Junior National Team $650,000
2018 3 Marlins OF Tristan Pompey Mississauga ON Kentucky $645,000
2002 2 Reds INF Joey Votto Etobicoke Ont. Etobicoke Rangers $600,000
2019 3 Yankees OF Jacob Sanford, Cole Harbour, NS Western Kentucky $597,500
2007 1 Reds RHP Kyle Lotzkar Tsawwassen BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $594,000
2016 5 Twins RHP Jordan Balazovic Mississauga ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $515.000
2019 4 Padres RHP Matt Brash Kingston ON Niagara University $512,400
1997 1 Orioles OF Ntema Ndungidi Montreal Que. Academie Baseball Canada $500.000
2015 4 Reds CF Miles Gordon Oakville ON Great Lake Canadians/Junior National Team $500,000
The Yankees selected another LHP — Evan Rutckyj (Windsor Ont.) of the Windsor Selects and Detroit Jet Box in 2010.
2010 16 Yankees LHP Evan Rutckyj Windsor ON Windsor Selects/Detroit Jet Box $500,000
2016 4 Diamondbacks RHP Curtis Taylor Port Coquitlam BC University of British Columbia $496,700
2019 18 Twins INF Edouard Julien Quebec City, Que. Auburn $493,000
2007 1 Blue Jays RHP Trystan Magnuson Vancouver BC University of Louisville $462,500
2014 4 Brewers OF Demi Orimoloye Orleans ON Ottawa-Nepean Canadians/Junior National Team $450,000
1996 2 Red Sox RHP Chris Reitsma Calgary AB Calgary Rockies/Junior National Team $425,000
2005 3 Tigers C Chris Robinson Dorchester ON University of Illinois $422,500
2016 4 Rangers INF Charles Leblanc Laval QC University of Pittsburgh $415,000
2005 3 Indians OF Nick Weglarz Stevensville ON Team Ontario/Junior National Team $435,000
2006 4 Dodgers INF Kyle Orr Victoria BC Victoria Mariners/Junior National Team $435,000
LHP Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.) showed at the Ontario Prospects first practice wanting to be a catcher. Rob Butler put him on the mound, he went to Arizona State and is still pitching.
2015 5 Cubs LHP Ryan Kellogg Whitby ON Arizona State $376,700
1997 1 White Sox RHP Aaron Myette Surrey BC Central Arizona Community College $375,000
2011 7 Cubs 1B Trevor Gretzky Westlake Village CA Oaks Christian HS $375,000
2018 4 Red Sox C-1B Kole Cottam, Memphis, Tenn., Kentucky, $375,000
2018 6 Astros RHP RJ Freure Burlington ON Pitt University $348,800
2001 3 Braves OF Adam Stern London ON Nebraska $348,000
2007 3 Rockies C Lars Davis Grande Prairie AB Illinois $337,000
2011 4 Blue Jays RHP Tom Robson Ladner BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $325,000
2019 12 A’s T.J. Schofield-Sam Brampton ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $320,000
2009 6 Phillies RHP Steven Inch Edmonton AB Vauxhall Academy/Junior National Team $300,000
LHP Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette (St. Laurent Que.) of the ABC and the Junior National Team earned some money in 2004.
2004 7 Reds LHP Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette St. Laurent QC Academie Bseball Canada/Junior National Team $300,000
2002 20 Padres C George Kottaras Markham ON Connors State College $300,000
1994 32 Mariners LHP Jordan Zimmerman Caresland AB Blinn Jr. College $300,000
2019 26 Jays Jean-Christophe Masson, Levis, Que. Academy Baseball Canada/ Junior National Team $297,500
1999 3 Twins C Justin Morneau New Westminister BC North Delta Blue Jays/Junior National Team $295,000
2013 5 Orioles LHP Travis Seabrooke North Monaghan ON Ontario Terriers/Junior National Team $291,800
2013 10 Cardinals SS Malik Collymore Mississauga ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $275,000
2010 3 Blue Jays OF Marcus Knecht North York ON Connors State College $250,000
2010 4 Royals LHP Kevin Chapman Coral Springs FL Florida $250,000
2016 5 Astros INF Abraham Toro-Hernandez Greenfield Park QC Seminole State College $250,00
Former Ontario Nationals RHP Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich Ont.) was selected by the Houston Astros in 2014.
2014 6 Astros RHP Brock Dykxhoorn Goderich ON Central Arizona College $250,000
2019 7 Mariners LHP Adam Macko Stony Plain, Alta. Vauxhall Academy $250,000
2004 16 Brewers RHP Alexandre Periard St-Eustache QC Academie Baseball Canada $243,000
2003 4 Braves 3B Jamie Romak London ON London Badgers/Junior National Team $240,000
2004 11 Mariners OF Mike Saunders Victoria BC Tallahassee College $237,500
2010 4 Padres INF Chris Bisson Orleans ON Kentucky $234,000
2007 4 Royals RHP Mitch Hodge Vancouver BC White Rock Titons/Junior National Team $225,000
2019 5 Cubs Josh Burgmann, Nanaimo, BC Washington $225,000
2016 33 Pirates RHP Austin Shields Dundas ON Great Lake Canadians $205,000
1995 3 Rangers RHP Ryan Dempster Gibsons BC North Shore Twins $200,000
Vancouver C Mike Nickeas was chosen from Georgia Tech by the Texas Rangers in 2004.
2004 5 Rangers C Mike Nickeas Vancouver BC Georgia Tech University $200,000
2007 6 Reds RHP Evan Hildebrandt Abbotsford BC Abbotsford Cardinals/Junior National Team $200,000
2007 16 Mariners RHP Colin Buckborough Niagara Falls ON Bullett Proof/ Junior National Team $200,000
2015 18 Reds LHP Isaac Anesty Guelph ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $200,000
1996 3 Blue Jays RHP Yan Lachapelle Gatineau QC Academie du Baseball Canada $185,000
2001 5 Brewers RHP Judd Richardson Caledon ON Miami of Ohio $185.000
2016 8 Tigers OF Jacob Robson Windsor ON Mississippi State $181,600
1993 2 Brewers SS Danny Klassen Leamington ON Port St. Lucie, Fla. $180.000
2010 7 Brewers RHP Joel Pierce Windsor ON Tecumseh Thunder/Junior National Team $175.000
2003 5 Yankees RHP Cory Stuart White Rock BC University of British Columbia $170,000
Former Ontario Blue Jays INF John Cole (Kanta, Ont.) was a Seattle choice in 2001.
2001 5 Mariners 2B John Cole Kanata ON Nebraska $170,000
2016 9 Tigers INF Daniel Pinero Toronto ON Virginia $169,600
2001 5 Dodgers RHP Steve Nelson Cole Harbour NS Dartmouth Mooseheads $165,000
2005 7 Marlins RHP Chris Leroux Mississauaga ON Winthrop $152,000
1997 2 Indians RHP Robbie Vael Surrey BC Eastern Utah $150,000
2011 8 Brewers C Dustin Houle Langley BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $150,000
2010 10 Astros LHP Evan Grills Whitby ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $150,000
2011 11 Reds RHP Vaughn Covington Vancouver BC Vancouver Cannons/Junior National Team $150,000
2009 15 Dodgers 3B Jeff Hunt Cambridge ON Intercounty Terriers/Junior National Team $150,000
2008 16 Blue Jays OF Mike Crouse Port Moody BC North Shore Twins/Junior National Team $150,000
Oakville Royals OF Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010.
2010 16 Blue Jays OF Dalton Pompey Mississauga ON Oakville Royals/Junior National Team $150,000
2010 32 Rangers RHP Steve McKinnon Duncan BC Nanaimo Pirates/Junior National Team$150,000
2017 7 Dodgers RHP Zach Pop Brampton ON Kentucky $147,500
2009 5 Cubs SS Wes Darvill Langley BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $142,000
2012 7 Brewers LHP David Otterman Vancouver BC University of British Columbia $141,700
2008 11 Rays RHP Brad Furdal Ancaster ON Intercounty Terriers/Junior National Team $140,000
1995 24 Blue Jays LHP Mark Curtis St. Albert AB Penscaola Jr. College $135,000
2015 34 Phillies OF Ben Pelletier Varennes QC Patriotes Rive Sud/Score International $135,000
2008 16 Reds OF Carter Morrison Langley BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $132,000
2006 7 Twins 1B Jonathan Walterbury Whitby ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $128,500
The Brewers chose OF Chag Stang (Surrey, BC) from Midland College in 2009.
2009 8 Brewers OF Chad Stang Surrey BC Midland College $125,000
2017 12 Astros RF Jonathan Lacroix Montreal QC Seminole State College $125.000
2018 14 Padres LHP Erik Sabrowski Edmonton, Alta. Cloud County CC $125,000
2018 15 Cardinals RHP Michael Brettell Fonthill ON Central Michigan $125,000
2018 25 Twins C LaRon Smith Spruce Grove, Alta., Okotoks Dawgs/Junior National Team $125,000
2019 27 Braves Indigo Diaz, Langley, BC, Michigan State $125,000
2003 48 Mets SS Jonathan Malo St-Roch-de-l’Achigan QC Northeastern Oklahoma A&M $125,000
2001 6 Blue Jays SS Lee Delfino Pickering ON East Carolina University $122,500
2006 7 Blue Jays OF Jonathan Baksh Mississauga ON Florida Tech University $122,500
2007 6 Mets RHP Guillaume Leduc Boucherville QC Academie Baseball Canada $120,000
Ontario Blue Jays RHP Adam Hawes (Victoria Harbour, Ont.) was a Twins choice in 2003
2003 40 Twins RHP Adam Hawes Victoria Harbour ON Connors State Jr. College $118,000
1993 2 Expos RHP Martin Mainville Montreal QC Academie Baseball Canada $115,000
2000 6 Expos RHP Shawn Hill Georgetown ON Team Ontario $115,000
2011 15 Cubs C Justin Marra Toronto ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $110.000
2004 7 Brewers RHP Craig Langille Bedford NS Dartmouth Juniors $107,000
2003 4 Giants RHP Brooks McNiven Vernon BC University of British Columbia $105,000
2012 6 Pirates 3B Eric Wood Pickering ON Blinn College $100,000
2011 9 Braves OF Chase Larsson Vancouver BC Cameron University $100,000
2015 10 Blue Jays C Owen Spiwak Mississauga ON Odessa College $100,000
2016 11 Diamondbacks RHP Jake Polancic Langley BC Langley Blaze $100,000
North Shore Twins grad 3B Lachlan Fontaine (North Vancouver, BC) was selected by the Mariners in 2013.
2013 13 Mariners 3B Lachlan Fontaine North Vancouver BC North Shore Twins/ Junior National Team $100,000
2017 13 Nationals OF Eric Senior Toronto ON Midland College $100,000
2012 15 Yankees RHP Dayton Dawe London ON Ontario Terriers/Junior National Team $100,000
2017 15 Cubs INF Jarred Young Prince George BC Old Dominion University $100,000
2008 16 Brewers RHP Stosh Wawrzasek Langley BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $100000
2015 17 Reds 2B JD Salmon-Williams Brampton ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $100,000
2013 20 Reds C Morgan Lofstrom Kelowna BC Okanagan Athletics/Junior National Team $100,000
2015 22 Reds RHP Darren Shred Brampton ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $100,000
2017 22 White Sox RHP Bryan Saucedo Toronto ON Davenport University $100,000
2016 23 Diamondbacks 1B Luke Van Rycheghem Kent Bridge ON Ontario Blue Jays/ Junior National Team $100,000
RHP Jordan Scheftz (North York Ont.) was selected in the 23rd round in 2017 by the Cleveland Indians
2017 23 Indians RHP Jordan Scheftz North York ON Central Florida $100,000
2011 26 Blue Jays SS Justin Atkinson North Surrey BC Langley Blaze/Junior National Team $100,000
2012 26 Blue Jays RHP Nathan DeSouza Milton ON Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team $100,000
2010 34 Reds SS Brandon Dailey Brantford ON Ontario Terriers/Junior National Team $100,000
2007 35 Pirates RHP Tom Boleska Burlington ON High Point University $100,000
(Players who made the majors listed in bold.)