Elliott: Nwogu signing makes five Canucks, plus five free agents

Ottawa-born No. 42 Jordan Nwogu of the Michigan Wolerines became the fifth Canuck to sign joining the Chicago Cubs.

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

For Canadian players, the 2020 draft was supposed to be like a foul ball off a shin, a fastball on a finger in a failed bunt attempt or a ball in the dirt bouncing up and hitting underneath the catcher’s mask.

After averaging 24 or more drafted the past eight years when the draft consisted of 40 rounds, in 2020 it would only be five rounds-- either because of COVID-19 virus which led to locked stadia or owners simply wanting to keep salaries down.

What bounty would 2020 bring? Two Canadians? Three? The answer depended upon which scouting director spoke. And there was also the question “Yeah, but how many will sign?” More and more high schoolers are attending powerhouse schools while asking for too much money -- according to some scouts.

In June five players were selected and all have signed now that Ottawa-born Jordan Nwogu of the Michigan Wolverines agreed to terms with the Chicago Cubs.

So the rundown consists of

FieldHouse Pirates OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) was selected in the second round by the San Diego Padres.

The top selected Canuck _ OF Owen Caissie, a second rounder, 45th overall, one spot ahead of Etobicoke’s Joey Votto in 2002. Caissie, who played for coach Lee Delfino’s FieldHouse Pirates, agreed to a $1,200,004 signing bonus with the San Diego Padres.

SS Trei Cruz, the Toronto-born son of OF Jose Cruz was drafted and signed by the Detroit Tigers.

Next was T12 alumnus and son of former Toronto Blue Jays OF Jose Cruz, INF Trei Cruz, chosen in the third round (73rd overall), accepted a $900,000 bonus to leave the Rice Owls and join the Detroit Tigers system.

Ontario Blue Jays OF David Calabrese (Maple, Ont.) was drafted and signed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Nine picks later, still in the third round, it was OF David Calabrese (Maple, Ont.), who signed for $744,200 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It was the first time a Canadian had ever been given a six-figure bonus by the Angels.

Six selections later it was Nwogu, another third rounder, who went to the Chicago Cubs for $678,600.

Muenster Red Sox grad RHP Logan Hofmann (Muenster, Sask.) was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth round.

In the fifth and final round the Pittsburgh Pirates chose RHP Logan Hofmann (Muenster, Sask.) who left Northwestern State for a $125,000 bonus.

Next in the free-agent portion ($20,000 max) five Canadians were signed for total of $100,000:

-RHP Carter Loewen (Abbotsford, BC) left the University of Hawaii Rainbows to sign with the Padres

-RHP Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) of Liberty joined the Philadelphia Phillies

-RHP Nick Trogrlic-Iverson (Oakville, Ont.) of Gonzaga Bulldogs signed with the St. Louis Cardinals

-RHP Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) from Hawaii joined the Cleveland Indians

-INF Willy Diaz (Edmonton, Alta.) of the Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs was inked by the Minnesota Twins.

All five will have a chance in pro ball when the minors get going again next season.

So, for a bad year, 10 Canadians entered pro ball and will be given $3,747,804. The first five drafted will all be on our top money list of six-figure deals when it comes out soon.

Next year there is talk of the draft bumping to 20 rounds ... which is not unlimited as when the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros who once picked into the 70s, nor is it 50 rounds and neither is it 40 rounds. But better than five.

In 2019, 1,217 players were drafted.

And this June only 160, five from Canada.