Elliott 2022’s most influential top 110 Canadians: Thomson, Anthopoulos, Romano, Rogers — Final update
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
We knew we were late this season with our top 100 most influential Canadians in baseball.
We thought we were weeks and weeks late.
Then, we looked at last year’s which came out on Jan. 29 and we didn’t figure we were that late. We were close to hitting the publish button -- but that was the day the Canadian Hall of Fame in St. Marys was announcing its class of 2023.
And Feb. 2 was ruled out since it was my fourth birthday after Angela Berger, Savannah Blakely, coach Lou Pote and fireman Geoff Brown brought me back to life twice in Okotoks.
But now we’re ready ... for the 16th annual top 100 most influential Canadians in baseball from, Nos. 1-to-110.
1. Rob Thomson, Phillies manager (48).
In June of 2019, the honoured guests came from near and far. Gord Ash, the former Blue Jays general manager, made the two-hour drive from Toronto to St. Marys, Ont.
Former all-star Jason Bay, made the five-hour flight from Seattle to Toronto and on to the Canadian Hall of Fame stage. Ryan Dempster made the 90-minute flight from Chicago, while his family made the five-hour flight from Vancouver to Toronto.
And Rob Thomson, the fourth inductee? He made the 26-minute drive from Sebringville, Ont. to St. Marys.
Thomson was home. Finally ... years after he was supposed to be home. Read full story here ….
Former Blue Jays GM and current Atlanta Braves boss Alex Anthopoulos
2. Alex Anthopoulos, president and GM, Braves (1)
Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) did a great job pivoting from Freddie Freeman’s departure as a free agent to the Dodgers heading into 2022. Braves fans think it would’ve been better to re-sign Freeman, but budgets are budgets. Anthopoulos was like Quick Draw McGraw or the fastest gun in the south: dealing for Oakland’s Matt Olson before another team could -- Olson was the only suitable replacement at first -- and most importantly locked up Olson to an eight-year $168 million extension within 24 hours. Like all the extensions Anthopoulos has handed out, it’s potentially club friendly to extremely club friendly. Yes, the Braves won the division, but the extensions are why gets an “AA” for this year’s work. Read more here
Blue Jays’ closer Jordan Romano, right, and C Danny Jansen celebrate defeating the Kansas City Royals. Photo: Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press.
3. Jordan Romano Blue Jays (14).
Best Blue Jays reliever in franchise history? Is it Tom Henke, a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, with 311 career saves and a World Series ring (1992)? Or is it Duane Ward, also inducted into the Canadian ball hall with 121 career saves and five consecutive seasons of 100-plus innings and two WS rings (1992-93)? Argue away. Most consistent? It is former Ontario Blue Jay Romano (Markham, Ont.), who set a franchise record converting 31 consecutive save chances (from May 11, 2021 to April 22, 2022). He smashed the previous team record of 25 held by Henke (Casey Janssen was next with 24, followed by Roberto Osuna, 22 and Billy Koch and Ken Giles, 21 each).
During the 2022 season, Romano had 36 saves, third most in the AL, and tied for sixth in team history. His successful run of consecutive saves marked the third-longest streak all-time by a Canadian, behind Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) 84 and John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) 49. When the Jays beat the Red Sox on Oct. 2, the win went to Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.) who retired all six men he faced and Romano tossed a hitless ninth inning for his 36th save. The Canadian win-save combo was a first for the Jays, matching Okotoks Dawgs Hall of Famer Jim Henderson (Calgary, Alta.) and Axford with the Brewers.
Romano was named AL reliever of the month in April (1.59 ERA, 10 saves) and July (0.84, seven saves). And oh yes, he earned the Tip O’Neill Award from St. Marys as Canada’s best player in 2022. He was on the mound when the Mariners scored their final two runs to eliminate the Jays. You expected him to get six outs? He did twice in his 63-outing season in 2022: Aug. 7 (one earned run) and Aug. 25 (zero runs). But in neither instance did he enter the game with two runners on and the tying run on deck. The Jays asked too much of Romano since their earlier relievers did not compete/deliver/get outs -- take your choice. That’s the problem with hooking starters early, you need more relievers to have perfect days.
On the all-time Canadian saves list, Romano jumped from a tie for 10th place with Reggie Cleveland (Swift Current, Sask.) to seventh behind Gagne 187, Axford 144, John Hiller (Toronto, Ont.) 125, Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) 87, Claude Raymond (St-Jean, Que.) 83 and Ron Taylor (Toronto, Ont.) 72. In this year’s World Baseball Classic, Romano was scheduled to pitch for Italy -- as he did the previous WBC -- rather than Canada. But he has now changed his mind and will spend March in Dunedin.He will earn $4.54 million in 2023.
4. Edward Rogers (3).
It used to be easy to discuss Ted’s son Edward. Just list how little dough he had spent on the Blue Jays. No more. It is apparent he cares more about the club than anyone else at Rogers Communications -- save Scott Ferguson, Mike Wilner and Jerry Howarth. Whoops!!! They have all moved on to different pastures. Rogers, for example, has committed $300 million to renovations to the Rogers Centre. Edward’s men, Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins, signed George Springer to a six-year, $150 million deal in 2021. The following year, they added free agent RHP Kevin Gausman on a five-year, $110 million contract and traded for 3B Matt Chapman and then signed him to a two-year, $25 million deal. This season the Jays signed RHP Chris Bassitt to a three-year, $63 million contract and CF Kevin Kiermaier to a one-year, $9 million deal.
The current value of the Blue Jays is $1.780 billion. The Jays were worth $870 million in 2012, according to Forbes, so that is an increase of 104.5%. In 2015, when Edward hired Shapiro the Jays were 16th with a team payroll of $116,415,800 and were worth $980 million behind the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Giants, Cubs, Angels, Rangers, Cardinals, Orioles, Nationals and Mariners. Now Shapiro is saying that the luxury tax threshold of $233 million for a payroll is not something the Jays will shy away from.
It’s not Edward’s fault that the Jays blew an 8-1 lead to the Mariners in the wild-card series. He didn’t hook RHP Kevin Gausman for lefty Tim Mayza to face Carlos Santana (career .226 hitter against righthanders, lifetime .276 hitter facing lefties) and he didn’t insert Raimel Tapia in left who misplayed two balls or was it three, Edward didn’t ask Jordan Romano to get six outs and then there was the pop up to shallow centre which scored three runs. I’ve asked over a dozen scouts whose fault was it Bo Bichette’s or Springer’s? Or was it simply a pop up into no man’s land. It’s an split: 1/3 said Bichette should have caught the ball, but plays out of control and was in Springer’s lane. And 1/3 of the evaluators said Springer was too deep and Jackie Bradley catches the ball in his back pocket. And 1/3 said it was uncatchable. Edward was not to blame.
Agent Joel Wolfe, a Canadian citizen whose parents are from Montreal speaks with the dandelions of North America journalism.
5. Joel Wolfe, agent, Wasserman Group (6).
Wolfe negotiated the richest deal ever for a relief pitcher — a five-year, $102 million contract -- for Edwin Diaz with the New York Mets. We’re not sure if Wolfe has booked Australian musician Timmy Trumpet and the Dutch DJ duo Blasterjaxx, to play each time Diaz walks through the bullpen door headed for the mound at Citi Field. Wolfe also did the contract for a seven-year, $131-million extension for Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios. Berrios will earned $15 million in 2023, $17 million in 2024, then $18 million in 2025 and 2026, according to Spotrac. He has an opt-out clause after 2026. If he stays, he can earn $24 million the next two seasons.
The rest of the Wolfe Men include: Cards 3B Nolan Arenado, of the Cardinals who had another 30-homer, 100-RBI season as he won his 10th Gold Glove and sixth Platinum Glove in the third of his eight-year, $260 million deal, Yanks’ Giancarlo Stanton (year seven of a 13-year, $325 million deal), Padres’ RHP Yu Darvish (third year of a six-year, $126 million package), INF DJ LeMahieu (year three of a six-year $90 million deal), Giants SS Brandon Crawford on year II of a $32 million extension, RP Kenley Jansen (a two-year $32 million deal), Seiya Suzuki a five-year, $85 million contract with the Cubs and Yoshi Tstutsugo, who inked a one-year, $4 million deal with the Pirates. Wolfe’s parents are from Montreal and he is in year three of having his Canadian passport.
Hall of Framer Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.), left, stands beside his likeness outside Wrigley Field.
6. Fergie Jenkins, Cubs Hall of Famer (7).
Jenkins has pitched in a lot of parks across North America ... but never in Hollywood. The national treasure went big time on Dec. 8, 2022 as the Marquee Sports Network won an Emmy award for Glory and Grief: The Ferguson Jenkins Story. The show won for Chicago/Midwest regional outstanding sports documentary. It may have been Chicago, but we’re sure the West Coast monitors award winners. The documentary covered Jenkins’ on-field successes, as well as his hardships and how they shaped his outlook on life and relationships with family and friends. Former teammates Billy Williams and Randy Hundley, as well as his son, Raymond, and daughters Delores, Kelly and Kimberly also had co-starring roles.
Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.), who celebrated his 80th birthday on Dec. 13, will have not one -- but TWO -- statues erected in 2022-23. The Cubs unveiled his statue at Wrigley Field on May 20, alongside statues of Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Ron Santo and Williams outside the yard on the third base side on Gallagher Way. It’s about where the donut shop/car wash used to be for readers over 50. And ... the Cubs will send an exact bronze replica to be displayed at the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre as a temporary home next spring. If two statues wasn’t a sign of a very, very good year, how about the city of Chatham? It named one of its snowplows after “Flurrie Jenkins,” after Canada’s first inductee into Cooperstown. Documentaries, statues or snowplows? You name it -- they may have Fergie’s name on it.
Broadcaster Daniel Shulman (Thornhill, Ont.) of Sportsnet, the man behind the mike.
7. Dan Shulman Sportsnet (6).
Blue Jays fans who wanted “More Shulman, More Shulman!” -- well maybe you couldn’t hear the chants, but we did read the emails and Twitter -- will get their way when the 2023 season rolls around. Shulman worked his final game for ESPN Radio after the Houston Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 to wrap up the 2022 World Series. He did 12 World Series events and was with the network for 24 years. Some memorable Shulman calls over the years.
He’ll still do some hoops for ESPN, but now his main job is Blue Jays on Sportsnet.
Shulman (Thornhill, Ont.) won best Canadian sports play-by-play announcer for his work on broadcasts. He was up against our pal Hot Rod Black (CFL on TSN), our pal Chris Cuthbert (NHL on Sportsnet), former Carleton quarterback Mark Lee (Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, CBC) and Rob Snoek (Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, CBC).
Sudbury, Ont. born Farhan Zaidi runs the San Francisco Giants
8. Farhan Zaidi, GM Giants (8).
We have read about teams “winning the winter” and going nowhere. This is the first time we remember a team “losing the winter” but where will they go? The Giants entered the 2022-23 off season coming off an 81-win season (down from 107 in 2021). They had ample roster flexibility, financial resources and told Bay Area fans they would spend big time to catch their rivals: the hated Dodgers and Padres. San Fran swung and missed at free-agents Aaron Judge (Yankees) and Carlos Correa (Twins). Fans were upset with Zaidi and ownership after so many misses, especially after Correa agreed to 13-year, $350M deal only to have Giants back off because of an issue with his physical. The Mets later had the same questions about the plate in his leg from a minor-league injury. Zaidi told reporters that ownership and management were on the same page in questioning Correa’s health. We asked an agent who he thought looked the worst in the Correa mess? Ownership? The GM? The agent? His answer was “whomever called the press conference.” Fans anticipate another rough season.
The Giants did sign several free agents but mostly mid-tier players -- OFs Mitch Haniger (a three-year, $43.5 million deal) and Michael Conforto (two-year $36 million), starters Sean Manaea (two-year $25 million), Ross Stripling (two-year $25 million) and reliever Taylor Rogers (twin brother of Giants reliever Tyler Rogers). They also gave a qualifying offer to Joc Pederson ($19.65 million), who accepted it. San Fran also acquired reliever Luke Jackson from the Braves and signed him (two-year $11.5 million). Conforto missed all of the 2022 recovering from a shoulder injury, while Jackson did not pitch due to Tommy John surgery. Without major additions to drive ticket sales, attendance at Oracle Park could drop again. It is down 900,000 since 2019.
For Giants fans, it has been one disappointment after another: Barry Bonds was not elected to Cooperstown, they had their hopes up for Judge and former GM Brian Sabean left the Giants for the Yankees saying he wished “he was more involved with Giants.” Zaidi didn’t make it a point to listen to the man with three World Series rings.
Since 1B Freddie Freeman’s parents are Canadian he has elected to play for Canada for a second-World Baseball Classic.
9. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (10).
Name your park. Truist Park in Atlanta. Dodger Stadium in LA. It didn’t matter one bit to Freeman. In his first year on the West Coast, Freeman batted .325 leading the NL with 47 doubles, 117 runs scored, 199 hits and an on-base mark of .407. Freeman had 21 homers, drove in 100 runs and his OPS was .918 for 159 games. In 2021, for the World Series-winning Braves, he led with 120 runs scored. The first baseman had 25 doubles, 31 homers, 83 RBIs and an OPS of .896 in 159 games.
Again Freeman will play for Canada in the WBC as he did once before to honour his late mother, who lived in Windsor before moving to California. Two WBC events before the last one he wanted to play but there was not any room at the inn. Why? Not a question of the Braves saying no, but former MVPs Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) and Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC), shared first and DH. Now, Morneau has retired and Votto had season-ending rotator cuff surgery in August of 2022.
Greg Hamilton, Peterborough-born, living in Orleans, Ont., won Baseball America’s Tony Gwynn award.
10. Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada (15).
Hamilton did not have the most wins ever for the Junior National Team (four), but when it came to awards, something he pays about as much attention to as a foul ball into the other dugout, he was a big winner. Cooperstown Hall of Famer Cal Ripken has won the Tony Gwynn Award from the highly-respected Baseball America. So has former manager Felipe Alou, coaches Augie Garrido and Jerry Weinstein, plus scouts Tom Kotchman and Mike Brito, as well as executive Keith Lieppman. Now add Hamilton’s name to that impressive list in recognition of lifetime achievements and contributions to the game.
All Hamilton did in 2022 was put together the preliminary roster for the 18U World Cup Qualifier and World Cup camps, as well as the trip to the Dominican. And he’s working on rosters for 2023 World Baseball Classic (subject to change due to front offices), the Pan Am Games qualifier, potentially the Pan Ams and Premier 12. Canada fell two spots in the world rankings to No. 14, as Panama and Puerto Rico passed them.
On fall Saturdays we hear about about the Nick Saban Coaching Tree. And on Sundays the Bill Belichick Coaching Tree. Don’t look know but Hamilton has his own tree of former players and coaches employed by big-league clubs as coaches, managers of scouts: Stubby Clapp, (Windsor, Ont.), Cardinals, Michael Saunders (Victoria, BC), Braves, Chris Reitsma (Calgary, Alta.), Scott Thorman (Cambridge, Ont.) and Adam Stern (London, Ont.) Royals, Taylor Green (Comox, BC) and Peter Orr (Newmarket, Ont.), Brewers, Jimmy Van Ostrand (Vancouver, BC) and Rene Tosoni (Port Coquitlam, BC), Blue Jays, Shawn Bowman (New Westminster, BC), Pirates, Chris Kemlo (Oshawa, Ont.), Padres, Chris Mears (Victoria, BC), Red Sox and Denis Boucher (Laval, Que.), Yankees. Mike Griffin (Nanaimo, BC) runs the successful high school PRO5 Academy in North Carolina.
Sportsnet’s man with the insight Joe Siddall (Windsor, Ont.)
11. Joe Siddall, Sportsnet (27).
Siddall does not wear a Blue Jays uniform and cap into the studio. On the other hand, he does not simply blurt out a statement to gain headlines. In August, on a pre-game show, he explained how Alexandro Kirk was better at receiving the ball -- and getting his pitchers strikes -- than Danny Jansen. Had you asked me I would have said Jansen was better. But Siddall shows Jansen moves too often -- however subtle -- costing pitchers borderline strikes.
At the trade deadline, Siddall (Windsor, Ont.) said he was not thrilled with what the Jays did…-- and how they should have done more, since they had already worked their bullpen hard, plus they had another two months plus maybe October. “I wanted another high-end reliever,” Siddall said, “but the Jays acted like a team trying to get to the playoffs, rather than a team trying to make a deep run into October.”
He could tell in real time that the Twins had a read on Jays RHP Kevin Gausman who was potentially tipping pitches early in the year. Siddall won a Canadian Screen award. He was victorious in the best sports analyst category for his work on Blue Jays Central. Vying for the honour against him were Kevin Bieska (Hockey Night in Canada), Craig Simpson (NHL on Sportsnet), Meghan McPeak (Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, CBC) and Michael Smith (Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, CBC).
Former Jay GM and Canadian citizen, Hall of Famer Pat Gillick
12. Pat Gillick Phillies co-owner, Hall of Famer (13).
Talk about projection. At the 1982 winter meetings in Hawaii, Yankees GM Bill Bergesch sent OF Dave Collins, RHP Mike Morgan, a minor leaguer and cash to the Jays for Dale Murray and minor league INF Tom Dodd. New York Daily News scribe Billy Madden asked Gillick if he could talk to him about the Murray trade, the veteran reliever that the Yankees had added? Said Gillick: “Sure, but someday we hope it is known as the Fred McGriff trade.” McGriff, the minor leaguer in the deal, was elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in December. He will be inducted in July.
Gillick, a minority owner of the Phillies was at Citizens Bank One park for the middle three games of the World Series and then Game 6 at Minute Maid when the Houston Astros clinched the Series. The Phillies were evaluated by Forbes magazine in March of 2022 as being worth $2.3 billion, eighth best in the majors, up one spot from 2021, and increase of 35.3% with $323 million revenue. As a point of reference, the club was worth $893 million in 2012.
Hall of Famer Larry Walker (maple Ridge, BC) throws a strike.
13. Larry Walker Hall of Famer (2).
Walker had a quiet year compared to his induction in September of 2021. Walker used to turn down endorsements while playing for the Expos (“I get paid enough to play ball,” he used to say). He signed a two-year deal with Tri-Star for four public signings. And signed trading cards for Topps and Panini.
Canada’s best position player to date did entertain the Junior National Team, coach Greg Hamilton and his staff when they visited Los Cabos, Mex. for the WBSC Americas U18 World Cup qualifier. Walker took the team on his 90-foot boat for a cruise. Once anchored in bay, they all jumped off third level into the Pacific Ocean. The Hall of Famer even jumped once too. He scored high marks save for the Russian judge. Walker will coach with Canada’s World Baseball Classic team in Arizona.
Montreal-born Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays 1B.
14. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (4).
Guerrero’s 2022 season was not as productive as 2021 when he earned the Tip O’Neill Award as the best player born in Canada in that calendar year. He went from 29 doubles, 48 homers, 111 RBIs and a 1.002 OPS to 35 doubles, 32 homers, 97 RBIs and an .818 OPS. Only his doubles total showed an increase. Guerrero is 10th overall in homers by Canadian-born players with 104.
In 2022, Guerrero ranked tied for third in the AL in total bases (306) with Bo Bichette, was tied for fifth in RBIs, sixth best in hits (175), tied for seventh in homers, shared eighth place in extra-base hits (67) and was 10th in slugging (.480). Guerrero recorded 265 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) over the course of the season, nine more than José Abreu. There was that problem with ‘load management’ a couple of years ago, but he has played 381 games since 2020 — second most behind SS Dansby Swanson. In 2022, he had a 22-game hit streak, as well as a 15 gamer and 14 gamer, joining Trea Turner as the only players with three or more streaks of 14 games. Guerrero also won the Rawlings Gold Glove, although we liked Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo and Mariners’ Ty France better. More than once have we heard scouts say he strides too early. He’ll earn Guerrero $14.5 million in 2023.
Okotoks Dawgs managing director John Ircandia (Calgary, Alta.)
15. John Ircandia, Okotoks Dawgs (16).
The Okotoks Dawgs and the Western Canadian Baseball League were fully operational in 2022. Ircandia’s No. 1 passion, along with his four grandkids, his college team finished with the third highest average attendance of 169 summer teams in North America, according to Ballpark Digest. Seaman Stadium, a $22-million facility, had an average crowd of 4,216 for 27 regular home dates (113,825). Only the Madison Mallards, No. 1 (5,550), of the Northwoods League and the Trenton Thunder (5,182) of the Major League Draft loop drew higher averages. Dawgs grads in the pro ranks include: Jimmy Henderson (Calgary, Alta.) pitching coach with the Milwaukee Brewers, OF Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) who started the season with the Brewers, was dealt to the Giants in August and in November was traded to the Rays -- Alejo Lopez, former Dawgs Academy infielder, who played 59 games with the Reds, hitting .262 and Andrew Kittredge, 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 20 innings with the Rays.
Former Dawgs Jacob Melton and Gavin Logan of Oregon State were selected in 2022 MLB draft. Melton went in the second round to the Astros and Logan (Oyen, Alta.) was chosen in the ninth round by the Diamondbacks. Dawgs players were rewarded scholarships NCAA Div. 1 schools Oregon State, Oregon, Washington, Tennessee, Washington State, Gonzaga and Utah.
In June, the Dawgs welcomed their one millionth fan to Seaman Stadium and at the annual Canadian Breast Cancer fundraiser game in July, the Dawgs raised over $42,000 auctioning off player jerseys to bring the total for funds raised to over $500,000. The all-star game attracted an over capacity crowd of 6,000 and was one of the best two all-star games -- which ran smoothly thanks to Tyler Milton (Okotoks, Alta.) -- I have ever seen. And in December, I thought of the Dawgs after former Sports Illustrated scribe Grant Wahl died in Quatar covering soccer in a stadium without a defibrillator. It brought back memories of Angela Burger, Savannah Blakley and Lou Pote saving my life four years ago Feb. 2.
16. The Brothers Naylor (55).
Joshua Douglas James Naylor returned from an ankle injury to hit .256 with 28 doubles, 20 homers, 79 RBIs and a .771 OPS in 115 games for the Guardians. Naylor can get excited after a homer. On May 9, the Guardians were trailing 8-2 in the ninth. With two out, Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) hit Liam Hendricks’s first pitch for a game-tying grand slam. Then, he hit a three-run homer to right-centre off Ryan Burr. Earlier, he had doubled in a run to finish the night 3-for-5 with eight RBIs ... all after the eighth.
Josh Naylor after his home run — about to apply a head butt to manager Terry Francona
He also hit a 10th-inning walk-off homer facing Minnesota Twins reliever Jharel Cotton on June 29. Minnesota took a 6-2 lead into the bottom half. Amed Rosario doubled home a run and Steven Kwan scored on a passed ball, bringing up Naylor, who hit a 2-2 pitch to left for a two-run homer. Crossing the plate, Josh was mobbed. Heading for the dugout he gave manager Terry Francona a celebratory head butt a la Steve Austin. Francona was ready and wore a batting helmet. Naylor ranks 18th all-time among Canadians and fourth among active players with 36 homers.
Josh took Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole deep in Game 4 of the ALDS -- as he did in the 2020 wild-card. Rounding the bases, he tried to motivate his team. He has hits in seven of his eight career postseason games, batting .324 (11-for-34) with four doubles, two homers and six RBIs. MLB Network host Greg Amsinger said during the 2022 post-season “one item on my bucket list is to interview Josh Naylor ... he’s the most fascinating player in the game.” Josh tied Jhonny Peralta, Asdrubal Cabrera, Ryan Garko, Kenny Lofton and Carlos Baerga for most games with a hit in a Clevelander’s first eight post-season games. Naylor is the sixth Canadian-born player with multiple home runs in their postseason career, joining Larry Walker (seven), Russell Martin (six), Jason Bay (three), George Selkirk (two) and Justin Morneau (two). Newly acquired switch hitter Josh Bell and Josh will split time between first and DH. Naylor is a career .302 hitter in the ninth inning or later. He will earn $3.35 million this year.
C Bo Naylor following in his brother’s footsteps to the Guardians.
Brother Bo -- given name: Noah Gibson James Washington -- was on the postseason roster as the Guardians swept the Tampa Bay Rays and then lost to the Yankees. He did not partake in any on-field action. Bo was promoted as an October call up and made his debut Oct. 1 pinch hitting for Luke Maile in the sixth, striking out against Carlos Hernandez. He did gun down his attempted base stealer Kyle Isbel. Bo hit .253 with 26 doubles, 21 homers and 68 RBIs in 66 games at double-A Akron and 52 at triple-A Columbus. He had an OPS of .889 going 20-for-24 stealing bases. Bo was a first round pick by Cleveland (29th overall) like brother Josh, who went to the Miami Marlins in 2015 (12th overall). Baseball America ranks Bo as the No. 3 prospect in the Guardians top 10 list. The Naylor brothers were the first set of brothers to hit back-to-back -- Oct. 2 against the Royals -- for Cleveland since Joe Sewell (seventh) and Luke Sewell (eighth) on Aug. 27, 1930 against the White Sox. Despite the arrival of free agent Mike Zunino, Bo will be given the chance to make the team.
Bo earned Triple A International League post season all star, Columbus and was named to the Gaurdians minor league orgainization all star team.
Myles Naylor won the home run derby at the Canadian Futures Game in Ottawa.
The youngest brother -- Myles Jaxon -- is like brothers Josh and Bo. He, too, won the Russell Martin MVP award for the Junior National team. Myles played with the Mississauga North Tigers under his father Chris Naylor and the Ontario Blue Jays under Sean Travers, like his big brothers. Myles heads into the 2023 draft as the top Canadian ranked high schooler, much like Josh and Bo. Myles is listed as the 85th best prospect on Baseball America’s top 100 combined list of high schoolers and collegians. He is 99th on the Perfect Game Scouting list top 100 high school list. He won the home run derby -- for fun with plenty of time on the clock -- at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton stadium in Ottawa. And believe me, he throws hard.
Jays executive Marnie Starkman, executive vice-president of business operations, with her father Howard, a member of the Hall of Fame in St. Marys.
17. Marnie Starkman, Blue Jays (19).
Finally, it was supposed to be a back to normal season for the Blue Jays. Fans in the seats. No more three-way, home-game split with TD park in Dunedin, Sahlen Field in Buffalo and Rogers Centre. The 2022 season was going to be 81 games at home, 81 on the road. However, Jays management had to pick up and move one event. The Canadian Futures Showcase, which brings together the best high schoolers from coast to coast, was scheduled to take place in Toronto. It was all set, that is until Rogers cable had a major outage forcing the cancellation of a concert by The Weeknd. When the concert was re-booked, the only solution was moving the 156 players, 23 coaches, 12 umpires and roughly 10 front office personal extravaganza to Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Stadium in Ottawa. Starkman was there to oversee that. And it came off without a hitch excepting one game where an Ottawa east end power outage moved a night game to the next morn.
Marnie (Mississauga, Ont.) has helped lead the $300 million renovation -- along with her co-lead on the business side, Anuk Karunaratne -- at Rogers Centre. Nearly 17,000, 500 Level seats will be replaced prior to the home opener in 2023 and the outfield will take on a new look. Marnie is what people call an “impact leader who knows the game, is passionate about the brand and the team’s place in the Canadian sports landscape.” Marnie’s leadership was especially evident in overcoming operational challenges faced during COVID. Marnie is the highest ranking Canadian in the decision making process. Her success during the COVID seasons propelled her into the stratosphere of working closely with president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins which allows her to shape company policy as well as decisions inside and outside of sports.
18. Tony Staffieri, CEO Rogers Communications (9)
When the Jays spend money, Edward Rogers gives the thumbs up, but Staffieri has to examine the budget. He approves additions to the payroll and the spending president Mark Shapiro asks for, whether it is for RHP Chris Bassitt, who will be 34 on opening day, or renovating the Rogers Centre, which will be 33 years old in June.
Staffieri started with PricewaterhouseCoopers and was a senior partner when he joined Celestica International in 1998, moved to Bell Canada in 2006 and is on the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment board. Remember it has only been four years since he dropped a bombshell in front of a world-wide audience in an on-stage interview at the UBS Global Media and Communications conference in New York. Staffieri said Rogers was interested in selling the Blue Jays to free up capital for its main communications businesses.
Former Jays president Paul Beeston
19. Paul Beeston, president emeritus, Blue Jays (26).
Beeston was a member of the 16-member Hall of Fame Board-appointed electorate which elected Fred McGriff unanimously from the Contemporary Era player ballot in December in advance of the winter meetings in San Diego. Hall of Famers on the committee were Greg Maddux, Jack Morris, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith, Frank Thomas and Alan Trammell; as well as major league executives Theo Epstein, Derrick Hall, Arte Moreno, Kim Ng, Dave St. Peter and Kenny Williams; and veteran media members/historians Steve Hirdt, LaVelle Neal (Minneapolis) and Susan Slusser (San Francisco).
Eight members of the committee voted for Don Mattingly, four shy of the required 12. Curt Schilling, who wanted to be adjudged by his peers, had seven votes and two-time NL MVP Dale Murphy had six. Nobody else had more than three, including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro and Albert Belle. Bonds and Clemens had hoped for a second chance after spending 10 years on the BBWAA ballot. Bonds was named on 66% on the ballot -- short of the required 75% -- while Clemens had 65.2%.
RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) was the Guardians stud hoss.
20. Cal Quantrill, Guardians, (17).
The former Terrier, who pitched for his father, Paul Quantrill and Scott VandeValk, had never lost at Progressive Field during the regular season with a 14-0 mark and a 2.88 ERA. It marks the longest win streak in stadium history, ahead of Charles Nagy (13 outings in 1995-96). On the season he was 15-5 with a 3.38 ERA and he fanned 128 in 186 1/3 innings. He was eighth in innings behind Framber Valdez, the AL workhorse. Quantrill and New York Yankee Vic Raschi (1947-55) are the only players in big-league history to win 14 games without a loss at a single venue. Quantrill finished the 2022 regular season on a career-high 11-game win streak. That’s the longest win streak by a Guardians hurler since Cliff Lee did the same in 2008.
He became the third Cleveland pitcher to go 11-0 or better in a 17-start span: Gaylord Perry, 1974, 15-0; Johnny Allen, 1937, 14-0 and Quantrill, 11-0. Quantrill did not miss an outing, leading the Guardians with 32 starts. He set single-season career highs in innings and strikeouts. In two starts against the Yankees in the best-of-five ALDS he was 0-2 allowing eight hits and seven runs -- six earned. He avoided salary arbitration by signing a one-year deal for $5.55 million in 2023.
Giants co-owner Jeff Mallett (Victoria, BC)
21. Jeff Mallett, co-owner, Giants (20).
Mallett is a principal owner and executive committee member of the San Francisco Giants, after joining the organization in 2002. Besides owning part of the club, he is part of ownership and management of AT&T Park, 30% ownership of the Bay Area’s regional sports cable network Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. In April 2009, the Giants purchased ownership stake in the class-A San Jose Giants. Forbes valued the Giants at $3.5 billion in 2021, fifth in the industry (behind the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and Cubs). That’s down one spot from 2020 despite an increase of 20.7% and $384 million in revenue.
Mallett (Victoria, BC) also co-owns the Vancouver Whitecaps with former hoops NBA MVP Steve Nash, Greg Kerfoot and Steve Luczo. Mallett and Nash invested in the 12-team Women’s Pro Soccer league. He joined Yahoo! in 1995, as its No. 2 executive and 11th employee as president and COO of the startup. Mallett helped the company go public in 1996, which grew to 4,000 employees in 27 countries, with $1 billion in revenue. The dapper one is also an investor of Indochino.
Reds 1B Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.)
22. Joey Votto, Reds (6).
Use any barometer you want. Home runs? It was his third lowest total in 16 seasons. RBIs? It was his fourth lowest. Walks, a category he led the NL in five seasons? His third worst. On-base percentage, which he led in seven seasons out of nine? His worst. Slugging which he was top dog once? His worst. OPS, another column he was No. 1 in for two seasons? His worst. Batting average? His worst. Votto had season-ending rotator cuff surgery Aug. 19 after going hitless in 22 at-bats. So we’re guessing he was not injured the night before. Yet, with seven on-base titles -- the name of the game is to get on base right? - he is still on the Cooperstown highway.
The 2022 season came after one of the best in his career — 36 homers, 99 RBIs, .938 OPS. Last year Votto played 91 games finishing with a .205 average, 11 home runs, 41 RBIs and a .689 OPS. After surgery, he tweeted: “I didn’t know I was hurt. Thought I just stunk.” He was the Reds’ Roberto Clemente nominee, largely for making contributions to the P&G Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy indoor facility (completed in 2014) where he has worked with the Reds RBI and baseball and softball teams. The indoor training center bears his name and Votto visits the facility unannounced. He donated his $7,500 prize for being a Clemente award recipient to the Freestore Foodbank. Without cameras, he visits patients at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, is involved with Make-A-Wish and donates a portion of his salary yearly to the Reds Community Fund.
On Aug. 14, Votto played in his 1,989th career game, passing Hall of Famer Larry Walker for most big-league games for a Canadian. Below Votto and Walker on that list are Matt Stairs (1,895), Russell Martin (1,693) and Justin Morneau (1,545). Votto is nine games short of 2,000 and is fifth all-time in Reds’ franchise history in games played behind Pete Rose (2,722), Dave Concepcion (2,488), Barry Larkin (2,180) and Johnny Bench (2,158). Votto leads all active Canucks with 342 homers, 41 behind Larry Walker.
Toronto resident Jeffrey Royer, general partner of the Diamondbacks
23. Jeffrey Royer, general partner, Diamondbacks (22).
Come July 14-16, it might be a battle of the Canadian cable giants at the Rogers Centre. Or by then Shaw and Rogers may have a deal. The Blue Jays, owned by Rogers Communications, will host the Arizona Diamondbacks, co-owned by Royer, an independent director of Shaw Communications Inc. The two companies have been trying to pull off a $20 billion merger. If the deal is not done by July and the first two games are split -- how about a winner take all for the Sunday game of the series?
Royer committed $160 million US in 2004 over a 10-years for 40% of the Diamondbacks. Ken Kendrick, Dale Jensen, Michael Chipman and Royer became the stakeholders in 2016. The Diamondbacks were valued at $1.38 billion, an increase of 15%, according to Forbes, 21st in the majors. Forbes showed an $267 million operating revenue.
Jays assistant GM Andrew Tinnish (Ottawa, Ont.)
24. Andrew Tinnish, assistant GM, Blue Jays (25).
When he graduated Brock University after spending five years with the Badgers his desire was to be a big-league scout. He has sailed past that outpost becoming a scouting director of the Jays and now assistant GM. These days, Tinnish is not only responsible for overseeing international scouting but he also helps oversee and execute all player personnel decisions plus he is one of the primary coordinators of the arbitration process. He has grown into a diverse executive and is one of the more respected and textured front office executives in the game.
Tinnish signed the likes of free agents C Gabriel Moreno from Venezuela for $25,000 in 2017; C Alejandro Kirk from Mexico for $7,500 (another $22,500 going to his team, Toros de Tijuana), Orelvis Martinez out of the Dominican Republic for $3.51 million in 2018, the No. 5 listed Jays prospect and RHP Yosver Zulueta, of Cuba, who signed for $1 million, and is ranked Baseball America’s No. 2 prospect with the Jays. In January, Tinnish and the Blue Jays signed OF Enmanuel Bonilla, of the Dominican Republic giving him a $4.1 million bonus.
As scouting director, Tinnish drafted and signed the likes Deck McGuire, Aaron Sanchez, Noah Syndergaard, Asher Wojciechowski, Justin Nicolino, Sam Dyson, Sean Nolin, Myles Jaye, Joe Musgrove, Daniel Norris, Anthony DeSclafani, Taylor Cole, Marcus Stroman, Chase De Jong and Ryan Borucki. They have combined to go 334-358 with 62 saves.
MLB Network’s host Adnan Virk (Morven, Ont.)
25. Adnan Virk, MLB Network (32).
The Ben Zobrist of Secaucus. N.J. can be found at almost any hour on MLB Network. You don’t always know when. The best host on the Network -- we don’t consider Mark DeRosa a host but an analyst -- MLB Tonight, Hot Stove, High Heat or Intentional Talk ... not all on the same day you understand. He makes as many references to Canada or the Blue Jays as anyone this side of University of Ottawa’s late Alex Trebek. Or as many lines as uttered by Bobby DeNiro or Al Pacino. Early in the season we were turned off after discovering the ‘B” in MLB Network stood for betting, but “Just when I thought I was out ... they pull me back in!”
Virk has Kingston-area roots, growing up in the town of Morven where his parents ran a variety store on Highway No. 2. He attended Ernestown Secondary School, home of the mighty, mighty Eagles. After attending Ryerson, he worked for 12 years in Toronto before heading to Bristol, Conn. and ESPN. If he gets paid by the word, he would be a very rich man with his rapid-fire delivery. I have never seen him with an analyst/guest where the conversation is awkward or uncomfortable. Am waiting for: “You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Who the hell else are you talkin’ to ... I’m the only one here.”
Rockies manager Buddy Black, WBC eligible.
26. Buddy Black, manager, Colorado Rockies (28).
With the World Baseball Classic set for March in Phoenix, Canada may need all hands on deck. And what better man to advise manager Ernie Whitt than Harry Ralston Black? Black was born in San Mateo, Calif., but his father Harry was born in the Edmonton area and his mom in Melville, Sask., the birthplace of Terry Puhl. WBC rules allow countries to go back one generation. In 1938, UCLA started a hockey program and scouting the Olds Elks recruiters found Black, who later skated for the Los Angeles Monarchs and the Hollywood Wolves until 1948.
Black just finished his sixth season managing the Rockies. He does not have a Larry Walker or a C.J. Cron. The Rockies were 68-94, finishing seventh in the NL in hitting (.254 team average, .713 OPS and last in pitching with a team ERA of 5.06). Black pitched in three games for the 1990 Jays, picking up two of his 121 career wins. He managed the San Diego Padres nine seasons, including one of his faves C Chris Robinson (Dorchester, Ont.) in 2013. He picked up his 1,000th win in April in a 9-4 decision over the Dodgers when Jhoulys Chacin gained the win in relief and Julio Urias took the loss. Elias Diaz and Cron went deep for Colorado. In 15 years, Black’s teams have compiled a 1,066-1,166 (.478 winning percentage) record.
Former North Delta Blue Jays 1B Justin Morneau joined the Twins booth with broadcaster Dick Bremer. whp has worked every Twins game since 1982.
27. Justin Morneau, Twins broadcaster (24).
Morneau was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in St. Marys in 2022 (though he was elected in 2020) and the Twins Hall of Fame in 2021. A Twins website asked the question: should Morneau be elected to Cooperstown? The no votes won by a wide margin. Morneau (New Westminster, BC) worked 62 of the Minnesota Twins televised games in 2022 for Bally Sports North. He is also a special assistant to ball operations with the Twins.
Morneau, the 2006 American League MVP, ranks second on the Twins’ all-time list in games played at first (1,124), third in home runs (221), sixth in RBIs (860) and eighth in hits (1,318) and walks (501). He may have won another MVP in 2010. He was batting .345, with a league-leading .437 on-base mark and .617 slugging percentage when he sustained a concussion sliding into second and being hit by John McDonald’s knee in what looked like a routine play on July 7. He missed the remainder of the season with effects of post-concussion syndrome.
Padres scout Chris Kemlo (Oshawa, Ont.) Jim Ridley award winner in 2022.
28. Chris Kemlo, scout, Padres (31).
The only Canuck Kemlo drafted in 2022 was C Hugh Pinkney (Etobicoke, Ont.), who didn’t sign and instead went to Rutgers University. So, how did it work out that Kemlo was named the Jim Ridley Award winner, as Canadian Baseball Network Scout of the Year for 2022? Well, a couple of Kemlo drafts enjoyed strong 2022 seasons, including former FieldHouse Pirates OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.), currently ranked the 10th best prospect in the Cubs’ organization, and ex-UBC Thunderbird RHP Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.), who is listed as No. 15 on the Padres’ MLB Pipeline’s top 30.
And when not working for the Padres or PBR, he coaches in the Toronto Mets organization. Some of his former Mets players also enjoyed standout campaigns, including INF Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.), who was the top Canuck drafted in 2021 as a first rounder by the Milwaukee Brewers (33rd overall) and OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.), chosen in the fourth round from the Cal State Northridge Matadors by the Oakland A’s in 2021. Clarke hit inside-the-park homers in back-to-back games at class-A Lansing and has also been invited to the A’s major league camp this spring.
Mets director of major league operations Elizabeth Benn (Toronto, Ont.)
29. Elizabeth Benn, Mets (37).
In 1995, High Park (Toronto) went to the Little League World Series in Williamsport. I sat down with the coaches and the average length of time among the four coaches with the team was over 30 years. I asked who was the High Park player that went the furthest. The answer was RHP Jon Lockwood, who pitched four seasons in the minors, reaching class-A High Desert. If we gathered those coaches knowing what we know now, Benn would be the answer.
As director of major league operations for the mighty Mets, Benn has risen the highest of any High Park Brave, being a large part of the 101-win Mets in 2022. Benn provided support for the administration of transactions, waivers and roster management. In addition, she tracks the waiver wire, interpretation of big-league rules and the Basic Agreement. Said Mets GM Billy Eppler: ”Liz is a dedicated hard worker and has a thirst for knowledge. She is not afraid to ask a question. For me, her future in the game is just unlimited.” Said manager Buck Showalter: “Elizabeth has a real passion for her job, knows the rules and knows her way around a locker room. She is hardworking and has a backbone, too. Billy Eppler has done a good job with her. She will evolve into bigger and better things.”
Victoria Eagles grad RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) made 33 starts for the Red Sox.
30. Nick Pivetta, Red Sox (21).
Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole and Pivetta shared the lead for most starts in the AL in 2022. A workhorse for the Red Sox, he started 33 games. The starts by Pivetta (Victoria, BC) were the most since Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) had 34 with the Cubs (in 2010 and 2011). Pivetta made at least 30 starts in 2018 (32) and 2021 (30). As our stats maven Neil Munro suggests, we can say for sure a Canadian will never come close to the 50 starts by the American Association’s Baltimore Orioles’ RHP Bob Emslie (Guelph, Ont.) -- not to mention his 50 complete games in 1884 -- or the modern record set by Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) who had 42 starts in 1969.
Pivetta had a 10-12 record with a 4.56 ERA walking 73 and striking out 175 in 179 2/3 innings. Six years in, Pivetta had career bests in wins and innings. He had a 12-start stretch in the summer where he went 8-2 with a 2.18 ERA. Pivetta had a complete-game, 112-pitch, 5-1 win over the World Series champion Astros in May, allowing two hits (homer by Jose Altuve and a Michael Brantley double) fanning eight. Pivetta allowed three runs or fewer in four of his six September starts. This year he will earn $5.35 million.
All-time home run leader Barry Bonds says hello to Sambat founder Sam Holman (Ottawa, Ont.) and co-owner Arlene Anderson (Ottawa, Ont.) current majority shareholder with her husband JIm. Sambat execs made the rounds a couple of springs ago to see Miamia Marlins hitting coach Bonds.
31. Arlene Anderson, CEO Sam Bat (34).
What kind of year did Sam Bat have? Well, when Miguel Cabrera singled to right field facing Colorado Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela it was his 3,000th career hit on April 23. The four-time batting champion, two-time MVP and Triple Crown winner lined his 3,000th using a Sam Bat. The Tigers had ordered hundreds of trophy bats during spring training. It was the start of a memorable year for Sam Bat as it celebrated 25 years with its top sales year in history, leading to a growth of over 40% from before the pandemic. The increase in demand allowed the company to purchase new equipment (dust collection system) and machinery (lathes).
Sam Bat expanded into Japan and was aiming for eight players. More than 40 placed orders, which required retooling and restructuring of their factory. Retired pro Yuta Naitoh from Japan came to visit the Carleton Place factory. Yuta was very moved when he met Sam Bat founder Sam Holman and was able to hold a Barry Bonds bat. Sam Bat was at the Winter Meetings for the first time in three years and were gold sponsors at the equipment managers trade show. Big-league orders have far surpassed last year. Using Sam bats in 2022 were Joc Pederson, Kris Bryant, Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC), Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), former Markham Mariner Carson Kelly, Jared Walsh, Taylor Ward, Geraldo Perdomo, Gavin Lux, Avisail Garcia, Max Kepler, Eugenio Suarez, Cal Raleigh, Luke Voit, Aaron Hicks, Ji-Man Choi, Cesar Hernandez, Orlando Arcia, Christin Stewart, Seiya Suzuki, Jonathan Villar, Ramon Laureano, Victor Reyes, Spencer Torkelson, Austin Meadows, Jose Rojas and Mike Moustakas.
David Beeston, chief strategy officier for the Red Sox.
32. David Beeston Boston Red Sox (23).
In 2021, the Red Sox chief strategy officer and leader of Fenway Sports Group’s growth ambitions, David Beeston saw RedBird Capital Partners (LeBron James and Maverick Carter) make a $750 million investment into FSG and purchase the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. Fenway Sports owns Liverpool Football Club, 50% of NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Keslowski Racing, 80% of NESN and FSG Real Estate. The Red Sox, headed by John Henry and Tom Werner, were valued by Forbes as worth $3.9 billion, third behind the Yankees and Dodgers with a revenue of $479 million.
Right now, times are tough at Fenway Park. I recall a time in the mid-1990s getting on the old elevator after the Sox had blown a ninth inning lead. A college student held the door for a senior citizen, who shuffled on and asked matter of factly: “Well, any Sox fans jump off bridges after last night?” The student looked straight ahead at the steel door closed and said “no, but if they lose another one like that they’ll be taking numbers for the prime spots.” Such was Boston humor before the Curse was broken. Now, following Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi out the door are the likes of Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, Eric Hosmer, Jackie Bradley and can’t-miss prospect Jeter Downs. They gone. The Red Sox did re-sign their best player Rafael Devers to an 11-year $331 million deal by Sox boss Chaim Bloom. But those are not David’s problems.
Blue Jays scout Jamie Lehman (Brampton, Ont., now based in Bradenton) surveys tbe scene.
33. Jamie Lehman, regional crosschecker, Blue Jays (61).
For 13 years Lehman (Brampton, Ont.) arrived at parks early, talked to coaches, evaluated players, clocked runners in the 60, timed them running to first and filled out reports. He fought for players. Sometimes he won in the war room, yet most times -- like every other scout -- there were good ones that got away to one of the other 29 teams. It is not an easy job. He scouted Canada, was a cross checker in California and in 2022 moved from the talent-rich coast to the diamond hotbeds of Florida. And this year he popped.
From his new headquarters in Bradenton, Fla., Lehman drafted and signed the Jays first round-pick Brandon Barriera (23rd overall) from American Heritage High in Plantation, Fla. The Jays gave him a $3,597,500 signing bonus, third highest they’ve ever given a drafted player. After the Jays chose SS Josh Kasevich from Oregon in the second round, they returned to Lehman’s area with their compensation pick, drafting SS Tucker Toman of Hammond School, SC, giving him a $2 million bonus (slot money was $846,900) He’s the son of Jim Toman, who coaches Middle Tennessee State. If that is not a BIG year, how about watching his third-round choice from 2021, LHP Rickey Tiedemann from Golden West College improve? Signed for $644,800 -- Tiedemann grew into a top prospect on the Jays top 10 list, according to Baseball America. Making three stops in 2022 -- class-A Dunedin, class-A Vancouver and double-A New Hampshire -- he was 5-4 with a 2.17 ERA, striking out 117 in 78 2/3 innings in his 18 starts. And Jake Fishman, a 30th rounder in 2016 from Union College, made his debut pitching seven games with the Marlins.
Lehman was a 29th round pick from the Ontario Blue Jays in 2003, by a young scout named Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) of the Expos. Lehman pitched six years in the minors -- in the Washington Nationals, the Jays and Expos organizations. Then, Anthopoulos hired him again to scout Canada for Toronto.
Astros scout Jim Stevenson (Leaside, Ont.) picked up another World Series ring.
34. Jim Stevenson, domestic scouting supervisor, Astros (41).
When Astros closer Ryan Pressly popped up Nick Castellanos to wrap up a 4-1 win and the 2022 World Series, Stevenson (Leaside, Ont.) had his fifth ring: two World Series baubles and three AL championship rings (two with the Astros and one scouting with Cleveland in 1995). A respected scout told me in the early 1990s a Hall of Fame career was finding 10 big leaguers. Stevenson had his 15th when lefty reliever Parker Mushinski was promoted to the Astros this season. His active big leaguers include: former Cy Young Award winner LHP Dallas Keuchel (2-7, 9.00 ERA in 10 starts with the White Sox, Diamondbacks and Rangers); RHP Adrian Houser (6-10, 4.73 in 22 games -- 21 starts with the Brewers), Longueuil, Que., native Abraham Toro (.185, 13 doubles, 10 homers, 35 RBIs, .563 OPS with the Mariners in 109 games); OF Ramon Laureano (.211, 18 doubles, 13 homers, 34 RBIs and a .663 OPS in 94 games with the A’s); Jack Mayfield (.186, a double, a homer, six RBIs, .501 OPS in 23 games with the Angels), RP Ralph Garza (2-2, 3.34 ERA with the Rays) and Mushinski (2-1, 3.72 ERA, with 28 strikeouts in 29 innings appearing in seven games), He was a big deal on a Podcast with Rick Dempsey.
OF Justin Dirden, a 2020 free agent signed for $20,000 after the draft, is on the horizon. In 2022, he hit .302 with 40 doubles, five triples, 24 homers and 101 RBIs, while compiling a .942 OPS in 124 games at triple-A Sugar Land and double-A Corpus Christi. Stevenson selected four players in the draft: SS Jackson Loftin of Oral Roberts, a 13th rounder, given a $125,000 signing bonus, SS Tommy Sacco from TCU, a 14th rounder who received a $125,000 bonus, 1B Garrett McGowan from Pitt State Kansas, a 17th rounder, $20,000, C Ryan Wrobleski, Dallas Baptist, 20th rounder, $30,000 and free agent RHP Logan VanWey, from Missouri Southern.
Robert McCown, one of the wisest men on the planet.
35. Bob McCown podcaster and celebrity (30).
Robert, as some call him, is still at it, pounding out a daily Podcast with co-host John Shannon. This year’s sessions on ball included Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro, Atlanta boss Alex Anthopoulos, genial skipper and social media darling John Gibbons, broadcasters Dan Shulman, Buck Martinez and Dave Hodge, who we think secretly is a ball guy, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Dave Perkins (retired Toronto Star), Ray Ratto (San Francisco) and Bill Shaikin (Montreal, Que.) Los Angeles Times.
Once the Podcast drops, it re-airs on XM radio (Canada Talks). I must admit I don’t catch it every day. But people in my inner circle, guys like Claude Themalfachuck, tell me “Robert is better now than he was on The Fan -- without the commercials.” My No. 1 all-time fave Prime Time Sports show -- going back to guesting and mumbling during the CJCL days -- was when Robert revealed he was a distant cousin of Rawhide’s Rory Calhoun and donned a Stetson. He wore it well, better than Rory. It had zero dust from the trail drive.
Brewers scout Peter Orr (Newmarket, Ont.)
36. Peter Orr, scout Brewers (63).
It wasn’t as important as the run he scored in 2015 -- all the way from first to win gold at the Pan Am Games in Ajax -- but it was still impressive nonetheless. Orr (Newmarket, Ont.), a Brewers area scout, drafted the top Canadian in the July draft: INF Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.) in the third round. The Brewers gave the Great Lake Canadian a $597,500 bonus. As a coach of the Junior National Team, Orr had an up-close view of O’Rae in action.
As well as the Juniors, Orr coached the Toronto Mets, as a player development infield coordinator. He doubles as both an amateur and pro scout for the Brewers, spending most of his time on the pro side. The Brewers selected the top Canuck -- INF Tyler Black from Wright State -- in 2021. The Brewers have spent $5,804,200 on Canadians (who were given six-figure signing bonuses), which is fourth. The Padres are top dogs having spent $7,164,449, followed by the Pirates ($7,030,000) and the Mariners ($5,807,500).
Coach Doug Mathieson, who coaches and Langley Blaze and scouts for the Brewers.
37. Doug Mathieson, GM Langley Blaze/Brewers scout (33).
Mathieson had top-rated Canuck INF Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.) on his trip to Arizona on the Brewers/Langley Blaze pro tour in March and said O’Rae showed well in front of Brewers scouts, with anywhere from 4-to-6 at each game. Mathieson said that helped O’Rae’s status but “Pete (Orr) should have 99% of the credit.”
RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) was on the trip as well, “lit it up,” and went in the seventh round from the Toronto Mets to the New York Mets. In all, counting the American players added, Mathieson has seen 122 players drafted from their spring trip to Arizona or their fall trip to Florida rosters. The best thing players tell me about -- it doesn’t cost a cent and gets more exposure. Anywhere from 70-to-100 scouts are expected at Langley’s scout day at Central Arizona on March 17.
Major leaguers to wear the Langley unis include: Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.), Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.), Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC), Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC), Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC), Phillipe Amount (Gatineau, Que.), Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.), Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.), Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) and Scott Mathieson (Aldergrove, BC).
Drafted players include: Jeremy Pilon (Salaberry-De-Valleyfield, Que.), Eli Saul (Vancouver, BC), Adam Maier (North Vancouver, BC), Jacob Zibin (Langley, BC), Nate Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.), David McCabe (Oshawa, Ont.), Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.), Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.), Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.), Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.), Jordan Marks (Bright’s Grove, Ont.), Adam Shoemaker (Cambridge, Ont.), Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC), Conor Angel (Pointe-Claire, Que.), Micah Buckham (Abbotsford, BC), Dominic Hambley (Victoria, BC), Adam McKillican (Comox, BC), Owen Cassie (Burlington, Ont.), Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.), Nick Trogrlic-Iverson (Oakville, Ont.), Josh Burgmann (Nanaimo, BC) …
Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.), Matt Lloyd (Calgary, Alta.), Antoine Jean (Montreal, Que.), Edouard Julien (Quebec, Que.), Indigo Diaz (North Vancouver, BC), Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.), Ryan Leitch (Whitby, Ont.), Jaden Brown (Mississauga, Ont.), Tristan Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.), Mitch Robinson (Surrey, BC), Ben Onyshko (Winnipeg, Ont.), Will McAffer (Surrey, BC), Connor Sparks (Saskatoon, Sask.), David Rhodes (White Rock, BC), Ben Abram (Georgetown, Ont.), Landon Leach (Pickering, Ont.), Adam Hall (London, Ont.), Clayton Keyes (Okotoks, Alta.), Jared Young (Prince George, BC), JD Osborne (Oshawa, Ont.) …
Jason Willow (Victoria, BC), Dondrae Bremmer (Toronto, Ont.), Rhys Cratty (Surrey, BC), Andrew Yerzy (North York, Ont.), Jordon Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.), Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.), Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.), Alex Webb (Surrey, BC), Jacob Polancic (Langley, BC), Louis Phillipe Pelletier (Montreal, Que.), Matt Jones (Whitby, Ont.), Will Sierra (Montreal, Que.), Tyler Duncan (Sooke, BC), Tristan Clarke (Brampton, Ont.), Brayden Bouchey (Vancouver, BC), Carter Loewen (Abbotsford, BC), J.D. Williams (Brampton, Ont.), Darren Shred (Brampton, Ont.), Marc-Andre Berube (Trois-Pistoles, Que.), Owen Spiwak (Mississauga, Ont.) …
Devon Stewart (Maple Ridge, BC), Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.), Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.), Miles Gordon (Oakville, Ont.), Jeff Degano (Surrey, BC), Robert Byckowski (Georgetown, Ont.), Kurtis Horne (Sooke, BC), Austen Swift (Etobicoke, Ont.), Julian Service (Whitby, Ont.), Cody Chartrand (Nanaimo, BC), Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.), Gareth Morgan (North York, Ont.), Malik Collymore (Mississauga, Ont.), Travis Seabrooke (Peterborough, Ont.), Lachlan Fontaine (North Vancouver, BC), Morgan Lofstrom (Nelson, BC), Kurtis Kostuk (Abbotsford, BC), Dylan Brooks (Dorchester, Ont.), David Otterman (Coquitlam, BC), Jeff Gibbs (Toronto, Ont.) …
Shane Dawson (Drayton Valley, Alta.), Dayton Dawe (London, Ont.), Johnny Caputo (Etobicoke, Ont.), Eric Wood (Pickering, Ont.), Keaton Briscoe (North Vancouver, BC), Fernando Fernandez (Chateauguay, Que.), Logan Seifrit (Edmonton, Alta.), Damion Smith (Windsor, Ont.), Tom Robson (Richmond, BC), Dustin Houle (Penticton, BC), Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC), Vaughn Covington (Burnaby, BC), Chase Larsson (Vancouver, BC), Nic Cuckovic (Victoria, BC), Jesen Dygestile-Therrien (Montreal, Que.), Ethan Elias (Saskatoon, Sask.), Justin Atkinson (Surrey, BC), Carter Bell (Courtney, BC), Dustin Hayes (Langley, BC), Ben Dartnell (East St. Paul, Man.), Skylar Janisse (Windsor, Ont.) …
Cory Scammell (Edmonton, Alta.), Leslie Williams (Toronto, Ont.), Jalen Harris (Toronto, Ont.), Eric Brown (Thunder Bay, Ont.), Jake Eliopoulos (Newmarket, Ont.), Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.), Joel Pierce (Windsor, Ont.), Steve McKinnon (Duncan, BC), Brandon Dailey (Brantford, Ont.), Mark Hardy (Campbell River, BC), Mike Ellis (Surrey, BC), Ethan Stewart (Campbell River, BC), Bryan Arthur (Abbotsford, BC), Kelly Norris-Jones (Victoria, BC), Wes Darvill (Richmond, BC), Chad Stang (Surrey, BC), David Narodowski (Calgary, Alta.), Jon Hesketh (Surrey, BC), Terrence Dayleg (Burnaby, BC), Mike Monster (Kelowna, BC) …
Colin Kleven (Kamloops, BC), David Kington (Coquitlam, BC), Bobby Wagner (Port Coquitlam, BC), Paul Barton (Qualicum Beach, BC), Rory Young (Chase, BC), Brooklyn Foster (Langley, BC), Andrew Ruck (Whitby, Ont.), Stosh Wawrzasek (Burnaby, BC), Michael Crouse (New Westminster, BC), Mitchell Delaney (LaSalle, Ont.), Michael Gosse (Pitt Meadows, BC), Justin Betts-Robinson (Langley, BC), Kyle Lotzkar (Delta, BC), Mitch Hodge (Vancouver, BC), Evan Hildenbrandt (Surrey, BC), Colin Buckborough (Niagara Falls, Ont.), Henry Mabee (Surrey, BC), Travis Nevakshonoff (Langley, BC), Ryan Jensen (North Vancouver, BC), Cody Phipps (Round Hill, Alta.) …
Kyle Haas (Prince George, BC), Kyle Orr (New Westminster, BC), Jon Waltenbury (Bowmanville, Ont.), Shayne Willson (Surrey, BC), Tyson Gillies (Langley, BC), Taylor Green (Comox, BC), Jordan Lennerton (Langley, BC), Denver Wynn (Kamloops, BC), Paul Wourms (Kamloops, BC), Phillipe-Alexan Valiquette (Montreal, Que.), Adam Parliament (Penticton, BC), Morgan Brinson (Victoria, BC), Chris Lemay (Winnipeg, Man.), Louis Metzner (Langley, BC), Jared Johnson (Kelowna, BC), Lyall Foran (Delta, BC), Tyler Williams (Delta, BC), Evan Bailey (Kamloops, BC), Ryan Lennerton (Langley, BC), Cooper Davis (Mississauga, Ont.), Tong and O’Rae.
How would you like to be in the middle of your workday and have someone dump a bucket on your head It is part of Hazel Mae’s workday when the Blue Jays win.
38. Hazel Mae, Sportsnet (40).
There are many tough assignments for a sideline reporter after a game. Like prying more than a cliche from a player or ducking the tiresome Gatorade bucket/shaving cream pie ritual. The toughest assignment of all is the winner’s locker room celebration. Mae attempted and succeeded to gain reaction from Jays players after clinching the AL wild-card spot on Sept. 30 ... all the while gasping for breath as players soaked her with champagne. FOR 15 MINUTES! It reminded me of someone swimming across Lake Ontario with her mouth open trying to answer a question from her trainers in the boat.
During the season, Mae worked roughly 100 games and hosted Blue Jays Central 10 times. After the Jays were eliminated by the Mariners, Mae took a road trip: Oct. 10 to Nov 5, working for Sportsnet and four postseason series for TBS. During the postseason, she interviewed Phils OF Nick Castellanos who told her he has family in Oakville and manager Rob Thomson (Corunna, Ont.), as well as Astros manager Dusty Baker. Other highlights included 1-on-1s with Albert Pujols, Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) and Hall of Famer Fred McGriff.
Former Langley Blaze Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC)
39. Tyler O’Neill, St. Louis Cardinals (12).
For the second year in succession, O’Neill had five stints on the injury list. From 2018 to 2020, he was injured three times. In 2022, O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC), the former Langley Blaze had a sore shoulder in May, a hamstring injury in June, a leg injury in July, along with being sidelined with hamstring and neck ailments in September. He played in 96 games making 88 starts: 67 games in left, 20 in centre and one at DH. He hit .228 with 11 doubles, a triple, 14 homers, 58 RBIs and a .700 OPS.
At the time of his mid-September injury, he ranked seventh in scoring fly balls (seven) and tied for eighth with game-winning RBIs (12). He had 28 RBIs in 48 games before the all-star break and 30 RBIs in 46 games after. He is four RBIs from 200 in his career. He’s 14th in career homers and third among active Canadians with 69 -- 17 more than distant relative Tip O’Neill. In 2021, he hit .346 with four homers on the first pitch of at-bats. He’ll earn $4.95 million this year.
Former Exxpo broadcaster Jacques Doucet.
40. Jacques Doucet, former Expos broadcaster (57).
Doucet spent 33 years broadcasting Expos games, as the play-by-play radio voice on their French network (1972-2004). He returned to the booth in 2012 as the Blue Jays’ French-speaking TV voice. and he knew the rule whether a hitter was awarded an RBI when the runner from third scored on a wild pitch or a passed unlike a former Expo broadcaster. (There is not an RBI. Why did the runner score? Because the pitcher threw wildly or the catcher boxed one).
Doucet (Beloeil, Que.) was inducted into the Quebec Hall of Fame in May 2002, won the Jack Graney Award at St. Marys in 2004 and was elected to the Canadian Hall in 2020. Voting broadcasters have elected Spanish-language broadcasters three times since 1978: Buck Canel, who did Yankees and Mets games in 1985, Jaime Jarrín, Dodgers, 1998 and Felo Ramírez, Marlins 2001. Why not a French-language broadcaster? Doucet was a finalist in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2022.
Cards 1B coach Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) wrassles Mets 1B Pete Alonzo to the ground.
41. Stubby Clapp, coach, Cardinals (42).
If you are scoring at home, Mets 1B Pete Alonzo, also known as the Polar Bear, is a 6-foot-3, 245 pounder. Clapp is a 5-foot-8, 175-pounder. Yet, Clapp rhymes with scrap and that’s what happened on April 27 at Busch Stadium. Alonso had been hit in the head the night before by Cards’ Kodi Whitley. The next day Genesis Cabrera hit JD Davis on the foot, the 19th time the Mets had been hit by pitches in 2022. Down five in the bottom of the eighth, reliever Yoan Lopez buzzed Cards Nolan Arenado, who began chirping at Lopez and the benches emptied.
Clapp, 49, dropped a Windsor suplex on back-to-back Home Run Derby champ Alonso, 27 to the ground. Alonso said Cabrera grabbed him by the back of the collar and Clapp took him down. Alonzo told reporters post game: “I’m a big, strong guy. They don’t know my temper, they don’t know what I can do. If I wanted to put someone in the hospital, I easily could, but I was just out there trying to protect my guys.”
At age 41, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols hit 12 homers, while batting .254 with a .759 OPS for the Dodgers. At age 42 he re-joined the Cards and swatted 24 homers (703 in his career), hitting .270 with a .895 OPS. Did Clapp fix Prince Albert’s swing? You figure Clapp could wrassle a Polar Bear to the ground?
Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) is a Cubs broadcaster an executive and has a sense of humor for late night TV. Photo/ John (Nunu) Zomot,
42. Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cubs (35).
Jon Zaghloul, host of Sports Talk Chicago, asked Dempster in November if he intentionally hit Brewers Ryan Braun during the 2009 season. Dempster (Gibsons, BC), who works for the Cubs and hosts of “Off The Mound” on the Marquee Sports Network, explained how earlier in the season Braun squared to bunt in Milwaukee. A surprised Dempster threw an 83 MPH curve which nicked Braun to open the fifth. That morning Dempster had to give a transfusion to his ailing daughter in Chicago. Next time up Braun homered for a 5-2 lead and pimped it running around the bases. The Cubs lost 12-6. The next day Trevor Hoffman approached Dempster and said, “He told Braun, that’s not the way we do things.” Braun reached first the next day and told Cubs 1B Micah Hoffpauir, “Tell Dempy ‘my bad. It won’t happen again.’”
The message was received by Dempster, but there was zero 1-on-1 apology from Braun. Months later, the Brewers were at Wrigley. Braun pinch hit in the eighth trailing 1-0. Dempster hit him with a 2-1 pitch. Since it was premeditated, Dempster had told Hoffpauir to tell Braun: “Dempy says ‘My bad. Won’t happen again.’” Braun gave an “You got me look.” The Cubs won 2-0. Dempster had 87 saves and in this interview he closed with a zing: “They can go ahead and send me a five-day suspension. I’ll take the five days vacation.”
The smartest man in a lof rooms at the commissioner’s offices if Tom Tango (Montreal, Que.)
43. Tom Tango, Advanced Media, MLB (60).
Before the days of Statcast -- brought to you by Google Cloud -- the Blue Jays play of the year was a blooper A) SS Bo Bichette should have caught, B) CF George Springer should have caught or C) a ball in no man’s land that neither Hall of Famers SS Ozzie Smith or Ken Griffey, Jr. could have never caught. But with Statcast -- brought to you by Google Cloud -- the numbers created by the man who holds the title of senior data architect of new statistics. With the bases loaded, J.P. Crawford blooped a ball into shallow centre. Bichette raced out, veered to his left, went down and stayed down. A hard-charging Springer dove, veering to his left, went down and stayed down. And all three runners scored. The catch probability for Springer – which doesn’t factor in teammates converging and he had to beware of that -- was 75% for him. Springer needed to cover 82 feet and had an opportunity time of 4.9 seconds. Springer’s jump was -4.5 feet vs. the average jump. In that vacuum, that’s a three-star play. Not a five star. It was a relatively catchable ball for Springer, but that does not consider multiple teammates (2B Santiago Espinal and Bichette), running towards him as he attempted to make the catch.
Up seven runs in the sixth, Cal Raleigh singled, Jays LF Raimel Tapia had a 55% probability of making the catch. On distance, he needed of 74 feet and had an opportunity time of 4.4 seconds. Down four runs in the eighth, Eugenio Suarez led off with a double down the line. Tapia had a 30% catch probability with a distance needed to cover of 101 feet and opportunity time of 5.1 seconds. Tapia’s jump was decent (+1.0 feet). Does Jackie Bradley catch any of these? The man who goes by the nom de plume TangoTiger (Montreal, Que.) has created all these numbers.
Best numbers from the 2022 postseason Jays, courtesy of TV star Sarah Langs and Thomas Harrigan. Most barrels: Leader – Aaron Judge, 106, Jays leader: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 59; Most five-star catches: Leader: Daulton Varsho, 6, Jays: Jackie Bradley, Bradley Zimmer and Springer one each; Out Above Average leader: Jonathan Schoop, 27, Jays Santiago Espinal, 9; Highest avg. exit velocity (minimum 300 at-bats): Leader: Judge, 95.9 mph, Jays leader Guerrero 92.8 mph; Sprint speed (minimum 10 competitive runs): Leader: Corbin Carroll, 30.7 ft/sec: Jays leader Zimmer, 29.2 ft/sec.
Mr. President Shi Davidi of Sportsnet
44. Shi Davidi, Sportsnet (47).
A lot of people wear more than one hat on this list. Davidi needs a hat rack as he covers the Jays like a tarp applied when the wind is not gusting, does pre-game and post-game hits for TV, writes stories, is a journalism instructor at Centennial College and, oh yes, this year he’ll be on stage in Cooperstown as president of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He’s the fourth Canadian to hold office, including J.P. Sarault of Montreal-Matin, Ian MacDonald of the Montreal Gazette and some other old guy.
Mr. President had an outstanding piece on the Blue Jays losing Game 2 of the Wild Card series against the Mariners, starting not with the Jays’ late collapse, but the Mariners blowing an 11-2 lead to the Royals on Sept. 25. His feature on new skipper John Schneider, after Charlie Montoyo was fired, is worth reading again. He had the four prospects headed to the A’s for 3B Matt Chapman: RHP Gunnar Hoglund, SS Kevin Smith, LHP Zach Logue and LHP Kirby Snead.
Cubs free-agent sign RHP Jameson Taillon signed to pitch at Wrigley this season.
45. RHP Jameson Taillon, Yankees, Cubs (-)
Taillon was 14-4 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts for the Yanks, striking out 151 in 177 1/3 innings. As a free agent, he signed a four-year $68 million deal with the Cubs. He allowed three earned runs or fewer in 25 of his 32 starts in 2022, two runs or less in 18 of those games and one run or fewer in 10 of those starts. Born in The Woodland, Tex., he pitched for Canada in the past World Baseball Classic since his mother is from Toronto and his father from St. Andrews West, Ont.
Among pitchers who worked at least 150 innings, his 32 walks were the fourth-fewest in the AL and tied for the fifth-fewest in the majors. His 1.62 walks per nine innings ratio was the fifth-best in the AL and seventh-best in the majors. Drafted second behind Bryce Harper in 2010 (Taillon received the largest signing bonus, Harper received a major-league deal), he tied for seventh in the AL with 14 wins. He ranked third in the majors in opponents’ on-base percentage, sixth in opponents’ batting average (1.84) and eighth in opponents’ OPS (.586) with runners in scoring position (minimum 125 batters faced).
Coach Ashley Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.) had a year — winning the Lionel Ruhr award to start with and being hired by the class-A Vancouver Canadians.
46. Ashley Stephenson, coach. (-)
The list of previous winners of the Lionel Ruhr (Regina, Sask.) Baseball Canada coach of the year award reads like a who’s who of coaching in Canada. Richard Emond (Montreal, Que.), Greg Hamilton (Orleans, Ont.), Joel Landry (Montreal, Que.) and Marc Picard (Windsor, Ont./Pickering, Ont.) are two-time winners. Others include Greg Brons (Saskatoon, Sask.), Remo Cardinale (Thornhill, Ont.), Bill Green (Coquitlam, BC), John Haar (Vancouver, BC), Rick Johnston (Peterborough, Ont.), Marty Lehn (White Rock, BC), Eric MacKenzie (Bright’s Grove, Ont.), Todd Plaxton (Saskatoon, Sask.), Canadian Hall of Famer Jim Ridley (Burlington, Ont.) and Dennis Springenatic (Surrey, BC). Ashley (Mississauga, Ont.) brought the Ruhr award to a new level when honoured in 2022.
All Ashley’s season consisted of was becoming the first woman to manage a Canadian national team when she managed the Women’s Team at the Friendship Series in Thunder Bay to two wins against Team US in July, coaching the Ontario entries at the Women’s Invitational and 16U Girls Championships and in August, serving as a guest instructor of the Jays at the player development complex in Dunedin. Ashley worked Girls Camps for Baseball Ontario and became the first woman to coach at the Blue Jays Academy Canadian Futures Showcase in Ottawa. Whew.
And in January of 2023, Stephenson joined the coaching staff of the Jays’ class-A Vancouver Canadians. Joe Sclafani, director of player development said, “Ashley had been on our radar before we invited her to help out at the complex. Seeing her work with our players and alongside our staff gave us more than enough confidence in her ability to succeed as a coach.”
Once again former Blue Jays announcer Jerry Howarth (Etobicoke, Ont.) is on the phone with a contact. Photo: Jay Stenhouse Studios.
47. Jerry Howarth, broadcaster, Jays. (-)
After Tom Cheek was officially declared as a Hall of Famer and presented the Ford C. Frick award in Cooperstown, we heard a number of people approach Howarth and say, “You’re next Jerry.” Howarth would always give the same answer: “It would be a thrill and honour to just be nominated.” It took Cheek a few years before Saint Shirley spoke, on behalf of her late husband, in 2013 at Doubleday Field. Hopefully, it won’t take this long for Howarth, who was one of 10 finalists to make the 2023 Frick ballot. It was his first time. The Etobicoke resident became a Canadian citizen in April and by our count, worked more than 5,187 regular-season games since he began filling in for Hall of Famer Early Wynn in 1981. Cheek worked 4,306 consecutive games.
Howarth, who retired before the 2018 season after 37 years in the booth, made a point of showing up for the first game of every series to talk with visiting broadcasters, players and fans. Then, manager John Gibbons joked to his pal Howarth one night, “Did someone tell you that we missed you ... we don’t.” And laughter filled the room. Howarth, who learned a lot from Okotoks Dawgs broadcaster Jon Hodgson, shot back a zinger, which I do not remember. But it was a tit-for-tat exchange the kind given to people who are accepted in the clubhouse. And Howarth had always been accepted.
Cubs broadcaster Pat Hughes was the Frick winner after calling big-league games for 40 seasons, starting with the Twins in 1983, the Brewers games from 1984-95 and the Cubs’ radio voice for the last 27 seasons. A winner of Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year honours three times and Illinois Sportscaster of the Year Award nine times, Hughes defeated Dave Campbell (ESPN, Cubs, Rockies), Joe Castiglione (Red Sox), Gary Cohen (Mets), Tom Hamilton (Guardians), Ernie Johnson (Braves), Duane Kuiper (Giants), Steve Stone (Cubs, White Sox), Doucet and Howarth.
C Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) officially retired in 2022.
48. Russell Martin, Canada’s greatest catcher. (-)
Martin had plenty of individual moments at the Rogers Centre. Like in first year in 2014, when he hit a three-run homer and put down all the right fingers as Marcus Stroman, Brett Cecil and Roberto Osuna combined on a six-hit shutout. Or knocking in five twice in 2016: with three hits including a double and a homer in a 17-1 victory over Cleveland and three hits with a double and a homer in a 15-8 win over the Twins. Or in 2017 when he went 3-for-4 with a double and homer in a 17-2 romp against Cincinnati and in 2018 when he smashed a two-run shot in a 5-1 win against Baltimore.
Martin officially retired May 28 and the Jays feted him, celebrating his 14-year career having him throw out the ceremonial first pitch to Gabriel Moreno, who wears No. 55 as a tribute to Martin on Canada Day. He received a standing ovation. Martin’s favourite memory at Rogers Centre was Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS. His throw back to the mound hit Shin-Soo Choo’s extended bat, which gave the Rangers the lead. Jose Bautista settled matters with a three-run homer. And he did flip the bat in case you have forgotten. Baseball Canada renamed its Junior National Team MVP award as the Russell Martin award. Martin will also serve as a coach for Canada at this year’s World Baseball Classic.
Adam Stern, left, and Chris Robinson of the Great Lake Canadians as work progresses on their new Royal Field in Dorchester.
49. Adam Stern and Chris Robinson, Great Lake Canadians (29).
In 2021, the Great Lake Canadians had four of their pitchers or alumni selected in the MLB draft: RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.) was a second rounder to the Mets, receiving a $910,000 signing bonus, alum RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) fifth, Mississippi State, Royals, $497,500, alum RHP Jordan Marks (Bright’s Grove, Ont.) eighth, South Carolina-Upstate, Tigers, $150,000 and LHP Adam Shoemaker (Cambridge, Ont.) 11th, Braves. In all, the foursome earned $2,037,500. It’s tough to match that player production, but the Great Lake Canadians also had the first overall Canadian in the 2022 draft in INF Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.), who went in the third round to the Brewers and was given a $597,500 bonus.
A big event happened off the field when Royal Field (a tribute to their sponsor Royal Fence) was opened Oct. 14, 2022. It is now the only artificial turf regulation field in Canada besides the Rogers Centre. The park has the same dimensions as the old Rogers Centre and used Rogers Centre turf. The new yard was built across from the current field where Great Lake Canadians have played since 2013. It has 400 seats, 100 of which will be chair backs, dugouts that are 50 feet in length, an extensive batter’s eye, a turfed batting tunnel and two turfed bullpens.
El Presidente and CEO of Baseball Canada Jason Dickson (Chatham, NB)
50. Jason Dickson, President & CEO, Baseball Canada (58).
Dickson named Ashley Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.) the first ever women’s head coach for Baseball Canada before Ashley bolted to the Blue Jays. Dickson brought the WBSC qualifier (in 2023) and Women’s World Cup (2024) to Thunder Bay Ont. Plus, the Women’s game has been added to the Canada Games. He also established a partnership with the Jays for funding a National grassroots campaign for the ever-popular Rally Cap for youngsters.
His final act as president was a constitutional change to allow board composition to change and work toward disaffection, as well as serving as the first President and CEO for Baseball Canada.
The World rankings are based on the previous four years of competitions from 12U international event to pro events. Canada only participates in 18U and pro. It isn’t the fairest, yet it is necessary to qualify in the Premier12 every four years. How Canada fared the last four years — 2019: Pan Am qualifier fourth, Pan Am Games second, Premier 12 10th; 2020: zero events and 2021: Olympic qualifier fourth and the U18 World Cup finished 10th in 2022. Canada is now ranked 14th in the world. They will try to make up ground in the World ball Classic come March.
Former major-leaguer Chris Reitsma (right) shakes hands with Webber Wildcats founder Dr. Neil Webber.
51. Chris Reitsma, scout, coach Webber Wildcats, Royals (36).
Reitsma (Calgary, Alta.) has cut back on scouting all the top pitchers who were draft eligible, prior to the Royals draft. He is still scouting part-time and he is still coaching. Now, he’s with the Dr. Webber’s Wildcats, a facility outside of Calgary. He instructs pitchers and runs teams in some of the best facilities in Canada, now in Year II. Webber has hired Cole Armstrong (Surrey, BC) to head up the hitting.
Reitsma has been working with RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) a fifth round pick in the 2021 draft from Mississippi State. And expects Cerantola to pop this year. The Wildcats coach pitched seven seasons in the majors with the Braves, Reds and Mariners.
Giants area scout Raimondo Callari was involved in San Francisco selecting its No. 1 pick.
52. Raimondo Callari, area scout, San Franciso Giants.
The veteran scout with three World Series rings was heavily involved drafting and signing first rounder (30th overall) LHP-1B Reggie Crawford from the Connecticut Huskies. The Giants gave him a signing bonus of $ 2,297,500. In 2022, Crawford hit .158 with two homers and nine RBIs with a .396 OPS in six games for Giants Black in the Arizona Complex League. In two seasons with the UConn, he hit .309 with 18 doubles, 14 homers, 78 RBIs and a .908 OPS in 64 games.
George Springer attended UConn. In pre-draft meetings, a North East scout pushed to draft Springer. A Jays cross checker said, “Ah, he’ll be like every other player from the North East, he’ll play against kids from California and Florida kids melt like snow.” Only the late Bobby Prentice has earned as many World Series rings -- among scouts -- as Callari (1968, Tigers, 1992-93, Blue Jays). He runs a solid program with the Montreal ball Academy as well as Academie Baseball Canada.
Blake Corosky began his Toronto player agency with Football Hall of Famer Neil Lumsden.
53. Blake Corosky and Raza Malik, True Gravity (56).
The No. 1 goal of an agent is to represent his client fairly and No. 1A is to set a record for a signing bonus. The result of a record deal? More clients. True Gravity received a $1.2 million signing bonus for their client RHP Jacob Zibin (Langley, BC), the former Langley Blaze. Zibin’s bonus was a record for the 10th round in the history of the draft.
RHP Trey Dombroski, a fourth-round pick from Monmouth, went to the Astros and was given a $443,900 bonus. In all, they had seven players drafted and current pros made strides toward the big leagues. For example, Red Sox Kole Cottam (Knoxville, Tenn./his parents are from Burlington, Ont.) hit .256 with 20 doubles, two triples, two homers, 28 RBIs and a .701 OPS at double-A Portland and triple-A Worcester. Meanwhile, Orioles OF Robert Neustrom was promoted to triple-A Norfolk and Padres OF Korry Howell was elevated to double-A San Antonio.
Matt Stairs (Fredericton, NB) picked up plenty of hitting tips in 19 years, along with coaching the Phillies and the Padres …. he’s passing them on to younger players.
54. Matt Stairs, hitting savant.
We saw Matt Stairs (Fredericton, NB) display a strong right arm twice this season. He threw a New Brunswick strike at the Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star Game at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks and during post-season play, he fired another at Citizen Bank Park before Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres, returning to where he was a heroic slugging pinch hitter. The Dodgers and Phillies were tied in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS when Stairs tagged Jonathan Broxton fast into the cheap seats at Dodger Stadium. Stairs is third among Canadian hitters with 265 career homers.
Stairs’ arm was not only on display at Okotoks this year, but also inside the Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Stadium in Ottawa at the Canadian Futures Showcase (formerly Tournament 12) as he threw batting practice. A number of times in Alberta and in Ottawa we heard him slide up to a hitter, who had just finished and say calmly “Hey son, next round, why not try this ...” Never did he say “DON’T DO IT THAT WAY! YOU’RE WRONG! DO IT THIS WAY!” He is very involved -- as technical director with Fredericton Minor Baseball. His picture in a Phillies uniform is on the Fredericton Royals main website page. And he must be doing a great job -- the Royals beat my grandson’s team this summer.
Philles cross checker Alex Agostino (Ste-Bruno, Que.)
55. Alex Agostino, crosschecker, Phillies (48).
Only two cross checkers live in Canada: Bill Byckowski (Erin, Ont.) and Agostino (St-Bruno, Que.), who grew up as a passionate Expos fan. It was a fun year for the Phillies reaching the World Series. The Phillies were able to progress through the playoffs thanks to two players he drafted: CF Brandon Marsh was acquired from the Angels for C Logan O’Hoppe, a 23rd rounder in 2021 and RP David Robertson was obtained from the Cubs for RHP for Ben Brown, a 6-foot-6, 33rd rounder from East Setauket, NY.
O’Hoppe finished the year in the majors with the Angels and is ranked the No. 1 prospect while Brown was protected on the Cubs’ 40-man roster as a top 10 prospect. OF Carlos De La Cruz, a free agent draft signed out of Yonkers, NY a few years ago, had a breakout year, hitting .271 with 22 doubles, 17 homers, 47 RBIs and an OPS of .815 at double-A Reading and class-A Jersey Shore. Agostino, given a two-year contract, had three players from his draft area in the 13th, 14th and 115th rounds: OF Cade Fergus from George Washington University, SS Bryan Rincon, a high schooler from Pittsburgh and Maryland OF Troy Schreffler. At the conclusion of the draft, Jeff Zona, Jr. and Agostino signed free agent Ryan Leitch (Whitby, Ont.) from the Marshall Thundering Herd for $125,000. Western scout Les McTavish (Settler, Alta.) signed free-agent INF Ty Penner (Lethbridge, Alta.) of University of British Columbia. Agostino sign RHP Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) is expected for pitch for Canada in the WBC.
Baseball America founder Allan Simpson.
56. Allan Simpson, Canadian Hall of Fame selection committee (45).
Simpson was twice one of the three scribes nominated for the BBWAA Career Excellence award in 2020-21, which promoted a letter of support from MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis. Simpson has already won the Jack Graney Award presented by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Simpson took over for The Hon. Mr. Justice at Superior Court of Justice (Ontario) Randall Echlin as head of the Canadian hall’s selection process.
He founded the highly-respected Baseball America. In my day, The Sporting News billed itself as the Baseball Bible but Simpson’s magazine overtook that publication. He switched from BA to Perfect Game Scouting Service and wrote a book on first-round draft choices. His next project is to catalogue each and every Canadian who played a game in the minors -- not an easy task.
Reds cross checker Bill Byckowski (Erin, Ont.) gets an up-close look.
57. Bill Byckowski (Erin, Ont.) Reds (69)
When MLB.Pipeline ranked big-league farms systems by polling executives, Cincinnati fared well. They were No. 4 out of 30 teams when the question ‘Which team uses the draft best?’ finishing behind the Dodgers, Orioles and Cardinals. And when executives were asked ‘Which team has the most underrated farm system?’ they were fourth behind the Cardinals, Astros and Cubs. Byckowski was a large part of the evaluation process and its high rating as he cross checks from the Carolinas north, as well as Michigan. Ohio, Indiana and Canada. Outside of the Jays, the Reds had the most scouts at the Canadian Futures Showcase: John Ceprini, Brandon Marr and Byckowski.
Byckowski tracked Reds’ first rounder (18th overall) 3B Cam Collier, of Chipola, who was given a $3.66 million signing bonus. The others included 3B Sal Stewart, first rounder (32nd), Florida HS $2.37 million, second round pick C Logan Tanner, Mississippi State, $1.37 million; third rounder LHP Bryce Hubbart, Florida State, $649,900, fourth rounder RHP Kenya Huggins, Chipola, $488,300, 10th rounder RHP Brody Jessee, Gonzaga, $151,500 and 11th rounder RHP Ben Brutti, Rhode Island HS, $405,000.
William & Mary head coach Mike McRae (Niagara Falls, Ont.)
58. Mike McRae, head coach, William & Mary University (51).
The only Canadian head coach in the NCAA Division I ranks arrived at Williamsburg, Va. after fall ball from Virginia Commonwealth where he was the pitching coach. McRae’s men went 26-23, which represented only the second season with a winning record for the program since 2017. They entered the Colonial Conference tournament as the No. 4 seed, took on fifth-seeded Northeastern, a pre-season fave, in a neutral site game hosted by the Elon Phoenix.
The Green and Gold finished the regular season by sweeping Elon to close out an eight-game winning streak. The streak, the Tribe’s longest of the season, featured a pair of sweeps over Elon and Delaware and single game wins over Hofstra and Old Dominion. He has a 496–445 record in 16 seasons, including time at Niagara and Canisius (winning the Metro Atlantic Conference in 2013 and 2015). Toronto Mets OF Charlie Iriotakis (Toronto, Ont.) is the lone Canuck on his team. Former Mets OF-INF Calvin Warrilow (Toronto, Ont.) is committed for next year.
Agent for those in the know Maury Gostfand (Chomedey, Que.)
59. Maury Gostfrand, agent (53).
We watch them, we read them and we listen to them. They are influencers. And they are all well represented by Gostfrand, agent to many industry insiders. Gostfrand worked for Impact Sports in Boca Raton, Fla., New York-based RLR Associates, founded Vision Sports Group and since 2018 has been a partner and executive vice president of The Montag Group. In January, 2018, Montag which was purchased by Wasserman in 2021. Gostfrand’s stable is led by the league leader in information Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and FOX Sports, as well as Tom Verducci, of Sports Illustrated, MLB Network and FOX Sports, a man considered the best scribe. Verducci wrote McGriff’s wonderful essay when Scott Rolen was elected to Cooperstown.
Like Rosenthal and Verducci, Gostfrand’s clients serve more than one master: Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) is a Chicago Cubs analyst, Kevin Millar of MLB Network’s Intentional Talk, Tim Kurkjian of ESPN, John Kruk, a Phillies analyst, Hall of Famer Joe Torre, Jim Bowden of The Athletic, CBS Sports and SiriusXM, Dave O’Brien, Red Sox play by play broadcaster, Eduardo Perez of ESPN Sunday Night ball, Jesse Agler, Padres radio play by play man and Adam Amin of FOX Sports. Gostfrand (Chomedey, Que.) grew up cheering for the Expos and was a Tim Raines fan.
Sportsnet’s Jamie Campbell
60. Jamie Campbell, Sportsnet (62).
Usually the most memorable moments of the season for broadcaster Campbell involve a thrilling walk-off win with fans screaming in the background or Campbell (Oakville, Ont.) tossing a broom with fans screaming in the background. The top on-air moments for Campbell this year did not involve broom throwing. In fact, they were not very joyous at all.
He took a minute during the home opener to reveal his leukemia diagnosis which must have been awfully difficult. It was even more difficult to explain why broadcaster Buck Martinez was stepping away a few weeks later. Campbell said he was more emotional about that than sharing news about his own battle, likely because his treatment had just begun. “It was all still so fresh, and Joe Siddall was sitting beside me and he lost his son Kevin seven years ago,” said Campbell.
Campbell was the winner of the Sports Media Canada President’s Award in part for his efforts during COVID. Campbell praised Sulemaan Ahmed and Khadija Cajee, volunteers, who co-founded Conquer COVID-19 delivering Personal Protective Equipment masks in 2020. Campbell dropped off PPEs from Timmins and Windsor with stops in between on his 9,000 km trip. He bought a second cell, gave out the new number to fans who wanted to “talk ” during the pandemic. He estimates he spoke to 1,300 fans.
61. Gord Ash, Taylor Green, Doug Melvin, Jeff Simpson, Brewers (63).
Brandon Woodruff had four games of 10 strikeouts or more in 2022 giving him 190 Ks in 153 1/3 innings. But after being 17 games over .500 in the first half, they were 36-33 in the second half and struck out attempting to reach the playoffs, finishing seven games behind the Cardinals.
Ash (Toronto, Ont.), vice president of Brewers baseball projects, makes sure the Brewers have a smooth-running complex at Santo Domingo Este in the Dominican Republic. Canucks occupy two spots on the Brewers’ top 30 list according to MLB.Pipeline with -- which would please Ash -- No. 6 Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.), a former Toronto Met and No. 23 Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.), a Great Lake Canadian grad. It’s like the old days when Dick (The Legend) Groch was signing Canucks.
Gord Ash (Toronto, Ont.) and Taylor Green (Comox, BC) attending the draft at MLB Network.
Green (Comox, BC), whose official title is assistant director of scouting/international player development, is the chief scout on the international side. The Brewers’ Latin prospects include: No. 1 (on MLB Pipeline) OF Jackson Chourio, No. 7 C Jeferson Quero, No. 12 OF Luis Lara, No. 14 INF Felix Valerio, No. 15 OF Hendry Mendez, No. 16 SS Daniel Guilarte, No. 18 OF Hedbert Perez (son of former Jay Robert Perez), No. 19 RHP Carlos Rodriguez, No. 21 Eduardo Garcia, No. 25 INF Johan Barrios, No. 26 Abner Uribe, No. 28 OF Carlos Rodriguez and No. 30 RHP Victor Castaneda. Venezuelan SS Barrios ($1.385 million), Dominican SS Jhonny Severino ($1.23 million) and Venezuelan OF Lara ($1.1 million) all received six-figure bonuses a year ago January.
Doug Melvin (Chatham, Ont.) former Brewers GM.
Melvin (Chatham, Ont.), special assistant, president, ball operations, was formerly GM of the Rangers (1994–2001), making the post-season three times and then ran the Brewers (2002-2015), making the playoffs four times.
Brewers scout Jeff Simpson
Simpson, an area scout in Nashville, Tenn., is the son of Baseball America founder Allan Simpson (Kelowna, BC). Simpson drafted 3B Alex Binelas from Louisville in the third round in 2021. The Brewers acquired slugging RF Hunter Renfroe in exchange for CF Jackie Bradley and prospects, INFs David Hamilton and Binelas. In 2022, Binelas hit .206 with 20 doubles, two triples, 25 homers, 78 RBIs and a .745 OPS at double-A Portland and class-A Greenville. In 2022, Simpson drafted Louisville 3B Ben Metzinger and gave him a $97,500 bonus. Last year, he batted .235 with two doubles, three homers, 10 RBIs and an .696 OPS in three stops at class-A Wisconsin, Brewers Blue and Brewers Gold in the Arizona Complex loop.
Former first rounder Scott Thorman (Cambridge, Ont.) gained a promotion with the Royals.
62. Scott Thorman, Royals (78).
Royals GM J.J. Picollo interviewed Royals coaches Pedro Grifol and Vance Wilson, Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro, Phillies coach Dusty Wathan and Thorman, who managed triple-A Omaha for KC in 2022 to replace ousted Mike Matheny. New Royals owner John Sherman hired Quatraro. Grifol was hired by the White Sox. And Thorman -- how many other Canadians were interviewed to manage a major-league team this off-season? -- was promoted to the position of minor-league field co-ordinator. It means three weeks on the road and a week at home for him.
Take a look at the KC roster. Thorman managed 80% of the 2022 team, which was led by Bobby Witt at various stops in the minors. In three straight seasons, he managed his club to championships - with the Lexington Legends in the class-A South Atlantic League, the Wilmington Blue Rocks in the class-A Carolina league and with the double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The combined record for the highest position player Canuck ever selected at the time in 2000 in seven seasons is 428-387 (.525).
The Baseball Zone co-owner and Terriers coach Rick Johnston.
63. Rick Johnston, coach, Terriers (74).
The Terriers continued to produce talent under Johnston (Peterborough. Ont/The Mecca). Like LHP Jordan Woods (Oakville, Ont.) who signed a free-agent contract with the Royals despite coming off Tommy John surgery. Nine Terriers and former Terriers earned invites to the Canadian Futures Showcase at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Stadium in Ottawa: OF Cameron Chee-Aloy (Toronto, Ont.), LHP-OF Keegan O’Hearn (Oshawa, Ont.), Lucas Alberti (Toronto, Ont.), INF Adyn Schell (Toronto, Ont.), Ryan Arora (Mississauga, Ont.), Luca Alagheband (Toronto, Ont.), RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.), OF Noah Konings (Brampton, Ont.) and C Jason Green (Georgetown, Ont.).
Green went out in style presenting Johnston with a new fungo with the instructor’s name inscribed on the barrel. Hopefully Johnston, a former Team Canada player and coach, does not jam himself swinging at inside pitches. Meanwhile C Hugh Pinkney (Etobicoke, Ont.) is at Rutgers, OF Elijha Hammill (Oakville, Ont.) is at Utah, RHP Max Lanoue (Oakville, Ont.) at Stony Brook, Chee-Aloy at Illinois, LHP Wil Yamka (Oakville, Ont.) is at Cloud County and OF O’Hearn committed to the Michigan Wolverines.
The most experienced scout evaluating Canadians, Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) of the Twins.
64. Walt Burrows, scout, Twins (39).
Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) didn’t draft anyone in 2022. Yet, Burrows, an area scout in Canada for the Twins, is the senior scout in the country. Unlike most scouts, he has power in the draft room. Scouts often come across dry years. Burrows is the former supervisor of the Major League Scouting Bureau in Canada. He helped discover Junior National Team find Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) in a futures game at Connorvale against the Junior National Team.
Naylor hit two balls off the fence off current pros. When they shook hands, coach Greg Hamilton asked, “What are you doing tomorrow?” Naylor said, “Playing in the bantam nationals.” Hamilton said, “We’re leaving for Italy tomorrow, let’s see if we can get you a passport.” By the middle of the trip, Naylor was the best hitter on the team. Burrows also scouted NBA Hall of Famer Steve Nash as a player, telling his boss he was the best player in the country.
StellarAlgo’s founder Vincent Ircnadia (Calgary, Alta.)
65. Vincent Ircandia, StellarAlgo (64).
Ircandia (Calgary, Alta.) is the founder and CEO of StellarAlgo, a leading data solutions provider for sports and entertainment industries. Backed by proprietary machine learning technology, StellarAlgo’s roster includes the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota Vikings, the NHL and the US Open tennis Grand Slam among its 85 clients. In January of 2023, Ircandia entered into a new partnership with the NBA. This multi-year, league-wide strategic partnership will see the StellarAlgo platform rolled out for all 30 teams to help them better engage with their passionate fans.
The NBA’s investment arm, NBA Equity, made a meaningful investment in StellarAlgo. It is involved in fan engagement, loyalty and retention, cross-channel activation and revenue which it hopes can turn a first-time attendee into a lifelong fan thanks to data. This start-from scratch company makes it easy for marketing and data teams to understand their fan universe and accelerate business outcomes. He doubled his workforce in 2021. David Lee, head of NBA Equity, told Bloomberg News the league saw exciting growth potential in StellarAlgo, noting the promise of improving the fan experience was the "most important part of the deal."
Vince hit .339 with 32 doubles, 11 triples, 11 homers, 99 RBIs and a .934 OPS in his three seasons playing for the Niagara Purple Eagles and coach Mike McRae (Niagara Falls, Ont.). He was a former Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian collegian, hained all-conference and NCAA All American honors. His father, John, runs a life-saving organization known as the Okotoks Dawgs. They also have a team.
66. Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney, co-owners, Vancouver Canadians (73).
Not only did the team owned by Kerr and Mooney return to Nat Bailey Stadium in 2022, but the pair were elected the BC Sports Hall of Fame class in November. They won the W.A.C. Bennett award, which is billed as the “most prestigious honour awarded by the organization.” Past winners include Terry Fox (1980), Rick Hansen (1987), Jack Diamond (1989), Frank Griffiths (1997), Gordon Shrum (2008), Pat Quinn (2013), Arthur Griffiths (2016) and Ron Toigo (2018).
After Vancouver fans were starved for ball -- COVID-19 border problems forced home games to Hillsboro, Ore. -- the Canadians led the Northwest League with a total attendance of 313,256 in 61 home dates. The C’s averaged 5,135 compared to 268 per game at Hillsboro. If you are counting along at home, that is an increase of 1816%. They purchased the team in 2007, as Lignum Forest Products’ Kerr and Mooney of A&W Restaurants bought the C’s from American owner Fred Hermann. Besides stadium upgrades, they began the Canadians Foundation, which constructed the Variety Challenger Field of Dreams. The Vancouver Canadians League, ages 7-to-13, allows children the chance to plan a summer schedule at The Nat.
Blue Jays executive Anuk Karun.aratne
67. Anuk Karunaratne, Jays executive VP (71).
The Jays executive vice-president of business operations responsible for revenue. He moved up the ladder when CFO Andrew Miller bolted for the Minnesota Vikings. Hut. Hut. Omaha! Omaha! OMAHA! Karunaratne (Toronto, Ont.) has been with the Jays for six seasons.
Karunaratne has been working with the Edmonton-based PCL Construction, Minneapolis-based RISE Design Build Integration, New York’s Legends and Opulous on phase I of Rogers Centre renovations. Marnie Starkman and Karunaratne work closely together making the Rogers Centre a place to go even as renovations continue.
Richard Griffin, left and his son Patrick, in charge of scouting Canadian players.
68. The Griffins, Patrick and Richard (90).
Son Patrick was promoted from a Canuck area scout to the head man for evaluating Canadian talent. Patrick is entering his seventh season with the Blue Jays organization, starting at class-A Vancouver with the 2017 champion Canadians. He takes over for Kory Lafreniere (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) and will scout Canucks for the July draft. In 2022, they drafted LHP Jérémy Pilon (Salaberry-De-Valleyfield Que.) in the 18th round. The other Canuck scouts are Rene Tosoni (Coquitlam, BC), Jay Lapp (London, Ont.) and Jasmin Roy (Longueuil, Que.).
Father Richard finished a distinguished 50-year career in the game: 26 as the P.R. director for the Expos and the Blue Jays and 24 years writing for the Toronto Star. His name is in Cooperstown upon the plaque listing the winners of the Robert O. Fishel award for public relations excellence (he won in 1992 but could have been a winner year after year after year). He also won the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Jack Graney Award, for media excellence, in 2014. There is an old saying how most writers are funny in the press box, but few are funny in print. Richard was a dual threat along with the likes of San Francisco’s Ray (Little Beaver) Ratto and Los Angeles scribe Mark Whicker, whose prose now appears on our pages. And we think Whicker beat Richard in the potato chip game on the final day of the 1980 season at Olympic Stadium. Richard was helpful when I was a green rookie, a friend, a dear friend, a campaign manager (for four years) and when I became an old goat. But he’s not laying in a hammock, continuing to write on a subscription basis and has not lost a step.
Diamondbacks coach Dave McKay, a former Blue Jay
69. Dave McKay, coach, Diamondbacks (67).
The running game is going first to third or stealing second. Like the one night in July when Diamondbacks Josh Rojas led off second and took a large secondary lead. Giants C Austin Wynns fired to second and it looked like Rojas was going to be like a snake trying to cross all lanes of Highway 401. Except running coach McKay had told his runner pre-game that Wynns is an aggressive backpicker. Rojas raced to third on the throw.
According to Fangraphs, the Diamondbacks were worth a National League-best 25.4 runs on the bases in 2022. The Dodgers were second with 19.9 and the Rangers third at 18.8. The Nationals were 30th with a -25.1 and the Blue Jays were 25th with a -10.5. Since McKay was hired prior to the 2014 season, running has earned them 97.6 runs, the most in the game. The gap between them and the fourth-place Phillies is bigger than the gap between fourth and 23rd.
Prior to his tenure with the Diamondbacks, McKay spent 30 seasons as a coach with the Oakland A’s (1984 to 1995), St. Louis Cardinals (1996 to 2011) and Chicago Cubs (2012-13). Every year of his coaching career has been spent as a first-base coach and he was associated with Tony LaRussa from 1986 to 2011, coaching on six pennant-winning and three world championship teams: the 1989 Athletics and the 2006 and 2011 Cardinals. Elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 and Columbia Basin College Hall of Fame in 2012, McKay is heading into his 39th consecutive campaign as a big-league coach.
Veteran Baseball Canada pitching coach Denis Boucher, who also scouts for the Yankees.
70. Denis Boucher, Team Canada, Yankees.
A total of 16 players from the province of Quebec have pitched in the majors. Boucher made the fifth most starts. Yet outside of former broadcaster Claude Raymond (St-Jean, Que.) no one has been more involved in the game than anyone in the province. Boucher (Lachine, Que.) is president of Lachine Minor ball. He has coached with the Canadian Junior Team, Team Canada in international competitions (World Cup, World ball Classic, Premier12) and Tournament 12. And oh yes, he scouts for the Yankees too. It’s no wonder he was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on February 1.
The Quebec leaders for starts: Joe Krakauskas (Montreal, Que.) 63, Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) 48, Ray Daviault (Montreal, Que.) 36, Paul Calvert (Montreal, Que.) 27, Boucher 26, Ron Piche (Verdun, Que.) 11, Georges Maranda (Levis, Que.) eight, Raymond, seven, then Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.), Steve Green (Greenfield Park, Que.) and Jean-Pierre Roy (Montreal, Que.) one each. Provincial leaders for innings in the majors: Raymond 721, Gagne 643 2/3, Krakauskas 583 2/3, Calvert 301 2/3, Piche 221 1/3, Dick Lines (Montreal, Que.) 168 2/3, Boucher 146, Maranda 123 1/3, Daviault 81, Chris Leroux (Montreal, Que. born, Mississauga, Ont. raised) 71 2/3, Aumont 43 2/3, Jesen Therrien (Montreal, Que.) 18 1/3, Roy 6 1/3, Eric Cyr (Montreal, Que.) and Green six apiece, Derek Aucoin (Lachine, Que.) 2 2/3 and Fred Demarais (Montreal, Que.) two. When scouts gather and ask who has the best curveball in the park, Boucher is usually the answer. And sometimes he does not even say it.
Ex-Abbotsford Cardinals manager, Corey Eckstein, runs the Ontario Blue Jays.
71. Corey Eckstein, president, Ontario Blue Jays (76).
The Ontario Blue Jays had seven players at the Junior National Team Dominican camp leading into the Mexico World qualifier: INF Myles Naylor (Mississauga), INF Brendan Lawson (Toronto), Jorge Valdes (Milton) LHP Lachlan Harrison (Mississauga), RHP Matt Brown (Carlisle), Makaio Cisneros (Whitby) and RHP Matt Sargeant (Ancaster).
And the Ontario Blue Jays sent 24 players to the Canadian Futures Showcase in Ottawa: INF Austin Boylan (Barrie), INF Philip Cheong (Richmond, Hill), INF Jesse Dale (Toronto), OF Lucas Alberti (Toronto), LHP Jayden Bailey (Collingwood), RHP Owen Slater (Whitby), RHP John McDonald (Misissauga), Luca Alagheband (Toronto), RHP Ryan Arora (Mississauga), RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga), Liam Cruickshank (Mississauga), C Joshren Magnate (Toronto), C Brayden Ricketts (Brampton), OF Tiki Braham (Mississauga), OF John Hughes (Mississauga), OF Ryan Stalony (Mississauga), Harrison, Cisneros, Brown, Sargeant, Valdes, Cisneros, Lawson, and Naylor. Under Stephanie Wilkinson, director of administration and Eckstein’s direction, this is the only elite team which lists its prices on the team website, according to parents.
TeamSask coach Greg Brons (Saskatoon, Sask.) departs after making a point.
72. Greg Brons, Going Yard facility, TeamSask coach (72).
Saskatchewan over achieved at the Canada Games winning bronze by beating Team BC -- which would never happen 20 years ago. Saskatchewan finished second in the pool standings behind BC. It was a strong finish after laying an egg with a 22-5 loss to Ontario in the semi final. Brons (Saskatoon, Sask.) came in as the defending Canada Games champs. He is also the high-performance director for the province. Saskatchewan won a 15U bronze at the Ray Carter Cup bantam nationals in Saskatoon in front of a home crowd. The host committee headed by Scott Thomas (father of Evan Thomas who played ball and passed away in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash) did an amazing job at running the show.
Saskatoon is quickly becoming a hub of activity as its facilities -- indoor and outdoor -- at the Gordie Howe complex are becoming among the best in Canada. The indoor facility is massive, with a state of the art weight room upstairs and tunnels to pitch in, according to scouts, some of whom say the best in Canada. One of the Nutana diamonds was re-named Jim Baba Field, after Baba (Moose Jaw, Sask.) the former Baseball Canada executive, who still represents Canada at the administrative level around the world. Registration in the province continues to grow as overall player registration was up by 15% in 2022.
Les McTavish (Settler, Alta.) runs Vauxhall and scouts tof the Phillies.
73. Les McTavish, Vauxhall Jets (82).
The 2017 Vauxhall Academy Jets had a 22-man roster. Whatever happened to them? Well, come next March five players will be in pro ball (23%, a number few high school teams in North America can match). The Fab five: LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) was a seventh round pick in 2019 by the Mariners and acquired by the Blue Jays in the Teoscar Hernandez deal with Seattle, INF Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) a Blue Jays 14th rounder in 2021 from the College of Southern Nevada, RHP Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.) from University of British Columbia, selected in the 20th by the Mariners in 2021 and has since signed with the Padres, INF Ty Penner (Lethbridge, Alta.) from UBC, a free agent who signed with the Phillies in 2022 and LHP Wesley Moore (Surrey, BC), who pitched at Kansas State University in the spring of 2022, before signing with the Phillies and scout McTavish.
McTavish scouts for the Phillies and has followed every at-bat and every outing of his alumni: Macko (0-2, 4.33 in eight starts with 60 whiffs in 38 1/3 innings at class-A Everett), Palmegiani (25 doubles, a triple, 24 homers, 83 RBIs, .239 average and .815 OPS at class-A Vancouver and class-A Dunedin), Hawkins (5-8, with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts with 120 strikeouts in 93 innings at class-A Fort Wayne and class-A Lake Elsinore) and Penner (double, homer, three RBIs, .129 average, .464 OPS in 10 games with the Phillies rookie-class Florida Complex League).
Cubs scout Ron Tostenson (Kelowna, BC) originally began scouting with the Blue Jays.
74. Ron Tostenson, national crosschecker, Cubs (65).
Tostenson (Kelowna, BC) was in on the Cubs’ first rounder (seventh overall) RHP Cade Horton, a two way man for Oklahoma who dominated at the College World Series in Omaha. The Cubs gave him a $4.45 million bonus -- to pitch. In the spring of 2022 for Oklahoma, he went 5-2 with a 4.86 ERA, striking out 64 in 53 2/3 innings. As a hitter, he batted .235 with six doubles, two triples, a homer, 17 RBIs and a .648 OPS.
The Cubs used their picks -- 18 out of 20 -- on pitchers, the best of which include IMG’s LHP Jackson Ferris, a second rounder given a $3.005 million bonus, SS Chris Paciolla, a Temecula Valley High third rounder given $900,000 and finally RHP Nazier Mule, a power arm from Passaic County High in NJ, given $1 million. LHP Jordan Wicks, a Kansas State first-rounder (21st) that Tostenson was in on, struck out 121 in 94 2/3 innings at class-A South Bend and double-A Tennessee.
Baseball Canada gave Kevin Glew (Dorchester, Ont.) its media award for 2022.
75. Kevin Glew, ball scribe (97).
Prolific is one word to describe Glew. Proficient, practiced, prepared and powerful enough to make that extra phone call. That describes Glew. And that only covers words beginning with the letter ‘P.’ A typing machine whether it be his Cooperstowners in Canada blog, his But What Do I Know column or working for the Canadian Baseball Network -- which includes writing, tweeting, posting on Facebook and editing. He is a self-starter and an idea man for both himself and the website.
Glew has been involved in some capacity with the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys for 27 years. When he won the Baseball Canada’s media award, Adam Morissette phoned to ask me about Glew. We hired Kevin in 2016 after trying to hire him a couple of years before. As I told Adam: “I’ll tell you when we knew we had hired the right man. Paul Beeston (former Blue Jays president) phoned a few years back and asked ‘Have you ever heard of Kevin Glew and his Cooperstowners in Canada blog? A friend told me about him. He is three times as good as you.” Beeston was right. And as always Glew compiled the Nos. 101 on the list. We’d give him a byline but no bylines if you appear on the list.
Dan Vertlieb with Hall of Famer Bruce Springsteen and Vertlieb’s wife Emma at the Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle, 2016.
76. Dan Vertlieb, sports lawyer/agent (66).
RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) was given five starts in the Mariners’ rotation. It didn’t work out -- he was 1-3 with a 7.65 ERA. Demoted to triple-A Tacoma, he didn’t sulk, pout or hang his head? He was back at Safeco and went 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 34 games as a reliever, striking out 43 in 30 2/3 innings. He is a Vertlieb client. Orioles’ C Adley Rutschman, runner-up to AL rookie of the year winner Julio Rodríguez of the Mariners, batted .254 with 35 doubles, 13 homers, 42 RBIs and an .806 OPS in 113 games. Tyler Wells and Austin Voth solidified the Orioles rotation.
Vertlieb client’s Tony Gonsolin and Tyler Anderson both went to the all-star game for the Dodgers. Gonsolin recently inked a two-year, $6.65-million contract with the Dodgers and Anderson signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Angels. Vertlieb also represented the 10th overall pick, Gonzaga RHP Gabriel Hughes, who signed with the Rockies for $4 million and OF Henry Bolte, a second rounder given a $2 million bonus from the A’s. RHP Scott McGough finished third in Central League MVP voting in Japan for the Yakult Swallows before signing a two-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks and former Blue Jay Jacob Waguespack had three saves in the Japan Series, helping the Orix Buffaloes win the championship. And LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) was dealt to the Jays as part of the Teoscar Hernandez deal with the Mariners.
Les Capitales de Quebec co-owner Michel Laplante (Val d’Or, Que.)
77. Michel Laplante, president, Les Capitales de Quebec (84.).
Yes, we’ve heard about the Yankee dynasty and the Braves dominance -- 14 division titles and one World Series -- but the team that steamrolls most often is Les Capitales de Quebec. They edged the Schaumburg Boomers 2-1 in Game 4 to take the best-of-five Frontier League championship series. Ruben Castro hit a walk-off fly ball, scoring Marc-Antoine Lebreux (Ste. Anne des Plaines, Que.) from third. The night before Castro hit a 2-2 pitch for two-out double in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 win at festive au Stade Canac.
That makes eight championships since 2022 for Quebec. Laplante ((Val d’Or, Que.) and manager Patrick Scalabrini (Waterford, Que.) have a winning combination drawing 141,618 fans in 54 dates (an average of 2,623 per home game. The Capitales won the Can-Am in 2006, beating the Brockton Rox), in 2009 eliminating the Worcester Tornadoes, in 2010 against the Pittsfield Colonials, scored three straight championship wins facing the New Jersey Jackals in (2011, 2012 and 2013) and 2017 against the Rockland Boulders. The win against Schaumburg in 2022 was the first in the Frontier League.
Leading the Capitales were David Glaude (Quebec City, Que.), who hit .325 with 18 doubles, five triples, 16 homers, 60 RBIs and an OPS of .929 and RHP Miguel Cienfuegos (Laval, Que.) who went 10-2, with a 1.79 ERA. He struck out 106 in 131 innings.
Oakland A’s scoutt Matt Higginson
78. Matt Higginson, scout, A’s.
Higginson (Grimsby, Ont.) was shut out during the 2022 draft, yet two of his previous drafts popped. OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) was chosen in the fourth round in 2021 from the Cal State-Northridge Matadors. Clarke became the first player in history to hit inside-the-park home runs in back-to-back games for the class-A Lansing Lugnuts against the West Michigan Whitecaps displaying a Devon White-like stride. Or rather a glide. On the season, he batted .248 with 23 doubles, four triples, 15 homers, 47 RBIs and an .834 OPS at class-A Stockton and Lansing. He made such an impression he has been invited to big-league camp in Arizona.
RHP Kyle Virbitsky, a 17th round pick from Penn State, led the organization in strikeouts, fanning 140 batters in 126 1/3 innings. Splitting time between Lansing and Stockton, he was 7-7 with a 5.20 ERA. And 12th round pick from 2021, RHP Mitch Myers, was 4-10 with a 5.50 ERA, fanning 98 and walking only 38 in 124 1/3 innings.
OBA HOFer coach Marc Picard (Windsor, Ont.)
79. Marc Picard, Riverside coach.
A member of Baseball Ontario’s 2022 Hall of Fame class, Picard coached the Windsor Selects juveniles, Windsor Select juniors, the Ontario Youth Team, Ontario’s Canada Cup representatives and the Vaughan Vikings at the bantam nationals. He has won more than 14 national championships. This season he is coaching the Windsor Selects 15U.
Picard coached future major leaguers like LHP David Davidson (Thorold, Ont.), RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.), Peter Orr (Newmarket, Ont.), Scott Thorman (Cambridge, Ont.), C Chris Leroux (Mississauga, Ont.) and C Joe Siddall (Windsor, Ont.). Many other Team Ontario players who were drafted went to college or played in the minors. Picard was a scout for the New York Yankees when OF Jason Wuerch (Leamington, Ont.) was the first Canadian selected when Canuck high schoolers were made eligible. Also inducted were Gwen Turner (Flesherton), the OBA’s first employee in the pre-computer era, Harv Bailie (Mitchell) and umpire Don Gilbert (Windsor, Ont.).
Cardinals scot Jason Bryans (Windsor, Ont.)
80. Jason Bryans, amateur scout, Cardinals (69)
Two of Bryans’ former picks made their big league debuts in 2022. LHP Zack Thompson, a first round pick (19th overall) from Kentucky was promoted to the Cardinals and OF Nick Plummer a first round (23rd overall) high schooler from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., was called up by the Mets. That gives him nine drafted players who made the majors. If a scout hits 10 big leaguers, it is a Hall of Fame career. Thompson, who received a $3 million bonus in 2019, was 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA fanning 27 in 34 2/3 innings in 22 games for St. Louis, Bryans’ former team. Plummer, who was given a bonus of $2.124 million, got into 14 games and hit .138 with two homers and six RBIs. Both were Cardinals’ selections.
With the Royals, he drafted 18th rounder LHP John Lynch from Xavier who was 9-0 with a 2.80 ERA walking 21 and striking out 77 in 64 1/3 innings. Another Bryans pick, Michael Brdar, a 36th rounder by the Cards in 2017 only played one year in the minors, however, he was a big leaguer as a hitting coach in 2022 and in 2023 is the Tigers head hitting coach. Bryans also helps out as the pitching coach, Tecumseh Thunder 16U;
Rob Longley, ball scribe
81. Rob Longley and Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun (79).
Longley had a strong piece on manager Charlie Montoyo being being tabbed as the scapecoat for the Jays’ woes in July. He also had a in-depth piece on his replacement, John Schneider. Schneider created his own path to the majors which appeared after the season was over. And is the man to call if you need an Uber.
Dean of Toronto columnists, Steve Simmons
Simmons wrote a book on his best pieces over the years. It was a collection of columns by the dean of Toronto columnists. He touches them all with coverage of the Olympics, the NBA, NHL, the Argos and, of course, the goings on at Rogers. Included are columns on Jose Bautista, Vlady Guerrero, Joe Carter, Pat Gillick, Barry Bonds, Omar Vizquel, Bo Bichette and genial skipper John Gibbons.
Rogers Communications consultant Roger Rai
82. Roger Rai, Rogers Communications consultant (-).
Rai represented Rogers Communications and the Blue Jays at the November owners meetings in New York. Edward Rogers and Rai have been friends since their days at the University of Western Ontario. Rai was appointed a director of Stem Holdings on March 4, 2022, having previously served as a director of the US-based cannabis company from May 2018 to Feb. 2019. He serves as a special advisor to Rogers Communications, chairman Edward Rogers and before that he was managing director for E.S. Rogers Enterprises from 2004 to 2018.
Also, the president of R3 Concepts Inc., a consulting and investments company, Rai (Toronto, Ont.) has served as an advisor to Chobani, Inc., a retail food services company. He was also vice president, of business development for Keek Inc. and before that was director of development at C.O.R.E. feature animation, a company that produced the children’s animation movie “The Wild.” He was the founder and vice-president, business development of Fastvibe Inc., a web-streaming equipment company. Rai is on the board of directors for CONSTANTINE Enterprises Inc., a real estate company and on the board of Directors of ONEXONE Foundation.
Canadian Hall of Fame executive Jeremy Diamond
83. Scott Crawford and Jeremy Diamond, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (80).
A little of this, a little of that and a Hall of Fame dash. That’s what the Hall of Fame dias looked like in St. Marys in 2022. Former Colorado Rockies’ 17-game winner Jeff Francis (North Delta, BC) was the lone electee from 2022, but he was not the only man honoured. Twins Hall of Famer, former AL MVP and Francis’ former North Delta Blue Jays teammate Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) and Blue Jays closer Duane Ward showed from the class of 2020. Their ceremonies were delayed due to COVID-19. And dipping into the past Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, former Expo, a 2018 inductee was also there. This was the first ceremony for Diamond (North York, Ont.) since he took over in 2020 for Adam Stephens.
The hardest-working man in St. Marys …. Scott Crawford.
Crawford (Georgetown, Ont.) is back on his normal schedule of doing the work four people each induction weekend and the worry and concerns of two people the rest of the year. HOF volunteer Kevin Glew won the third annual Baseball Canada media award. Crawford will be as busy as always on induction weekend -- June 17, 2023. The new curator Christi Hudson has spruced up exhibits as well as the Harry Simmons Memorial Library and Andrew North has been hard at work at the Centre for Canadian Baseball Research.
ABC’s new executive director Marc-Antoine Berube
84. Marc-Antoine Berube, executive director, ABC (-).
Berube moves from performance director to the new boss of the ABC. Berube (Trios Pistoles, Que.) will be supported by Yannick Desjardins, director of player development and various coaches. He replaces former big-leaguer Jesen Therrien, who stepped down to give pro ball another shot. RHP Berube was a 28th round pick in the 2015 draft from Pitt. He pitched three years in the A’s system and one year of indy ball with Quebec Capitales. The hitting coach is former Phillies minor leaguer Ben Pelletier (Varennes, Que.) and the pitching coach is Karl Gelinas (Laval, Que.) the former Capitales legend. Mathieu Dion (Granby, Que.) is an assistant.
What kind of shape is the sport in, in the province? Well, three of our four Canadian Baseball Network award winners were from Quebec: Twins 2B Edouard Julien (Quebec, Que.), of the double-A Wichita Wind Surge won the Randy Echlin award, as the top minor league hitter in the affiliated ranks; L.P. Pelletier (Montreal, Que.) of the Trois-Rivières Aigles, earned the Murray Zuk award, as top indy offensive player, while LHP Miguel Cienfuegos (Laval, Que.), of the Québec Capitales, received the Claude Pelletier award, as the top indy pitcher. And three Quebec players were signed: RHP Cedric De Grandpre (St-Simon, Que.), 13th rounder, Chipola, Braves, LHP Nathan Landry (Victoriaville, Que.) 15th, Missouri, Red Sox and RHP Mathieu Voros (Anjou, Que.) a free agent, ABC, Mets.
Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith can do it all
85. Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet (91).
The worst thing for a scribe to cover is not extra innings or a triple ovetimer on deadline. No, it is when zero games are played. Whether it be a strike or the billionaires have locked out the millionaires, it is what it is -- a work stoppage. There is a rumor neither side tells the truth. Nicholson covered the 2022 work stoppage and covered it like it was a Mark Buehrle two-hitter played in an hour and 58 minutes. He was a must-read in Canada and in the U.S.
He also wrote a lengthy piece under Big Reads entitled The First 162. It’s worth a re-read but the headline should have been Excellent Read: The First 162. Besides doing radio, TV and writing he does an At the Letters podcast with Arden Zwelling, who is also strong on TV, and expected to be more active in TV coverage in 2023. Nicholson-Smith also worked seven games with Ben Shulman, one of Daniel Shulman’s sons, on radio.
A full-time umpire Stu Scheurwater (Regina, Sask.) worked over 100 games this season.
86. Stu Scheurwater, umpire (88).
Scheurwater (Regina, Sask.) worked 118 games (up four from last year) including 28 games behind the plate (same) during the 2022 season, fifth year of being a full-time big-league ump. He worked the Phillies-Braves NL Division series. The Phillies won the best-of-five series in four.
Scheurwater had the plate in Game 4, a 265-pitch. three hour and 18 minute game as Brandon Marsh went deep off Charlie Morton, J.T. Realmuto homered against Collin McHugh and Bryce Harper went deep facing Kenley Jansen in an 8-3 Phillies’ victory.
Columnist Gregor Chisholm
87. Gregor Chisholm and Mike Wilner, Toronto Star (81).
Chishiolm wrote a review of the Jays action at the trade deadline and accurately called the acquisitions not enough. He also had a excellent feature on Elizabeth Benn (Toronto, Ont.), hired to work in the Mets ivory tower. He has a strong piece about Bo Bichette not reaching an agreement with the Jays, heading to salary arbitration and what it means down the road.
Mike Wilner, right, after appearing on Toronto Mike’d with host Mike Boon, left.
Wilner is a must listen with his Deep Left Field podcast. And being a dual threat, he continues his annual confidential poll of the best Jays of 2022 by asking players, coaches and front office the question as to what Jays were the best Jays. The answers vary from the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. RHP Alek Manoah earned both the MVP and pitcher of the year awards, while manager John Schneider was the Jays’ Rookie of the Year and RHP Ross Stripling was the unsung hero. Top podcasts were his conversations with Dan Shulman about Tom Cheek and another later in the year about fathers. He also hosts the Baseball Canada fundraiser and is a member of the board of director at the Canadian Hall of Fame;
Former Pitt Panther Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) was voted the Marlins minor-league player of the year.
88. INF Charles Leblanc, Marlins (-).
Leblanc earned MVP honours for the triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp after hitting .302 with 14 homers, 45 RBIs and an .884 OPS in 87 games. He had the longest consecutive-game hitting streak at 13 games. Promoted to the Marlins on July 29, 2022, he made his big-league debut the following day, going 1-for-3 with a double against the Mets at LoanDepot Park.
LeBlanc (Laval, Que.) hit his first big-league home run on July 31 against Mets RHP Taijuan Walker. He finished batting .263 with 10 doubles, four homers, 11 RBIs and a .723 OPS in 48 games. Yet, baseball is a confusing game. Despite all of those accomplishments, after the Marlins signed INF Jean Segura to a two-year contract, LeBlanc was dropped from the 40-man roster and will begin 2023 at Jacksonville. Leblanc played 26 games at second base, 13 at third and eight at first for the Marlins. In late January, the Marlins announced that Leblanc has been invited to big league spring training.
Always carry a big stick and speak softly … that’s William Humber (Bowmanville, Ont.) the leading historian in Canada
89. William Humber, Canadian ball historian (87).
We usually recognize awards in the calendar year ... and for this edition we are dealing with is 2022. Yet, on Dec. 29, 2021 when some people on this list were in a bar saying “Order! Order!” Humber was one of 135 Canadians to receive the Order of Canada from Governor General Mary Simon. We say an honour like that for Humber (Bowmanville, Ont.) can be mentioned more than once for the former Seneca College prof.
He has been a champion of many ... like Claude Raymond, George Bell and others for the Hall of Fames. He is a member of the Canadian ball Hall of Fame (2018), an honorary inductee into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame (2004) and a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002). He was elected to the Black Ice Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame as a writer. He is a member of the selection committees for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian ball hall in St. Marys.
Jeremy Ressor (Stouffville, Ont.)
90. Jeremy Reesor, Blue Jays (-).
The club’s director of baseball operations, he is involved with every decision that the Jays make. Reesor (Stouffville, Ont.) handles daily transactions and does prep work for arbitration negotiations.
Reesor attended the University of Waterloo and graduated with a degree in biology. He began working with the Jays in 2012 starting out like Gord Ash with the field conversions crew at the Rogers Centre. He is an example of how an employee can make an impact despite not competing as a player at the rep level.
Former UBC Thunderbird Jake Lanferman (Sherwood Park, Alta.) is coaching the Edmonton Riverhawks
91. Jake Lanferman, coach, Edmonton Riverhawks (-).
Lanferman (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was an outfielder for the Fort Hays Tigers and the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, before guiding the River Hawks to a 26-28 (.481) record in the first season the franchise was a member of the West Coast League.
Edmonton was second in the league (behind Portland) in attendance drawing 63,221 for 27 game dates, an average of 2,342 fans per game. They rated 18th of 169 summer college teams. The Victoria HarbourCats were 26th drawing 51,812 in 27 home games for an average of 1,919 fans. The Nanaimo NightOwls were 80th drawing 27,357, an average of 1,094. The Kelowna Falcons were 89th attracting 22,722 fans for an average of 947 a game. The Kamloops NorthPaws were 103th drawing 19,007, averaging 760 fans.
Former MLB.com writer Alexis Brudnicki (Goderich, Ont.) sang the anthams one game
92. Alexis Brudnicki, Baseball America (89).
One of the best reads of the season -- on our site, in a local bugle, in Baseball America, anywhere period -- was Alexis’ piece on Greg Hamilton earning the Tony Gwynn award from the highly-respected Baseball America in recognition of his lifetime achievement and contributions to the game.
Former winners are Cooperstown Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., former manager Felipe Alou, legendary coaches Augie Garrido and Jerry Weinstein, plus scouts Tom Kotchman and Mike Brito, as well as executive Keith Lieppman. Alexis won the Baseball Canada media recognition award in 2021. She is currently in her second year at the University of Missouri’s School of Law and for the summer of 2022, worked in the Commissioner’s Office in New York.
Nicole Tevlin, left and husband Mike Tevlin are as interested in baseball as tennis. They are co-owners of The Baseball Zone and the Terriers.
93. Nicole and Mike Tevlin, Kevin Horton, Terriers/The Baseball Zone (-).
The Tevlins have put together plenty of wins in their years owning the Terriers — on both sides of borders, including championships and tournaments. Not only do both play tennis, but both are big-time backers of Tennis Canada. The wait is finally over for Canada which beat Australia to win the Davis Cup, after a 109-year wait. Canada beat Australia thanks to Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov. This means they’ll qualify for the 2023 final. The impressive thing about the Tevlins is both their boys -- Luke an Joe -- have played in the program, gone off to school and the parents are still heavily involved.
When out and about at Blue Jays games LHP Kevin Horton someimes wears sun glasses so he is not recognized.
The man behind the desk of the Mississauga facility is Horton, who is still a sneaky lefty for the York Diamonds of the OBA senior loop. An all-star team from the league competed at the 33U nationals. He is one of the reasons 2022 was the Baseball Zone’s best year since it opened 20 years ago.
Former Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz owns two Indy ball teams.
94. Sam Katz and Andrew Collier, Goldeyes/Titans (-).
There is an old saying about independent ball -- with players coming and going -- what can be worse than owning a team? Owning two. And that’s Katz (Winnipeg, Man.). Besides owning his hometown Goldeyes in 1994, he added the Ottawa Titans to his portfolio. The former Mayor of Winnipeg (2004-2014) has his team play in beautiful Shaw Park. In 2022, Canucks RHP Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.), CF Mike Crouse (Port Moody, BC) and LHP Travis Seabrooke (Peterborough, Ont.) were with the Goldeyes. Collier ran the operations (as they went 53-47) but they were the seventh best draw in all of indy ball attracting 163,893 fans for 48 dates an average of 3,414 fans.
Goldeyes GM Andrew Collier.
Goldeyes manager Rick Forney resigned to take over the Atlantic League’s York Revolution. He had a 17-year tenure in charge, compiling an 887-753 (.541) regular season record, with 13 winning seasons, 10 playoff berths, and an American Association-record three championships (2012, 2016, 2017). The Winnipeg logo stands out and is so simplistic my son walked around Disney wearing the cap and people asked “What part of Winnipeg are you guys from?”
Meanwhile in Ottawa, as they say on the news, GM Martin Boyce (Ottawa) and his assistant Sebastien Boucher-Akowe (Ottawa) saw 64,979 fans show for 42 games (1,250 average) to sit 43rd best of the 46 teams. Ottawa’s best were LHP Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.), 4-6, with a 3.53 ERA aand Jake Sanford (Dartmouth, NS) who hit .311 with 14 doubles, 22 homers, 73 RBIs and a .928 OPS. The expansion Titans finished 56-38 (.596) five games behind Quebec.
Scott Ballantyne (Kincardine, Ont.) turned around the Laurier Glden Hawks program.
95. Scott Ballantyne, coach Laurier Golden Hawks/Ontario Nationals (-)
The first time I ever saw Ballantyne he was on the mound at Bechtel Park in 2001 pitching a complete game win. After pitching from 1999 to 2003, he became an assistant coach along with my son as they helped perfect the revolutionary “no doubles” defensive alignment. Next for Ballantyne was head coach. His wife Amy and former Canadian Baseball Network social media director Kelsi Byers were Laurier cheerleaders at the same time.
Success followed success as his Hawks won OUA championships in 2013, 2018 and 2019. From 2007 to 2022, his Hawks were a well respected group, compiling an overall record of 285-171, 159-101 in conference play and 30-19 in the playoffs. Up next, Ballantyne will coach the 14U Ontario Nationals which includes his son Ty Ballantyne, a catcher and second baseman. And maybe Ty will hit a Ballantyne Blast as Yankee broadcaster Mel Allen used to say after another New York home run. “There goes another Ballantyne Blast!”
RHP Jadia Lee (St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador) made history at the Canada Summer Games and threw out the first pitch at Rogers Centre.
96. Jadia Lee, pioneer (-).
In August, Lee (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador) made Canada Summer Games history in Niagara. With Alberta up 11-1 in the third inning, coach David Coates told her to warm up. The voice of the PA announcer filled the park “Now on the mound for Newfoundland and Labrador, making Canada Games is history is Jaida Lee.” Her first pitch -- a strike -- was taken out of the game and sent to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys.
Her first inning was routine: grounder to second, fly ball to right and a comebacker. Alberta scored four runs in the next inning, but she had dipped her foot in the pool. Before the Toronto Blue Jays met the Cleveland Guardians at the Rogers Centre, she threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Bradley Zimmer. A lot of people on this list received plaudits, but few from Parliament. Federal minister of sport, Pascale St-Onge, said Lee is another example of how Canadian women and girls are making change through sport saying: “Whether it’s Canada Games or the Olympics, we’ve seen our Canadian women thrive on the international stage and at every level in sport, so I’m really proud of this.”
On Dec. 2, she visited the Canadian ball hall in St. Marys to see the historic Canada Summer Games ball.
Plauer agent Mike Bonanno (Burlington, Ont.)
97. Michael Bonanno, agent (92).
Bonanno (Burlington, Ont.) joined Ball Players Agency which represents 50 players including the likes of Marlins INF Jon Berti, the ex-Jay, who hit .240 with four homers, 28 RBIs and led the NL with 41 steals in 46 attempts. A’s OF Seth Brown, who hit 26 doubles, 25 homers, 73 RBIs and had a .749 OPS and Giants C Austin Wynns, batting .259 with three homers and 21 RBIs with a .671 OPS. He no longer repreents Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.).
The top Canuck clients for Bonanno include OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) of the Cubs, ranked No. 10 in the Cubs’ system by MLB Pipeline. Caissie batted .302 with 11 doubles, six homers and 50 RBIs in 105 games with an OPS of .761 at class-A South Bend and in the Arizona Fall League with the Mesa Solar Sox batted .220 with five doubles, a homer, nine RBIs and a .626 OPS in 16 games. He is being tutored in the off-season by former Jays minor leaguer Lee Delfino (Burlington, Ont.) with the FieldHouse Pirates. He also represents Cubs OF Jared Young (Prince George, BC), who hit .230 with 21 doubles, two triples, 17 homers, 59 RBIs and a .731 OPS in 109 games in triple-A before he was promoted to Chicago for six games, INF TJ Schofield-Sam (Brampton, Ont.) an A’s farmhand, .259, 23 doubles, three triples, six homers, 55 RBIs and a .696 OPS at class-A Stockton, C Zac Fascia (Brampton, Ont.) .169 with six RBIs at triple-A Columbus and class-A Lake County, plus time on the Guardians taxi squad which meant big-league meal money and injured LHP Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Ont.) of the Guardians. July’s draft saw his clients go: FieldHouse’s INF Nate Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.) to the Nationals, sixth round, Toronto Mets RHP Jonah Tong to the New York Mets seventh round and former Terrier LHP Jordan Woods, free agent signed by the Royals.
Toronto Mets president Ryan McBride
98. Ryan McBride and Rich Leitch, Toronto Mets (88).
From college roomies to owners of a successful elite team which has seen parents drive their teenagers from as far away as Ottawa and Kingston for training, first in Scarborough and now Richmond Hill. RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) was scheduled to attend North Dakota State, but he is switching from one Mets uniform to another after being drafted by the New York Mets in the seventh round and signing for $226,000 and C Ryan Leitch (Whitby, Ont.), a chip off the young block, signed as a free-agent deal with the Phillies for $125,000. RHP Zak Szabo (Whitby, Ont.), RHP Parker Burgess (Douro-Dummer, Ont.) and OF Jack Pineau (Thunder Bay, Ont.) made the Junior National Team. McBride coaches the 16U Mets.
In 2022, coaches Rich Leitch (Whitby, Ont.) Darryl Reid, Hugh Walters, Honsing Leung, Peter Orr and McBride made sure these players had NCAA Division I schools: Brodie Peart (Markham, Ont.), who will attend Evansville, OF Calvin Warrillow (Toronto, Ont.) William and Mary, Ryan Press (Toronto, Ont.) West Virginia, OF Charlie Iriotakis (Toronto, Ont.) William & Mary, Burgess, Illinois, Pineau, Creighton, and Szabo, Troy. Leitch, who also answers to Rick, will manage the Mets 17U.
99. Scott Mitchell, TSN (95).
Mitchell gives TSN their Blue Jays knowledge and insights -- along with former New York Mets GM Steve Phillips. Mitchell (Oshawa, Ont.) did it all ... writing for the TSN site, appearing on TV and on air.
He had an excellent piece on the top 20 Canadian pro propects with Guardians Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) the former Ontario Blue Jays first rounder atop the list. The rest of the top five include ex-Toronto Met INF Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) the Brewers first rounder from 2021, former Toronto Met LHP Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) of the Rangers, FieldHouse Pirates grad OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) of the Cubs system and 2B Edouard Julien (Quebec, Que.) of the Twins, who starred at Auburn. Julien won the Randy Echlin Award as the Canadian Baseball Network’s top offensive player of the Year in the affiliated ranks, while Bratt captured the Canadian Baseball Network’s Wayne Norton Award as the top Canadian pitcher in the affiliated minor league ranks.
99-A. Mike Steed, Braves farm system.
It’s tough enough for a Canadian to break into pro ball. Rob Thomson broke the glass ceiling and took over the Phillies’ manager’s office for his years of services with the Yankees and the Phillies. But before that Steed, 51, was hired as a pitching coach in the Braves minor-league system for the 2022 season working with class-A Augusta GreenJackets pitchers. On his staff were: RHP R.J. Freure (Burlington, Ont.), RHP Landon Leach (Toronto, Ont.), LHP Adam Shoemaker (Cambridge, Ont.), RHP Cedric de Grandpre (Saint Simon-de-Bagot, Que.) and RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) on a re-hab assignment.
Former Ontario Blue Jays pitching coach Mike Steed (Burlington, Ont.) was hired as pitching coach of class-A Augusta Greenjackets.
99-A. Mike Steed, Braves farm system.
It’s tough enough for a Canadian to break into pro ball. Rob Thomson broke the glass ceiling and took over the Phillies’ manager’s office for his years of services with the Yankees and the Phillies. But before that Steed, 51, was hired as a pitching coach in the Braves minor-league system for the 2022 season working with class-A Augusta GreenJackets pitchers. On his staff were: RHP R.J. Freure (Burlington, Ont.), RHP Landon Leach (Toronto, Ont.), LHP Adam Shoemaker (Cambridge, Ont.), RHP Cedric de Grandpre (Saint Simon-de-Bagot, Que.) and RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) on a re-hab assignment. There was talk that by hiring Steed meant that the Braves could not afford to bring back Freddie Freeman, but the talk turned out to be idle chit chat.
Augusta went 69-62 and finished ninth with a 4.55 team ERA in the class-A Carolina league. Steed’s pitchers struck out 1,267 in 1,144 2/3 innings. Steed had success teaching Ontario Blue Jays youngsters. He is also involved as a recruiter for the Thunder Bay Border Cats recruiter of the Northwoods college summer league. For 2023, Steed will coach with the class-A Rome Braves.
The newest coach at the Playder Development Complex is Jaime Vieira (Georgetown, Ont.)
100. Jaime Vieira, coach, Jays.
The old sandlot saying about anyone trying to play baseball and softball the same summer was “good luck, but they are two different swings, you won’t hit well in one of them.” Jaime (Georgetown, Ont.) doesn’t have to worry about hitting on her own. The former Humber Hawk softball star was hired by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 as a hitting coach to teach minor leaguers. Jaime was the first woman to coach in the organization.
Jaime is already packing a Master of Science degree from York. She worked in operations as research and development intern in 2021, helping prepare the draft, Originally she joined the team in 2019 as a programs specialist with Jays Care and was promoted a year later after developing and running events for coaches and players.
Women’s team star Amanda Asay (Prince George, BC) passed away Jan. 7, 2022.
101. Rest in Peace ... Prepared by our Kevin Glew - Amanda Asay (Prince George, BC), longtime member of the women’s national team; Gertrude Biggins (Stevensville, Ont.), long-time player in the Niagara District; Gary Collins (Toronto, Ont.), former Leaside pitching star and NHL player; Jack Dominico (North Bay, Ont.), legendary owner of the IBL’s Toronto Maple Leafs; George Funnell Jr. (Gananoque, Ont.), inspirational Montreal Expos supporter; Keith Kean (Chalk River, Ont.), dominant North Renfrew Senior League pitcher; Cheryl-Anne Labrador-Summers (Keswick, Ont.), Brampton minor registrar; Edward Leier (Winnipeg, Man.), Manitoba Hall of Famer in Morden; Gerry MacKay (Kenton, Man.), former national team coach and Manitoba legend; Doug Mitchell (Calgary, Alta.), former CFL commissioners and Okotoks Dawgs supporter; Evelyn Wawryshyn Moroz (Tyndall, Man.), AAGPBL all-star second man; Ian Mosher (Wolfville, N.S.), legendary Nova Scotia coach; Gladwyn Scott (Hamiota, Man.), legendary coach, Manitoba executive and Canadian Hall of Fame inductee; Peter Topolie (North Bay, Ont.), former president of Ontario; Pete Ward (Montreal, Que.), former major league infielder and Canadian Hall of Fame inductee.
Asay passed away on Jan. 7 at the age of 33 in a skiing accident. She joined the Canadian national team in 2005 and participated in the Women’s National Team Showcase in the summer of 2021 in Trois-Rivières, Que. A part of national teams that captured five Women’s World Cup medals, including bronze in 2006, 2012 and 2018 and silver in 2008 and 2016, the right-handed pitcher/infielder was also a member of the silver medal winning squad at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Ajax, Ont. Asay earned All-Tournament honours in 2006 at first and in 2016 as a pitcher beating Chinese Taipei 2-1. She also played hockey and soft for Brown University and University of British Columbia where she earned a masters in Science.
Biggins passed away on December 28 at the age of 102. She played 33 years with the Erie Motors Lassies and the Stevensville Stevettes, patrolling centre field into her 60s. Biggins also loved to manage Toronto Blue Jays from her living room.
Collins passed away on June 17 at the age of 86. In his youth, he was a dominant left-hander for the Leaside-d Metropolitan Motors, helping them to four consecutive city championships from 1953 to 1956 under legendary field manager Ron Roncetti. In 1958, he competed in eight games in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system for the Grand Forks Chiefs and Clinton Pirates before suffering an arm injury. Collins was also an outstanding hockey player. Originally signed by the Montreal Canadiens, he ended up winning two consecutive Memorial Cup titles with the Toronto Marlboros in 1955 and 1956 and playing two games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1959 playoffs.
Jack Dominico ran the Toronto Maple Leafs for 53 years.
Dominico passed away on Jan. 11 at the age of 82. For 53 years, Dominico owned and operated the Intercounty League’s Toronto Maple Leafs. His teams won eight league titles and the championship trophy was named after him and his wife, Lynne. Behind the scenes, Dominico supported youth (secretly) and the community surrounding Christie Pits. He regularly hosted weekend clinics for those in the Toronto Playgrounds House League program, offering youngsters a chance to be coached by Maple Leafs players. Over the years, he was inducted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
Funnell passed on Aug. 25 at the age of 68. Born with cerebral palsy, Funnell was a lifelong learner, with a great sense of humor who was an inspiration to almost everyone he met, including members of the Montreal Expos in the early 1980s. “When Expo Hall of Famer Tim Raines was introduced to Funnell before an Expos game in the early 1980s, he took the cap right off his head and put it on Funnell’s head,” wrote Danny Gallagher in his obituary of Funnell in August. Funnell was also a Montreal Canadiens fan and was deeply loved in his hometown of Gananoque, Ont. -- so much so that city officials lowered its flags to half-mast after his death.
Kean passed away on October 26, 2021 at the age of 82. One of the best pitchers in the history of the North Renfrew Senior League in the Upper Ottawa Valley, Kean starred for the Chalk River Railroaders between 1961 and 1975. With his heavy fast, he regularly registered double-digit strikeout performances which earned him the moniker “strikeout master” from a local paper. Kean helped lead the Railroaders to multiple league championships.
Former Brampton registrar and convenor for Brampton minor passed Dec. 1, 2022.
Labrador-Summers passed away on Dec. 1 at the age of 48. She devoted countless hours to Brampton Minor Inc. (BMBI), most recently as the organization’s registrar and convenor for their 15U, 17U and 21U squads. Her son, Cory, was a player and later a coach in the organization. For her efforts, she was named BMBI Volunteer of the Year in 2018.
Leier passed away on November 25 at the age of 95. He was an all-star infielder and outfielder in the Manitoba-Dakota League and earned a berth in the Manitoba Hall of Fame in Morden, Man. Leier played junior for the Elmwood Giants along with Terry Sawchuk. He later made the NHL, playing 16 games for Chicago Blackhawks. He scored twice, once against Sawchuk when the goalie was tending net for the Detroit Red Wings.
MacKay passed away on Jan. 22 at the age of 91. A multi-sport legend in Manitoba, MacKay was enlisted to serve as the head coach of Canada’s first national team, which competed in the 1967 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg. Prior to his coaching career, he starred as a versatile infielder/outfielder for the Brandon Greys of the Man-Dak League, impressing enough to earn himself a contract with the Chicago Cubs. He proceeded to play parts of five seasons in the affiliated pro ranks in the Cubs, Pirates and Yankees organizations and hit over .300 in a season three times. He returned to Manitoba in 1957 where he would play and coach the Brandon Cloverleafs of the Manitoba Senior League for more than 20 years. MacKay was also the director of the Canadian Federation of Amateur from 1967 to 1974 and in his home province, he helped create the Manitoba Association, an organization he served as the president of in 1972 and 1973. He was also a driving force behind the establishment of the Manitoba Hall of Fame, of which he was later inducted into individually and as a member of four different teams.
Mitchell passed away on July 20 at the age of 83. A well-known Calgary lawyer and longtime partner and mentor of Okotoks Dawgs founding and managing director John Ircandia, Mitchell had attended a Dawgs game three days prior to his death. Mitchell had been a strong supporter of the Western Canadian League team. Those away from the diamonds knew him best as a former CFL player and later CFL commissioner from 1984 to 1988. The highly respected and lawyer had received many local, provincial and national honours, including an appointment to the Order of Canada in 2004 and being inducted to the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2007 and into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in the month prior to his death.
Wawryshyn Moroz passed away on Feb. 3 at the age of 97. A standout multi-sport athlete as a teen and into her early 20s, she was the MVP of the Winnipeg Canadian Ukranian Athletic Club (CUAC) Blues fastball team that won a provincial championship in 1945. At this tournament, she was spotted by an All-American Girls Professional ball League (AAGPBL) scout and eventually landed a contract with the Kenosha Comets. After a season with the Comets, she moved on to the Springfield Sallies where she would play in a career high 118 games and steal 66 s. In 1949, she landed with the Fort Wayne Daisies and proceeded to collect a career-best six triples and swipe 64 s to earn Second All-League Team honours. But it was her 1950 campaign that was her best. That season, she batted a career-high .311, which was good for third in the AAGPBL. She also established career-bests in hits (124), doubles (13) and runs (71) and was selected to play in her first All-Star Game. She played one final season in 1951. Wawryshyn was elected to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and into the Manitoba ball Hall of Fame five years later. She was also one of the 68 Canadian women that played in the AAGPBL that was inducted into the Canadian ball Hall of Fame in 1998.
Mosher (Wolfville, NS) passed Feb. 22, 2022 at age 63.
Mosher passed away on Feb. 22 at the age of 63. Born in Wolfville, N.S., Mosher was involved as a player and coach with the Kentville Wildcats since their first Nova Scotia Senior League season in 1977. In 1985, as a player, he was named league MVP and propelled Kentville to a national championship. He soon expanded into the dual role of player/coach before hanging up his playing spikes to focus solely on head coaching duties. He was part of the organization until 2017. In 2021, the Wildcats inducted him into their Hall of Fame and retired his No. 29. Mosher also served in a variety of other ball roles in his home province, including coaching youth teams. He was honoured with ball Canada’s Lifetime Achievement Award in December 2021.
Scott passed away on Aug. 25 at the age of 90. He dedicated more than 60 years to the game as a player, coach, executive and volunteer. Though he didn’t play organized ball until he was 16, he eventually pitched on his hometown Hamiota, Man., squad alongside his brother Glennis, with his father, Jim, serving as the team’s catcher. At age 20, he began coaching and proceeded to serve in numerous administrative capacities locally, provincially and nationally. He was a coach on Canada’s first national team that competed in the 1967 Pan Am Games and from 1983 to 1987, he was president of the Manitoba ball Association and a vice-president with ball Canada from 1986 to 1989. The highly respected executive also acted as the GM of Canada’s youth national team that won bronze at the World Junior championships in Windsor, Ont., in 1987. Known as Manitoba’s Mr. ball, he also scouted part-time for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1987 to 1993 and for the Atlanta Braves from 1994 to 2001. For his contributions to the game in his province, he was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and the Manitoba ball Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was elected to the Canadian ball Hall of Fame.
Topolie passed Sept, 4 at the age of 76. The father of Damon Topolie, he was the third coach for the Intercounty League’s Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015 to 2021. Prior to his tenure with the Maple Leafs, he was an assistant coach with the Ontario Blue Jays, helping to lead them to a 2005 USSSA World Series championship. He also served three terms as president of ball Ontario. Before his coaching career, he was an eight-time All-Star second man in the Gateway Major Fastball League in North Bay, Ont. For his efforts,he was inducted into the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
Ward passed away on March 16 at the age of 84. The son of Montreal Maroons hockey star, Jimmy Ward, Ward was born in Montreal before moving to Portland, Ore. when he was eight years old. In 1958, the Baltimore Orioles signed him and after five seasons in the minors -- where he was a teammate of Hall of Famer Pat Gillick -- he made his big league debut with the Orioles on Sept. 21, 1962. Following that season, Ward was traded to the Chicago White Sox who transformed him into a third man. In 157 games in 1963, he hit .295, socked 22 home runs, finished second in the American League to Carl Yastrzemski in hits and was named The Sporting News American League Rookie of the Year. For an encore, Ward belted 23 homers – including three grand slams – and knocked in a career-best 94 runs in 1964 and finished sixth in the American League MVP voting. Unfortunately, he suffered a neck injury in a car accident in 1965 that hampered him for the rest of his career. After four more seasons with the White Sox, he played his final campaign with the New York Yankees in 1970. After retiring as a player, he managed for eight seasons in the minors with the Yankees, White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. He eventually left ball to open a travel agency called Pete Ward Travel in Lake Oswego, Ore.
RHP Ali Schroeder (Fruitvale, BC) is Canada’s best arm.
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101. Ali Schroeder and Mia Valcke, Canadian Women’s Team.
Schroder (Fruitvale, BC) set down Team USA in order to begin the fifth and final game of the 2022 Friendship Series, striking out two and inducing a pop up to shortstop Ellie Jesperson (Spruce Grove, Alta.). It was the first time the team prevented the Americans from scoring in the first inning, as they had had scored nine runs in the first innings of the previous four games win in Thunder Bay. Schroder threw five scoreless innings, limiting the US to three singles, while striking out five, on 63 pitches. Team USA fought back with four in the sixth. Ali threw 19 first-pitch strikes in the 8-4 win. Ali was 1-1 in 10 innings, walking five and fanning eight. At the 2018 World Cup, she went 1-0 in three games (twice against USA, once against Australia) working 12 2/3 innings with a 1.66 ERA, allowing 12 walks and striking out seven, holding opponents to a .186 batting average.
OF Mia Valcke (St. Marys, Ont.) was strong for Canada as well.
Mia (St. Marys, Ont.) singled and homered in the final game. She also singled in the opening game loss, singled twice including a two-run single in Game 3. She hit .375 (6-for-16) with two doubles and four RBIs. Valcke was behind Madison Willan (Edmonton, Alta.), Alizee Gelinas (Trois-Rivieres, Que.) and Ellie Jespersen (Spruce Grove, Alta.) in average. She helped Canada win bronze at the World Cup in Melbourne, Fla., as Canada beat USA 8-5. She hit .296 with three doubles, four RBIs and a .752 OPS. She has the good genes from her mother Paula and father Tom, former CEO of the Canadian Hall of Fame.
Jimmy Richarson, right.
102. Jimmy Richardson and Perry Scott, coaches, FieldHouse Pirates.
Richardson runs the show, while Scott puts together the facility and the organization’s programming. Scott was part of the Ontario Summer Games gold medal winning team in Niagara Falls and Welland. Scott, a Prince George, BC native, had a .435 batting average, .a 493 on-base percentage and .435 single-season batting average which still stands as Crusader records. His contributions led them to their first-ever NAIA Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference playoff appearance. Former pros INF Lee Delfino, RHP John Mariotti, RHP Ian Harvey and C Wayne Forman can be found hard at work most nights.
Perry Scott who was a spoeedster and a Hall of Famer at Clarke University in Iowa.
The Pirates pride and joy is OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.), ranked the 10th best prospect in the Cubs organization after being drafted by the Padres in the second round and be given a $1,200,004 signing bonus. INF Nate Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.), a sixth rounder to the Nationals, who earned a $375,000 signing bonus.
Danny Gallagher recently released his ninth Expos book.
103. Dan Gallagher, author (99).
The writing machine is out with another new book “Around the Horn,” his ninth on the Montreal Expos and his 12th overall. Gallagher had THE news story that potential Expo investor Mitch Garber and Steven Bronfman were out of chasing a new franchise in 2022. This was after hopes of two-city, concept -- half the season in Tampa Bay and half in Montreal -- were dashed.
Gallagher (Douglas, Ont. born) wrote Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson for a donation of memorabilia to the NHA/NHL birthplace museum in Renfrew. Molson donated some artifacts. The National Hockey Association consisted of the Renfrew Creamery Kings (regarded as the Millionaires), Cobalt Kings, Haileybury Comets and Les Canadiens of Montreal and the Montreal Wanderers. Renfrew buisnessman Ambrose O’Brien owned part of all five teams except the Wanderers, and he founded the Habs. Gallagher used to play for the Renfrew Red Sox.
Jonathan Erlichman (Toronto, Ont.) is the Tampa Bay Rays process and analytics coach. Photo: CTV
104. Jonathan Erlichman, coach, Rays (93).
A former Jays intern in 2012, Erlichman (Toronto, Ont.) is the Rays’ “process & analytics” coach, as Tampa Bay had the winning process 86 times to make post-season play for the fourth straight season. Maybe Joe Sheehan, former Jays information analyst, will appear in the dugout in uniform like Erlichman. Sheehan has been promoted to assistant GM.
Nicknamed “J-Money” by a Rays players, Erlichman is a Princeton (class of 2012), joined the Rays and rose from director of analytics within four years. Erlichman never played past T-ball and didn’t coach at any level, but he can crunch ... numbers.
Jason Booth, of the Ontario Astros
105. Jason Booth, coach, Ontario Astros (94).
The Astros had four players head to Ottawa for the Canadian Futures Showcase: RHP Julian Robertson (Aurora, Ont.), INF Tristan Desrochers (Barrie, Ont.), INF Evan Gunn (Oshawa, Ont.) and LHP Matt Marsh (Havelock, Ont.). Marsh is headed to Niagara, Robertson to Ohio, Gunn to highly-ranked Iowa Western. Five players evaluated by Perfect Game at the Premier League showcase: SS John Genco (Woodbridge, Ont.), C Philip Sephton (North York, Ont.), OF Antony Kulasekaran (Markham, Ont.), SS Wesley Knott (Oro-Medonte, Ont.) and C Preston Vieira (Oshawa, Ont.).
And three Astros players represented Canada at the Summer Games under head coach David Quattrocchi (Toronto, Ont.) returning from Niagara with a gold medal: RHP Frank-Anthony Caietta (Bradford, Ont.), RHP Owen Slater (Whitby, Ont.) and Marsh. Booth has run the Astros since 2012 of the Premier League and before that ran the Oakville Royals (2009-2011).
Arash Madani, Sportsnet reporter
106. Arash Madani, Sportsnet.
Madani is a verstile reporter/interviewer and you can tell his questions rank amongst the best because of the way the Blue Jays wrinkle or crinkle their nose when they hear his words. That is good news for viewers and not good for the players. He is a pro’s pro. He has worked in Ottawa/Montreal and Calgary markets.
When he joined Blue Jays coverage we were unsure how much knowledge he had about the game, but he quickly showed he knew more about the game than I do ... not to mention the NFL, the Super Bowl, the CFL, uSports, etc. He’s at ease both on TV or radio.
Keegan Matheson, Blue Jays MLB.com reporter.
107. Keegan Matheson, MLB.com.
If you met Matheson for the first time in the press box you’d walk away and ask someone “so what station is he with again?” The man has a voice. He could be doing the 6 o’clock news. Or the 7 o’clock news. Or the late edition. Well, you get the idea. But besides having a voice for radio and the composure to handle TV, he also writes on a daily basis covering the Blue Jays. He now enters his fourth season with MLB.com.
We think Toronto Star’s Gregor Chisholm and Matheson -- two Atlantic boys -- have given the Maritimes the lead over the former most popular place to come from: Jeff Blair, Sportsnet, Richard Griffin, Blue Jays/Toronto Star and some other guy -- Kingston born one and all. Matheson is Maritime proud. Years ago the final of 2017 Tournament 12 was played between the Atlantic provinces and Quebec. Both Ontario entries were eliminated. Someone in the press box wondered if the lack of either of the teams from the major markets would hurt the crowd for the final. “What do you mean? There are four big ones here?” said Matheson, referring to the Atlantic represented by Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and Newfoundland.
Frank Fascia, coach and Brampton Sports HOFer
108. Frank Fascia, Brampton Royals.
Fascia was inducted into the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame in May 2022. He began playing minor ball in Brampton in 1983, earning Central Ontario Association junior all-star honors twice. He played college ball at George Washington and St. Bonaventure. In 1991, Fascia was a founding member of the Brampton seniors, played and coached for 10 years, earning COBA Major League MVP, Top Pitcher and Sportsman of The Year. As well, he was COBA Major executive of the year in 1999 and elected to the loop’s Hall of Fame in 2010. He has volunteered with Challenger ball since its inception in 2018 which gives ages 5-to-21 with cognitive and physical disabilities an opportunity to play.
Fascia has been commissioner of the Ontario Elite League since 2019, both 18U and 16U. No matter the age group -- 18U or 10U -- each Brampton team warms up the same way. He and others started the indoor Upper Deck training facility. “I respect him,” said an elite coach, who competes for players with Brampton each year. “Every other association tries to close the barn door after kids have gone elsewhere. Frank is trying to keep local kids in Brampton.” In 2022, Fascia was named head coach of the inaugural Sheridan College team.
Sammie Starr, UBC assistant coach
109. Sammie Starr, assistant coach, UBC (96).
The Thunderbirds went 31-26 in the Cascade conference under Modesto, Calif. native head coach Chris Pritchett, who played four seasons for the triple-A Vancouver Canadians, Mitch Hodge (Vancouver, BC) and Starr (Toronto, Ont.). Starr has deeper roots than Rogers Centre girders. His grandfather Sam Starr was a part owner of the triple-A Toronto Maple Leafs. Since UBC’s schedule is visiting or hosting universities from south of the border, UBC was sidelined by COVID restrictions. This was the first year they were under full operations and saw former T-Bird Adam Maier drafted in the seventh round and picking up $1.2 million signing bonus.
Ty Penner (Lethbridge, Alta.) led UBC at the plate with a .345 average with 18 doubles, 11 homers, 47 RBIs with a 1.082 OPS as well as well as Noah Or (Richmond, BC) who batted .330 with 11 doubles, two homers, 41 RBIs with a .852 OPS. On the mound Branden Woods (Red Deer, Alta.) was 5-0 with a 4.48 ERA, striking out 53 in 68 1/3 innings, while Ryan Beitel (Surrey, BC) was 4-4 with a 5.09 ERA as he whiffed 83 in 76 innings. The Phillies signed Penner as a free agent after the draft. Starr was a four-year starter through 2010 and was recognized as a top defender at shortstop in the NAIA West receiving Gold Glove Awards in back-to-back seasons (2009-10), along with NAIA West All Conference Team honours in 2010. An Orioles draft he played five seasons in the minors.
Heidi Jacobs, author, librarian and Chatham Colured All-Stars expert.
110. Heidi LM Jacobs, author.
An advocate for the Chatham Coloured All-Stars in an attempt to induct the 1934 team into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Jacobs (Windsor, Ont.) has made excellent presentations at previous Canadian History conferences and organized the 2022 event which was staged at the University of Windsor where she works as a librarian. At past conferences, Jacobs has arrived with a full display and card sets of some of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars.
A proflic writer, Jacobs wrote Molly of the Mall: Literary Lass and Purveyor of Fine Footwear which won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for humour in 2020. Along with her husband Dale Jacobs, they wrote 100 Miles Of Baseball after attending 50 games within a 100 mile radius. And on deck ... her next book is Boomer Harding and 1934 Chatham All Stars, which includes Fergie Jenkins’ father.
Chicago Cubs assistant hitting coach, game planning Jim Adduci (Burnaby, BC)
Honourable Mentions …
Lyle Abbott, Toronto, Ont., treasurer, Canadian Hall of Fame; Jim Adduci, Burnaby, BC, Cubs assistant hitting coach, game planning; Mike Addy, Langley, BC, executive director, BC Premier League; LHP Andrew Albers, North Battleford, Sask., Team Canada; Jonathan Ali, Winnipeg, Man., director of operations, Home Run Sports Training Centre and Academy; Sho Alli, Scarborough, Ont., Sportsnet 590; Jeff Amos, Brantford, Ont., head coach, Muskoka Outlaws Academy; Alex Andreopoulos, Etobicoke, Ont., bullpen catcher, Blue Jays; J.P. Antonacci, Simcoe, Ont., Canadian Baseball Network; Don Archer, White Rock, BC, scout, Angels; Cole Armstrong, Surrey, BC, Webber Wildcats; Laura Armstrong, scibe, Toronto Star, now soccer; Adam Arnold, St. Thomas, Ont., area scout Four Corners, Blue Jays; Nick Ashbourne, Toronto, Ont., scribe, Rogers SportsNet, NorthStar Bets; Casey Auerbach, Westmount, Que., coach, McGill University; John Axford, Port Dover, Ont., Team Canada.
Justin Ayles, Brampton, Ont., Canadian Baseball Guru; John Azzoli, St. Catharines, Ont., vice-president, Fergie Jenkins league convenor and expansion; Jim Baba, Ottawa, Ont., World Softball and Baseball Confederation; Ken Babcock, Oshawa, Ont., athletic director, Durham College, head coach, Oshawa Legionaires 15U;; Allan Bailey, Vancouver, BC, GM,, class-A Vancouver Canadians, Denis Bailey, North York, Ont., college placement coordinator, hitting coordinator, head coach, Toronto Titans 18U Evan Bailey, Kamloops, BC, coach, Okanagan A’s; Nastassia Bakoyiannis, Stratford, Ont., fundraiser, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; RHP Jordan Balazovic, Mississauga, Ont., triple-A St. Paul Saints; Chris Balison, Kamloops, BC, president Baseball BC; Mitch Bannon, Toronto, Ont., Sports Illustrated, covering the Blue Jays like a tarp; John Barr, London, Ont., ESPN; Larson Bauck, Nanaimo, BC, co-owner, co-GM, head coach, Mid-Island Pirates vice-president, BC Premier League; Meghan Beland, Fredericton, NB, program coordinator, New Brunswick Baseball; Thomas Bell, Etobicoke, Ont., western regional manager, Covermaster tarps; Ryan Bench, lab intern, Texas Rangers Arizona Performance Center .
Al Bernacchi, Windsor, Ont., coach, Windsor Selects 22U. Denny Berni, Etobicoke, Ont., Pro-Teach Baseball, Etobicoke Rangers head coach 13U and 18U; Matt Betts, Brantford, Ont., Canadian Baseball Network’s Big Man on Campus even bigger than hosting podcasts; Sébastien Berrouard, Montréal, Que., Passion MLB; John Biggar, Toronto, Ont., physical therapist, Toronto Blue Jays; Jim Bigras, Sarnia, Ont., manager, Sarnia Braves 18U; Howie Birnie, Leaside, Ont., Keeper of the Shrine (Talbot Park) Baseball Ontario Hall of Famer, who has a habit of yelling “Get that old man off the field,” when old pitching coaches make mound visits; Chris Black, Oshawa, Ont., producer, Blue Jays Central, Sportsnet; (Hot) Rod Black, Stouffville, Ont., Toronto Star/Canadian Baseball Network; Troy Black, Mississauga, Ont., head coach, Humber College; 2B Tyler Black, Stouffville, Ont., minor league organization all star team, Milwaukee Brewers; Cam Black-Araujo, Bowmanville, Ont., PBR; Matthew Blackborow, Stoney Creek, Ont., umpire, class-A Northwest League; Jeff Blair, Hamilton, Ont. Sportsnet; Savannah Blakley, Okotoks, Alta., athletic therapist, live-saving angel, Okotoks Dawgs; Damian Blen, Hamilton, Ont., president, Ontario Rockies coach 18U.
Blue Jays clubhouse manager Scott Blinn (Toronto, Ont.)
Scott Blinn, Toronto, Ont., clubhouse manager, Blue Jays; Mathieu Blondin, Gatineau, Que., président, Baseball Quebec Outaouais; Jordan Blundell, assistant GM/head coach, Edmonton Prospects/Evolution Baseball/PBR; Kevin Bly, Toronto, Ont., coach, Metropolitan University; Jamie Bodaly, coach, Langley Blaze 18U, Reds amateur scout; Kyle Boddy, Kent, Wash./Toronto, Ont., Driveline; Andrew Boehm, Portage la Prairie, Man., head coach, Northern Lights 18U, named to Baseball Manitoba’s Honour Society; Dana Bookman, Etobicoke, Ont., Canadian Girls League; Mike Boon, Etobicoke, Ont.; Toronto Mike’d Podcast; Ont.; Steve Boston, Nepean, Ont., Ottawa-Nepean Canadians executive, his father Brian Boston a founding father in 1979; Nick Boudreau, Fredericton, NB, executive director Baseball New Brunswick; Jean Boulais, Gatineau, Que., vice-président Baseball Canada; Lisa Bowes, Calgary, Alta., author, Lucy Tries Sports part of a series on luge, speedskating, soccer, hockey and hoops, endorsed by Justin Morneau; Shawn Bowman, Coquitlam, BC, minor league field coordinator, Pirates.
Louis Boyd, North Vancouver, BC, field co-ordinator, Mariners; LHP Mitch Bratt, Newmarket, Ont., minor league organization all star team Texas Rangers; Nolan Bracken, Regina, Sask., grassroots development, Baseball Sask.; RHP Matt Brash, Kingston, Ont., Mariners; Taylor Bratton, Oakville, Ont., head coach Abbotsford Cardinals 18U/9 Innings Baseball/associate scout San Diego Padres; Bruce Brenner, Toronto, Ont., visiting clubhouse, Rogers Centre; Kevin Briand, Montreal, Que., pro scout, Blue Jays; RHP Trevor Brigden, North York, Ont., triple-A Durham, double-A Montgomery, Rays; Alexis Brisebois, Montréal, Que., Passion MLB; Jordan Broatch, White Rock, BC, GM, White Rock Tritons/PBR; Charles Bronfman, Montreal, Que./New York, former Expo owner, Montreal, Que.; Steven Bronfman; Mitch Garber, Montreal investors; Gary Brotzel, Cupar, Sask., president, Regina Red Sox, Saskatchewan HOFer..
OF Dasan Brown, Oakville, Ont., minor league organization all star team, Toronto Blue Jays; Scott Bullett, Welland, Ont., president Fergie Jenkins league, coach, Bullettproof Prospects 17U; Craig Burt, Rosedale, BC, umpire, Arizona Complex League; T.J. Burton, Ottawa, Ont., program manager of amateur ball; Angela Burger, Calgary, Alta., Okotoks Dawgs photographer/life saver/angel; Connor Burns, St. Albert, Alta., co-head coach Sherwood Park Dukes 18U; director of hitting development, associate coach Absolute Human Performance, Taylor Burns, St. Albert, Alta., founder, president and director of development, Absolute Human Performance; Rich Butler, Ajax, Ont., Line Drive Academy, Bowmanville, Ont.; Rob Butler, East York, Ont., Ajax 22U; Terry Butler, Saskatoon, Sask., president, Baseball Sask.’ OF Owen Caissie class-A South Bend, Cubs; OF David Calabrese, Maple, Ont., Inland Empire ‘66ers, Angels; Gabrielle Campos, Brampton, Ont., research and development assistant, Waterloo grad, Blue Jays; Don Campbell, Nepean, Ont., president, Premier League of Ontario; Ray Carter, Tsawwassen, BC, former Baseball Canada president, his Ray Carter Cup runneth over; Dean Castelli, Hamilton, Ont., manager, Hamilton Redbirds.
Scott Cawker, head coach, Durham Lords, assistant coach Toronto Mets, 15U; Roop Chanderdat, London, Ont., manager, London Majors, back-to-back IBL champeens; Remo Cardinale, Thornhill, Ont., province’s pitching coach emeritus; Pat Cassidy, St. Albert, Alta., managing partner, Edmonton Prospects; Carter Chapley, Aurora, Ont., digital producer, St Louis Post-Dispatch; Jason Chatwood, Innisfail, Alta., head coach/GM Sylvan Lake Gulls, scout Arizona Diamondbacks; Mike Chewpoy, Victoria, BC, head coach/GM, Victoria Mariners; Corinne Chow, Vancouver, BC, director, Canadian Hall of Fame; Dan Cimoroni, Toronto, Ont., agent, Cimoroni & Company, OF Denzel Clarke, Pickering, Ont. minor league organization all star, Oakland A’s, class-A Lansing/class-A Stockton; Rob Corte, Sportsnet; Sharon Clarke, Regina, Sask., executive director, Regina Red Sox, Saskatchewan HOFer; Voon Chong, Vancouver BC, assistant trainer, Blue Jays; Jacob Clark, Toronto, Ont., producer, Sportsnet Blue Jays Central; Gary Cohen, Montreal, Que., The Baseball Cube; Jeremy Cohen, New York, vice-president, corporate sales, marketing, commisioner’s office; Dave Cooper, Lakeshore, Ont., player development consultant head coach, Tecumseh Thunder 18U; Joanna Cornish, Toronto, Ont., Hum and Chuck; Mike Cormack, Toronto, Ont., NorthStar Bets; Walter Cosman, Vancouver, BC, VP sales and marketing, Vancouver Canadians; Scott Costello, Barrie, Ont., director of umpires, Intercounty League.
His pop and uncle were part of the Burlington brood — C Kole Cottam of the Red Sox organization.
C Kole Cottam, Knoxville, Tenn. triple A Worcester, double-A Portland, Red Sox; Daylon Courchene, Ottawa, Ont., head coach, Carleton University/executive director and Ottawa Knights 14U head coach; Greg Cranker, Mississauga, Ont., manager, Erindale Cardinals top groundskeeper north of Dundas tending to Cranker Field; INF Trei Cruz, Toronto, Ont., double-A Erie, Tigers; Shannon Curley, Toronto, Ont., executive, Toronto Blue Jays; Tom Dakers, Calgary, Alta., Bluebird Banter; Jon Dale, Ottawa, Ont., head coach, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians 18U; Eric Daliere, Montreal, Que., president, FieldTurf; Norm Daley, Kamloops, BC, owner; Kamloops NorthPaws; Scott Dart, Intercounty executive, London Majors co-owner’ Mitch Davidoff, Victoria, BC, head coach/dire4ctor of operations Victoria Eagles/Lambrick Park Academy; Shane Dawson, Fort McMurray, Alta., head coach/technical director, Parkland Twins Academy; C Kellin Deglan, Langley, BC, Canada’s WBC entry triple-A Buffalo, Blue Jays.
Fabio Del Rio, Ottawa, Ont., pitching coach, Brock University; Charles Demers, Quebec City, Que., GM, Les Capitales de Quebec, Yannick Desjardins, Laval, Que., coach, Academie Baseball Canada; Ira DeWitt, Philip Pocock Secondary School grad, Mississauga, Ont., married to St. Louis Cardinals president Bill Dewitt III, Ethan Diamandas, Toronto, Ont., Sports Illustrated; Dean Dicenzo, Hamilton, Ont., senior advisor, Terriers, Mr. Hamilton Cardinal; Christine Dickson, Lonton, Ont., sales and marketing, OES Inc. scoreboards, London; Mike Didier, Toronto, Ont., head coach, University of Toronto Blues; Mark Ditmars, Toronto, Ont., vice-president, corporate partnerships, Blue Jays; Rosie DiManno, Toronto, Ont. out-STAND-ing columnist for all seasons, all sports, Toronto Star; Tyler Dobos, Ancaster, Ont., pitching resource coach Blue Jays, formerly Development Group; Julie Docker-Johnson, St. Marys, Ont., Canadian Hall of Fame; Steve Donahue, Mount Pearl, Nfld., Sudbury Voyageurs, head coach 18U; Rick Downton, Camlachie, Ont., secretary/treasurer, Premier League of Ontario; Shaun Doyle, Dartmouth, NS, founder, senior editor, Jays From the Couch.
Scott Drader, Victoria, BC, co-founder, Metalhead Software Inc. Super MEGA Baseball, EA Sports, It’s In the Game; Jeff Duda, Surrey, BC, pitching coordinator, Okotoks Dawgs Academy Dawgs, pitching coach Dawgs 18U Black, Washington Nationals associate scout, Erin Durant, Ottawa, Ont., BIG-time lawyer; Roberto Duncan, Amherstburg, head coach, St. Clair College; RHP Brock Dykxhoorn, Goderich, Ont., Uni President 7-Eleven Lions; Rob Edney, St. Marys, Ont., ex officio, Canadian Hall of Fame; Bernie Eiswirth, Regina, Sask., GM/instructor, Regina Red Sox/Saskatchewan HOFer; Jason Eisenstadt, Belleville, Ont., head coach, Belleville Bulls 18U; Stephanie Ellis, Vancouver, BC, assistant GM, class-A Vancouver Canadians; Joey Ellison, Mississauga, Ont., recruiting coordinator/assistant coach, McPherson College; Dave Empey, North Vancouver, BC, North Shore Hall of Fame inductee/Dave talks Baseball blog; Chris English, Montreal, Que., owner, Vermont Lake Monsters Futures college summer team/co-founder RockFence Capital, which has loaned Atlanta Braves OF Ronald Acuna Jr. a reported $10 million; Tyler Enns, St. Paul, Man., strength and conditioning coach, triple-A Gwinnett Stripers; Brian Essery, Vancouver, BC, manager, Welland Jackfish; Spencer Estey, Toronto, Ont., analyst, Blue Jays; Dwain Ervin, Mississauga, Ont., coach, Mississauga North Tigers/Michael Kim tourney convenor.
Ray Fagnant, East Granby, Conn., scout, Red Sox; Drew Fairservice, Orangeville, Ont., Long Way From Sunlight substack, The Athletic SpinRate podcast. Mike Farrell, Toronto, Ont., ESPN, director; Robbie Fatal, Gatineau, Que., GM, head coach, owner, Canada Reds Academy; Jackson Farough, London, Ont., co-host Canadian Baseball Network podcast; C Zac Fascia, Brampton, Ont., triple-A Columbus, Guardians; Rowan Ferrabee, Ottawa, Ont., CTO and Co-Founder, Trajekt Sports, Mississauga, Ont.; David Flanngan, Brampton, Ont., coach and GM, Brampton Royals seniors, Unlimited Sports; Derek Florko, Langley, BC, coach, Arizona Complex League Angels; Pablo Forno, Okotoks, Alta., Dawgs director, Grand Slam Sports, Stacy Fournier, Surrey, BC, Women’s National Team regional director/Baseball BC Technical director and 16U head coach; Stacey May Fowles, Toronto, Ont., author, baseball lover, baseball life advice, wrote The Invitation (2023) and Good Mom on Paper (2022); Larisa Fraser, Mississauga, Ont., model, wife of former Milwaukee Brewer OF Ryan Braun; Geoff Freeborn, Calgary, Alta., Sidearm Nation, coach University of Calgary, pitching coach, Alberta Amateur Council 18U, scout Reds; Mike Frostad, Edmonton, Alta., head athletic trainer, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Shawn Fuller, St. George, Ont., owner, GM, Guelph Royals; Martine Gaillard, Toronto, Ont., broadcaster, Sportsne; Jennifer Gallupe-Roos, Dundas, Ont., winner of Ian McLean award for dedication to growing inclusive sport programming, Challenger.
Blue Jays VP of communications Andrea Goldstein started covering the team for 680.
Andrea Goldstein, Toronto, Ont., vice-president communications and Blue Jays media; Perry (Perry G) Giannias, Laval, Que., Exposfest organizer, raises monies for children’s brain cancer research in memory of his niece Kat; Ted Giannoulas, London, Ont., The Famous Chicken, appeared in Peacock documentary ‘I Love You, You Hate Me’ to comment on Barney sketch; Dan Giesbrecht, Winkler, Man., chairman, Manitoba Hall of Fame, Johnny Giunta, Mississauga, Ont., host, Officially Unofficial podcast; George Godfrey, Kingston, Ont., Jays Aggregator; Stephen Gomes, Tecumseh, Ont., umpire; Nick Gorneault, Springfield, Mass., scout Anaheim Angels; Julie Gosselin, vice-president, Baseball Quebec; Patrick Gray, Oakville, Ont., senior director of development, University of Michigan athletics; Dr. Randy Gregg, Edmonton, Alta. managing director, Edmonton Riverhawks; Jean-Paul Grice, London, Ont., director, OES Inc. scoreboards, London, Ont.; Trevor Grieve, Toronto, Ont., umpire; Marc Griffin, Montreal, Que./Okotoks, Alta., broadcaster, RDS; Mike Griffin, Nanaimo, BC, director of baseball development, Pro5 Academy, Holly Springs, NC; John Haar, director of baseball operations, NorthShore Twins, Canadian HOFer; Ken Hamilton, Assiniboia, Sask., co-commissioner, Baseball Sask; George Halim, Grimsby, Ont., GM Hamilton Cardinals/PBR/College Placement Incorporated,.
INF Adam Hall, London, Ont., double-A Bowie (Orioles); Mike Hansford, Burlington, Ont., Corbett’s Source for Sports; Paul Hargreaves, Surrey, BC, GM, Whalley Chiefs, Dr. Bryan Har, Calgary, BC, heart surgeon, Foothills Hospital, Ellen Harrigan, senior director, administration, Dodgers; Jalen Harris, head coach, Toronto Mets 18U: Jalen Harris, Mississauga, Ont., head coach, Toronto Mets 18U; Ryan Harrison, Thorold, Ont., president Welland Jackfish/Intercounty executive; Mustafa (Moose) Hassan, Toronto, Ont., home clubhouse manager, equipment, Blue Jays; Jalen Harris, Mississauga, Ont., head coach, Toronto Mets 18U; Joe Hawkins, Oshawa, Ont., hitting coach, class-A Peoria (St. Louis Cardinals). Blake Hawksworth, North Vancouver BC, director of operations, University of California-Irvine Anteaters; Ed Heather, Cambridge, Ont., mentor emeritus, Terriers; Chris Henderson, Estevan, Sask., scribe, Fansided. Saskatchewan Country Male Artist of the year 2018-20; Jim Henderson, Calgary, Alta., bullpen coach, Milwaukee Brewers.
Andrew Hendricks, Toronto, Ont., data master of MLB.com; Josh Herback-South, Regina, Sask., head coach, Bulldogs Academy, Lloydminister, Alta.; and C Liam Hicks, Toronto, Ont., minor league organization all star, Texas Rangers; Zoe Hicks, Boissevain, Man., technology associate, Los Angeles Dodgers; Shawn Hill, Mississauga, Ont., pro scout, New York Yankees; Mitch Hodge, Vancouver, BC, coach BC Thunder; Jonathan Hodgson, Victoria, BC, Writer, podcaster for Area 51 Sports Network, covering the Blue Jays, Mariners and Western Canada Western Hockey League; Chad Hofmann, Muenster, Sask., coach Sask Baseball; Tyler Hollick, Calgary, Alta., Okotoks Dawgs Academy GM, Dawgs Black coach/Milwaukee Brewers associate scout; Paul Hollingsworth, Dartmouth, N.S., broadcaster, TSN; Bob Hooper, Burlington, Ont., president and business director, FieldHouse Pirates; Todd Hubka, Claresholm, Alta., head coach, Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs; David Huctwith, Mississauga, Ont, past president and wisest owl, Baseball Ontario, assistant coach McMaster, best groundskeeper south of Dundas; Christi Hudson, Stratford, Ont., curator, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Marc Hulet, London, Ont., scribe, Hulet, Rotoballer; Frank Humber, Corner Brook Nfld., Corner Brook, Association; Jim Hunt, Elginburg, Ont., president and coach, Kingston Ponies 15U; Ian Hunter, Kitchener, Ont., scribe, @Daily HiveTO; Dutche Iannetti, Fort McMurray, Alta., owner, Fort McMurray Giants; John Iaboni, Toronto, Ont., Sport Media Canada; Todd Ireland, Burlington, Ont., associate head coach, Tusculum College; Chris Iltshishin, Kitchener, Ont., hitting instructor, Ontario Nationals manager 18u, Aaron Izaryk, Markham, Ont., head coach and director of athletics, Bridgton Academy, North Bridgton, Maine, Black Bears HOFer; Chris James, Spruce Grove, Alta., program director, Parkland Twins Academy; Steven Jaschinski, Mount Hope, Ont., triple-A umpire; Jeremy Jayaweera, president, owner, Ontario Nationals, manager 17U, scout Los Angeles Angels; Frank Jeney, Windsor, Ont., head coach, University of Windsor; Brit Johnson, Windsor, Ont., head coach, Tecumseh Thunder juniors; Mike Johnson, Sherwood Park, Alta., owner, 5 Tool Fieldhouse Alberta HOFer; Eric Jones, manager, Newmarket, Ont., Lake Simcoe Padres 18U; 2B Edouard Julien, Ancienne-Lorette, Que., Double A Texas League post-season all-star, Arizona Fall League Breakout Player of the Year. minor league organization all star, Minnesota Twins, Frank Kaluzniak, Brandon, Man., head coach, Parksville Royals 18U; Andrew Karkoulas, Guelph, Ont., owner PPA hithouse; Cortney Karkoulas, Guelph, Ont., co-owner, Peak Performance Athletics, Hithouse; Jamie Kell, Windsor, Ont., head coach, Tecumseh Thunder seniors,
The former coach of the North Delta Blue Jays, Mike Kelly (North Delta, BC), is still at it with amateur ball.
Mike Kelly, North Delta, BC, BC Minor, organizer of the top coaching clinic west of Pearson Airport; Shilpa Ketharaju, Toronto, Ont., vice president, finance and administration, Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, second best Canadian parallel parker in the village; Ben Komonosky, Regina, Sask., head coach, Regina Red Sox, assistant coach Indiana State; Glenn Kirkpatrick, Surrey, BC, owner, Bellingham Bells, West Coast League vice president; Mike Koreen, Toronto, Ont., Sportsnet; Julia Kreuz, Toronto, Ont., outstanding scribe, Sportsnet; Josh Krstulovich, raised in Brampton, Ont., director of player development, University of Arkansas-Little Rock/area scout Chicago White Sox; Kevin Kvame, Lethbridge, Alta., president WMBL, GM Lethbridge Bulls; Parker Kynoch, Vancouver, BC, head coach, NorthShore Twins 18U; David Laing, Langley, BC, executive director, Baseball BC; Kory Lafreniere Sault Ste. Marie, scout, Jays; Brent Lahle, London, Ont., CTV London; Dwayne Lalor, Red Deer, Alta., head coach, Alberta Amateur Council 18U, James Liles, Mississauga, Ont., umpire.
Jason Lombard, Halifax, N.S., president Baseball Nova Scotia; Jeff Lounsberry, Stevensville, Ont., Ont., GM, Hamilton Cardinals, assistant coach, Wilfrid Laurier Universit; Jon Lalonde, Midland, Ont., player personnel coordinator, Toronto Blue Jays; Maxime Lamarche, Montreal, Que., executive director, Baseball Québec; Jacques Lanciault, Laval, Que., writer, all you need to know about Quebec players (jacqueslanciault.com); Scott Langdon, Etobicoke, Ont., Canadian Baseball Network; Eric Langill, bullpen catcher, Kirkland, Que., New York Mets; Brittney Langlais, Garson, Man., Women’s Sport Development Committee; Holly Lapierre, Hammonds Plains, NS, board of director, Canadian Hall of Fame; Jay Lapp, London, Ont., scout, Toronto Blue Jays; Jean-Gilles Larocque, Azilda, Ont., 2023 Ontario Youth Team coach, head coach, Sudbury Voyageurs 14U; Dr. Michel Larivière, Sudbury, Ont., head coach, mental conditioning coach and recruiting coordinator, Laurentian; Brent Lavallee, North Delta, BC, manager, class-A Vancouver Canadians, Blue Jays, Dr. David Lawrence: primary care physician, Blue Jays.
Alexander Lawrie, Mineville, NS, umpire, class-A Florida State League.; Tyler Lawson, head coach, White Rock Tritons 18U; Randy LeBleau, Winnipeg, Man., Campbellsville University, assistant coach; Kevin Legge, Conception Bay South, Nfld, president, Baseball Newfoundland Labrador; Marty Lehn, White Rock, BC, Brewers scout/Big League Experience; Ryan Lennerton, Langley, BC, A&M Consolidated High School, College Station, Tx., Marc LePage, Welland, Ont., head coach Brock University; Cameron Lewis, Edmonton, Alta., editor-in-chief, Blue Jays Nation fan site (ranked fifth of 30 sites); Linda Lewis, commissioner, Port Lambton, Ont., Premier League of Ontario; Phil Lind, Toronto, Ont., Rogers Communications; INF Otto Lopez, Montreal, Que. triple-A Buffalo, Blue Jays; Mike Lumley, London, Ont., London Badgers chair person, coach 18U, 14U, and any other Badger team playing when his team is not busy and Western Ontario Mustangs, vice-president, Premier League of Ontario; Jim Lutton, Oshawa, Ont., although Whitby has been making overtures, OBA Hall of Famer; Shawn Lynn, North York, Ont., head coach, Ontario Astros 18U; Marika Lyszczyk, Tsawwassen BC, Sonoma State University; Drew MacDonald, Bradford, Ont., second assistant athletic trainer, Blue Jays.
Ryan MacDonald, Kennetcook N.S, Prairie Baseball Academy/Lethbridge Bulls; Walter MacEwen, Stratford, PEI, president, Baseball Prince Edward Island; Kyle Mackinnon, Caledon, Ont., coach, McPherson College/hitting coach, development staff, Arizona Diamondbacks; Andrew MacNevin, St. Catherines, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy, head coach, Holland College; LHP Adam Macko. Stony Plain, Alta., class-A Everett, Blue Jays; Jay-Dell Mah, Nakusp, BC, author, Western Canada Baseball, Scoresheet; Kevin Malloy, visiting clubhouse manager, Toronto Blue Jays; Kevin Mandzuk, Regina, Sask., umpire, class-A West league; Chris Marco, Hamilton, Ont., umpire, triple-A International league; Dave Margetts, Burlington, Ont., umpire, Dean Mariani, Mississauga, Ont., coach, Guelph University; Derek Marques, Whitby, Ont., agent, Lakeridge Sports Management, Aaron Marshall, Oshawa, Ont., head coach, Oshawa Legionaires, 18U; Chip Martin, London, Ont., Canadian ball historian and author of multiple Canadian books; Bill Matetich, Woodstock, Ont., manager, Kitchener Panthers; Josh Matlow, Innisfil, Ont., president, GM and manager, Barrie Baycat; Takahito (Taka) Matsuda, Hamilton, Ont., umpire, triple-A; John Matthew IV, Ormond, Ont., producer extraordinare, MLB.com, former second row humorist, always gives his team a chance to win.
Former Globe and Mail sports editor,one of the organizers of the Sport Media Canada luncheon, Steve McAllister (Georgetown), is the edtior of The Parieh, a wagering mag.
Steve McAllister, Georgetown, Ont., cditor-in-chief, The Parleh, Sport Media Canada executive; Candy McEwan, St. Marys, Ont., director, Canadian Hall of Fame and Joe McFarland, Airdrie, Alta., Alberta Dugout Stories; Todd McFarlane, Edmonton, Alta., collector; Matt McGovern, Ottawa, Ont., third base coach, Kitchener Panthers; Kaitlyn McGrath, excellent ball scribe, The Athletic; Conor McKenna, Mississauga, Ont., umpire, class-A Florida State League; RP Adam McKillican, Comox, BC, minor league organization all-star team, Colorado Rockies; Wayne McNeil, Glace Bay, NS, broadcaster, Fubon Guardians; Chris Mears, Victoria, BC, pitching cross checker, Red Sox; Mitch Melnick, Montreal, Que., broadcaster, TSN 690; Cory Melvin, Tampa, Fla., pro scout, New York Yankees; Jeff Melrose, Mississauga, Ont., head coach, Queen’s University Golden Gaels, U Sports champion; Don Menard, Windsor, Ont., manager, Kitchener Panthers.
Jason Miller, Winnipeg, Man., executive director, Baseball Manitoba; Tim Micallef, Toronto, Ont., Tim and Friend, Sportsnet; Tanya Millette, St. Jerome. Que., umpire, Frontier League;Matt Mills, Hamilton, Ont., president and GM, head coach, Ontario Royals 17U; Larry Millson, Toronto, Ont., Field Level Media, has seen more Jays games than any writer; John Milton, Niagara-on-the-Lake/Lake Venice-on-the-Lanai, Fla; Okotoks Dawgs advisor, program coordinator St. Petersburg commission, recruiter, Erie County Community College recruiter, Kevin Mitchell, Cambridge, Ont., hitting coach, Ontario Blue Jays, Ryan Mittleman, director, pro scouting, Toronto Blue Jays; Herb Morell, Mississauga, Ont., Intercounty League statistian, official scorer at Rogers Centre; Peter Morris, East Lansing, Mich., historian/author Greg Morrison, owner, Medicine Hat, Alta., Medicine Hat Mavericks; Adam Morissette, Orleans, Ont., public relations and best-dressed man this side of Tom Sellick, Baseball Canada; Conner Morro, Cheltenham, Ont., player development and personnel, infield coach, head coach 18U, Ontario Blue Jays.
Neil Munro, North Bay, Ont., Canada’s stat guru, Canadian Baseball Network; Leo Mui, Toronto, Ont. scribe, Bluebird Banter; Blake Murphy, Cambridge, Ont., Sportsnet 590; Greg Murphy, Kingston Ont,, head coach, Kingston Colts 18U; Brett Muth, Edmonton, Alta., COO and Levi Muth, Edmonton, Alta., CEO co-Founders, Bush League Baseball; Tina Nagratha, Ottawa, Ont., treasurer and board member, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians; Bill Neale, Collingwood, Ont., head coach Kansas Wesleyan University; Andrew Needles, East York, Ont., interim coach, University of Toronto; Shelby Nelson, Dunedin, Fla., director of Florida operations, Toronto Blue Jays; Scott Neiles, Winnipeg, Man., Home Run Sports/Manitoba Hall of Famer; Nancy Newman, New York, YES Network, Yankees Magazine, host, doing the same job Hall of Famer Mel Allen did; Kevin Nicholson, Surrey, BC, head coach, Whalley Chiefs; Mike Nickeas, Vancouver, BC, agent, CAA, Michael Nightingale, Oakville, Ont., pitching co-ordinator, head coach, Bullettproof Academy Elite 18U; OF Jordan Nwogu, Ottawa, Ont., class-A South Bend (Cubs); Trevor Nyp, Kitchener, Ont., class-A Inland Empire, defensive coach, Los Angeles Angels; Dan Nonis, Kelowna, BC, Owner, Kelowna Falcons.
Ben Norris, Waterloo, Ont., head coach, University of Wateroo; Andrew North, St. Marys, Ont., organizer of the annual Canadian Baseball History Conference, director of the Centre for Canadian Research at the Hall of Fame in St. Marys; Jon Oko, Edmonton, Alta., president, Baseball Alberta; Cory Olafson, Moose Jaw Sask., GM, Moose Jaw Miller Express; Erik Olsen, Calgary, Alta., head coach, Ontario Royals 18U; LHP Ben Onyshko, Winnipeg, Man. double-A Arkansas; Pete Orr, pro/amateur scout, Brewers, player development/infield co-ordinator, Toronto Mets; Justin Orton, Essex, Ont., integrated performance coach, class-A Greensboro, Pirates, 1B J.D. Osborne, Whitby, Ont. triple-A Jacksonville; Stephen Osterer, Ottawa, Ont., director pitching development, Guardians; Clare Padmore, Toronto, Ont., biomechanist, RPI grad, Blue Jays; Stephen Paine, Mississauga, Ont., producer Blue Jays Central, Sportsnet; Shail Paliwal, Ottawa, Ont., president,,assistant coach, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians 18U; 3B Damiano Palmegiani, Surrey, BC, minor league organization all star, Toronto Blue Jays; Jon Pankuch, Kamloops, BC, owner; Kamloops NorthPaws.
former Blue Jays and Padres scout James Parker is an area scout with the Chicago Cubs.
James Parker, Toronto, Ont., area scout, Chicago Cubs; Steve Paine, Toronto, Ont., producer, Blue Jays Central, Sportsnet; Cayleigh Parrish, The SPORT Gallery, distillery district, Wayne Parrish, Collingwood, Ont., The SPORT Gallery, distillery district, SPORT Magazine; Rhonda Pauls, Rustico, PEI, executive director, Baseball PEI.; LHP James Paxton, Ladner, BC, Boston Red Sox; Pierre Karl Péladeau, CEO, TVA, only man to loan out his private plane in 2012; Allan Perkins, Toronto, Ont., TSN.ca, scribe; Dave Perkins, Toronto, Ont., The Bob McCown podcast; David Quattrociocchi, Toronto, Ont., coach, Team Ontario (2022 Canada Summer Games champs, Baseball Ontario president’s award winner), 18U Vaughan Vikings, head coach, Sheridan College; Darryl Reid, Oshawa, Ont., co-founder PreGame Sports Management Group, GM Toronto Mets, assistant coach 16U.; Bill Pegg, Kitchener, Ont., president, Kitchener Panthers, Intercounty executive; Rob Pegg, Flesherton, Ont., head coach, Vanguard University; Curtis Pelletier, Victoria, BC, coach and GM, University of Victoria/recruiting coordinator and GM Victoria HarbourCats/scout Cubs.
Neal Perry, Kamloops, BC, owner; Kamloops NorthPaws; Marc Philippon, Hamilton, Ont., Steadman Philippon Research Clinic, Vail, Col.; John Picco, Windsor, Ont., GM, director of player development Windsor Selects; Yannick Plante, Hearst, Ont., strength and conditioning coach, triple-A Omaha (Royals); Brett Platts, Searletown, PEI, strength and conditioning position with the class-A Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers); Bill Plunkett, Ottawa-born, Detroit raised, covers Dodgers for Orange County Register, among his legion of fans is former Dodger RHP Ross Stripling; Jamie Pogue, Guelph, Ont., bullpen catcher, St. Louis Cardinals; Mark Polishuk, London, Ont., MLB Trade Rumors; Ryan Pollard, Milton, Ont., head coach, Terriers 18U; Rick Pomerleau, Brantford, Ont., president and manager, Brantford Red Sox; RHP Zach Pop, Brampton, Ont., Toronto Blue Jays; Joshua Pope, Toronto, Ont., CEO and Co-Founder, Trajekt Sports, Mississauga, Ont.; Lou Pote, Okotoks, Alta., director of player development; interim manager Okotoks Dawgs, WCBL, scout, San Diego Padres; Adam Prendergast, Montreal, Que., associate director of athletics/communications and creative content, Troy University Trojans; Lou Proietti, Hamilton, Ont., head coach, Stonehill College Skyhawks.
Terry Puhl, Melville, Sask. coach, University of Houston-Victoria, Houston Astros HOFer; Joe Pulia, Rumford, Maine, Atlantic Academy, pitching coach, Holland College; Dr. Keith Pyne, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., medical consultant, Dodgers, Niagara Fall Wall of Famer. Shawn Pynn, Brampton, Ont., recruiting coach National Collegiate Scouting Association; Ed Quinlan, Stoney Creek, Ont., president, Baseball Ontario; Dr. Satish Raj, Calgary, Alta., heart surgeon, Foothills Hospital; Mike Ramage, Regina, Sask., executive director, Baseball Sask; Julio Ramírez, Toronto, Ont., international scouting, Latin America, crosschecks, Blue Jays; Nolan Rattai, Medicine Hat, Alta., head coach, Badlands Academy; Alykhan Ravjiani, Toronto, Ont., social community manager, Toronto Blue Jays; Claude Raymond, St-Jean, Que., Canadian Hall of Famer; Canadian Sports HOFer, former Expo; Al Ready, London, Ont., coach, University of Indianapolis; Ken Ready, Regina, Sask., co-commissioner, Baseball Sask.; Sean Refflighaus, London, Ont., head coach, Great Lake Canadians 18u; Morgan Reiter, Regina, Sask., director of player development, Inside Pitch Baseball Academy, IP Prospects head coach; Shari Reiniger, Sherwood Park, Alta., WBSC Director; Katie Reyes, Surrey, BC, athletic therapist, Blue Jays/Women’s National Development Team; Vanessa Riopel, Repentigny, Que., Baseball Québec Girls Baseball Lead.
Benoît Rioux, Montreal, Que., Journal de Montréal; Frederic Rioux, Montreal, Que., manager, minor league advance scouting, Pittsburgh Pirates; Brad Robinson, Pitt Meadows, BC, head coach, Douglas College; OF Jacob Robson, Windsor, Ont., Team Canada, triple-A Tigers; Liza Roikm, Ottawa, Ont., McMaster student field live-saving therapist; Jamie Romak, Belmont, Ont., director of player performance, Great Lake Canadians; Kara Lang Romero, Oakville, Ont., married to former Jays all-star Ricky Romero, Sportsnet; Ben Rosen, Thornhill, Ont., umpire, double-A; Tam Rosnau, Edmonton, Alta., executive director, Baseball Alberta; Allan Ross, Burlington, Ont., player and coach development director, Hamilton Cardinals; Dino Roumel, Guelph, Ont., manager, Guelph Royals; Kelly Sage, Brandon, Man., card collector (20,000 different Canadian cards, from Russ Ford (Brandon, Man., 1909) to Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.), assosicate scout, St. Louis Cardinals; Aqil Samuel, president and chief operations manager, Consort, Alta., Sylvan Lake Gulls; Patrick Scalabrini, Waterford, Que., manager, Les Capitales de Quebec.
Graham and Jen Schetzie (Veteran, Alta.) run the Sylvan Lake Gulls.
Jen and Graham Schetzsle, Veteran, Alta., Sylvan Lake Gulls; Ernie Schroeder, president Ottawa-Nepean Canadians; Liam Scott, Toronto, Ont., secretary, Canadian Hall of Fame; Phil Selig, Ottawa, Ont., @CubaDugout, bills himself as a top expert on Cuban history; Larry Scully, East York, Ont., pitching coach, Ball State University; Michelle Seniuk, Oakville, Ont., vice-president, Fan Experience, Blue Jays/director, Canadian Hall of Fame; Bill Shaikin, Montreal, Que., California Sportswriter of the Year, Los Angeles Times; Ken Sharpe, Brandon, Man., treasurer, Baseball Canada; Mike Shaw, Oakville, Ont., travelling secretary, Toronto Blue Jays; Dr. William Short, Credit Valley Hospital; Ben Shulman, Toronto, Ont., worked seven Jays games in 2022/class-A Fort Wayne Tincaps (Padres)/Raptors G Leaguen; Jane Shury, Battleford, Sask., Saskatchewan Hall of Fame; John Silverman, Montreal, equipment manager, Miami Marlins; Marie-Pierre Simard, La Beauce, Que., co-owner Les Capitales de Québec; Martin Simoneau, Saguenay Lac St-Jean, president Baseball Quebec.
Kip Simon, Regina, Sask., owner, 22Fresh Apparel, Inc.; David Singh, Toronto, Ont., Sportsnet scribe; Matt Skirving, London, Ont., assistant director, amateur scouting, Pittsburgh Pirates; RHP Noah Skirrow, Cambridge, Ont., triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs; double-A Reading Fightin’ Phils, Phillies; Annakin Slayd, hip-hop, rap, passionate Expos fan; Dr. Jason Smith, Toronto, Ont., Toronto Blue Jays, consulting orthopedic surgeon; Kirby Smith, president, head coach New Lowell Reds; Mary-Ann Smith, Cambridge, Ont. director of operations, Baseball Ontario/Madam President, who along with Enza Finnie, Kaira Ostrosser and Rita Dupon looked after paperwork for 37,602 players in 2022; Scott Smith, Toronto, Ont., secretary, Canadian Hall of Fame; Ryan Snair, Margaret’s Bay, N.S., head coach, Sullivan County Community College, Mike Sonne, Hamilton, Ont., recently hired as a baseball scientist, Chicago Cubs; RHP Mike Soroka Calgary, Alta, Atlanta Braves; Tyler Soucie, Kitchener, Ont., Velo Baseball; Bernie Soulliere, Windsor, Ont., chef de mission Team Canada/president Windsor Selects.
Matt Spatafora, Scarborough, Ont., assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, Niagara University; Tanner Spencer, Craik, Sask,, coach, University of Mary; Chris Stamper, Oakville, Ont., director, Canadian Hall of Fame; Rachel Steinberg, Ottawa, Ont., PA Media, United Kingdom, covering Crystal Palace/batflipsandnerds.com; Dale Stevens, Dundas, Ont., longest-serving member, MLB.com; Paul Stewart, London, Ont., director, OES Inc. scoreboards, London; Matt Stockman, Athens, Al., head coach, Athens Middle School Cougars; Adam Strongman, Caledonia, Ont., head coach, and life-saving hero, McMaster Univerity; Al Strathdee. St. Marys Ont., ex-officio, Canadian Hall of Fame; Jim Swanson, Prince George, BC, managing partner/GM, Victoria HarbourCats/Nanaimo NightOwls; Ryan Sweeney, Paradise, NL, president Premier Sports Academy, Amanda Tallon, Lindsay, Ont., MLBAM, coordinator, compliance operations, data operations department; Dr. Ron Taylor, Leaside, Ont. physician emeritus Blue Jays; RHP Curtis Taylor, Port Coquitlam, BC triple-A Rochester, Washington Nationals; Wes Taylor, Port Coquitlam, BC, president, BC Premier League/GM Coquitlam Reds; Devon Teeple, North Bay, Ont., GM’s Perspective, Inducted into Marquis Who’s Who Biographical Registry and founder of “ignite CHANGE”, non-profit that combines performance coaching and mentorship with mental health awareness; Chris Teliatnik, Oakville, Ont., triple-A umpire.
Author Dennis Thiessen (Toronto, Ont.) wrote about Canadian Hall of Famer Tip O’Neill.
Dennis Thiessen, Toronto, Ont., author of Tip O’Neill and the St. Louis Browns of 1887; Jason Thomasen, Brooks, Alta., president, Brooks Bombers Jack Thompson, Coquitlam, BC, director, head coach, Delta Blue Jays 18U; Jordan Tiegs, Woodstock, Ont,, pitching coach, class-A Kinston, Rangers; Dale Tilleman, Tabor, Alta., High Performance Coordinator Alberta Baseball, scout Tigers; Tom Tippett, Lexington, Mass., teams, Tippett Analytics; Damon Topolie, North Bay, Ont., coach, Mississauga Tigers; INF Abraham Toro, Longueuil, Que. Milwaukee Brewers; Alex Tosi, Markham, Ont., umpire, triple-A, 94 games in the majors, 22 behind the plate; Rene Tosoni, coach, Coquitlam Reds/scout Toronto Blue Jays; Jeremy Trach, Coquitlam, BC, assistant strength and conditioning coach, Toronto Blue Jays; Sean Travers, Toronto, Ont., coach, Mississauga Tigers/ director of player personel, Guelph Royals; Dave Tredgett, Toronto, Ont., Sportsnet executive producer of Blue Jays games; Jean Tremblay, Quebec City, Que. co-owner Les Capitales de Québec.
Phillip Tremblay, Quebec City, Que. co-owner Les Capitales de Québec; Pierre Tremblay, Quebec City, Que., co-owner Les Capitales de Québec; Marc-Élie Toussaint, Montreal, Que., sprint specialist; Randy Town, Calgary, Alta., associate athletic director for athletic operations and director of physical education director, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges; David Valente, Thunder Bay, Ont., president Border Cats; Jimmy Van Ostrand, Richmond, BC, mental performance coach, Toronto Blue Jays; Gary Van Tol, Pincher Creek, Alta., coach, Boise State; Jessica Ventura, Calgary, Alta., manager, partnership and community activation, New York Yankees; Allison Vickers, Mississauga, Ont., beach ball specialist, One Heart Care; Jaime Vieira, Georgetown, Ont., minor-league hitting coach, Blue Jays; Paul Villeneuve, Nepean, Ont., head coach and president, Ottawa Patriots 18U; Carson Vitale, Victoria, BC, major-league field coordinator, Seattle Mariners; Christian Vogler, Berwick, NS, pitching coach, Nova Scotia Selects; Darnell Vrban, Oakville, Ont., head coach, Oakville Hammer; Libby Walker, Parry Sount, Ont., director, Canadian Hall of Fame.
Chris Walsh, Caledon Ont., trainer, San Francisco Giants/Águilas Cibaeñas; Doug Walton, Burlington, Ont., co-ordinating producer, Sportsnet; Lori Wall, Fredericton, NB, Baseball New Brunswick; Trevor Wamback, Windsor, NS, head coach, King’s-Edgehill School/Newbridge Academy; Dr. Neil Webber, Calgary, Alta., Webber Academy Athletic Park; Tim Wharnsby, Waterloo, Ont., The Canadian Press; Geoff White, board of director, Okanagan Athletics/head coach Okanagan College, San Diego Padres scout; Gerry White, Delta, BC, program director, Delta Blue Jays; RHP Rowan Wick, North Vancouver, BC, Chicago Cubs, Stephanie Wilkinson, Oakville, Ont., director of administration, Ontario Blue Jays; Justin Willard, Brampton, Ont., pitching coordinator Minnesota Twins; Cam Williams, Coquitlam, BC, head coach, University of Calgary; Steve Wilson, Victoria, BC, scout, Yankees; Andrew Wright, Woodstock, NB, minor-league field co-ordinator, Red Sox; Cecil Wright, Halifax, NS, board member, Canadian Hall of Fame.
San Francisco Giants farmhand Max Wright (Toronto, Ont.)
C Max Wright, Toronto, Ont., triple-A Sacramento; class-A Eugene Emeralds, class-A San Jose, San Francisco Giants;Andy Yerzy, Toronto, Ont., double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, Arizona Diamondbacks; INF Jared Young, Prince George, BC, Chicago Cubs; LHP Rob Zastryzny, Edmonton, Alta., Pittsburgh Pirates.
* * *
And finally … It was suggested by some that, a number of adults and children kept the game alive in 2020 and they should have been our No. 1 for 2020, as coaches, parents, officials and convenors have said it was almost as tough to keep baseball running in 2020, as it was during World War II.
We can’t list all the moms and fathers who went to parks for “a game of catch,” with their daughters and sons to ease the boredom when the diamonds were closed. Or threw batting practice from 60 1/2 feet, 50 feet or whatever -- but farther than six feet -- away.
So here we go a third annual thank you to all who helped in 2022 and will help again in 2023:
Thank yous to ...
McGill University infield coach Zach Aaron (Montreal, Que.)
Zach Aaron, Montreal, Que., infield coach, McGill University; Ash Abols, Toronto, Ont., Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Terriers 16U; Mark Abrams, Kingston, Ont., coach, Kingston Ponies 15U; Ryan Adamoski, Burnaby, BC, assistant coach, Coquitlam Reds 18U; Dave Adamson, Winnipeg, Man., St. James Assiniboia Minor Baseball; Jason Adamyk, Hamilton, Ont., live-saving, paramedic; Clark Adams, Ottawa, Ont., vice president, operations and board Member, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians; Glen Agar, Bonivital, Man., president Bonivtal Baseball; Joel Ainsworth, Sarnia, Ont., assistant coach, Sarnia Brigade 15U and Sarnia seniors; Johnny Al-aaraj, Ottawa, Ont., assistant coach, Capital City Reds 22U; Jordy Alexander, Calgary, Alta., pitching coach, CPBA 15U Bucks Black/University of Calgary; Rob Alksne, Comox, BC, Okanagan A’s 15U; Braeden Allemann, Surrey, BC, pitching coach, Douglas College; Ken Allen, North Winnipeg, Man., president, North Winnipeg; James Anderson, Barrie, Ont., assistant coach, Central Ontario Reds 15U; Karissa Anderson, Edmonton, Alta., strength and conditioning coach St. Francis Xavier Academy.
Chris Andrews, Bolton, Ont., coach, Lake Simcoe Padres; Kyle Angelow, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 16U; Peter Angelow, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 17U; Paul Ante, Guelph, Ont., coach, Guelph Royals; Cole Armstrong, Surrey, BC, hitting coordinator, Webber Academy Wildcats; Ryan Armstrong, White Rock, BC, player development, White Rock Tritons; Eric Arp, Swan River, Man., president, Parkland Baseball; Al Bailey, North York, Ont., assistant coach Toronto Titans 18U; Sean Bahry, Calgary, Alta., head coach, CPBA 18U Bucks Yellow: Jordan Bahnuk, Woodstock, Ont., pitching coordinator, Ontario Nationals 16u manager; Jeff Baker, assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 14U; Ian Bala, Mississauga, Ont., pitching co-ordinator, assistant pitching coach, Terriers 18U; Ryan Balan, Etobicoke, Ont., head coach, Ontario Royals 15U.
Larry Balkwill, Chatham, Ont., 14U Black manager, Great Lake Canadians; Jesse Barker, Newmarket, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Titans 18U; Matt Barlow, Charlottetown, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy; Rob Babcock, Kingston, Ont., coach, Kingston Ponies 18U; Dreece Beaudoin, Nanaimo, BC, coach 18U, Mid-Island Pirates, Charlotte Bate, ICU nurse, Guelph student live-saving, therapist; Steven Bauer, Tecumseh, Ont., assisstant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 16U; Tristan Beadle, Ajax, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Yankees; Jordan Bellinger, coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 15U; Kadeev Bembridge, Pickering Ont., assistant coach, Oshawa Legionaires; Gary Bell, Winnipeg South, Man., president, Winnipeg South; Sam Bent, Ottawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ottawa Knights 15; Scott Bent, Ottawa, Ont., assistant coach, Carlton Ravens/Ottawa Knights 14U; Matt Berger, Stratford, Ont., manager, Ontario Nationals, 15U; Wade Bergeron, London, Ont., coach, London Badgers 15U.
Coleton Besse, Abbotsford, BC, Fraser Valley Baseball Academy/Abbotsford Cardinals assistant coach/Yale Academy; John Bethune, Newmarket, Ont., head coach 14U, Toronto Titans; Quinn Betteridge, Richmond, BC assistant coach, Delta Blue Jays 16U; Warren Birch, Carberry, Man., president, Santa Clara senior league; Cobourn Bickle, Ottawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ottawa Knights 16U; Travis Bigelow, Ottawa, Ont., pitching coach, Capital City Reds 22U; Mike Bignal, Brampton, Ont., head coach, Ontario Astros 14U; Bruce Biro, Deep Bay, BC, assistant coach, Parksville Royals 18U; Kevin Biro, assistant coach, Parksville Royals 18U; Troy Birtwistle, Shawnigan Lake, BC coach, Victoria Harbourcats; Chris Black, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Terriers 18U; Troy Black, Mississauga, Ont., head coach, Humber College, assistant coach Terriers 18U; Joel Blake, Langley, BC, Vauxhall Academy Jets; Damian Blen, Havana, Cuba, president, program director, Ontario Rockies 17U; Ryan Blight, Port Moody, BC, pitching coach, Coquitlam Reds 18U; Derek Bloomfield, Strathroy, Ont., infield/hitting instructor Great Lake Canadians, manager 15U Black; Chris Boatto, Vaughn, Ont., assisstant/pitching coach, Terriers 16U; Malcolm Boehm, Ladner, BC, assistant coach, Delta Blue Jays 18U; Tim Bolger, Tecumseh, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 16U; Mike Boehmer, Alliston, Ont., general manager and import recruitment, Kitchener Panthers; Colin Borelli, Nanaimo, BC, coach, Mid-Island Pirates; Jason (Beep, Beep) Borghese, Guelph, Ont., outfield coordinator, Ontario Nationals 15u coach.
St. Clair Saints assistant coach Tristan Bouchat (Windsor, Ont.)
Tristan Bouchat, Windsor, Ont., associate head coach/outfielders, St. Clair College; Bryan Boudreau, Newmarket, Ont., hitting/pitching coach, Lake Simcoe Padres; Rick Boutilier, Mississauga, Ont., SST strength and conditioning coach, Terriers; Matt Bowden, 14U Red manager, Great Lake Canadians; Brody Boyenko, Saskatoon, Sask., instructor, Going Yard facility; Matt Brandt, Queensville, Ont., head coach 14U, Toronto Titans; Matt Braumberger, Sudbury, Ont., pitching coach, Laurentian Ubiversity; Tyler Bray Ottawa, Ont., pitching coach, St. Anthony Academy; Kyle Breitner, Windsor, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 18U, Landon Briscoe, North Vancouver, BC, assistant coach, Northeast Community College; Sheen Bromley, Calgary, Alta., technical director, Baseball Alberta; Will Brooks, London, Ont., catching instructor, 14U White; Jody Brown, Windsor, Ont., head coach, Windsor Selects 14U; Steve Brown, head coach, Clarington Renegades 15U; Cleveland Brownlee, London, Ont., assistant coach, London Majors.
Brad Buchman, Montreal, Que., pitching and catching coach, McGill University; Jeremy Buckley, Kelowna, BC, head JV coach Okanagan College Coyotes; Paul Burley, Bowmanville, Ont., assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 15U; Ben Buxton, Belleville, Ont., assistant coach, Belleville Bulls 18U; Ronan Byrne, Abbottsford, BC, mental skills specialist, Ontario Blue Jays; Michael Caleb, Vancouver, BC, assistant coach, Delta Blue Jays; Vince Cambruzzi, Oakville, Ont., head coach, FieldHouse Pirates, 15U; Sean Camilleri, Coquitlam, BC, head coach, Tri-City Thunder; Mark Campbell, Kingsville, Ont., manager, Windsor 16U; Chris Campbell, Brandon, Man., president, Brandon senior league; Colin Campbell, Thunder Bay, Ont., assistant coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 14U; Ryan Carey, Georgetown, Ont., assistant coach, Terriers 16U; Brayden Carpenter, Richmond, BC, hitting coach, White Rock Tritons 18U; Pat Casey, assistant coach, Welland Jackfish; Connor Carson, Nanaimo, BC, assistant coach, Mid-Island Pirates; Steve Carter, Windsor, Ont., coach, Windsor Selects 14U; Michael Cecchetto, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Metropolitan University.
Jesse Centrulla, Windsor, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 18u; Justin Chartrand, Ottawa, Ont., organizational catching coach, assistant coach, Ottawa Knights 15U; Dan Chase, Winnipeg, Man., director, sales and marketing, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Ryan Chase, LaSalle, Ont., coach, Windsor Selects 15U; Ryan Chenard, Port Alberni, BC, pitching coach, Parksville Royals; Avery Chenier, Georgetown, Ont., assistant coach, Laurier University; Rob Cherepuschak, Regina, Sask., director, Martin Academy; Hyung Cho, Scarborough, Ont., infield coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays; Corinne Chow, Vancouver, BC, board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Damian Clarke, Waterdown, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 15U; Liam Clarke, Barrie, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 17U; Jacob Clement, Ottawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ottawa Knights 14U; Richard Clemons, Mississauga, Ont., director of facilities, hitting coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Marcus Coderre, Calgary, Alta., head coach, Webber Academy Wildcats 15U.
Dennis Concordia, Hamilton, Ont., partner, Hamilton Cardinals; Spencer Connelly, Hamilton, Ont., live-saving, paramedic; Kevin Cook, Sarnia, Ont., assistant coach, Sarnia Brigade 15U; Bradley Cooke, Thunder Bay, Ont., assistant coach, Thunder Bay 15U; Daniel Cordero, Ottawa, Ont., head coach, Ottawa Patriots 15U; Wayne Corness, Surrey, BC, University of British Columbia, pitching coach; Dave Covemaker, London, Ont., coach London Badgers 14U; Dan Cox, Winnipeg, Man., president, president, Winnipeg Association/Red River Valley; Alex Crocco, Vaughan, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Titans 15U; Brad Crone, Orangeville, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 16U; Randy Crouse, Antigonish, NS, national coordinator for Challenger Baseball Canada, Baseball Canada Volunteer of the Year Award; Louis Cote, Carillon, Man., president, Carillon Baseball; Brad Crone, Orangeville, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 16U; Mike Cross, Windsor, Ont., coach, Windsor Selects 15U, Josh Cousineau, Red Lake, Ont., president, Red Lake Baseball; Shane Crowells, Bowmanville, Ont., assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 14U; Adam Crowley, Peterborough, Ont. manager, Terriers 14U; Noah Crowley, Peterborough, Ont., assistant coach Terriers 14U.
Ontario Astros assistant Kevin Cruickshank (Oshawa, Ont.)
Kevin Cruickshank, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 16U; Palmer Cruickshank, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 16U; Francis Cubos, Scarborough, Ont., director of sandlot programming, infield coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Derek Cuffy, Brantford, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 15U; Quinn Cumming, Toronto, Ont., pitching coach, Metropolitan University; Colin Cummins, Mississauga, Ont., head coach, Ontario Giants 16U; Cory Curtis, Calgary, Alta. head coach, CPBA 15U Bucks Black; Phil Curtis, Calgary, Alta., head coach, CPBA 18U Bucks Black; Brody Daigneau, South Woodslee, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 18U; Jason Darichuk, Oakville, Ont., assistant coach Mount Mercy University; Troy Daring, Brampton, Ont., infield coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Scott Dart, London, Ont., Intercounty executive, co-owner London Majors; Lars Davis, Grand Prairie, Alta., assistant coach/hitting coach, Georgia State.
Shane Davis, pitching coordinator, Great Lake Canadians/Canisius HOFer; Matt Dawe, London, Ont., coach, London Badgers 14U; Derek Dawson, Hamilton, Ont., live-saving, paramedic; Tim Deacon, Waterdown, Ont., director of business operations/co-owner, Halton Badgers; Marshall Dean, Saskatoon, Sask., instructor, Going Yard facility; Christian Deane, North Delta, BC, pitching coach, Blue Jays bantams; Dakoda Denby, Whitby, Ont., pitching coach, Ontario Yankees; Nick Desanctis, Maple, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 15U; Domingo De La Rosa, London, Ont., London Badgers assistant coach 18U; Fabio Del Rio, Ottawa, Ont., pitching coach, Brock University, Jason Desando, Thunder Bay, Ont., coach, Thunder Bay 16U; Derrick Drover, Spaniards Bay, Nfld., assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 18U; Jayson DesLauriers, Oshawa, Ont., VP and director of the Oshawa Legionaires PBLO entry; Nick Dimpfel, Richmond Hill, Ont. coach, Toronto Titans 16U; Brandon Dornan, Nanaimo, BC, co-GM/owner, assistant coach, Mid-Island Pirates bantam; Gord Dowling, Waterloo, hitting coach, University of Waterloo.
Andrew Doyle, Calgary, Alta., JV head coach, Prairie Baseball Acadmey; Chad Dube, Cambridge, Ont., catching coordinator Ontario Nationals 17U; Rob Ducey, Tarpon Springs, Fla., Ont., Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Spring Hill Fla.; Jordan Duffy, Chalottletown, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy; Matt Dunn, Calgary, Alta., assistant coach CPBA 18U Redbirds; Paul Duque, Winnipeg, Man. box office manager, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Ryan Eakin, Barrie, Ont., director of communications, Guelph Royals; Shawn Earle, Oshawa, Ont., head coach, Oshawa Legionaires, 16U; Marcus Eaton, Kanata, Ont., manager, Watson Elite 16U; Chris Easton, Whitby, Ont., assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 15U; Rob Edney ex officio, St. Marys, Ont., board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Jason Eisenstandt, head coach, Belleville Dawgs 17U; Ethan Elias, Saskatoon, Sask., pitching coach Edmonton RiverHawks/pitching coordinator, Absolute Human Performance, co-head coach, head coach Sherwood Park Dukes 18U; Matti Emery, Ottawa, Ont., associate head coach, Capital City Reds 22U; Pete Entwistle, Nanaimo, BC, coach 16U, Mid-Island Pirates;
Aaron Ethier, Calgary, Alta., catching coordinator, assistant coach Okotoks Dawgs; Brady Eveson, Tecumseh, Ont., catchers coach, Tecumseh Thunder 16U; Paul Ewart, Waterloo, Ont., assistant coach, Wilfrid Laurier University; Brad Fairholm, coach 16U, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians; Tim Fehr, North Delta, BC, pitching coach, Delta Blue Jays bantams; Don Ferguson, Winnipeg, Man., facility manager and groundskeeper, Shaw Park, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Rhett Feser, Unity, Sask., junior varsity pitching coach, Prairie Baseball Academy; Don Fell, Millgrove, Ont., hitting coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Walt Fell, Sarnia, Ont., assistant coach, Sarnia Brigade 18U; Zack Fernandez, Innisfil, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 16U; Ian Finlay, Calgary, Alta., head coach CPBA 15U Bucks Yellow; Troy Findlay, St. Catharines, Ont., catching coach, Bullettproof Prospects; Ian Finlay, Calgary, Alta., assistant coach with University of Calgary/head Coach Calgary Bisons 15U/assistant coach Diamondawgs School; Jon Fitzsimmons, pitching coordinator, Great Lake Canadians; Will Flodin, Surrey, BC, assistant coach, Delta Blue Jays; Mike Fonso, Thunder Bay, Ont., coach, Thunder Bay 19U; Cody Foster, Whitby, Ont., assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 18U; Ethan Fox, Campbell River, BC, assistant pitching coach coordinator, Victoria Harbourcats; Kevin Floyd, Calgary, Alta., head coach, Webber Academy Wildcats 15U; Brent Foreman, Coquitlam BC, assistant coach, Coquitlam Reds 18U.
Former Brantford Red Sox C Wayne Foreman (Brantford, Ont.) is teaching catching with the FieldHouse Pirates
Wayne Forman, Brantford, Ont., catching coordinator, FieldHouse Pirates; Cody Foster, assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 18U; Cam Frick, North Delta, BC, head coach, Delta Blue Jays bantams; Tim Frick, North Delta, BC, assistant coach, Delta Blue Jays bantams; Shawn Fuller, Guelph, Ont., owner and GM, Guelph Royals/owner Canadawide Sports; Chris Fulton, director of business operations/co-owner, Halton Badgers; Nancy Funk, Portage La Prairie, Man., Portage Minor president for 17 seasons; Alex Gagne, Orleans, Ont., pitching coach, Capital City Rerds 17U; Logan Gallant, Cornwall, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy, assistant coach Holland College; Tim Gasparotto, Mississauga, Ont., coach juniors & seniors Erindale Cardinals/Terriers coach 18U; Blair Gaulton, Sarnia, Ont., assistant coach, Sarnia Brigade 15U; Karl Gélinas, Laval, Que., pitching coach, Academie Baseball Canada; Patrick Gilmour, Kingston, Ont., coach, Kingston Ponies 16U; Brett Gibson, Kingston, Ont., coach, Kingston Ponies 14U; Blair Gignac, Waterloo, Ont., assistant coach, Guelph University.
Dave Girard, assistant coach, Windsor, Ont., Tecumseh Thunder seniors; Sean Gonsalves, Markham, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 17U; Jason Gooding, Ontario Nationals, pitching coach; Alex Gordner, Waterloo, Ont., associate head coach, position players, University of Waterloo; Josh Gosselin, Barrie Ont., assistant coach 15U, Toronto Titans; Kyle Gould, Picton, Ont., assistant coach, Ottawa Knights 19U; Doug Goudy, St. Marys, site supervisor, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Andrew Graham, East York, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Titans 17U; Brett Graham, Burlington, Ont., coach, Ontario Royals 15U; Bryan Graham, Thunder Bay, Ont., vice president, Thunder Bay Border Cats; James Grant, Sarnia, Ont., head coach, Sarnia Brigade seniors; Bruce Gray, Petrolia, Ont., assistant coach, Sarnia Brigade 18U; Brad Grieveson, Barrie, Ont., pitching coach, Barrie Baycats; Bretton Gouthro, Calgary, Alta., strength and conditioning coordinator, head coach Okotoks Dawgs, 18U Red; Jordan Harcout, Ottawa, Ont., organizational hitting coach, head coach, Ottawa Knights 16U/assistant coach Carleton University.
Tim Harkness, Jr., Bowmanville, Ont., assistant coach, Durham College; Luana Harris, Toronto, Ont., RBC Wealth Management/Junior National Team mentorship program; Brady Hall, Waterloo, Ont., assistant coach, Laurier University; Jayme Hall, Tecumseh, Ont., head coach, Tecumseh Thunder 16U; Jason Hart, Thunder Bay, Ont., coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 19U/Port Arthur Nationals; Ian Harvey, Oakville, Ont., pitching coach, FieldHouse Pirates; Christian Hauck, Waterloo, Ont., assistant coach, Wilfrid Laurier University; Dave Hadlow, Surrey, BC, assistant coach, Whalley Chiefs 18U; Jordan Harcourt, Ottawa, Ont., head coach, Ottawa Knights 16U/assistant coach Carleton University; Dan Harness 15U manager, Great Lake Canadians; Jerry Harrison, Sarnia, Ont., head coach, Sarnia Brigade 15U; Jason Hart, Thunder Bay, Ont., coach, Thunder Bay 19U; Dalton Harvey, Cambridge, Ont., assistant pitching co-ordinator, Great Lake Canadians; Brody Hawkins, North Delta, BC, assistant coach, Delta Blue Jays; Alex Hawley, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Guelph University.
Brian Hawley, Stratford, Ont., bench coach, Kitchener Panthers; Larry Hazel, London, Ont., assistant coach, London Badgers 16U; Jeff Helps, Wyoming, Ont., manager and infield coordinator, Great Lake Canadians 16U; Jason Herbert, head coach, Clarington Renegades 14U; Michael Heffer, Whitby, Ont., assistant coach, Carleton Ravens; Greg Heffernan, Guelph, Ont., pitching instructor, Ontario Nationals 14U white coach; Kyle Hill, Etobicoke, Ont., pitching coach, Humber College; Cole Hillier, assistant coach, pitching/hitting, University of Windsor; Connor Hillman, head coach, NorthShore Twins bantams; Kazuo Horiuchi, Richmond Hill, Ont., Toronto Mets 15; Ian Horne, assistant coach, NorthShore Twins bantams; Peter Houston, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach Oshawa Legionaires 15U; Paul Howarth, Burlington, Ont., assistant coach Abbotsford Cardinals 18U; JH Howe, Belleville, Ont., assistant coach, Belleville Bulls 18U; David Huctwith, Mississauga, Ont. Second vice-president, secretary, COBA, Mississauga South coach, 18U, best groundskeeper south of Dundas, assistant coach, McMaster University; Drew Huerter, Orangeville, Ont., assistant coach, Wilfrid Laurier University; Kevin Hussey, Burlington, Ont., assistant coach, Terriers 16U; Mike Hughson, assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 15U; Joe Iannuzzi, Hamilton, Ont., GM, college placement coordinator, Terriers; Laurie Inkol, live-saving, mother of Gryphons’ RHP Jordan Inkol.
Whalley Chiefs assistant coach Atsu Inomata (Burnaby, BC)
Atsu Inomata, Burnaby, BC, assistant coach Whalley Chiefs 18U; Justin Interisano, Guelph, Ont., assistant coach, Guelph University; Trevor Isaacs, Tecumseh, Ont., assisst, coach, Tecumseh Thunder 16U; Patrick Island, Waterloo, Ont., Ontario Nationals 14U Red coach; Wayne Ireland, Burlington, Ont., assistant coach, Terriers 16U; Mike Irving, Mississauga, Ont., coach Mississauga Majors 18U, Batter Up School; Brian Ivan, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 16U; Ed Ivy, Mississauga, Ont., pitching coach, McMaster Univerity; John Izumi, Toronto, Ont., pitching coach, Ontario Astros; Al Jacobs, assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 15U; Al Jacobs, assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 15U.
Nick Jaeggin, Oakville, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 15U; Shawna James, Castor, Alta., chief financial officier, Sylvan Lake Gulls; Tyrone James, Whitby, Ont., infield coach, assistant coach, Ontario Yankees 18U; Xavier Jamieson, Forest, Ont., assistant coach, London Badgers 15U; Lindsay Jestin, Winnipeg, Man., executive assistant, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Curtis Johnson, Sudbury, Ont., pitching coach, Sudbury Voyageurs 18U; Greg Johnson, Sudbury, Ont., pitching coach, Sudbury Voyageurs 18U; Jared Johnson, Kelowna, BC, Okanagan College Coyotes pitching coach/player development. Jr. Coyotes 13U head coach; Mark Johnston, Kitchener, Ont., player development, Ontario Nationals 15U manager; Josh Jones, Montreal, Que., assistant coach, McGill University;; Peter Joseph, Markham, Ont., Toronto Mets 18U; Jeff Justice, East York, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 15U; John Kalivas, Brockville, Ont., coach, Carleton Ravens; Ryan Kaplanis, Chilliwack, BC, assistant coach, outfield/hitting, White Rock Tritons 18U.
Regan Katz, Winnipeg, Man., vice-President & COO, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Travis Kayler, Burlington, Ont., assistant pitching coordinator, FieldHouse Pirates, head coach 16U, associate coach, University of Waterloo; Michael Keating, Fredericton, NB, vice-president, Baseball Canada; Kris Kehoe, Kingston, Ont., coach, Kingston Ponies 14U; Scott Kelly, Belleville, Ont., pitching coach, Belleville Dawgs 17U; Jared Kennedy, Calgary, Alta., assistant pitching coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays; Griffin Keller, Pilot Butte , Sask., assistant coach, Regina Red Sox Academy 18U/Canadian Baseball Network; Pat Kennedy, Kingston, Ont., coach, Kingston Ponies 16U; John Kerr, Lakeshore, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 16U; Jeff Keyes, St. Thomas, Ont., assistant coach, St. Thomas Cardinals 18U; Dean Kirkey, Oshawa, Ont., director/head coach, Ontario Tusks 18U; Dylan Kirby, Nanaimo, BC, coach 18U, Mid-Island Pirates; Jeff King, Newmarket, Ont., Legacy Academy, assistant coach, Toronto Titans 14U; Brock Kjeldgaard, London, Ont., manager, infield/outfield/hitting Instructor, Great Lake Canadians, 17U manager; Kareem Kobrosli, LaSalle, Ont., pitching coach, St. Clair College; Matt Korman, Calgary, Alta., catching coordinator, Webber Academy Wildcats.
Trevor Koppeser, Tecumseh, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 16U; Matthew Kosteniuk, Saskatoon, Sask., instructor, Going Yard facility; Jonathan Kovack, Niagara On-the-Lake, Ont., head coach, Ontario Royals 15U; Julia Kreuz, Toronto, Ont., ball scribe, MLB.com; Joshua Kuderian, Fort Erie, Ont., assistant pitching coach, Bullettproof Academy; Reggie Kudsia, Waterloo, Ont., bench coach, University of Waterloo; Kris Kushnerick, Sherwood Park, Alta., programs coordinator Baseball Alberta; Cathy Lamarucciola, Vaughan, Ont. dispute resolution chair, Baseball Ontario; Jeffrey (“Starbucks anyone?”) Lamont, Oakville, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 17U; Michel Landriault, co-ordinator of national programs, Baseball Canada; Wes Langlois, Essex, Ont., head coach, Tecumseh Thunder 22U; Eddie (Every Day) Largy, Mississauga, Ont., catching coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays; Reed Lavallee, Richmond, BC, hitting coach, White Rock Tritons; Aaron Lavorato, Calgary, Alta., regional south manager; Baseball Alberta; Chris Lazar, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Wilfrid Laurier University; Honsing Leung, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 18U; Thomas Leaf, Nanaimo, BC, coach, Mid-Island Pirates.
Ontario Nationals hitting coach Andy Leader (Kitchener, Ont.)
Andy Leader, Kitchener, Ont., hitting coordinator/roving coach, Ontario Nationals; Jesse Levine, Thornhill, Ont., coordinator of scouting and analytics, Great Lake Canadians, coordinator of baseball operations and scouting, University of Waterloo; Regan L’Heureux, Unity, Sask., vice-president, Baseball Sask; Matt Linder, Ottawa, Ont., pitching coach, Watson Elite 16U; Rick Linquist, Tecumseh, Ont., pitching consultant, Tecumseh Thunder 22U; Nelson Lipszyc, Calgary, Alta., head of analytics integration/pitching coordinator, Webber Academy Wildcats; Ashton Liskie, Winnipeg, Man., president, Manitoba Junior League; Jason Little, Brantford, Ont., Intercounty league registrar; Brendan Loeppky Calgary, Alta. pitching coach, Absolute Baseball Academy; Bob Lofgren, London, Ont., assistant coach, London Badgers 16U, catching coach, Western Ontario; Shawn Loglisci, Victoria, BC, assistant coach/pitching coach, University of Victoria; Ethan Loran, Acadia Valley, Alta., volunteer assistant coach, outfield and hitting, Badlands Academy;Eric Louis-Seize, Orleans, Ont., Ottawa Patriots 15U; Katie MacAskill, McMaster student field live-saving, therapist.
Kevin MacDonald, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Metropilian University; Logan MacDougall, Summerside, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy; Mitch MacDonald, Regina, Sask. assistant coach, Regina Red Sox; Scott MacDonald, Napanee, Ont., head coach, Kingston Colts 15U; Alex MacKinnon, Aurora, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 17U; Cole MacLaren, Chalottletown, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy; Austin Marcellus, Morrisburg, Ont., assistant coach, Capital City Reds 22U; Jon Marcheterre, St. Catharines, Ont., assistant coach, Brock Badgers; John Mariotti, pitching coordinator, FieldHouse Pirates, head coach 15U; Drew Markle, Oshawa, Ont., director of player personnel/assistant coach, Ontario Tusks 18U; Jordan Markle, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Tusks 18U; Justin Marra, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Humber College; Eric Marriott, Niagara Falls, Ont., college placement co-ordinator, Bullettproof Academy; Ben Marsh, Windsor, NS, assistant coach, King’s-Edgehill School/Newbridge Academy; Aaron Marshall, Oshawa, Ont., head Coach, Oshawa Legionaires 17U.
Vinny Martin, Pender Island, BC, secretary, BC Premier League; Aidan Massad, Leamington, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 18U; Tyler Matier, Grande Prairie, Alta., head coach, Northern Lights 15U; Ben Matheson, Calgary, Alta., head coach, Webber Academy Wildcats; Eugenio Matos, Nepean, Ont., head coach, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians 15U, Baseball Canada; Chad Matton, LaSalle, Ont., head coach, Windsor Selects 16U, C.J. May, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Yankees; Connor May, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Oshawa Legionaires 18U; Dave McCallum. coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 14U; Kevin McCallum, coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 14U; Kurt McCallum coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 17U; Candy McEwan, St. Marys Ont., board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Sean McGuire, Surrey, BC, pitching coach, White Rock Tritons 18U; Kelsey McIntosh, Ottawa, Ont., director of national programs, Baseball Canada; Aaron McKay, Stratford, Ont., player development, Ontario Nationals manager 16U.
Claire McKay, Cross Lake, Man., president, Pembina Hills; Kyle McKay, Toronto, Ont., head coach, Ontario Astros 16U Kendel McKenna, Kirland, Que., hitting coach, McGill University; Kyle Mckay, King City, Ont., head coach, Ontario Astros 16U/director Of player development/pitching coordinator; Paul McKeegan, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 14U; Lucas Mckernan, Richmond Hill, ont., program assistant, amateur ball; Toronto Blue Jays; Eddie McKiernan, Newmarket, Ont., pitching coach, head coach Toronto Titans 16U; Steve McKnight, Oakville, Ont., assistant coach, Oakville Hammers; Landon McLaren, Dundas, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 17U; Brad McLellan, Newmarket, Ont., special sssistant, pitchers, Lake Simcoe Padres; Brooks McNiven, North Vancouver, BC, pitching coach, North Shore Twins 18U; Doug McPhail, Okotoks, Alta., head coach, Okotoks Dawgs Red 15U; Shane McPherson, Calgary, Alta. assistant coach, CPBA 15U Bucks Yellow; Jason McRae-King, Winnipeg, Man., CFO, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Sean McVeigh, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach 14U, Ontario Astros; Joe Mercanti, Hamilton, Ont., partner, Hamilton Cardinals; PJ Mercanti, Hamilton, Ont., partner, Hamilton Cardinals.
One of the many who stepped up when the Hamilton Cardinals were about to fold: Peter Mercanti (Hamilton, Ont.) being presented citizen of the year in 2010.
Peter Mercanti, Hamilton, Ont., partner, Hamilton Cardinals; Ray Merkely, Orillia, Ont., vice-president, Baseball Ontario; Bobby Mikelberg, Montreal, Que., assistant coach, McGill University; Chad Miller, Richmond, BC, infield coach, White Rock Tritons 18U; Dave Miller, Welland, Ont., assistant coach, Bullettproof Elite 15U; Tyler Milton, Okotoks Dawgs, head coach, Dawgs 13U, Okotoks Dawgs, organizer of the Western Canadian League all-star game; Greg (Chopper) Minor, Pickering, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Yankees 18U, who looks better in uniform now than he did as a teen ager; Kevin Mitchell, Milton, Ont., hitting coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Ethan Miron, St. Thomas, Ont., assistant coach, St. Thomas Cardinals 18U; Stephen Miron, St. Thomas, Ont., head coach, St. Thomas Cardinals 18U; Mike Mitzel, Port Coquitlam, BC, coach, NorthShore Twins; Chris Moffatt, Morden, Man., president, South Central league; Danielle Moffat, St. Albert, Alta., executive director Baseball Alberta; Joey Moher, Hamner, Ont., assistant coach 18U, Sudbury Voyageurs;
Dustin Molleken, Regina, Sask., assistant coach, Regina Red Sox Academy; Colin Moro, Calgary, Alta., assistant coach University of Calgary, Colin Moro, Calgary, Alta., assistant coach, CPBA 18U Bucks Black; Geoff Morosz, Waterloo, Ont., associate head coach, pitchers, University of Waterloo; Herb Morell, Mississauga, Ont., treasurer, statistician, Intercounty league/scorekeeper Rogers Centre; Donald (Buzz) Morris, Woodslee, Ont., manager, Windsor Selects 18U; Matt Morrison, Bowmanville, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Tusks; Matt Morrison, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Tusks 18U; Conner Morro, Caledon, Ont., director of player development, strength coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays; Mike Moskalyk, Thunder Bay, Ont., assistant coach, Thunder Bay 15U; Mike Mueller, Mississauga, Ont., pitching consultant, Ontario Nationals; Jake Mueller, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Torontok Titans 14U; Declan Murphy, Burnaby, BC, assistant coach, Delta Blue Jays 18U; Rob Murphy, assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 18U, Greg Murphy, Kingston, Ont., coach, Kingston Ponies 18U.
Tim Murphy, Kingston, Ont., coach, Kingston Ponies 14U; Declan Murphy, Surrey, BC, Delta Blue Jays; Dom Murray, Ottawa, Ont., head coach, Ottawa Knights 16U; Willie Mulligan, Red Deer, Alta., assistant coach Red Deer Braves 18U; Barry Munro, associate head coach, pitching coach, University of Windsor; Rob Murphy, assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 18u; Terry Murphy, assistant coach, Tecumseh, Ont., Tecumseh Thunder seniors; Tim Murphy, Sunbury, Ont., head cach, Kingston Ponires 15U; Dom Murray, Ottawa, Ont., organizational pitching coach, head coach, Ottawa Knights 18U; Shawn Neale, Collingwood, Ont., assistant coach, West Texas A&M University; Brenden Nevills, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 18U; Dwaine Nichol, Etbicoke, Ont., bench coach/catching instructor, Lake Simcoe Padres; Harold Northcott, Red Deer, Alta., pitching coach, Alberta Amateur Council 18U; Dan Nucci, Thunder Bay, Ont., treasurer, Thunder Bay Border Cats; Jerry Nyman, Grand Prairie, Alta., GM/special advisor Northern Lights.
Eatan Oakes, St. Thomas, Ont., assistant coach, St. Thomas Cardinals 18U; Matt Obradovich, Sudbury, Ont., Sudbury Voyageurs, assistant coach 16U; Tyler O’Brien, Thorold, Ont., head coach, Ontario Royals 15U; Brendan O’Flynn, Etobicoke, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 18U; Joseph O’Kraftka, New Westminster, BC, outfield coach, Delta Blue Jays bantams; Griffin Oliver, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach 15U; Tony Olson, Sherwood Park Alta., coach, Absolute Human Performance; Rob O’Neill, Hamilton, Ont., head coach, FieldHouse Pirates Gold 14U; Jeremy Orton, outfielding/hitting coach, University of Windsor; Mark Orton, Oshawa, Ont., Hall of Fame Committee Chair, Baseball Ontario; J Osborne, Newcastle, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 14U; Yusuke Oshima, Markham, Ont., pitching coach, Toronto Mets 18U; Dennis Ouelette, Tecumseh, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh seniors; Griffin Oliver, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Oshawa Legionaires 15U; Mike Ozga, Red Deer, Alta., hitting assistant/coach, Webber Academy Wildcats; Matt Paculan, Surrey, BC, head coach/plyer development/assistant GM, White Rock Tritons 15U.
A member of Laurier’s all-decade team A.J. Padmore (Toronto, Ont.) is a hitting coach with the Ontario Blue Jays.
AJ Padmore, Toronto, Ont., hitting coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Martin Pakosz, Nanaimo, coach, Mid-Island Pirates; Gerald Palidwor, Dugald, Man., president, Winnipeg senior; Connor Panas, North York, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 18U; Kevin Paradis, Windsor, Ont., St. Clair College; Mike Parlow, Qualicum Beach, BC, GM, Parksville Royals; Ethan Pasco, Niagara Falls, Ont., hitting coach, Bullettproof Prospects; Jeff Peach, Calgary, Alta., director of operations/player development, Webber Academy Wildcats; Don Pearson, assistant coach, Bullettproof Prospects 15U; James Pepin, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 15U; Todd Pepper, Corunna, Ont., assistant coach, Sarnia Brigade 18U; Arizona Phoenix, London, Ont., infield coach, University of Western Ontario; Rick Pillitteri, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont., assistant coach, Welland Jackfish; Ethan Pisano, St. Catharines, Ont., assistant coach, Bullettproof Prospects; Justin Pisano, St. Catharines, Ont., assistant coach, Bullettproof Elite 14U.
Jonah Poirier, Cornwall, Ont., assistant coach, Carleton University; Harmony Pokora, Kitchener, Ont., administration, Ontario Nationals; Ryan Pollard, Milton, Ont., coach, Ontario Terriers 18U; Dalton Pompey, Mississauga, Ont., outfield coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Adriano Porco, Niagara Falls, Ont., head coach, Bullettproof Prospects 14U; Jordan Prosper, Oshawa, Ont., pitching coordinator, Durham College; Joe Presutti, Maple, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 16U; Adam Prior, Riverside, Ont., bench coach, St. Clair College; Marcus Pronay, Innisfil, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 14U; Lou Proietti, Hamilton, Ont. assistant coach Stonehill College; Mark Pottie, Vancouver, BC, head coach NorthShore Twins juniors; Joe Presutti, Maple, Ont., head coach 15U, Ontario Astros; Ken Price, Windsor, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 16U and seniors; Adam Prior, assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 18U; Ian Proven, Winnipeg, Man., president, Interlake Baseball.
Mitchell Prsa, Tecumseh, Ont. bench coach, St. Clair College; Jordi Psikla, Thunder Bay, Ont., coach, Thunder Bay 19U; Craig Prudom, Corunna, Ont., assistant coach, Sarnia Brigade 18U; Casey Pulham, London, Ont., bullpen coach, London Majors; Matthew Quartel, Sturgeon County, Alta., instructor, Absolute Human Performance; Tony Quick, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach Oshawa Legionaires 18u; Pablo Ramirez, coach, Okanagan Athletics; Dave Ramsdale, coach, London, Ont., coach London Badgers 18U; Geoff Rankin, Belle River, Ont., pitching coach, Tecumseh seniors; Mark Rajsigl, Windsor, Ont., head coach, Windsor Selects 16U; Chris Read, Waterloo, Ont., Ontario Nationals 14U Red coach; Daniel Rees, Newmarket, Ont., outfield/bullpen coach, Lake Simcoe Padres; Mark Renaud, pitching coach, Tecumseh Thunder 18U; Steve Renaud, Ottawa, Ont. executive director/organizational hitting ooach, assistant coach Ottawa Knights 19u; Lennon Richards, Scarborough, Ont., pitching coach, Ontario Blue Jays.
Wes Richards, Thunder Bay, Ont., coach, Thunder Bay 16U; Clayton Richer, Clarington, Ont., head coach, Clarington Renegades 18U; George Rigakos, Ottawa, manager, Carleton Ravens; Chris Rinaldi Ross, Tecumseh, Ont.. catching/hitting coach, University of Windsor; Daryl Ringwald, Oakville Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 17U; Drew Roberts, head coach, Toronto Mets 14U; Dr. Andrew Robb, Waterloo, Ont., director of programming, Ontario Nationals/manager of player development, University of Waterloo; Dave Robb, Lac La Biche, Alta., coach and recruiter Mesa Community College/Okotoks Dawgs; Marty Roberts, Barrie, Ont., pitching coach, Durham College; Andre Robidoux, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., co-founder, Ottawa’s Saint Anthony Baseball Academy; Scott Rodway, treasurer, Parksville Royals; Mike Rocheleau, Riverside, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh seniors; Alex Rogers, Nanaimo, BC, program pitching coach, Mid-Island Pirates; Liza Roikm, Hamilton, Ont., McMaster student field live-saving therapist.
Once a Pirate … Brady Rogers (Nanaimo, BC) went from playing to coaching the Mid-Island Pirates.
Brady Rogers, Nanaimo, BC, assistant coach, Mid-Island Patriots; Mike Rocheleau, Riverside, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh seniors; Mike Rondeau, Thornhill Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Titans 16U; Adam Roos, Thunder Bay, Ont., assistant coach, Thunder Bay 16U; Dave Ruhr, Calgary, Alta., hitting/outfield coach, Absolute Baseball Academy; Darren Russell, Winnipeg, Man., president Border Senior league; Max Rydholm, Thunder Bay, Ont., coach, Thunder Bay 15U; Ted Salhani, Kitchener, Ont., Ontario Nationals, 16U coach: Zaid Salim, London, Ont., director of operations, OES Inc. scoreboards, London; Steve Sararas, Belleville, Ont., assistant coach, Belleville Bulls 18U; Dustin Scaracini, Mississauga, Ont., iTech Media sports betting (Covers); Rebecca Sauder, Barrie, Ont., treasurer, Baseball Ontario; Brian Savard, Hanmer, Ont,, assistant coach, Sudbury Voyageurs 14U; Brendan Saville, roving pitching coach, Great Lake Canadians; Shawn Schaefer, Burlington, Ont., GM, outfield coach, head coach Ontario Blue Jays 16U; Robbie Scott, Kitchener, Ont., field manager, Junior Kitchener Panthers.
Roch Séguin, Gatineau, Que., president and head coach, Capital City Reds; Baur Sewell, Calgary, Alta., assistant coach, CPBA 15U Bucks Yellow; Jeff Shapton, Ingersoll, Ont., player development, Ontario Nationals, 16U coach; Jeff Sharpe, Oshawa, Ont., manager, Terriers 15U; Chris Sheehy, Guekph, Ont., Ontario Nationals 17U coach; Meyer Shemtov, Richmond Hill, Ont. scout, Colorado Rockies, pitching coach, Lake Simcoe Nationals; Steve Shivalofsky, Montreal, Que., bench coach, McGill University; Darren Shred, Brampton, Ont., pitching coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Sam Siddall, Edmonton, Alta., pitching coach, assistant coach Delta Blue Jays Juniors; Tony Siemens, Rosenort, Man., Baseball Manitoba’s president; Mike Siena, Ancaster, Ont., administration, Ontario Blue Jays; Tony Simone, Amherstburg, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 15U; Al Simpson, Regina, Sask., vice-president Regina Red Sox, Living Sky Sports and Entertainment; Jake Sims, Milton, Ont., assistant pitching coach Terriers 15U; TJ Singh, Toronto, Ont., head coach, FieldHouse Pirates 14U Black.
Brendan Smith, Edmonton, Alta., league manager, Baseball Alberta; Kirby Smith, New Lowell, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Titans 17U; Mike Smith, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Oshawa Legionaires 15U; Scott Smith, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Oshawa Legionaires 15U; Scott Smith, Toronto, Ont., secretary, board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Tim Smith, Toronto, Ont., hitting coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays; Nate Snider, Whitby, Ont., catching coach, University of Waterloo; Matt Soanes, Lakeshore, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 15U; Jerry Soulliere, Tecumseh, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 14U; Brendan Smith, Edmonton, Alta., league manager, Baseball Alberta; Quinton Spagnol, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont., assistant college placement, assistant coach, Bullettproof Academy Elite 17-18U; Eric Spearin, Hamilton, Ont., managing partner, Hamilton Cardinals; Drew Spencer, Oakville, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Yankees; Paul Spoljaric, Lisle, Ont., pitching coach, Toronto Mets 18U; Dennis Springenatic, Surrey, BC, manager, Whalley Chiefs 16U; John St. Jean, Calgary, Alta., assistant coach, CPBA 15U Redbirds.
Jordan Stamp, Brantford, Ont. instructor co-ordinators, FieldHouse Pirates; Chris Stamper, Oakville, Ont., board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Jason Starr, Cote St. Luc, Que., GM, McGill University; Sammie Starr, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, University of British Columbia; Garan Stevens, Thorndale, Ont., assistant coach 14U, Great Lake Canadians; JP Stevenson, Hunter River, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy; Greg Stearns, Kelowna, BC, board of director, Okanagan Athletics; Blake Stephens, Brandon, Man., president Brandon Minor; Christian Stewart, Victoria, BC, assistant GM, Victoria HarbourCats; Matt Stocco, Guelph, Ont., catching coach, assistant coach, Terriers 18u; John Storey, Waterloo Warriors, senior coordinator of operations, Guelph Royals director of operations; Al Strathdee, St. Marys, Ont., ex officio, board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Chris Strain, Surrey, BC, assistant coach, White Rock Tritons 15U; Todd Stronks, Brantford, Ont., infield instructor/coach, Ontario Nationals 15U; Myles Swartz, Tornhill, Ont., assistant coach, Metropolitan University; Brent Swanson, Richmond, BC, assistant coach, Okanagan College Coyotes.
Helping out coaching the Toronto Metropolian Bold is coach Myles Swartz (Thornhill, Ont.).
Myles Swartz, Thornhill, Ont., assistant coach, Metropilian University; Steve Tait, recruiting co-ordinator, FieldHouse Pirates; Garrett Takamatsu, Burlington, Ont. infield coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Zach Tanton, Strathmore, Alta., head coach, CPBA 15U Redbirds; Peter Tassopoulos, Stouffville, Ont., head coach, Ontario Astros 15U; Josh Taylor, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach 17U, Toronto Titans; Luke Tevlin, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Terriers 16U; Mikael Thomas, Summerside, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy; Kevin Thomson, Thorold, Ont., hitting/fielding, head coach Bullettproof Academy 13U; Dylan Thorp, North Vancouver, BC, pitching coach, NorthShore Twins juniors; Alex Thrower, Etobicoke, Ont., assistant coach, Humber College; Nenad Tomic, Milton, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Giants 16U; Travis Tomlinson, Oakville, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 18U; Jackson Topolie, assistant coach, Toronto Mets 14U; Ivan Torres, Whitby, Ont., head coach, Toronto Giants 15U.
Mark Trimble, Coquitlam BC, assistant coach, Coquitlam Reds 18U; Matt Trimble, Coquitlam BC, pitching coach, Coquitlam Reds 18U; Jamie Trull, Burlington, Ont., assistant coach 18U, Ontario Astros; Josh Trybuch, Calgary, Alta., infield coach, Webber Academy Wildcats; Aaron Tycoles, Reston, Man., president, Midwest league/Southwest senior league; Troy Valeriano, Stoney Creek, Ont., assistant coach, Bullettproof Prospects 18U; Ben Van Iderstine, Regina, Sask., lead hitting instructor, Inside Pitch Academy; Andrew Vant Wout, Guelph, Ont., assistant coach, Guelph University; Lawrence Vera, Barrie, Ont., head coach, Toronto Titans 17U; Riley Vernon, LaSalle, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 18U; Matt Vickers, Kitchener, Ont., pitching coach, Kitchener Panthers; Mr. Pat Visca, Toronto, Ont., hitting coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Christifir Vogin, pitching/hitting coach, Bullettproof Prospects; Chris Vokes, Waterloo, Ont., defence/base running coach, University of Waterloo; Ryan Waatennen, Nanaimo, BC coach, junior Mid-Island Pirates;
Chris Wainscott, Windsor, Ont., head Coach, Tecumseh seniors; Jimmy Walerowich, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 14U; Brent Wales, London, Ont., third base coach, London Majors; Libby Walker, board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Mark Walker assistant coach, Toronto Mets 14U; Chris Walters, Whitby, Ont., pitching coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Spencer Walton, Nanaimo, BC, 14U head coach Mid-Island Pirates; Cole Warken, Regina, Sask., head coach, Regina Red Sox Academy 18U/assistant coach Regina Red Sox; Logan Wedgewood, New Westminster, BC, head coach, catching coach, Delta Blue Jays juniors; Duncan Watt, Pickering, Ont., director of player development, Toronto Mets 16U; Chance Wheatley, Bawlf, Alta., head coach Lethbridge Bulls; Dakota Wheatley, Bawlf, Alta., assistant coach, Bulldogs Academy; Geoff Whent, Whitby, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 17u; Tyler Whitbread, Camlachie, Ont., coach, Great Lake Canadians 14U; Andrew White, Barrie, Ont., bench coach/third base coach, Barrie Baycats.
Steve White, Georgetown, Ont., assistant coach, Oakville Hammers; Dan Whiteford, Duncan, BC, coach, Mid-Island Pirates; Shawn Whiteley, St. Catharines, Ont., coach, Brantford Red Sox; Aaron Wideman, Mississauga, Ont. pitching coach, University of Waterloo; Bryce Wilkie, Kelowna, BC, Okanagan Athletics 18U; Stephanie Wilkinson, Oakville, Ont., administration, Ontario Blue Jays; Jade Williams, Brampton, Ont., infield coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Chris Willins, Kitchener, Ont., manager, Terriers 16U; Dallas Williamson, Reston, Man., president, Oildome Minor; Gus Wilson, Duncan, BC, coach 18U, Mid-Island Pirates; Stan Wilson, Brampton, Ont., hitting coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Kurtis Windrow, assistant coach, Sudbury Voyageurs 16U; Doug Wong, Vancouver, BC, head coach, Delta Blue Jays 16U; Keenan Wong, Vancouver, BC, assistant coach, Delta Blue Jays 16U;.
Former Team Canada pitcher Corey Wood (Campbell River, BC) is passing on knowledge to the Okanagan Athletics.
Corey Wood, Campbell River, BC, coach, Okanagan Athletics bantams; Larry Wood, Hamilton, Ont., assistant general manager, Hamilton Cardinals; Ryan Wood, Barrie, Ont., assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 15U; Hayden Woodley, Caledon, Ont., outfield coach, University of Western Ontario; Josh Wray, Burnaby, BC, assistant coach, NorthShore Twins juniors; Cecil Wright, Halifax, NS, board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Gary Yates, Kelowna, BC, treasurer/board of director, Okanagan Athletics; Dawson Yates, Kelowna, BC, board of director, Okanagan Athletics; Dave Young, Bowmanville, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 15U; Ryan Zimmer, London, Ont., coach, Great Lake Canadians 14U; Zack Zinck, Bridgewater, NS, pitching coach, Badlands Academy; Jay Zinger, Baden, Ont., Ontario Nationals, 14U red coach;.
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Year-by-year list of previous most Influential Canadians in baseball:
2022 Rob Thomson
2021 Alex Anthopoulos.
2020 Larry Walker
2019 Larry Walker
2018 Larry Walker
2017: Joey Votto
2016: Joey Votto
2015: Alex Anthopoulos
2014: Edward Rogers
2013: Blue Jays fans (from coast to coast)
2012: Paul Beeston
2011: Greg Hamilton
2010: Joey Votto
2009: Paul Beeston
2008: Paul Beeston
2007: Paul Godfrey, Greg Hamilton