Elliott: Ontario Blue Jays have 5 grads in majors, 2 more than old mark from 1 team
Former first-round pick Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) is one of a record — we think — five players from the same organization to play in the majors in the same season.
August 8, 2023
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
There was little fanfare when it happened way back in May.
When the Cleveland Guardians promoted C Bo Naylor to the majors, it meant that four former Ontario Blue Jays had appeared in the majors this season.
Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) joined his older brother Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) with Cleveland, along with Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) and Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.) of the Toronto Blue Jays, who all were on opening day rosters. After an injury, Pop is at triple-A Buffalo now.
It’s an unofficial record of course. But the most players from one elite team we ever remember being in the majors the same season was the three North Delta Blue Jays on the scene in 2013:
1B Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) was with the Minnesota Twins and the Pittsburgh Pirates; LHP Jeff Francis (North Delta, BC) a Colorado Rockie and LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC) with the Seattle Mariners.
Ari Mellios and Mike (OK Pal) Kelly had coached all three in the BC Premier League.
And if someone can find a team with three (or four) at the same time, let us know, but you have to aim higher than four. The Ontario Blue Jay alumni association saw reliever Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) promoted to the Minnesota Twins on June 18.
Call if five ...
We doubt many teams of high school aged players south of the border could match that math in former player including alumni.
The Fab Five
1B Josh Naylor
Drafted: First round (12th over-all) 2015
By: Florida Marlins.
From: Ontario Blue Jays.
Coaches: Danny Bleiwas and Sean Travers.
Big-league debut: May 24, 2019, hitless for Padres in 6-4 win over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
Signing bonus: $2.2 Million US
Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) of the Toronto Blue Jays (nee Ontario Blue Jays).
Jordan Romano
Drafted: 10th round draft from Oral Roberts University in 2014.
By: Toronto Blue Jays.
Scout: Dallas Black.
Coaches: Dino Rommel. Greg Byron, Bleiwas and Travers.
Before heading to university, played for: Ontario Blue Jays.
Big-league debut: June 12, 2019, pitched a scoreless sixth in an 8-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre.
Signing bonus: $25,000
Reliever Zach Pop (Markham, Ont.) another Ontario Blue Jays grad.
RP Zach Pop
Drafted: Seventh round, from Kentucky, 2017.
By: Los Angeles Dodgers.
Scout: Marty Lamb.
Before accepting scholarship played for: Ontario Blue Jays and Toronto Mets.
Coaches: Bleiwas and Ryan McBride.
Big-league debut: April 3, 2021, pitched a scoreless seventh for the Marlins in a 12-7 win over Tampa Bay.
Signing bonus: $147,500.
Cleveland C Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.)
Bo Naylor
Drafted: First round (29th overall) in 2018 draft.
By: Cleveland.
Scout: Mike Kanen.
Played for: Ontario Blue Jays.
Coaches: Mike Steed and Travers.
Big-league debut: Oct. 1, 2022, took over for Luke Maille in Cleveland’s 7-1 loss to Kansas City Royals as was hitless in two at-bats.
Signing bonus: $2,578,137.
RP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) works out of the Twins bullpen.
Jordan Balazovic
Drafted: Fifth round of 2016 draft.
By: Minnesota Twins.
Scout: Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bat, BC).
Played for: Ontario Blue Jays.
Coaches: Steed and Travers.
Big-league debut: June 18, 2023, worked 3 2/3 scoreless in a 6-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Signing bonus: $515,000.
* * *
Maybe there is something in the Blue Jays nickname ...
The North Delta Trio
Former MVP and North Delta Blue Jay Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC)
Justin Morneau
Drafted: Third round of the 1999 draft.
By: Minnesota Twins.
Scout: Howie Norsetter.
From: North Delta Blue Jays
Coaches: Ari Mellios and Mike Kelly.
Big-league debut: June 10, 2003, had two hits in 5-0 win by Larry Walker’s Colorado Rockies.
Signing bonus: $290,000.
* * *
LHP Jeff Francis
Drafted: First round (ninth overall) in 2002 draft from University of British Columbia.
By: Colorado Rockies.
Scouts: Bill Schmidt and Greg Hopkins.
Before heading to university: North Delta Blue Jays
Coaches: Ari Mellios and Mike Kelly.
Big-league debut: Aug. 25, 2004, allowing six runs in five innings in an 8-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Signing bonus: $1.85 Million.
* * *
LHP James Paxton
Drafted: Fourth round of 2010 draft.
By: Seattle Mariners.
From: Grand Prairie AirHogs-Independent.
College: University of Kentucky.
Before heading to school: North Delta Blue Jays
Scouts: Brian Williams and Jesse Kapellusch.
Coaches: Ari Mellios and Mike Kelly.
Big-league debut: Sept. 7, 2013, pitching six innings, allowing one earned run in a 6-2 Seattle win over Tampa Bay for the victory.
Signing bonus: $942,500.
* * *
The North Shore Twins had three alumni play in 2003-04 seasons in RHP Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) of the Cincinnati Reds, Chris Mears (Victoria, BC) with the Detroit Tigers and OF Simon Pond (North Vancouver, BC) with the Toronto Blue Jays.