July 17, 2024

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

USC infielder Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek was selected in the 20th round by the Toronto Blue Jays in the draft Tuesday and the club will need to come up with at least a half a million bucks to sign him.

The son of former Montreal Expos INF Mark Grudzielanek was hampered by injuries and surgeries in 2024 and his stock in the draft wasn't high but he will wait and see what the Blue Jays offer him.

"They have to come with $500,000 or he goes back to USC,'' his mother Danielle Martin told me in an interview. "We purposely created a high bottom line so he can go back to USC and have a healthy year. He produces above average when he's healthy. He's a good hitter and so talented in the field. Scouts love him. 

"Because he doesn't have a great body of work, his monetary value is low. No issue with that but he's feeling like he wants to go back to USC one more year.'' 

If Toronto's offer isn't sufficient, Bryce will go back and spend another season under USC head coach Andy Stankiewicz, a former Expos player and a teammate of Mark Grudzielanek in the 1990s.

Bryce told his mother that if he doesn't sign with Toronto his goal is "first round'' in 2025.

"He's been getting attention since high school,'' Ms. Martin said in an interview. "If not for injuries and surgeries, this was his big day. Setbacks can be blessings. He's also on the academic dean's list. I'm so proud of him.

"He's 200 pounds, he's been running track and he's fast. He's working hard but he's still healing from a broken thumb and wrist surgery. He broke his wrist in March. Broke his thumb June 4. Poor guy. He's in a good head space and open to whatever happens.''

Mark Grudzielanek spent three-and-a-half seasons with the Expos from 1995 to 1998.

Danny Gallagher’s new Expos book Explosion is available at Indigo Pointe Claire, Indigo Bay and Bloor in Toronto, Book City Yonge and St. Clair in Toronto and on many websites.