Elliott, Burrows’ all-time CBN college team in 25th year: Martin, Bay, Harden, Paxton, Pivetta, Francis
Minnesota Twins Canadian scout Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC), left, has been scouting Canadians since 1991. He picked our all-time, Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian Team to celebrate our 25th CBN team. He is with the late legendary coach Dave Wallace of the Parksville Royals.
November 24, 2024
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
We’re really proud that our Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian college team started in 2000 and is still going strong.
All the way back to the spring of 2000 ... Now that covers some ground: plenty of line drives, tape-measure shots, shutouts, called “three at the knees,” E-6s and any other diamond term you want to mention.
As a special treat for the 25th annual celebrations, we asked the Canadian senior scout of talent Walt Burrows to select a 26-man roster from our previous 25 teams. Burrows has seen more ball than any Canadian evaluator. He began as a part time scout for the now defunct Canadian arm of the Major League Scouting Bureau in 1991. And then, worked 30 years full time — first for the Scouting Bureau and now for the Minnesota Twins.
ABC grad Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.), left, who played at Chipola College, Indians coach Jeff Johnson and Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista, another Chipola grad.
Understand that ...
A) you had to play in college (so no chance for Hall of Famer Larry Walker, Justin Morneau or Joey Votto, who all signed out of high school, all did well, each winning a Most Valuable Player award) ...
And B) you had to have been voted to any one of our all-Canadian teams (sorry Michael Saunders and Cade Smith).
Burrows took time out of his busy scouting schedule to pick his all-time, All-Canadian Baseball Network college team.
If there was any way to make a mythical team and gather all of these players together in their prime -- believe me, they would have done some damage.
Burrows’ 26-man roster of former All-Canadians ...
Rotation
Victoria Mariners grad RHP Rich Harden (Victoria, BC) starred for Central Arizona and the Oakland A’s.
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Up now ... Walt Burrows picks his all-time, all-Canadian college team for the 25th anniversary
Our stats package for the Canadian Baseball Network First, Second, Third and Honourable Mentions.
Matt Betts _ Canadian Baseball Network college Player of the Year
The CBN All-Canadian Second Team
The CBN All-Canadian Third Team
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RHP Rich Harden (Victoria, BC) Central Arizona Vaqueros.
Graduating team: Victoria Mariners.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First 2001.
College numbers (2001): He had an 11-2 won-loss record, two saves, 2.03 ERA, 66 walks, 127 strikeouts in 97 2/3 innings
Big-league numbers: Nine years, 59-38 with the Oakland A’s, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers, 3.76 ERA, 422 walks, 949 strikeouts in 928 1/3 innings.
Harden’s name is written on the outfield wall in Coolidge, Ariz.
Factoid: More than once A’s GM Billy Beane predicted there was a Cy Young Award in Harden’s immediate future. And at the time he was part of the same staff as Cy Young award contenders: Barry Zito (a winner in 2022), Mark Mulder (second behind Roger Clemens in 2001) and Tim Hudson (fourth in Cy voting 2023, behind Roy Halladay).
Former North Delta Blue Jays LHP Jeff Francis (Delta, BC) is honoured by UBC.
LHP Jeff Francis (Delta, BC) University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.
Graduating team: North Delta Blue Jays.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2002.
College numbers (in 2002): 7-2, one save, 1.93, 16 walks, 101 strikeouts.
Big-league numbers: Eleven seasons, 72-82 with the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Oakland, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, 4.97 ERA, one save, 384 walks, 869 strikeouts in 1,291 innings.
Factoid: His grandfather nicknamed him Boomer after former Montreal Canadiens Bernie ‘Boom Boom’ Geoffrion, a Hall of Famer, who had his No. 5 retired by the Habs.
Former Delta Blue Jays LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC) was a stud at Kentucky
LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC) Kentucky Wildcats.
Graduating team: North Delta Blue Jays.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2009 and Third Team, 2008.
College numbers (2008-09): Was 9-5 in 30 games, 24 starts, with one save 4.68 ERA 55 walks and 158 strikeouts in 130 2/3 innings.
Big-league numbers: In 11 seasons he was 73-41 with Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, 3.77 ERA, 314 walks, 1,005 strikeouts.
A terrible factoid: A first-round pick (37th) of the Blue Jays, who went unsigned because the Jays would not pay Paxton more than Chad Jenkins, their other first rounder ($1.359 million). The Jays failed to sign him and negotiations with Scott Boras became known, so Paxton was ruled ineligible for his senior season at Kentucky. Jenkins pitched 100 2/3 innings in the majors, while Paxton threw 951.
Former Victoria Eagle RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) of the New Mexico JC was dominant as a Thunderbird.
RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) New Mexico JC Thunderbirds.
Graduating team: Victoria Eagles.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Third Team, 2013.
College numbers (2013): Went 6-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 11 starts, including six complete games with 18 walks and 49 strikeouts.
Big-league numbers: In eight seasons was 56-71 with a 4.76 ERA and three saves, plus 377 walks and 1,139 strikeouts in 1,029 1/3 innings.
Factoid: Fourth all-time in strikeouts by Canadians with 1,139 behind Hall of Famer RHP Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) 3,192, LHP Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) 2,075 and LHP Érik Bédard (Navan, Ont.) 1,246.
Whalley Chiefs’ grad LHP Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC)
LHP Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC) Chipola Indians.
Graduating team: Whalley Chiefs.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First team, 2003.
College numbers (2003): Was 6-1 with a 2.47 ERA in 12 games, nine starts, walking 27 and striking out 89 in 64 1/3 innings.
Big-league numbers: Five seasons, going 10-8 with the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks with a 5.85 ERA, with 129 walks, 159 strikeouts in 189 1/3 innings.
Factoid: We all know how tough it is to make the majors. Loewen made it once, twice, three times. He made it in 2006 as a lefty starter with the Orioles. Sidelined with arm injury he turned to hitting and made the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011, then he returned to the mound as a reliever and reached the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen in 2015. And to top it off he came back to pitch for Canada at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. As a junior, opposing players from Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei would shake hands with Loewen post-game and ask to have a picture taken with him. He was selected fourth overall in North America in 2002.
Team Ontario alum John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) of the Canisius Griffins.
Bullpen
RHP John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Canisius Golden Griffins.
Graduating team: Team Ontario.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Second Team, 2002, Third Team, 2003.
College numbers (2002-03): In two years with the Irish, he was 14-5, with a 4.13 ERA in 31 games, 25 starts, walking 109 and fanning 133.
Big-league numbers: In 11 seasons he was 38-34 with 144 saves pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland, Colorado, the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland and Blue Jays, with a 3.90 ERA in 544 games walking 261 and fanning 569 in 555 2/3 innings.
Factoid: I was walking through the Milwaukee Brewers clubhouse on Father’s Day in Denver on 2010 and looking for Axford. He spotted me first: “What are you doing here?” Quote of the day was from manager Ken Macha, who has a closer controversy with veteran Trevor Hoffman and the promising Axford. Asked about the dilemma, Macha said “Yeah, I want to get Trevor to get 600 saves ... but I want to keep my job, too.”
Former Terriers RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) was a workhorse for the Stanford Cardinal.
RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) Stanford Cardinal.
Graduating team: Terriers.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2014.
College numbers (2014): Was 7-5 with a 2.68 ERA in 18 games -- making 17 starts -- as he walked 34 and struck out 98 in 110 2/3 innings.
Big-league numbers: Pitched in his sixth season in 2024 for the Rockies, after spending time with Cleveland and San Diego, going 43-34 with a 4.07 ERA with one save in 161 games making 123 starts as he walked 234 and struck out 537.
Factoid: Recorded his first big-league win May 25, 2019 as the San Diego Padres thumped the Blue Jays 19-4 at Rogers Centre, a mere hour’s drive from Port Hope (between 3 and 4 a.m., everything else is heavy traffic). He pitched six innings, leaving with a 12-3 lead, striking out Randal Grichuk (twice), Justin Smoak, Rowdy Tellez, Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel.
LHP Missouri Tigers Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.)
LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) Missouri Tigers.
Graduating team: Calallen HS, Corpus Christi, Tex.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Third Team, 2013, Second Team 2012.
College numbers (2012-13): In his two seasons, he was 7-14 with a 3.60 ERA in 30 starts as he walked 55 and whiffed 158 in 199 2/3 innings.
Big-league numbers: In parts of six seasons, he is 4-0 with a 4.30 ERA in 54 games with the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Angels and the Milwaukee Brewers, walking 31 and striking out 54 in 67 innings.
Factoid: In six years, Zastryzny has never been saddled with a loss. his wins: a 7-6 walk-off Cubs win over the Pirates as he allowed a run in the top of the 13th, but Anthony Rizzo singled home the tying run and Miguel Montero knocked in the game winner; with the Cubs two years later as he retired Yasmani Grandal to end the 10th and then Alberta Amora hit a walk-off single for a 2-1 win over the Dodgers ... after pitching a 1-2-3 seventh he got the victory in a 5-4 Pirates win over the Reds in 2023 on Opening Day ... and he retired two of the three men (hit by pitch) he faced in the eighth, then Willy Adames and Rhys Hoskins drove in runs for a 5-4 win.
North Battleford Beavers and Saskatoon Yellowjackets LHP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.) also starred at Kentucky. Photo: Baseball Canada
LHP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.) Kentucky Wildcats.
Graduating teams: North Battleford Beavers, Saskatoon Yellowjackets.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Honourable Mention, 2006 and 2007.
College numbers (2007-08): Over his two years, he was 9-8 in 36 games, making 16 starts, with a 5.01 ERA allowing 31 walks and while striking out 79 102 1/3 innings.
Big-league numbers: Pitched five seasons going 8-8 with a 4.58 ERA pitching for the Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners and the Blue Jays. He pitched in 31 games making 21 starts walking 34 and striking out 91.
Factoids: When Albers pitched against the Seattle Mariners Marco Gonzales in an exhibition game at Peoria prior to the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi asked about how both he and Gonzales had pitched for the Saskatoon Yellowjackets. “A big day for WMBL (which rhymes with thimble),” Albers said, “or at least that’s what it used to be called.” Albers, who pitched in the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) in 2014, pitched a scoreless inning. Gonzales, who was at Saskatoon in 2015, started for the M’s, allowing one run in 3 2/3 innings. Abraham Toro tripled home Julien for the only run off Gonzales in a 5-3 loss before 3,962. The league changed its name to the Western Canada Baseball League (WCBL) in 2019. Was coached by his father Bernie with Beavers and Todd Plaxton in with Saskatoon and icon Greg Brons as his pitching coach.
Former Ontario Blue Jays RHP Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.) also pitched at Kentucky and made the majors.
RHP Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.) Kentucky Wildcats.
Graduating team: Ontario Blue Jays.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Honourable Mention, 2015 and 2016.
College numbers (2015-16): In his two springs at Kentucky, he was 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA in 30 games walking 26 and striking out 31 in 30 innings.
Big-league numbers: In parts of four seasons Pop has pitched 158 games with the Miami Marlins and Blue Jays, including 2024, going 8-5 with one save. He walked 53 and struck out 123 in 155 2/3 innings.
Factoid: Pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023, he and former Ontario Blue Jays teammates set a high-water mark for players from the same amateur organization, appearing in the majors at the same time Josh and Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) Cleveland Guardains, Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) Minnesota Twins and teammate Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.).
Okotoks Dawgs grad LHP Matt Wilikinson (White Rock, BC) of Central Arizona.
LHP Matt Wilkinson (White Rock, BC) Central Arizona Vaqueros.
Graduating team: Okotoks Dawgs.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2022-23.
College numbers (2022-23): He dominated in his two seasons going 15-4 with one save in 35 games with a 1.38 ERA. Wilkinson walked 34 and struck out 221 in 137 innings.
Minor-league numbers: In two seasons, he is 8-6 with one save and a 1.88 ERA with the rookie-class Arizona Complex League Guardians, class-A Lynchburg and class-A Lake County. He walked 37 while striking out 177 in 119 2/3 innings.
Factoid: When in Okotoks, you can find pitching guru Jeff Duda at 6 a.m. when he works out his pitchers from the Dawgs Academy. One night in August of 2019, we saw him at a Dawgs college game in uniform. What’s the deal. Wilkinson, then 16, made two starts in the Western Canadian League facing college-aged teams.
Former Kingston Thunder RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) soared with the Niagara Purple Eagles.
Setup
RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) Niagara Purple Eagles.
Graduating team: Kingston Thunder.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2019.
College numbers (2019): He was 4-5 with a 2.43 ERA in 14 starts as he walked 29 and struck out 121 in 85 1/3 innings.
Big-league numbers: In two seasons with the Seattle Mariners Brash has a 13-8 record with four saves and a 3.63 ERA. In 117 games, he walked 62 and struck out 169 in 121 1/3 innings.
Factoid: Was the first player from Kingston -- Canada’s first capital — to make the majors and he was dominant in 2023, striking out 107 in 70 2/3 innings. He’s the first if you don’t count OF Phil Routcliffe who played for the Allegheny City club out of Pittsburgh. He was from Frontenac. The only Frontenac we know of is Frontenac County, wherein Kingston lies.
Ex-Ontario Blue Jays RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) saved 12 games for Oral Roberts.
Closer _ RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) Oral Roberts Golden Eagles.
Graduating team: Ontario Blue Jays.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2014.
College numbers (2014): He was 3-4 with 12 saves and a 2.66 ERA in 29 games, walking 17 and fanning 49 in 40 2/3 innings.
Big-league numbers: In six seasons with the Blue Jays, including 2024, he has a 20-17 record with 285 saves. He has a 2.90 career average walking 88 and fanning 285 in 229 2/3 innings.
Factoid: Like broadcaster Chris Leroux of Team Ontario, who pitched in the majors, Romano with a catcher as well in his early days with the Ontario Blue Jays.
ABC grad Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.), left, fellow Chipola grads Jose Bautista, RHP Bowden Francis an Indians coach Jeff Johnson.
Position Players:
Catcher _ Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) Chipola Indians.
Graduating team: Académie Baseball Canada.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Honourable Mention, 2002.
College numbers (2002): Playing third base, Martin -- beat out by Monte Scott (Swift Current, Sask.), Geoff Zimmerman (Calgary, Alta.) and Hyung Cho (Scarborough, Ont.) -- batted .345 with six doubles, two triples, five homers and 31 RBIs in 48 games.
Big-league numbers: In 14 seasons, Martin hit .248 in 1,593 games in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Blue Jays, the Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates. He had 255 doubles, nine triples, 191 home runs and 771 homers, while compiling a .726 OPS.
Factoid: His career did not match Gary Carter or Mike Piazza, but name a catcher you saw in post-season play more often? Martin was squatting in post-season play 10 years between 2006 and 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. In 17 post-season series he hit .191 in 58 games with nine doubles, six homers, 22 RBIs and a .633 OPS.
Ex-Okanagan Athletics Jared Young (Prince George, BC) hit line drives for Connors State and Old Dominion.
First Base _ Jared Young (Prince George, BC) Old Dominion Monarchs and Connors State Cowboys.
Graduating team: Okanagan Athletics.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2017 and Second Team, 2016.
College numbers (2017-18): Hit .480 with 15 doubles, a triple, 11 homers, 54 RBIs and a 1.295 OPS in 57 games at Connors in 2016 and the next season at Old Dominion he hatted .367 in 58 games with 19 doubles, four triples, seven homers, 34 RBIs and a 1.021 OPS.
Big-league numbers: Played parts of two seasons with the Cubs and in 22 games he batted .210 with two doubles, three triples, two homers, eight RBIs and a .725 OPS. Young spent the final part of 2024 with the Doosan Bears in Korea hitting .326 with 16 doubles, a triple, 10 homers and a 1.080 OPS in 38 games.
Factoid: Have bat will travel — Young started out playing college ball for the Minot State Beavers in North Dakota, then the Connors State College Cowboys in Oklahoma and the Old Dominion University Monarchs in Virginia. The Cubs selected him in the 15th round in 2017.
Quebec Canonniers grad Edouard Julien (Quebec, Que.) starred for the Auburn Tigers.
Second base _ Edouard Julien (Quebec, Que.) Auburn Tigers.
Graduating team: Quebec Canonniers.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2016.
College numbers (2016): In 63 games, he batted .378 with 14 doubles, a triple, nine homers, 54 RBIs and an .813 OPS.
Big-league numbers: In two seasons with the Minnesota Twins, he has played 203 major league games, hitting .235 with 25 doubles, a triple, 24 homers, 58 RBIs and a .742 OPS.
Factoid: My No. 1 memory of Julien is talking to an amateur scout about five weeks before his draft year. All of a sudden I could not hear his end of the conversation. Finally, the noise died down and the scout said, “Well, Edouard Julien just made himself some money” since he hit a bases clearing double.
ABC grad Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.), shown here with Team Quebec. Photo: Jacques Boissinot, Canadian Press
Third base _ Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.) Seminole State Trojans.
Graduating team: Académie Baseball Canada.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2016.
College numbers (2016): In 55 games he batted .439 with 14 doubles, five triples, 20 homers, 86 RBIs and a 1.494 OPS.
Big-league numbers: Has played parts of six seasons with the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, Oakland A’s and Milwaukee Brewers, including 2024 with the A’s. He has hit .220 with 47 doubles, four triples, 34 doubles and a .638 OPS in 365 games.
Factoid: Usually after a no-hitter, the pitcher goes looking to hug his catcher. In 2019, Verlander had pitched eight hitless innings, throwing 106 pitches. He could do the ninth -- but no more. Toro hit a two-run homer to left off Ken Giles to finally give Houston the lead. Verlander set down Brandon Drury on a ground ball, struck out Reese McGuire and retired Bo Bichette on the grounder to Toro, Verlander’s 120th pitch of the day. In the celebrations cameras picked up Verlander screaming “WHERE’S TORO? WHERE’S TORO?”
Jonathan Malo (Saint-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que.), shown here with the Canadian National Team. Photo: Baseball Canada
Shortstop _ Jonathan Malo (Saint-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que.) Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norse.
Graduating team: Académie Baseball Canada.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2004.
College numbers (2004): In 53 games he hit .477 with 11 doubles, a triple, 15 homers, 62 RBIs and a 1.362 OPS.
Minor-league numbers: He played seven seasons in the New York Mets’ system, competing in 639 games with 75 doubles, 16 triples, 26 home runs 219 RBIs and a .652 OPS. He then played eight seasons of indy ball with the Quebec Capitales playing 491 games and hitting .281 with 101 doubles, nine triples, 39 homers, 247 RBIs and a .762 OPS.
Factoid: In the spring of 2010, former Expos infielder Jerry Manuel, then the manager of the New York Mets, pulled me aside: “Do you know this kid Malo? He does everything right. Am not sure we’ll have room for him this year -- but he has the tools to be a back-up infielder in the big-leagues.” Manuel was fired after the 2010 season.
Trail Jays grad OF Jason Bay (Trail, BC) with the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Left field _ Jason Bay (Trail, BC) Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Graduating team: Trail Jays.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2000.
College numbers (2000): In 53 games, Bay hit .388 with 13 doubles, 15 homers, 47 RBIs and a 1.150 OPS.
Big-league numbers: Played 1,278 games in 11 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. He had a career average of .266 with 240 doubles, 30 triples, 222 home runs, 754 RBIs and an .841 OPS.
Factoid: There is an old line uttered when a player is traded in an effort to cheer up the traded player. It goes like this in an: “It’s not that they didn’t want you, the other team wanted you more.” Sometimes it is a con. Except it fit for Bay. Drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 22nd round in 2000, he was dealt (with Jimmy Serrano) to the Mets (for Lou Collier) in the spring of 2002. At the trade deadline, he was traded (with Josh Reynolds and Bobby Jones) to the San Diego Padres (for Jason Middlebrook and Steve Reed). And 13 months later he was sent from the Padres (with Óliver Pérez and Cory Stewart) to the Pirates (for Brian Giles). With the Bucs, he won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2004.
Former Ontario Blue Jays OF Adam Stern (London, Ont.) headed to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Photo: Nebraska Athletics
Centre field _ Adam Stern (London, Ont.) Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Graduating team: Ontario Blue Jays.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Second Team, 2001.
College numbers (2001): Batted .292 with eight doubles, four triples, five home runs, 47 RBIs and a .789 OPS in 64 games.
Big-league numbers: He played parts of four seasons -- 54 games -- for the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and the Milwaukee Brewers. Stern batted .116 with a double, one home run and seven RBIs with a .365 OPS.
Factoid: The most exciting game I had ever witnessed in person was when Canada edged Team USA 8-6 in the first World Baseball Classic at Chase Field in 2006. And the most exciting player that day was CF Stern, who hit an inside-the-park home run, drove in four runs and made two outstanding catches. Canada was up 8-0 when Bob McCown’s producer Ryan Walsh asked me to go on The Fan. I declined ... not wanting to jinx matters. It was more exciting than any World Series game, including Joe Carter’s walk off against Mitch Williams in the 1993 Series. Even now when I drive passed Chase (now called Bank One Ballpark) I’ll make a couple of phone calls “I am driving by the scene of the 2006 WBC Massacre.” For me, the game was the most exciting until Pete Orr (Newmarket, Ont.) scored all the way from first on two USA errors to win gold at the 2015 Pan Am Games at Ajax.
Toronto Mets OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) joined the Cal-State Northridge Matadors. Photo: Cal-State Athletics
Right field _ Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) Cal-State Northridge Matadors.
Graduating team: Toronto Mets.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Second Team, 2020 and Third Team 2021.
College numbers (2020-21): In his final two seasons at CSUN, he played in 53 games with 15 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs, 34 RBIs and 1.211 OPS with 20 steals.
Minor-league numbers: During his four years in the A’s minor-league system, he has hit .261 with 57 doubles, 16 triples, 41 homers, 144 RBIs and an .827 OPS in 280 games, while stealing 78 bases.
Factoid: In August 2022, Clarke had inside-the-park home runs on back-to-back days with the High-A Lansing Lugnuts. He displayed a graceful, gazelle-like stride. It took a while for me to find a scout who was there. Finally ... how did Clarke look? “He looked like Devon White running the bases.”
Coquitlam Reds” Rene Tosoni (Port Coquitlam, BC) was another Chipola player
Designated hitter _ Rene Tosoni (Port Coquitlam, BC) Chipola Indians.
Graduating team: Coquitlam Reds.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Third Team, 2006.
College numbers (2006): Playing 52 games for coach Jeff Johnson, Jose Bautista’s coach and mentor, he had 13 doubles, two triples, six homers and 50 RBIs.
Big-league numbers: Playing 60 games in one year for the Minnesota Twins he batted .203 with seven doubles, a triple, five homers, 22 RBIs and a .618 OPS.
Factoid: One July day, he spent like what seemed like a week at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The annual Futures Game was delayed for four hours and nine minutes due to a first-inning storm. The game was shortened to seven innings. Tosoni did not start, but the Twins farmhand pinch-hit and delivered a tie-breaking double to earn MVP honours as the World beat Team USA 7-5. Tosoni was facing Pittsburgh reliever Brad Lincoln -- and later a Blue Jay -- lining a ball off 1B Chris Carter down the line. Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) and OF Tyson Gillies (Vancouver, BC) also competed in the Futures.
Ontario Blue Jays grad George Kottaras (Markham, Ont.) went to Connors State.
Bench
Catcher - George Kottaras (Markham, Ont.), Connors State Cowboys.
Graduating team: Ontario Blue Jays.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Second Team, 2002 and Honourable Mention, 2003.
College numbers (2002): He batted .420 with 21 doubles, two triples, 13 homers and 63 RBIs in 51 games.
Big-league numbers: In seven years, he played 313 games for the Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, Oakland A’s, Cleveland, St. Louis Cardinals and the Blue Jays. He had 40 doubles, three triples, 32 homers, 101 RBIs and a .737 OPS.
Factoid: Astros starting pitcher RHP Bud Norris had zero idea what laid ahead of him when he faced the Brewers on Sept. 3, 2011. On the mound for Milwaukee was Chris Narveson with Kottaras squatting behind the plate. Kottaras hit a solo home run to right field in the fourth for the first run of the game. Two innings later, Kottaras tripled to centre field as the Brewers went up 6-2. He singled to right in the seventh scoring Taylor Green for an 8-2 lead and doubled to centre in the of the ninth. He finished the day 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Kottaras became the seventh Brewer to cycle around the bases and the third catcher joining Chad Moeller and Charlie Moore.
Ex-Parksville Royal Taylor Green (Comox, BC) filled gaps for the Cypress Chargers.
Infielder _ Taylor Green (Comox, BC) Cypress Chargers.
Graduating team: Parksville Royals.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Third Team, 2005 and Honourable Mention, 2006.
College numbers (2005-06): Combined to bat .353 in 95 games. Green had 34 doubles, four triples, 14 homers, 77 RBIs and stole 11 bases.
Big-league numbers: He played 78 games in two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. He hit .207 with 10 doubles, three homers, 15 RBIs and a .609 OPS.
Factoid: On September 2, 2011, he singled to left off Astros reliever Aneury Rodríguez in a pinch-hitting appearance for Brewers starter Zack Greinke in the top of the seventh with Houston leading 2-0. Logan Schafer pinch ran for Green, later scored on a wild pitch and then Ryan Braun hit a two-out single to give Milwaukee a lead. Casey McGehee hit a two-run homer in the eighth and then Braun singled in a run and Prince Fielder hit a two-run homer for an 8-2 lead in the top of the ninth. John Axford worked a 1-2-3 ninth.
Okotoks Dawgs slugger Matt Lloyd (Calgary, Alta.) made our all-Canadian CBN team four times.
Outfielder _ Matt Lloyd (Calgary, Alta.) Indiana Hooisers and Iowa Western Reivers.
Graduating team: Okotoks Dawgs.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2016, First Team, 2017, First Team, 2019, Third Team 2018.
College numbers (2016-18): During his three years at Indiana, he combined to bat .294 in 176 games, managing 46 doubles, a triple, 37 homers, 146 RBIs and a .905 OPS. In 59 games at Iowa Western in 2016, he hit .371 with 13 doubles, three triples, nine homers, 59 RBIs and a 1.027 OPS.
Minor-league numbers: Playing four seasons in both the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals systems he played 226 games. Along the way, he had 45 doubles, 35 homers, 129 RBIs and a .707 OPS.
Factoid: It’s difficult to make the Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian team. Not for Boyd -- he was selected four times ... three times to the First Team.
Ottawa-Nepean Canadians Sebastien Boucher (Gatineau, Que.)
Outfielder _ Sebastien Boucher (Gatineau, Que.) Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.
Graduating team: Ottawa-Nepean Canadians.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Honourable Mention, 2003 and Third Team, 2004.
College numbers (2003-04: In two season,s he combined to play 111 games batting .343 with 19 doubles, eight triples, two homers, 71 RBIs and an .861 OPS, with 83 stolen bases.
Minor-league numbers: He spent four seasons in the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles systems, playing 417 games as he hit .273. Along the way, he hit 68 doubles, 17 triples, 18 homers, 149 RBIs and a .744 OPS. Then, came 10 years of independent ball where he played 858 games, with 158 doubles, 16 triples, 67 homers, 545 RBIs, 136 stolen bases and an .854 OPS.
Factoid: Boucher had 5,829 career plate appearances with class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, class-A Inland Empire 66ers, double-A San Antonio Missons, rookie-ball Waikiki Beach Boys, triple-A Tacoma, triple-A Norfolk Tides, double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, double-A Bowie BaySox, plus Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican, as well as independent teams Quebec Capitales and the Ottawa Champions.
* * *
Honourable Mention:
RHP Chris Leroux (Mississauga, Ont.) Winthrop Eagles.
Graduating team: Team Ontario.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Third Team, 2004.
College numbers (2004): Was 2-0 with a 3.70 ERA in five games, four starts, before being injured. He walked 12 and fanned 21 in 24 1/3 innings.
Big-league numbers: In parts of six seasons with Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins and New York Yankees, he pitched in 65 games going 1-3 with a 6.03 ERA, as he walked 35 and struck out 66 in 71 2/3 innings.
Factoid: Former catcher Leroux was an excellent catch and throw guy being drafted by Tampa Bay in the ninth round in 2002. Three years later, he was selected by the Marlins in the seventh round as a pitcher. As a sophomore at Winthrop, he visited the mound with a struggling catcher Joe Hudak, who looked at Leroux and said, “Take the stuff off, you’re next.”
RHP Scott Richmond (North Vancouver, BC) Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Graduating team: Vancouver Pharoahs, Douglas Royals, Moose Jaw Miller Express.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Third Team, 2005.
College numbers (2005): Was 3-6 with a 3.00 ERA in 25 games -- making three starts -- walking 27 and fanning 98 in 99 innings.
Big-league numbers: Was 9-14 in parts of four seasons with the Blue Jays as he had a 5.27 ERA in 36 games, with 29 starts. He walked 61 and struck out 139 in 169 innings.
Factoid: Richmond was either a late bloomer or completely missed by scouts, or both. Pitching for the independent Edmonton Cracker Cats in the Northern League in 2005-07, he had Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) playing behind him at second. When Clapp joined the Jays he told that powers that be Richmond belonged in the organization.
INF Hyung Cho (Scarborough, Ont.) Houston Cougars.
Graduating team: Team Ontario.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2003, Third Team, 2002.
College numbers (2002-03): In 129 games over two seasons, he compiled a .317 average with 24 doubles, one triple, 20 RBIs with a .700 OPS in 2002 and a .997 mark in 2023.
Minor-league numbers: Playing 91 games in the Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates systems, he batted .237 with 12 doubles, a homer and 12 RBIs to go with his .579 OPS.
Factoid: When Andy Lawrence ran the Mini-Domes near Pearson airport teams would play during winter months under the dome and on the turf. Of course, nine players are needed to play the game -- except not at the Mini-Domes. One such day with a team of eight, Cho went 5-for-5 (all line drives) in a victory. The losing coach asked his team “How many of you guys have lost to a team with eight players?” One player said, “Hold on a second ... let me think about it.” The coach said, “There isn’t a game if the other team has eight players.”
C Chris Robinson (Dorchester, Ont.) Ilinois Illini.
Graduating team: London Badgers.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team 2004, First Team 2005.
College numbers (2004-05): In 101 games over his two seasons, he hit .356 with 17 doubles, three triples, 17 homers and 75 RBIs with a .983 OPS.
Big-league numbers: Played eight games in one season with the San Diego Padres with a .167 batting average, one homer, three RBIs and a .583 OPS.
Factoids: One of nine Chris (or Christain) Robinsons listed on The Baseball Cube. When Robinson homered off Arizona Diamondbacks Eury De La Rosa -- his first hit in the majors after more than 625 in the minors — broadcaster Dick Enberg, a Ford C. Frick winner, was so emotional and happy for Robinson his voice cracked. Part of three consecutive Canuck catchers at Illinois along with Lars Davis (Grand Prairie, Alta.) and Aaron Johnson (Sussex Corner, NB).
INF Danny Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) Virginia Caviliers.
Graduating team: Ontario Blue Jays.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, 2015, Second Team 2014 and 2016.
College numbers (2014-16): In three seasons for the Cavs, he played 194 games, batting .302 with 34 doubles, two triples, 10 homers, 90 RBIs and a .804 OPS.
Factoid: Pinera started every game his freshman season with the Cavs, who went to the College World Series in Omaha. In 2009 he was the only player in Ontario to win both the bantam nationals in Vaughan and the OBA bantam title. He also won a 2011 World Junior silver medal.
OF Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.) Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Graduating team: Ontario Blue Jays.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: Second Team, 2015 and Third Team, 2016.
College numbers (2015-16): In 104 games over two years, he hit .322 with 11 doubles, four triples, two homers, 33 RBIs with an .815 OPS.
Big-league numbers: Played four games with the Detroit Tigers and was hitless.
Factoid: In 2021, Robson was promoted from triple-A Toledo to the Detroit Tigers, who were in Baltimore. The next day the Tigers were at home against Cleveland and starter Zach Plesac. Robson was in the starting lineup and played left field. Unable to cross the border via either the Ambassador Bridge or the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, Robson’s parents rented a helicopter to make the trip and see the game.
Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) Wright State Raiders.
Graduating team: Toronto Mets.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First Team, Player of the Year, 2016.
College numbers (2016): In 48 games with the Raiders, he batted .383 with 14 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs, 59 RBIs and a 1.181 OPS.
Big-league numbers: Appeared in 18 games hitting .204 with two doubles, two RBIs and a .561 OPS.
Factoid: His father, Hot Rod Black, was there to see his son’s first game, making the flight from Mexico to American Family Field in Wisconsin. Black pinch ran for DH Gary Sanchez, who injured himself beating out a double play ball in the first. He led off the fourth facing Tampa Bay’s Tyler Alexander with a double to left. And in the fifth, Brewers TV was interviewing Hot Rod just as Tyler lined a single. Hot Rod turned into 10% Jerry Howarth and 90% Proud Papa. Twas a great TV moment as the Brewers won 8-2.
INF Emilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) Kentucky Wildcats.
Graduating team: Académie Baseball Canada.
Canadian Baseball Network Team: First, 2024, Third Team, 2023.
College numbers (2023-24): In his sophomore and junior years, he combined to hit .311 with 36 doubles, two triple, 11 homers, 109 RBIs and a, .897 OPS.
Minor-league numbers: In 21 games of pro ball with class-A Charleston RiverDogs, he hit .299 with six doubles, a triple, 14 RBIs and an .805 OPS.
Factoid: In 21 seasons as a head coach and assistant at Kentucky and Mississippi State coach Nick Mingione routinely calls Pitre “perhaps the best all-around player” he’s coached “in all his years in college ball.”