By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

We just made it before the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve with our 15th annual top 100 most influential Canadians in baseball.

And now finally we have finished our honourable mentions and those who kept up the good fight for baseball against COVID-19 … the second summer.

Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) guided the Atlanta Braves to their first World Series win since 1995.

Super agent Joel Wolfe, Cubs Hall of Famer RHP Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) , 1B Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) San Francisco Giants GM Farhan Zaidi (Sudbury, Ont.), Jays 1B Vlad Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) , Cards LF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) , , Edward Rogers (Toronto, Ont.) and Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) all had sensational seasons.

So on with the show .... Numbers 1-to-101 (those we lost at No. 101), with , our Honourable Mentions list, still a work in aprogress at the moment.

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1. Alex Anthopoulos, president and GM, Braves (2).

Game 4 of the 2021 World Series had been over for a matter of minutes when MLB Network switched to the three-man panel. Former Blue Jays infielder and star of this show and most every show, Mark De Rosa, asked:

“Can they award the World Series MVP to a GM? Alex Anthopoulos has done just a wonderful job,” De Rosa asked the other two men at the desk and millions at home.

Anthopoulos’ Braves had been losing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Shortstop Dansby Swanson hit a game-tying homer off Houston Astros reliever Cristian Javier on an 0-2 pitch. Four pitches later, Jorge Soler went deep off Javier and the Braves had the lead.

Will Smith pitched a 1-2-3 ninth and the Braves had a 3-1 lead. Three days later, the Braves won their first World Series since 1995 as Soler hit a three-run homer.

Did Anthopoulos have a great year? Not really. Atlanta had a losing record (54-55) on Aug. 4, but he had a tremendous 110-day run from July 15 (when class-A 1B Bryce Ball was sent to the Cubs for Pederson) through Nov. 2, the night Swanson fired a ground ball to first for the final.

The Braves had a deep series of injuries, but Anthopoulos turned things around to make the postseason for a seventh straight year (once with the Blue Jays as GM, twice with Dodgers as assistant GM and four straight with Atlanta, now president of baseball operations). As a point of reference, the Jays have been to the playoffs eight times since 1977.

On Opening Day, the Braves had an outfield of LF Marcell Ozuna, CF Cristian Pache and RF Ronald Acuna. Ozuna was arrested on assault charges after allegedly assaulting his wife 48 games into the season, Pache played 22 games hitting .111 and Acuna tore his right anterior cruciate ligament after 82 games.

The day after the All-Star break the staring outfield consisted of LF Orlando Arcia, CF Guillermo Heredia and RF Abraham Almonte. The three combined for 114 hits in 127 starts batting .214.

And in Game 6 of the World Series at Minute Maid the outfield lineup consisted of LF Eddie Rosario, CF Adam Duvall and RF Joc Pederson with Jorge Soler as the DH. As broadcaster Jeff Francouer said during the post season ... “For the Braves outfield, they’re going with their third line.”

It was their most productive trio. And now the rest of the story …

Hall of Fame RF Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) was finally inducted Sept. 8 into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame. He was supposed to be inducted in 2020 but COVID cancelled the ceremonies.

2. Larry Walker, Hall of Famer (1)

Veteran Larry Walker observers Greg Hamilton and Jason Dickson of Baseball Canada were in Cooperstown that September day to hear the reluctant public speaker step to the microphone. Near the end of his 14-minute speech Walker hit the meat and potatoes every young Canuck ball playing teenager from Victoria, BC to Mount Pearl, Newfoundland would eat up:

“Thank you Canada ... for all your support I’ve received throughout the years from my home country,” Walker told the crowd of 20,000. “I share this honour with every Canadian. I hope all you Canadian kids out there with dreams of playing in the big leagues that seeing me here today gives you another reason to go after those dreams.”

It took a while -- 10 years on the ballot or 3,304 days from Jan. 5, 2011 (when he had 20.3% of the vote) until Jan. 21, 2020 (76.6%) and then a 597 day wait due to COVID -- Walker was ready and his humble self. Walker came to the annual Baseball Canada fundraiser in January of 2008. The next year he joined Canada’s coaching staff and has participated in World Baseball Classics, Pan American Games, Premier 12s and World Cup competitions. And the rest of the story …

Blue Jays Nation should no longer be knocking Edward Rogers, chairman of the board of directors of Rogers Communications Inc., can no longer be knocked for not spending on the Blue Jays.

3. Edward Rogers, Rogers Communications (3).

First things first: Edward Rogers and I have never been pals. Never. But during the recent family feud over who would control the Rogers empire, it was obvious very early who the average Blue Jay fan should have been rooting for? The choice was between Edward OR Loretta Rogers, Edward’s mother and widow of company founder Ted Rogers, who was backed by Edward’s sisters Melinda Rogers-Hixon and Martha Rogers.

Since Ted Rogers died in 2008 one and all have told us that the person at the Rogers’ 333 Bloor St. East campus who cared most about the ball team was Edward.

Jays fans have known all along what they were getting in Edward. He wasn’t the Labatt Brewing Company (owners from 1976–1995) nor Interbrew (1995-2000). Could anyone see Interbrew giving George Springer a six-year, $150 million US deal last January? With zero net revenue from ticket sales expected? No. Labatt would rate as A+, Interbrew as D- and Rogers is currently a C+.

Would the Loretta Rogers faction of the Rogers family have given RHP Jose Berrios a seven-year, $131-million extension? Or give a five-year, $110 million contract to RHP Kevin Gausman. Or paid Springer? Or commit to spending $200-to-$250 million on fixing up the dome? … And the rest of the story …

Any other year and Vlad Guerrero would have been the AL MVP. He finished second in MVP voting behind the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani. Guerrero led the league in runs scored (123), total bases (363), on-base percentage (.401) and slugging percentage (.601) and finished second in A

4. Vlad Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (23).

There was a time when the triple crown was in reach for the Jays first baseman. On Sept. 25 Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) was hitting .315 -- two points behind Yuli Gurriel of the Astros, he had 46 homers (tied with Royals Salvador Perez) and sat sixth with 105 RBIs, 10 back of Perez. Six days later, the season was over and the final numbers he posted were a .311 average, 48 homers and 111 RBIs. He was eight points behind Gurriel in the batting race, 10 RBIs behind Perez and tied with Perez for the homer lead.

Guerrero led the league in runs scored (123), total bases (363), on-base percentage (.401) and slugging percentage (.601) and finished second in American League MVP voting behind the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani. Still a young pup, he set the home run record for players 22 or under, besting Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews mark of 47 in 1953.

Guerrero is the fourth Canadian batter to lead his league in home runs, according to stats guru Neil Munro (North Bay, Ont.). The others are Larry Walker with 49 in 1997, Tip O’Neill (Springfield, Ont.) 14, St. Louis Browns in 1887 and George Wood (Pownal, PEI), seven, Detroit Wolverines in 1882. He won the American League Hank Aaron Award which is presented annually to the best overall offensive performer in each league.

Guerrero’s best game was a three-homer night in Dunedin against the Nationals as he knocked in seven runs. He hit a grand slam to left centre in the third facing former Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer and a solo homer to deep centre off Scherzer. He then hit a two-run homer to deep right against Kyle Finnegan in the seventh. All of the Canadian diamond community did not rejoice when Guerrero won the Tip O’Neill award, presented annually by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys. The complaint is “he didn’t come up through the Canadian system.” He was born in Montreal, which is good enough for me, and his family moved to the Dominican.

San Francisco Giants GM Farhan Zaidi (Sudbury, Ont.)

5. Farhan Zaidi, GM Giants (8).

A franchise record 107 wins, for the best record in the game, was one reason that Zaidi, the San Francisco president of baseball operations, earned the 2021 Executive of the Year award at the GM meetings at Carlsbad, Calif. In his third season Zaidi’s team had the most victories by an NL team since the 1986 New York Mets, who won 108. The Giants became the first NL team with a .600 or better winning mark every month since the 1942 Brooklyn Dodgers.

Zaidi’s acquisitions helped led San Fran to success ... the likes of all-star Kevin Gausman, fellow starters Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood, closer Jake McGee, OF Mike Yastrzemski, OF-1B Darin Ruf, INF Wilmer Flores and INF Kris Bryant, who came to the Giants in a trade at July 30th deadline. The Giants hit 241 homers in 2021, most in franchise history – including 111 that either gave the Giants the lead or tied the game (88 go-ahead and 23 game-tying), most in the majors. The pitching staff had the second-best ERA (3.24) in the majors.

One lesser deal which grew into a solid acquisition came on Feb. 4 when Zaidi (Sudbury, Ont.) obtained OF LaMonte Wade Jr. from the Twins for Shawn Anderson. Wade turned into Late Night Lamont for all his late-inning heroics. He was one of the main reasons the Giants held off the Dodgers. He knocked off each NL West foe in the ninth: a two-run, tie-breaking single over LA on July 22; a game-tying two-run single in a 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks Aug. 5; a go-ahead two-run single in a 7-4 win against the Rockies Sept. 8 and a go-ahead single in a 6-5 victory over the Padres Sept. 21. On the season Wade hit .253 with 18 homers, 56 RBIs and an .808 OPS in 109 games. Wade was a typical Zaidi pickup, a relative nobody who became an impactful player.

6. Joey Votto, first base, Reds (11).

He has won an MVP, led the National League in on-base average seven of the last 12 seasons and appeared in six all-star games. Yet, Votto has never won a Silver Slugger. And he should have in 2021. Managers and coaches voted Freddie Freeman over Votto. Votto had a .375 on-base percentage, .563 slugging percentage, an OPS of .938, 36 homers and 99 RBIs. That compares to Freeman’s 31 homers, 83 RBIs, .393 on-base mark, a .503 slugging percentage and an OPS of .896. Votto accomplished these numbers while playing in 30 fewer games than Freeman.

Our stats guru Neil Munro makes the point this could have been Votto’s third Silver Slugger. In 2010, Votto (.324 average, .424 on-base average, .600 slugging, 1.024 OPS, 37 homers, 113 RBI) lost to Cardinal Albert Pujols (.312, .414, .596, 1.010 OPS, 42, 118) and in 2017 Votto (.320, .454, .578, 1.032, 36, 100) lost to Diamondbacks Paul Goldschmidt (.297, .404, .563, .967, 36, 120).

Votto received eight points in MVP voting which means he has 3.06 career shares the same amount of MVP shares as Hall of Famer Joe Morgan and Manny Ramirez. Votto has received votes in nine of the previous 12 seasons more than Larry Walker, Justin Morneau or Ferguson Jenkins.

On the final day of the season, Votto appeared in his 1,900th game in the majors, the sixth Red to do so. He went deep off Pirate Cody Ponce, a 466-foot drive, his longest in the Statcast era. On Sept. 10, he turned 38 and hit his 30th homer, the 325th career homer, moving him past Frank Robinson into second place alone on the club’s all-time list (Johnny Bench leads with 389). He also moved ahead of Ken Griffey Jr. as the oldest Red player ever to hit at least 30 home runs in a season. In July, Votto homered in seven-straight games -- one off the record shared by Dale Long (1956), Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey (1993).

Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) Photo: Julie Jocsak/Postmedia Network

7. Fergie Jenkins, Cubs (10).

Not many Hall of Famers had a year to match Jenkins. The Cubs announced they would be erecting a statue in his honour outside Wrigley Field. Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) played 10 of his 19 seasons with the Cubs and became the first Cub to win the Cy Young award in 1971. He joins Cubs Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Ernie Banks and Harry Caray with statues outside Wrigley. That a five-count, or four more than the Rogers Centre which has a statue of communications pioneer Ted Rogers.

An hour-long documentary, entitled “Glory and Grief: The Ferguson Jenkins Story” produced by MLBNetwork on Jenkins was shown on the Marquee network in Chicago. Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Life on the Street, Men of a Certain Age and Glory) narrated the show, which covers the Canadian baseball legend’s success on the field and his pain off it. He lost wife Maryanne after a 1990 car crash when she was only 31. The couple’s three-year-old daughter Samantha’s life was ended in 1992. He lost Lydia, his wife of 24 years in 2018.

Jenkins was one of two Hall of Fame players (along with Ozzie Smith) to serve on both the Golden Days and Early Baseball Era committees which elected a total of six newcomers to Cooperstown: Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso and Tony Oliva on the Golden Days, plus Bud Fowler and Buck O’Neil.

8. Joel Wolfe, agent, Wasserman Group (7).

Wolfe negotiated the seven-year, $131-million extension for Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios. Berrios earned $6.1 million US in 2021 and jumps to $10,714,285 in 2022, as well as a $5 million signing bonus. Then, he will earn $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 the 2026 season. If he stays he can earn $24 million the next two seasons.

Wolfe’s stable includes: Cards 3B Nolan Arenado, who he helped get traded from the Rockies to St. Louis where he had another 30-homer, 100-RBI season as he won his ninth Gold Glove and fifth Platinum Glove Award in this the second year of his eight-year, $260 million deal, Giants SS Brandon Crawford had a career year (.298 average, 24 homers, 90 RBIs, .895 OPS), signed a $32 million extension, Travis d’Arnaud won a World Series with the Braves and signed a $16 million extension, DH Giancarlo Stanton (year six of a 13-year, $325 million deal), RHP Yu Darvish (in the second year of a six-year, $126 million package) and INF DJ LeMahieu (year two of a six-year $90 million deal).

Wolfe also represents free agents Javier Baez, Kenley Jansen, Yoshi Tstutsugo and Seiya Suzuki, a star hitter in Japan, who will sign in North America this offseason. The son of Montrealers who spent their summers in the Eastern Townships, he is in year two of having his Canadian passport.

9. Tony Staffieri, Interim president and CEO, Rogers Communications (18)

Staffieri, a former chief financial officer, replaces former president Joe Natale. Staffieri has worked for CEOs, reporting to Nadir Mohamed (who loved paying big-time for the NHL’s broadcast rights), Guy Laurence (who never understood the Canadian concept of bolting for the cottage on long summer weekends) and Natale (who was never a fan of a communications giants owning a team ... like when he worked at Tellus).

An accidental butt dial -- who hasn’t right? -- meant Natale accidentally overheard Staffieri discussing plans to oust Natale, with the support of Edward Rogers, according to The Globe and Mail. All roads from 1 Blue Jays Way to Edward’s office lead through Staffieri’s, with Edward having final approval.

10. Freddie Freeman, Braves (4).

Born in Villa Park, Calif., Freeman is the son of Canadian parents, who spent time in Toronto and Peterbrough before marrying and settling in Windsor. He won the Silver Slugger, although Joey Votto had better numbers, but Freeman -- who hit .300 with 31 homers, 83 RBIs and an .896 OPS in 159 games on the season -- won the World Series and only one first baseman can say that.

Freeman hit the game-winning homer in the eighth inning of Game 4 against Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader to win the NL Division Series by a 5-4 score at Truist Park. As the Braves wrapped up the NLCS with a 4-2 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he walked four times The sixth hitter to have four or more walks in a clinching game since Boston’s David Ortiz in the 2013 World Series, Yankee Bernie Williams in the 1995 ALDS, Yankee Babe Ruth in Game 7 of the 1926 Series, New York Giant Ross Youngs in Game 7 of the 1924 Series and Pirate Fred Clarke in Game 7 of the 1909 Series. And in the finale of the Series he doubled, homered and knocked in a pair in a 7-0 win over the Astros.

We’ve heard fans complain about Freeman using his parents to find a way onto Team Canada and earn money in the World Baseball Classic. HA! It was an all-expenses paid trip to Miami with 28 players splitting $150,000 US ... which comes out to $5,357 a man.

Blue Jays broadcaster Dan Shulman (Toronto, Ont.)

11. Dan Shulman, Jays broadcaster (6).

It was not a season to excel as broadcaster due to the simulcast situation and he didn’t cross the border at all during the regular season. The first game he was at came when the Jays returned to Rogers Centre on July 30. Outside of home games, the final two months there were not any sentences which began, “As he told me before the game in the Jays dugout,” or as, “He joked with us at the batting cage before the game ...”

He sat in studio for the first four months, calling games off the monitor. So the broadcasters view of that 3-2 pitch came the same time as you saw it from your couch. There wasn’t any second monitor to look at. The key was making sure audio and video were delayed equally, so the telecast was in synch. He also worked all three rounds of the playoffs for ESPN radio teaming with Xavier Scruggs in the Division Series and with Eduardo Perez for the LCS and World Series.

Shulman (Thornhill, Ont.) did well as a prognosticator. On Aug. 25, he fired up the Twitter machine and tweeted: “Robbie Ray just might win the Cy Young this season.” Ray had pitched seven innings against the Chicago White Sox allowing one run. At the time Ray was 9-5 in his first 25 starts with a 2.72 ERA. He had 192 strikeouts in 152 1/3 innings. Of course, the Twitterverse did not agree and knocked Shulman since Yankees Gerit Cole was the fave with a 12-6 record and a 2.82 ERA striking 191 in 142 innings in two fewer starts. On Nov. 17, Ray won the Cy Young award with 29 of 30 first-place votes, the fourth Jay starter to win (Roger Clemens, twice, Pat Hentgen and Roy Halladay).

Cards LF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC)

12. Tyler O’Neill, Cards (50)

In May, Hall of Fame scribe Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch sent me a note. It was quick, it was short, it was to the point: “Think this O’Neill kid is the real deal.” O’Neill made his big-league debut April 19, 2018, but his playing time was not on an every day basis. He made 89 starts since 2018 and 129 in 2021 as he won his second straight Gold Glove award.

O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) showed as a complete player, like someone else from the same community, Sir Larry Walker. Despite missing 24 games in 2021, he batted .286 with 34 homers and 80 RBIs. He was 15-for-19 stealing bases. And in the Cards’ final 31 games after Sept. 1, which included a 17-game win streak, O’Neill earned NL Player of the Month to close the season hitting .328 with 13 homers, 30 RBIs and a 1.108 OPS in 31 games.

Our stats guru Neil Munro points out that Vlady Guerrero, Joey Votto and O’Neill combined to break several records for home runs in a season by Canadian batters: Guerrero and Votto combined for 84 home runs, eclipsing the previous two-man total of 76 collected by Walker and Matt Stairs (Fredericton, N.B.) in 1997. Guerrero, Votto and O’Neill had a total of 118, beating the previous Canadian standard of 91 set in 2009 by Jason Bay (Trail, BC) 36, Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) 30 and Votto who clubbed 25. Munro also points out the 118 homers by this trio was more than the combined total of home runs hit by all of the Canadian batters playing in any given season. The previous high was 116 home runs collected by the 20 different Canadians in 2003.

Pat Gillick. Photo: National Baseball Hall of Fame

13. Pat Gillick, Phillies (12).

Gillick was not as active, hitting the road for April and May to scout leading into the 2021 draft. Instead, he broke down video of high schoolers eligible for the 2021 or 2022 drafts. The Phillies are owned by a limited partnership formed in 1981. Tri-Play and Double Play are equal partners while the Montgomery family and Gillick own the remaining interests. Forbes magazine valued the franchise at $2.05 billion -- eighth in the majors behind the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs, Giants, Mets and the Cardinals.

He did attend the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Cooperstown and saw former Blue Jay Paul Molitor, the great Cub Canuck RHP Fergie Jenkins and he congratulated the incoming class of Derek Jeter, Ted Simmons and Walker.

Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.)

14. Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) Blue Jays (35).

The list of Blue Jays relievers who blew saves in 2021 include: Tim Mayza and Trevor Richards three each, Tayler Saucedo two, Travis Bergen, Ryan Borucki, Anthony Castro, Tyler Chatwood, A.J. Cole, Rafael Dolis, Carl Edwards, Brad Hand, Joakim Soria and Romano one each ... 18 in all. Romano’s lone blown save came April 8 against the Los Angeles Angels when he took over for Trent Thornton with one out after Dexter Fowler singled. Fowler stole second, Romano retired David Fletcher on a grounder, but gave up singles to future MVP Shohei Ohtani and three-time MVP Mike Trout.

After that he was ROMANO-MATIC, as the Blue Jays Romano segment of the game notes reads. He recorded a career-high 23 consecutive saves to finish seventh in the AL with a 95.8% save mark. He finished second in the majors behind only Brewers Josh Hader (97.1%). He tied Ken Giles (23-for-24 in 2019) for the best in team history and his current streak of 23 consecutive is the third longest in team history behind Tom Henke (25) and Casey Janssen (24). Romano had a 2.14 ERA, seventh best among AL relievers while his 85 strikeouts were eighth most and his 33.6% K rate ranked ninth.

The former Ontario Blue Jay was coached by Dan Bleiwas and Dino Roumel.

Baseball Canada’s Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.) when he was inducted into the Peterborough and District Hall of Fame.

15. Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada (13).

After an 18-month layoff, Hamilton was busy forming rosters for: a National Junior Team training camp in Ajax, a Friendship Series against Team USA in Dunedin and Fall instructional camp in Dunedin. He put together the Olympic qualifying team with independent players and talking others out of retirement. Canada and Andrew Albers blanked Colombia 7-0, beat Cuba 6-5 and then lost 6-5 to Venezuela 6-5, 10-1 to Team USA and 6-5 to the Dominican Republic for the final spot in Tokyo Olympics. Former Jays slugger Jose Bautista said “their shortstop almost beat us on his own,” referring to Canada SS Daniel Pinero (Mississauga, Ont.) who went 3-for-4 with two homers and four RBIs against the Dominican Republic.

Eight of 20 players drafted in July were grads of the Junior team. Had the diamonds not been silent for 18 months the total would have been higher. Grads selected include: RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.), OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.), LHP Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.), RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.), INF Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC), RHP Evan Elliott (Toronto, Ont.) RHP Conor Angel (Pointe-Claire, Que.) and RHP Micah Bucknam (Abbotsford, BC).

Okotoks Dawgs managing director John Ircandia. Photo: Western Canadian Baseball League

16. John Ircandia, Okotoks Dawgs (15).

A lot of summer college ball teams went winless in 2021 ... but they didn’t lose any games either. Yet, Sylvan Lake Gulls, Lethbridge Bulls and Edmonton Prospects were a go while Ircandia put in a second team into the Western Canadian League. The Okotoks Dawgs Black went 25-16, while the Okotoks Dawgs Red were 15-25. The Big Dawg kept the league alive -- as he has done with other things. Returning for 2022 season are Alberta teams -- Fort McMurray Giants, Medicine Hat Mavericks and the Brooks Bombers -- and Saskatchewan teams -- Regina Red Sox, Moose Jaw Miller Express Swift Current 57s and the Weyburn Beavers. Ircandia showed his generosity by donating $2,000 in efforts to refurbish the Abbotsford Cardinals facility.

The summer team is only one passion for Ircandia, whose sons are no longer in the program. Dawgs grads moving up in the pro ranks include: Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) WCBL Rookie of the Year and WCBL playoff MVP, selected in the seventh round by the Brewers; Alejo Lopez, former Dawgs Academy middle infielder, who played 14 games with the Cincinnati Reds, hitting .261 and Andrew Kittredge, former WCBL summer all-star was 6-1 with 1.47 ERA. accumulating 43 innings and 43 strikeouts for the Rays.

And from the Academy -- ranked No. 3 program in Canada -- those off to school RHP Conor Pote (Okotoks, Alta.) and Leo Cote (Boucherville, Que.) to Oregon State, RHP Boston Warkentin (Delta, BC) Washington, RHP Jordan Lussier (Winnipeg, Man.), RHP Tyrelle Chadwick (Kamloops, BC) and INF Eric Machej (Edmonton, Alta.) Illinois State, RHP Logan Rumberg (Okotoks, Alta.) George Mason, RHP Matt Grabmann (Dartmouth, NS) Oregon, OF Max Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.) Washington State, Hank Griffin (Montreal, Que.) and C Kobe Laevens (Spruce Grove, Alta.) Bossier Parish.

RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) of the Cleveland Guardians.

17. Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) Guardians (48).

Quantrill didn’t make his first start until May 31 in the second game of a doubleheader against the White Sox. His next start he only lasted 1 1/3 innings allowing seven runs -- five earned -- against the Orioles. After a relief outing, he was back in the rotation pitching four innings allowing one run on June 15. He was in the rotation to stay pitching six innings or longer in 14 of his final 15 starts.

His 1.94 ERA in 14 starts after the all-star break was the second-best for starting pitchers who worked at least 55 innings. Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) finished with an 8-3 record in 40 appearances -- making 22 starts -- to lead Cleveland the staff with 149 2/3 innings. The former Ontario Terrier, who pitched for Scott VandeValk and his pop Paul, had a 2.89 ERA. In August, he was 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA (six earned runs in 38 innings) with 40 strikeouts in six starts

After allowing one earned run in his second-last start of the season, he had allowed no more than one earned run in 10 of his 13 starts since the break and according to Elias Sports Bureau, Quantrill is the first Cleveland pitcher since Sam McDowell in 1968, to allow one earned run-or-fewer in 10 or more starts since the break (McDowell had 11 starts). He post-break ERA was 1.94, which compares with Dodgers Max Scherzer (1.78), Braves Max Fried (1.78) and Phillies Ranger Suarez (1.83). The change of a nickname is a go after settling with a Roller Derby team -- hopefully not Skinny Mini Miller’s.

Steven Bronfman (Montreal, Que.) hopes to bring baseball to his city.

18. Steven Bronfman and Mitch Garber, Montreal investors (15).

Wise people in the game still say this tale of two cities -- and one team -- is the real deal. The game plan is for the Tampa Bay Rays to play the first half of their home schedule at Tropicana Field in St. Pete’s and the second in Montreal at Olympic Stadium ... with a new ball yard to be named later. You may think it is still a Tampa Bay ploy to escape. Rays president Chris Auld said at the Café con Tampa speaker series having a team play a full season in St. Pete’s is no longer sustainable or in his words “next to impossible a full-season can succeed in Tampa Bay today.”

The lease at the Trop expires after the 2027 season. Prior to the start of the playoffs, the Rays said they’d begin promoting a two-city partnership with Montreal with an outfield sign. Two days later, owner Stuart Sternberg apologized to Rays fans. Bronfman and Sternberg have talked. Quebec Premier François Legault said in December tax payers would not have to contribute. Two weeks later economy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon was appointed Minister for the Expos.

And negotiations are taking place between Bronfman and the provincial government, to purchase land in Montreal’s Peel Basin for a new stadium, according to Le Journal de Montreal. The Players Association would have to say yes to this idea -- considered strange (one team in two cities) say five years ago. Yet, didn’t Canada’s team play in three home yards this year? What role will the Blue Jays play? The only reason there is a team in Toronto is because of original Expo owners Charles Bronfman. We don’t see the Jays giving up the title of Canada’s Team, advertising or TV rights to Montreal. Will the Rays/Expos games from St. Pete’s be shown? Bronfman and Garber are playing it wiser than Jim Balsillie, unsuccessful in three tries to bring an NHL team to Hamilton.

Marnie Starkman. Photo: Toronto Blue Jays

19. Marnie Starkman, Blue Jays (9).

The 2020 season was a short one (60 games). The 2021 schedule should have been more like normal: 81 games at home, 81 on the road. Except instead of playing at one ball park as in 2019 or any other year going since 1977 -- save for 1989 when the Jays left Exhibition Stadium for SkyDome in June. The Jays had three homes in 2021: TD Ballpark in Dunedin (21 games), Sahlen Field in Buffalo (21 games) and Rogers Centre (37 games).

Dunedin and Rogers Centre were game ready. There was never an exact date of moving from Stadium A to Stadium B. In Buffalo, Starkman had to make more changes from 2020 before the club’s return June 1. The beautification included moving the bullpens from foul ground to behind the outfield fence, lighting improvements had to be made to all permanent light towers, new outfield grass was installed and major-league standard warning tracks.

The clubhouses were expanded and eventually split in two. The Jays left the Bisons in expanded luxury. There’s now a high-tech batting cage/tunnel complex in the right field corner. “No one can multi-task, like Marnie,” said one Jays executive.

20. Jeff Mallett, part owner Giants (21).

Besides being a co-owner of the Giants, who went 107-55 (a .660 win percentage), he owns the class-A San Jose Giants. San Jose was 76-44 (a .633 winning mark). San Jose drew 62,569 in 60 home dates averaging 1,043.

San Fran drew 1,679,484 for an average of 20,734 fans per games due to restrictions early in the season. They were behind the Dodgers (2,804,693 total, 34,626 average), the Braves (2,300,247, 28,753), Padres (2,191,950, 27,061), Cardinals (2,102,530, 25,957), Cubs (1,978,934, 24,431), Rockies (1,938,645, 23,934) and the Brewers (1,824,282, 22,522). The Giants are valued at $3.173 billion, according to Forbes Magazine, fifth in the industry, the same spot as 2020. San Fran’s revenue was $151 million, with an operating income of $64 million.

He may have made it big with Yahoo Inc. but he didn’t stop there or at the diamond. Besides baseball, Mallett (Victoria, BC) is the executive chair of the Vancouver Whitecaps, an ownership group which also includes Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo and NBA coach Steve Nash; owns the Derby County Football Club in England; invests in the Women’s Professional Soccer League, invests in Indochino (the world’s largest online retailer of custom suits with showrooms in Toronto, Vancouver, New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Beverly Hills and Boston), Synacor, a Buffalo-based technology firm which provides digital Internet services to North America’s cable and telecom companies and Corotto Vineyards in Napa.

Red Sox RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) reacts during Game 3 of the ALDS at Fenway Park. Photo: AP/Charles Krupa.

21. Nick Pivetta, Red Sox (-).

Pivetta was the fourth man in the Red Sox rotation on April 5 (five scoreless against the Rays), he was there Sept. 30 when he made his 30th start (three starts in 4 2/3 innings) and Game 4 of the ALCS against the Astros. Oh, he also pitched 8 2/3 innings in relief against the Rays getting the win in Game 3 on two days rest and he pitched the bottom of the ninth as the Red Sox clinched a wild card spot with a 7-5 win over the Washington Nationals to eliminate the Jays. Pivetta retired Lane Thomas on a fly ball, Alcides Escobar on a grounder and then he struck out Juan Soto looking.

With the Phillies, Pivetta (Victoria, BC) was 19-30 with a 5.50 ERA in 71 starts and with Boston he’s 11-8, with a 4.36 ERA in 32 starts. In Game 3 of the ALDS against the Rays, he pitched scoreless 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th innings, for the win (four scoreless, seven strikeouts). He’s the fifth Sox pitcher with four-plus scoreless in relief during postseason play, joining Ray Collins (1912 World Series Game 6, seven scoreless), Tex Hughson (1946 Series, Game 6, 4 1/3), Pedro Martinez (1999 ALDS, Game 5, six scoreless) and David Price (2017 ALDS Game 3, four scoreless). He was one of four major league pitchers to make as many as five scoreless starts with five-plus inning,s allowing two or fewer hits. Freddy Peralta and Carlos Rodon had six each, while Max Scherzer made five.

Pivetta enjoyed the change of scenery and the fact that the Sox wanted him made a difference. He didn’t change his pitch mix much, mostly four-seam fastballs, curveballs and sliders. But he threw his fastball higher in the strike zone with Boston than he did in Philadelphia and threw his curveball lower.

Arizona Diamondbacks vice president of baseball operations; De Jon Watson (left) David Royer and Jeff Royer, D-backs general partner at a Ryan’s House breakfast in Arizona.

22. Jeffrey Royer, general partner, Arizona Diamondbacks (24).

The old line about Royer, being the most successful Toronto resident of a major league team may be on its last legs. The Diamondbacks have made post-season play three times since 2004 (lost 2017 National League Division Series to the Dodgers, 2011 NLDS, loss to the Brewers and 2007 NLCS, loss to the Rockies). The Jays have made it twice (2015 ALCS loss to the Royals, 2016 ALCS loss to Cleveland).

Royer is an independent Director of Shaw Communications Inc., which Rogers Communications is attempting to buy. He committed $160 million US in 2004 over a 10-year span to own roughly 40% of the Arizona franchise. In 2016, Ken Kendrick, spokesman for the Phoenix-based club, Dale Jensen, Michael Chipman and Royer became the stakeholders. The Diamondbacks were valued at $1.32 billion, according to Forbes, 20th best in the majors. Forbes showed an $118 million operating revenue.

Royer serves as chairman of Baylin Technologies Inc., which makes radio frequency and terrestrial microwave products and services for mobile phones and embedded systems like 5G network infrastructure. He has served as director of more than 30 private companies and not-for-profit organizations. such as Medimor Ltd., Emmit Labs Inc. and Massuah Hotels, Jerusalem.

David Beeston (Toronto, Ont.) of the Red Sox.

23. David Beeston, executive, Red Sox (25).

When David was young his friends would ask him to get autographs from their favourite Jays like Ernie Whitt and Lloyd Moseby. This year, as Red Sox chief strategy officer and leader of Fenway Sports Group’s growth ambitions, David wound up with another autograph: Lakers star LeBron James. As part of RedBird Capital Partners $750 million investment in to Fenway Sports Group this past March, James and his business associate Maverick Carter joined FSG’s ownership ranks.

The investment by RedBird into the Fenway Sports Group, which includes Liverpool Football Club, 50% of NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Keslowski Racing, 80% of NESN and Fenway Sports Group Real Estate, was based on an enterprise valuation of $7.35 billion. The Red Sox, headed by John Henry and Tom Werner, were valued by Sportico at $4.8 billion, second in baseball behind the Yankees at $6.75 billion.

Very soon, David and FSG will add another sporting legend to their autograph case - FSG anticipates closing its acquisition of Mario Lemieux’s Pittsburgh Penguins early in 2022.

24. Justin Morneau, Twins Hall of Famer, broadcaster (32).

Morneau (New Westminster, BC) had the Target Field crowd and the majority of the Sportsnet audience in the palm of his hand as he spoke to fellow Hall of Famers, friends, former coaches and fans. He thanked people, told stories of fond memories and significant influences in his life.

He told of working with Tom Kelly one morn in Fort Myers as the former manager tired to get the first baseman ready for the majors. Before hitting him early morning ground balls, Kelly asked Morneau “Ready?” Kelly hit a sharp grounder, Morneau said it “ate him up” in the wet grass and Kelly threw his bat in the air asking, “Why am I wasting my time?” Kelly told Morneau about the importance of knowing the conditions of the grass and wind direction beforehand. It made an impact on Morneau and should have made one on youngsters in Minneapolis to Maple Ridge, to Medicine Hat to Moose Jaw and Moncton could have learned from that.

Morneau thanked his father George Morneau for throwing hours of batting practice. Morneau 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). The AL MVP in 2006 was elected to the Canadian Hall of Fame in St. Marys in 2020, but has not been inducted. Morneau is a special assistant to baseball operations with the Twins and an analyst on the team’s TV broadcasts. He also does studio work for Sportsnet.

He joined Twins HOFers Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett, Calvin Griffith, Herb Carneal, Jim Kaat, Bert Blyleven, Tom Kelly, Bob Allison, Bob Casey, Earl Battey, Frank Viola, Carl Pohlad, Zoilo Versalles, Gary Gaetti, Jim Rantz, Rick Aguilera, Brad Radke, George Brophy, Greg Gagne, Jim Perry, Camilo Pascual, Eddie Guardado, Tom Mee, John Gordon, Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer, Andy MacPhail, Johan Santana, Jerry Bell and Joe Nathan. Morneau made his debut on the Cooperstown Hall of Fame ballot in December.

Toronto Blue Jays assistant GM Andrew Tinnish (Burlington, Ont.)

25. Andrew Tinnish, assistant GM, Blue Jays (22).

The title of catcher of the future for the Blue Jays has rested on the shin guards of Brian Milner, Matt Stark, Jeff DeWillis, Jeff Hearron, Curtis Thigpen, Brian Jeroloman, Robinzon Diaz, J.P. Arencibia, Travis d’Arnaud and Max Pentecost over the years. Waiting in the wings is Gabriel Moreno and he is expected to play more than either Arencibia (339 starts in four Jays seasons) or Myers (300 in eight years). Tinnish signed Moreno for $25,000 in 2017. In 2021, at triple-A Buffalo and double-A New Hampshire, Moreno combined to bat .367 with 10 doubles, one triple, eight homers, 45 RBIs and a 1.060 OPS in 37 games (thumb injury). He’s the Jays No. 1 prospect according to Jim Callis at MLB.Pipeline.

Some arms Tinnish drafted and signed to a Jays contract in his three seasons as scouting director included 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 combined to go 316-337 with 62 saves and a 4.10 ERA. Position players Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.), Dwight Smith, Andy Burns, Jon Berti, Kevin Pillar and Anthony Alford hit an aggregate .253 with 137 homers, 528 RBIs and 153 stolen bases in 1,582 games, according to our minor-league numbers man George Farelli.

Tinnish (Burlington, Ont.) who is from Ottawa, spent his summer as an assistant coach and motivational speaker with the Burlington Bulls bantams.

Blue Jays president emeritus Paul Beeston (Welland, Ont.) has eyes in the top of his head.

26. Paul Beeston, president emeritus, Blue Jays (28).

One night in late July of 2009 at the Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays president asked if I thought assistant GM Alex Anthopoulos was ready to be a big-league GM? As I remember I didn’t say no, but I don’t think I said yes either. I do remember dancing like Buford Uan “Bud” Davis in Urban County at such a question. Anthopoulos was so young. Then, the final weekend of the season in Baltimore, the Maryland Mutiny unfolded. GM J.P. Ricciardi was out and Beeston hired Anthopoulos as the new GM.

Beeston saw the potential in Anthopoulos and then taught him the ropes of the business. When they give out the rings opening day in Atlanta, Anthopoulos will be getting a World Series ring ... And it’s not a stretch to say Beeston deserves one, too. Like the way some said former Rangers/Angels Doug Rader should have received one in 1992 after not getting along with both RP Tom Henke and CF Devon White, sending them to the minors the year before they joined Toronto.

Beeston was the first to say, “Alex reminds me of a young Pat Gillick,” which I thought was unfair pressure. Beeston was right in the comparison. Beeston has impacted a number of people on our top 100 list and serves on the board of directors of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Jays broadcaster Joe Siddall (Windsor, Ont.)

27. Joe Siddall, Jays broadcaster (55).

Blue Jays Nation has not been this upset since Bill Madlock upended Tony Fernandez breaking up two and his elbow landed on the metal plating around the second base cut out in 1987. Fans saw their Jays wronged when Tampa Bay’s Kevin Kiermaier slid home and Alejandro Kirk’s information card was dislodged from his wristband. It was not cheating or stealing when the card was laying on the ground. While some compared it to stealing a wallet dropped on the street, Siddall made the most sense of anyone. The Jays entrusted a high school bat boy to go to the Rays dugout to ask for the card back. The Rays probably told him where to find the key to the batter’s box. If it was so important Charlie Montoyo should have called time and asked his good friend Kevin Cash for the card back.

As Siddall often says “technology is wonderful to have, but I wish it was used pre game and players were left to use their most important tool -- their brain -- once the game begins. “If info on that card was so important, it shouldn’t be on a catcher’s wristband where it could get lost. If the card had pitch sequences on it for the pitcher, so what, change the sequence. A scouting report on hitters? Tampa Bay didn’t know how opposing pitchers were going to attack them?”

“The moral of the story, do your work pre game and use your brain and if you have critical info you don’t want the other team to see, don’t bring it onto the field of play with you,” Siddall said. “Leave it in your dugout or in the clubhouse. It was not cheating or stealing. It was gamesmanship and we see that all the time.”

Siddall did some excellent demos this season including: catchers’ pitch framing, Vlad Guerrero coming out of slump, Bo Bichette struggling with fastballs, catchers throwing from one knee (pointing to the best from one knee -- Benito Santiago), Jordan Romano buckling his back knee which led to stolen bases, then abbreviating his leg kick to make an adjustment to be quicker to the plate and the best way to make a tag play at the plate. Siddall’s partner Jamie Campbell said a season highlight was watching his partner analyze Danny Jansen early set up (giving away pitch location) then seeing the Jays make an adjustment within days. “That was extremely satisfying,” Campbell said. “Joe has graduated to a level of the best analysts in the country.”

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black. Photo: Getty Images

28. Buddy Black, manager, Rockies (27).

The former NL manager of the year (2010 with the Padres) has a 14-year record of 998-1,072 (.482 winning mark). Black’s Rockies finished tied with the 21st best win total going 74-87 (.460), even with the Royals. The Rockies were better than the Twins (73 wins), Cubs (71), Marlins (67), Nationals (65), Pirates (61), Rangers (60), Diamondbacks (52) and Orioles (52). Despite playing under .500 in 2021, the Rockies exceeded the expectations in the season’s final four months, finishing 54-51 after June 1.

Since Harry Ralston Black’s father, Harry Black is from the Edmonton area and his mother hails from Terry Puhl’s hometown of Melville, Sask., Black certainly qualifies to help Canada in the next World Baseball Classic. Black’s father was recruited from the Olds Elks to play for the UCLA Bruins in 1938.

Great Lake Canadians’ RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.)

29. Adam Stern and Chris Robinson, Great Lake Canadians (75).

We went back to 2005 checking on what team had two or more current players or alumni selected amongst the top five Canadians in the draft. Great Lake is your winner -- three of the top five and four of the first eight. How ‘bout that? As Mel Allen used to say.

In 2021, RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.) went second among Canucks in the second round to the Mets, In one pre-draft outing he struck out 11 of 12 batter he faced and got the other out on a weak grounder. Ziegler is No. 9 on Baseball America’s top 10 prospect list and No. 13 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Mets prospect list

Great Lake alum RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) went to the Royals.

Great Lakes grad RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) was fourth, chosen in the fifth round from Mississippi State to the Royals.

Former Great Lake RHP Jordan Marks (Bright’s Grove, Ont.)

And another alum RHP Jordan Marks (Bright’s Grove, Ont.) went in the eighth round to the Tigers from South Carolina-Upstate.

Next was LHP Adam Shoemaker (Cambridge, Ont.) in the 11th round to the Braves. In all, the foursome earned $2,037,500.

Nary a team has had three alum or current players in the top five. There were two Ontario Blue Jays in the top five in 2019 (C Noah Naylor, Mississauga, Ont. Cleveland, 1st rounder and RHP RJ Freure, Burlington, Ont. Pittsburgh, sixth, Astros), 2016 (OF Jacob Robson, Windsor, Ont., Mississippi State, eighth, Tigers and INF Daniel Pinero, Toronto, Ont. West Virginia, ninth, Tigers, 2014 (OF Gareth Morgan, North York, Ont., second, Mariners and RHP Jordan Romano, Markham, Ont., Oral Roberts 10th, Blue Jays) and 2006 (1B Jon Waltenbury, Bowmanville, Ont. seventh, Twins and INF Kyle Gilligan Etobicoke, Ont. 20th Blue Jays) along with the Langley Blaze in 2011 (RHP Tom Robson, Ladner, BC, fourth Blue Jays; C Dustin Houle, Penticton, BC, eighth, Brewers).

30. Bob McCown, broadcaster (29).

Robert no longer accompanies you on your ride up the Don or when you head home to the Niagara District on the QEW, but he is still pounding out podcasts with his Fadoo Productions. There is nothing like a well-produced podcast. You won’t hear him on The Fan, but I’ve heard him in my car often. SiriusXM buys the show daily and airs on Canada Talks (CH 167) the same day it runs as a podcast. Talk about a 1-2 punch. Peter Mansbridge, our Walter Cronkite, followed by McCown, our McCown.

His baseball guests this year included Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro, GM Ross Atkins, former GM Alex Anthopoulos, former manager John Gibbons, broadcasters Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez, along with Sportsnet’s baseball man Shi Davidi.

San Diego Padres scout Chris Kemlo. Photo: Kemlo Studios.

31. Chris Kemlo, scout Padres scout, coach Toronto Mets (31).

Not many Canadian scouts had their name alongside a Canuck, who was drafted and signed in 2021. Besides running PBR and coaching for the Toronto Mets, Kemlo had his name aligned with 6-foot-5, 230-pound RHP Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.) who signed for a $75,000 bonus. Kemlo saw Hawkins pitch for the University of British Columbia at home and in Lewiston, Id. in 2020. Hawkins pitched five innings allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks, while fanning nine in a 9-6 loss. The Padres also had Hawkins scouted when pitching for the Trenton Thunder in the Draft League, where the Vauxhall Jets grad struck out 32 in 24 innings, going 1-0 with a 2.62 ERA in six starts.

Kemlo also drafted OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) from the FieldHouse Pirates in the second round in 2020. San Diego moved him, three other prospects and Zach Davies to the Cubs for Yu Darvish and Victor Caratini. Caissie ranks ninth on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 list of Cubs prospects and 23rd on Baseball America’s top 30 Cubs prospects. Caissie hit .302 with 11 doubles, a triple, seven homers, 29 RBIs and a .923 OPS in 54 games at class-A Myrtle Beach and the rookie-class Cubs Arizona complex. With the Toronto Mets organization, Paul Spoljaric, Jordan Prosper and Kemlo look after the pitching program and mound instruction. He’ll mostly be with the Mets 17U in all of his spare time.

Adnan Virk (Morven, Ont.) of MLB Network.

32. Adnan Virk, MLBNetwork (41).

The game is all about comparisons. Like “he runs as fast as Rickey Henderson, but he’s not the base stealer Henderson was.” Or “he has the same type of player as Robin Yount, but he can’t play those two positions as well as Robin.” And now we come to Virk. He has a Rat-a-tat-tat, Tommy-Gun delivery. Sort of like a split between ex-Jay Orlando Hudson and Eric Thomas of Race Live Radio when it comes to WCPM (World Count per Minute ... it’s a new stat.

Virk is clearly a rising star at the MLB Network because there is not a task -- highlights, hosting this show or that -- that he can’t do. He pretty much became the regular host of The Rundown this season, but he can be found all over, hosting or guest-hosting almost every show on the network. When Steve Friess wrote a cover story for Newsweek -- ‘Since 9/11, US Muslims Have Gained Unprecedented Political, Cultural Influence’ -- the first person was quoted was Virk. “Everywhere I look, I see firsts happening,” said MLB Tonight’s Virk, who in 2012 became the first on-air Muslim host on ESPN.

Watching Virk is like gazing at TSN some nights, the way he highlights Canadians and their exploits whether it be the Reds, Cardinals or Jays. Could he have picked up his Canada pride in Kingston? In 1984, Virk’s family moved to Canada’s first capital and five years later headed west to Morven, where his parents owned a gas station and variety store.

Brewers scout Doug Mathieson (Aldergrove, BC) GM of the Langley Blaze.

33. Doug Mathieson, GM Langley Blaze/Brewers scout (33).

Not many Canadian coaches can look at the MVP voting, smile to himself and think, “I remember coaching him.” Mathieson and Jamie Bodaly moulded Tyler O’Neill into a future big leaguer. O’Neill finished eighth behind Bryce Harper of the Phillies, Juan Soto, Nationals; Fernando Tatis, Padres; Brandon Crawford, Giants; Trea Turner, Nationals/Dodgers; Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals and Austin Riley, Braves. An infielder with the Langley Blaze, O’Neill won his second-straight Gold Glove in the outfield. He had 12 defensive runs saves as the Cards led the NL saving 82. He was fifth in slugging (.560), seventh in homers (34) and seventh in OPS (.912). He was the first Cardinal to hit 11 or more homers in September since Mark McGwire.

When the Blaze/Brewers scout team headed to Jupiter in March, they could have roughly seven drafts 2002s-2004s on the roster -- like RHP Jacob Zibin (Langley, BC), OF Elijah Olaybal (Walnut Grove, BC) has run a 6.5 60, RHP Owen Fernandes (Maple Ridge, BC), LHP Carter Germain (Maple Ridge, BC), RHP Matthew Shanley (Maple Ridge, BC), OF Lucas Dykstra (Langley, BC) and OF Javee Tagduar (Surrey, BC), who may be faster than Tyson Gillies and may be the fastest player in Blaze history.

Curtis Taylor, whom Mathieson drafted working for the Diamondbacks, was a Rule V selection by the Nationals from the Toronto Blue Jays. Last fall in Jupiter, the Blaze beat the Ontario Blue Jays in exhibition play for bragging rights. On the March schedule are 24 games (12 college, 12 pro teams).

34. Arlene Anderson, CEO, Sam Bat (30).

No one knows for sure whether Barry Bonds is going to Cooperstown or going off the Hall of Fame ballot. We know one place he’s going: the nation’s capital. When Bonds hit his single-season home run record (73 home runs in 2001) he used a Sam Bat manufactured in the Ottawa Valley. Bonds was turned on to the Sam Bat model after he saw Joe Carter use the model in 41 games he played with the 1998 Giants.

The 2022 season will be the company’s 25-year anniversary. Bonds will be coming up to Ottawa to do a sit down with inventor/carpenter/pioneer Sam Holman. Holman has had some heart problems and is now at home. He’ll spend recovery time working on “The Sam Bat story.” It started at the Mayflower Tavern as Baseball Canada’s Bill McKenzie and Holman had a beer while watching a game on TV. “How come so many bats break?” McKenzie asked. Most bats at the time were made of ash. Holman designed maple bats.

And Anderson made the company profitable. Sam Bat had its best day for sales online for the last year on Black Friday. Business metrics are in good shape, according to Anderson, although some supply chain issues exist. For the first time in 10 years, Sam Bat is going to be back in Japan and has been approved, Taiwan is also ordering for Pros and retail and the product is selling strong in Dick’s Sporting Goods. Sam Bat was supposed to be Gold presenters again at the Equipment Managers Trade Show, however, it was cancelled due to the lock out.

This year’s client list included 54 players, including future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers, along with teammates Michael Fulmer, Nomar Mazara, Robbie Grossman, Niko Goodrum, Grayson Greiner, Jake Rogers and Victor Reyes; Nolan Arenado and Jose Rondon, Cardinals; Joc Pederson, Braves; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; Alejandro Kirk, Jays; Kris Bryant, Giants, Jonathan Villar Mets; Domingo Santana, Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) and Daniel Johnson, Guardians; former No. 1 pick Spencer Torkelson, Orioles; Luke Voit, Yankees; Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Diaz, Francisco Mejia, Rays; Avisail Garcia, Brewers; Pete Kozma, A’s; Victor Caratini, Tucupita Marcano, Padres; Eduardo Escobar, Diamondbacks; Franchy Cordero, Red Sox; Nathaniel Lowe, Yonny Hernandez, Rangers; Wilson Garcia, Reds; Donovan Walton, Nick Margevicius, Mariners and Cesar Hernandez, White Sox;. Canuck minor leaguers using Sam Bat include Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) Tigers: Andy Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) Diamondbacks; Noah Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) Guardians and Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) Blue Jays.

35. Ryan Dempster, broadcaster, Cubs (67)

We don’t see Dempster on TV as often as say 2020, but he’s actually doing more than ever. He’s too busy in Chicago. He hosts “Off the Mound” a half-hour, late night-style talk show on the Marquee Sports Network. He’s a star and personality at Marquis Sports in Chicago. Plus, he has a million side projects which are fun, popular and have the potential for big growth as he goes along.

Dempster brings out laughs and stories from big leaguers past and present, as well as sports and entertainment personalities. Dempster has welcomed guests like Hall of Famers Ken Griffey, Ferguson Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) and Greg Maddux, as well as Theo Epstein, Kyle Schwarber, Sean Casey, Rick Sutcliffe, Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam lead singer, and actor Mike O’Malley. He also had filmed drills such as: Throwing with a purpose (heading to a back alley to show a drill to improve throwing accuracy when working out alone), Maintaining Arm Strength, Building Pitching Strength and Pitch Grips 101.

Chris Reitsma (Calgary, Alta), senior advisor amateur pitching, Kansas City Royals.

36. Chris Reitsma, senior advisor amateur pitching, Royals (74).

Like Jason Bryans, of the Cardinals, Reitsma has players he scouted progressing with two different organizations: from his days with the Orioles and the Royals. RHP Grayson Rodriguez is No. 8 on the top 100 MLB Pipeline list (second on the Orioles list) and LHP DL Hall is 72nd (third on the O’s list). Rodriguez, a first rounder in 2018 (11th overall) was 9-1 with a 2.36 ERA, striking out 161 in 103 innings at double-A Bowie and class-A Abderdeen in 2021. Hall, a first rounder in 2017 (21st) was 2-0, with a 3.13 ERA with 16 whiffs in 31 2/3 innings in seven games at Bowie.

With the Royals, he has LHP Asa Lacy, 66th on the top 100 (third on the KC list). Lacy was a first-rounder in 2020 (fourth) and in 2021 was 2-5 with a 5.19 ERA, striking out 79 in 52 innings.

Reitsma, like so many other on this list, wears more than one hat. He is the senior director of baseball operations and pitching director for the Calgary Wildcats.

Elizabeth Benn (Toronto, Ont.) Photo: Dan Clouser

37. Elizabeth Benn, Major League Baseball (-).

As coordinator of baseball operations, Benn provides support for the administration of player transactions, waivers and roster management. During the year, the Toronto native disseminates the daily waiver bulletin and serves as a point-of-contact for team operations staff with regards to the interpretation of MLB rules and the Basic Agreement.

In addition, she manages programs related to the development and education of players and staff, with an emphasis on providing playing and career development opportunities for women in the game, playing an integral role in helping advance programs like Take the Field and other women’s development at the amateur level through RBI, the Breakthrough Series, the Elite Development Invitational, MLB Grit and USA Baseball National Team organizations.

She also coordinates programs such as MLB’s social media screening for Minor League and draft eligible players, MLB’s women’s locker room accommodations policy, and works with the Players Alumni Association to develop player programs. She also serves on the board of the Canadian Hall of Fame.

John Lott, winner of the 2021 Jack Graney Award. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

38. Jack Graney, Frick winner and John Lott, Graney winner (84).

Graney passed away in 1978 and we don’t usually have deceased people on our top 100 -- save for the 101st spot where we pay tribute to people who have died in the past year. Graney (St. Thomas, Ont.) deserves to be here after his 14-year big league career playing for Cleveland Indians and parts of three decades in the Cleveland broadcast booth. Graney told people in Ohio of every move by future Hall of Famers Earl Averill, Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby, Bob Feller and Satchel Paige. Graney was elected the 2022 winner of the Ford C. Frick award.

The other finalists were: Pat Flanagan, Waite Hoyt, France Laux, Rosey Rowswell, Hal Totten, Ty Tyson and Bert Wilson. He is the first Canadian-born broadcaster to win the Frick. Dave Van Horne, who worked Expos games, while Tom Cheek, who did Jays games, also won the Frick award. Cheek became a Canadian citizen in 1991 and Van Horne had landed immigrant status.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys was ahead of the curve naming its media award after Graney in 1987 honouring legendary scribe Neil MacCarl of the Toronto Star as its first recipient. And Mr. Lott was an excellent choice as the 2021 Graney award winner in voting conducted by former winners.

Mr. Lott began writing for his own TruNorth site -- with a memorable feature on the Zimmerman family, Jordan, Jeff and their father. He moved on to the National Post, VICE and The Athletic. No one covered the minor leagues better and no one combined the platforms -- well except for TV and radio -- better than Lott, who was also an excellent photographer.

Minnesota Twins scout Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) with Prairie Baseball Academy grad Willy Diaz, whom Burrows signed for the Twins. Photo: Prairie Baseball Academy

39. Walt Burrows, scout, Twins (36).

Again Burrows has the top Canuck on MLB.Pipeline’s rating system in RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.). Last year, we thought either Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) or Balazovic would be the first player with Canuck connections to make the majors in 2021. Lopez played one game and while RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) didn’t get into a game with the Mariners, he wore a big-league uniform and got major-league meal money during the final week of the season.

An Ontario Blue Jays grad who earned Canadian Baseball Network minor league Pitcher of the Year honours in 2019 (Brash won it in 2021), Balazovic, a fifth-round choice in 2016, was No. 81 on the MLB Pipeline top 100 list (third on the Twins list behind SS Royce Lewis and ex-Jay first rounder OF Austin Martin). Balazovic was at double-A Wichita where he went 5-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 20 starts as he struck out 102 in 97 innings. Jordan’s grandpa OF Joe Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) played two seasons in the Cleveland system at class-C Fargo-Moorhead and class-B Burlington.

40. Hazel Mae, Sportsnet (44).

Between games of a bantam tournament in August, we went for eats at Kelsey’s in Mississauga. The Jays game was on the TV and there was Hazey interviewing Bo Bichette. A coach I’d only met in 2020 asked, “Have you ever met someone famous like Hazel ... what’s she really like?” Hmmm. I’d never been asked that ... “Well capacity is 15,000 due to restrictions, so let’s say there are 13,000 fans there, plus another 1,000 people ... staff, players, media and ushers. Let’s say we’re up to 14,000 now. Hazel is probably the nicest person in the building.”

Mae was no longer restricted to the studio as she was in 2020. For the postseason, she again did double duty, reporting for TBS and Sportsnet. Mae reported on the Red Sox-Rays Division Series for the TBS studio show with Ernie Johnson, Curtis Granderson, Pedro Martinez and Jimmy Rollins and Sportsnet. For the ALCS and World Series, Mae worked strictly for Sportsnet.

Mae had an exclusive sitdown with Astros SS Carlos Correa before the first pitch of Game 1 of World Series, as well as with Fernando Tatis coming out of the NL All-Stars dugout after batting to talk to 1-on-1 about his friendship with Vlad Guerrero Jr. and how Jose Berrios made the emotional move to Toronto, from growing up in Puerto Rico wanting to be a shortstop.

Jim Stevenson (Leaside, Ont.), Houston Astros’ domestic scouting supervisor

41. Jim Stevenson, domestic scouting supervisor, Astros (47).

Not many scouts have eight players they have drafted or signed in the majors at the same time. Stevenson (Leaside, Ont.) had that many in 2021: Josh James (five innings), and making his debut on May 21, 2021, Tyler Ivey (4 2/3 innings and was injured), are with the Astros while the others are elsewhere: LHP Dallas Keuchel (9-9, 5.28 ERA in 30 starts with the White Sox); RHP Adrian Houser (10-6, 3.22 ERA in 26 starts with the Brewers striking out 105 in 142 1/3 innings), Abraham Toro (.239, 12 doubles, 11 homers, 46 RBIs, .688 OPS with the Astros and the Mariners in 95 games); OF Ramon Laureano (.246, 21 doubles, two triples, 14 homers, 39 RBIs and a .760 OPS in 88 games with the A’s); Jack Mayfield (.218, 15 doubles, 10 homers, 39 RBIs, .659 OPS with the Angels and Mariners) and RP Ralph Garza (19 1/3 innings, 15 strikeouts with the Twins and Astros).

In 2021, Stevenson drafted Rhett Kouba, a 12th rounder Dallas Baptist (2.45 ERA in 18 1/3 innings with 20 strikeouts at class-A Fayetteville and rookie ball) and RHP Nic Swanson, a 16th round pick from Northeastern Oklahoma State (eight innings in rookie ball). After the draft, he signed free-agent power arms in RHP Kasey Ford from Kansas State (92-96 MPH at Fayetteville) and RHP Ray Gaither of Dallas Baptist (2-1, 3.95, 15 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings at class-A Asheville and Fayetteville). Two previous free agent signs from 2020 fared well: Jonathan Sprinkle (2-3, 3.48, 79 whiffs in 44 innings at Fayetteville, Asheville and double-A Corpus Christi) and OF Justin Dirden (.274, 18 doubles, six triples, 15 homers, 58 RBIs and a .934 OPS in 83 games at Asheville and Fayetteville). He also signed lefty RP Parker Mushinski (0-4, 3.60, 84 whiffs in 65 innings at Corpus Christi and triple-A Sugar Land.)

St. Louis Cardinals coach and Canadian baseball legend Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.)

42. Stubby Clapp, coach, Cardinals (45).

Three off-seasons and three times Clapp has been mentioned in serious talks for a manager’s job. Following the 2019 season, the Pirates interviewed Clapp before hiring Derek Shelton. After the 2020 season, it was the Rangers, who hired ex-Blue Jay Chris Woodward and in 2021, the Cards looked at Clapp to replace Mike Shildt. After Shildt’s departure, the Cards proclaimed we “value continuity if we’re continuing to head in the right direction.” Cards chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and GM John Mozeliak decided to go with coach Oliver Marmo as the new skipper for 2022.

Besides playing 23 games in the majors with St. Louis, he played in the minors in the Braves, Blue Jays and Cards systems, as well as coaching and managing with the Astros, Blue Jays and Cardinals. With the Cards, Clapp took over from José Oquendo as infield instructor. Clapp managed the Memphis Redbirds to a triple-A championship and he played there three years. After his retirement, the Redbirds retired his No. 10, the first number retired by the franchise.

Atlanta Braves former assistant trainer Mike Frostad (Calgary, Alta.).

43. Mike Soroka, Michael Saunders, Mike Frostad, Danielle Bedasse, Carolyn Serra and Robbie Burnstein, Braves.

Soroka suffered a re-tear of his right Achilles tendon requiring season-ending surgery in June 2021. An MRI revealed a complete re-tear of the tendon originally injured in August 2020. The injury happened walking to the clubhouse at Truist Park. Soroka, 24, has made three starts since the end of 2019.

In his first year managing in 2021, Saunders (Victoria, BC) guided the class-A Augusta GreenJackets to a 54-66 record. Saunders had six of the Braves’ top 30 prospects, according to the highly-respected Baseball America: INF Vaughn Grissom, RHP Joey Estes, RHP Darius Vines, INF Cal Conley, RHP Jared Johnson and LHP Dylan Dodd. Plus, RHP Spencer Strider, who was promoted to the Braves for two games. Also getting a World Series ring besides Saunders will be:

Assistant trainer Frostad (Calgary, Alta.), Josh Donaldson’s favourite trainer. Not only will he get a ring, but Frostad has been promoted to the Los Angeles Angels as their new director of sports medicine and head athletic trainer.

Bedasse (Halifax, NS) the director of community affairs and executive director of the Braves Foundation. Danielle was the former executive director of the Jays Care Foundation from 2007 to 2014.

Serra (Ottawa, Ont.) is senior director of Ballpark Tours at Truist Park as well as operating the Braves Heritage and Hall of Fame.

Burnstein (Oakville, Ont.) is an account executive, corporate partnerships at triple-A Gwinnett. A Brock alum, Burnstein also worked for the Jays Care Foundation.

(Other Canucks in the system who didn’t get rings: former Coquitlam Red Indigo Diaz, North Vancouver, BC, No. 18 on Baseball America’s Braves top 30 list and No. 21 on MLB Pipeline, as he struck out 83 in 45 innings at double-A Mississippi and class-A Rome, combining to go 6-2 with a 1.20 ERA and five saves; ex-Great Lake Canadian Adam Shoemaker (Cambridge, Ont.), an 11th round pick, given a $477,500 bonus by Anthopoulos, far above the $125,000 slot, pitching 5 1/3 innings for the Braves in rookie-class Florida Complex League, Michael Copeland (Whitby, Ont.), a data architect for the Braves, is an independent contractor.

Steve Wilson (Victoria, BC), New York Yankees International crosschecker/pitching analyst (right) with South Korean national baseball manager Sun Dong-yol in 2019.

44. Steve Wilson, International crosschecker/pitching analyst, Yankees (40).

RHP Jonathan Loaisiga, from Nicaragua, had a breakout season and could arguably have been the top set-up man in the AL in 2021, going 9-4 with a 2.17 ERA, plus five saves and 69 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings. Added to the 40-man roster were international signs: 2B Oswaldo Cabrera, who combined to bat .272 with 29 homers, 89 RBIs and an .863 OPS at double-A Somerset and triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, defensive SS Oswald Peraza, 21, who batted .297 with 26 doubles, two triples, 18 homers, 58 RBIs and an .834 OPS in 115 games at Class-A Hudson Valley, Somerset and Scranton and CF Everson Pereira, .303, 10 doubles, a triple, 20 homers, 57 RBIs and a 1.084 OPS in 49 games (188 at-bats) in the rookie-class Florida Complex league, class-A Tampa and Hudson Valley.

Free agents signed included SS Hans Montero, signed from the Dominican for $1.6 million, CF Fidel Montero, signed for $450,000, the 6-foot-7 LHP Henry Lalane, the son of a pro hoops player in DR, RHP Luis Serna from Mexico, had 46 strikeouts in 40 innings pitching in the Dominican Summer league with a 2.25 ERA and teammate RHP Kevin Aparicio from Panama, who was 5-0 with 25 strikeouts in 16 innings.

And international players on the move -- eight in all -- during the Yanks deals in 2021: RHP Jameson Taillon arrived from the Pirates (RHP Roansy Contreras, who went five scoreless in Pittsburgh at the end of the year, RHP Miguel Yajure (who made his debut with the Pirates in 2021 and will try to make the 2022 and 2B Maikol Escotto (who had a .701 OPS at class-A Bradenton); Rougned Odor from the Rangers (CF Antonio Cabello hit .307 in Arizona complex league); Clay Holmes to the Bucs (INF Park Hoy-Jun finished year with the Pirates with a chance to make the 2022 team as a back up); Joey Gallo and Joely Rodriguez from the Rangers (2B Ezequiel Duran, who was hit .267 with 22 doubles, six triples, 19 homers, 79 RBIs and an .827 OPS at class-A Hudson Valley and class-A Hickory); Anthony Rizzo from the Cubs (CF Kevin Alcantara, hit .345 with five homers, 24 RBIs and an OPS of 1.012) ... “he could play defence behind Eddie Feigner of the King and his Court Fame” and Andrew Heaney from the Angels (Elvis Peguero, made his debut with Anaheim in 2021, and will have a chance to be a part of their bullpen in 2022).

Allan Simpson (Kelowna, B.C.), Baseball America founder and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee

45. Allan Simpson, Canadian Hall of Fame selection committee (37).

Jack Graney won the Ford C. Frick award and Simpson had a shot to win the BBWAA Career Excellence award -- which would have meant a Canadian sweep. Graney (St. Thomas, Ont.) took the honour for broadcasting excellence, while Simpson finished third for the second straight year.

The winner of the award, Tim Kurkjian covered the Texas Rangers for the Dallas Morning News (1981-85) and the Baltimore Orioles for the Baltimore Sun (1986-89) before taking over for Peter Gammons at Sports Illustrated (1989-97) and then crossed over to ESPN (1998-present). Kurkjian had 211 of the 375 votes cast by writers with 10 or more years experience. The runner-up was the late Marty Noble of Newsday and MLB.com with 89 votes, followed by Simpson with 71. Simpson is the chair of the Canadian Hall of Fame selection process.

Philadelphia Phillies scout Alex Agostino (St-Bruno, Que.).

46. Alex Agostino, crosschecker, Phillies (38).

C Logan O’Hoppe, selected in 23rd round from a Long Island HS is rated the Phillies’ sixth best prospect by Baseball America and 11th best by MLB Pipeline. In three stopovers at class-A Jersey Shore, double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley, he hit 19 doubles, two triples, 17 homers, 58 RBIs and a .789 OPS in 104 games. He won the Dernell Stenson sportsmanship award, while his father was battling cancer which he just beat. When Stenson was playing for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League in 2004, he was murdered. He was named an organizational all-star.

A 40th rounder in 2019 from Hofstra, 1B Vito Friscia, also gained organizational all-star status. In his first full year, he hit .265 with 15 doubles, two triples, seven homers, 40 RBIs and a .799 OPS in 77 games at Jersey Shore and Lehigh Valley. Friscia split his time mostly between first and DH while making five starts behind the plate.

The 6-foot-6 RHP Ben Brown, a Long Island HS 33rd rounder from 2017 is up to 97 MPH. He had 17 strikeouts in 16 innings with a 6.19 ERA in seven games -- four starts -- in the rookie-class Florida Complex League and Jersey Shore. Agostino knows what it is like when an area scout gets shut out and says “my goal is to get each of my area scouts a player in every draft.”

Crosschecking in 2020, the top drafts from his area are RHP Billy Sullivan, University of Delaware, who was 1-1 with two saves in 20 games fanning 35 in 23 2/3 innings at Jersey Shore and Reading, along with RHP Blake Brown UNC Asheville, who went 2-1 with a 3.07 ERA with 36 whiffs in 41 innings at the same spots.

And in 2021, his best were fifth-rounder RHP Griff McGarry of the University of Virginia, 1-0, 2.96 ERA, with one save, 43 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings at class-A Clearwater and Jersey Shore plus 12th rounder 1B TJ Rumfield Virginia Tech, who hit .250 with seven RBIs in 27 games and a .689 OPS in 27 games at Clearwater. Joel Valdez and Rumfield were sent to the Yankees for minor leaguers Nick Nelson and Donnie Sands. He also signed Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) who was 1-5 with a 4.34 ERA, fanning 60 in 58 innings combined in rookie ball in the Florida Complex league, Jersey Shore and Reading.

47. Shi Davidi, Sportsnet (52).

From appearing on TV to writing for the website to talking on radio or podcasts, Davidi has the nose for news. He had the news about the Jays spending $200-to-$250 million on the lower bowl of the Rogers Centre.

His best piece was a feature on Larry Walker ‘Just Work, Work, Work, Work And Good Things Happened” where he spoke to 10 former players, executives, coaches and a hockey coach (Dante Bichette, Justin Morneau, Darren Holmes, Joe Siddall, Mike Aldrete, Jimmy Van Ostrand, Dave Dombrowski, Bob Gebhard, Tim Leiper and Bob Strumm); and in depth time line of ‘How Blue Jays and Jose Berrios completed their $131M, 7-year extension,’; a Vlad Guerrero feature ‘From Promising To Promised One’ and why he hasn’t yet reached his ceiling; how the ‘Jays deserved a better fate after coming up a game short of wild card’ on the 91-win season in 2021 and about the Robbie Alomar ban ‘The next step in long-needed public reckoning,’ interviewing Lisa Banks, lawyer representing the person who made the allegation against Alomar, who said “My client has no plans to file a lawsuit or take further action,” despite reports elsewhere.

Rob Thomson (Corunna, Ont.), Philadelphia Phillies bench coach.

48. Rob Thomson, bench coach, Phillies (34).

On April 30, Thomson (Corunna, Ont.) did the post-game Zoom call press conference and was his typical Canadian self, since Phillies manager Joe Girardi attended his daughter’s graduation. The Phillies managed a grand total of three singles against Marcus Stroman, Aaron Loup, Jeurys Familia and Miguel Castro (all but Famila pitched for the Jays). In the second inning, Brad Miller reached on an infield single.

Two outs later, Andrew Knapp reached on an infield single. After a four-pitch walk to Odubel Herrera, Stroman faced his counterpart Chase Anderson. The third pitch of the at bat eluded James McCann as both Miller and Knapp scored, as McCann was charged with a passed ball. Asked if he’d ever seen a two-run passed ball before, Thomson, the former catcher, said he was not sure, but added “it probably happened to me before.” Thomson credited the 2-1 win to a “fortuitous strike out.”

Longtime Baseball Canada president Jim Baba. Photo: Discover Moose Jaw

49. Jim Baba, Baseball Canada (56).

In his final year running the country’s governing body, Baba (Moose Jaw, Sask.) was supposed to be the No. 1 official during the competitions staged during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021. He didn’t make it to Japan, but Shari Reiniger took his place. He will continue to help out with WBSC matters.

The National Teams achieved unprecedented success during his time as executive director: the men’s team won two World Cup bronze (2009, 2011, Canada’s first medals ever), as well as two Pan Am golds (2011, 2015) and a Pan Am silver (2019) and the women’s team which began in 2004 and won six medals (four bronze, two silver), a Pan Am silver at (2015) and owned a No. 2 world ranking from (2016-2019). Plus a national grass roots program was implemented in 2006 called Rally Cap designed for initiation into ball, with the Blue Jays becoming national partners in 2022 and Baseball Canada adopted Challenger Baseball in 2012 for children with physical and/or cognitive disabilities.

There was a time when Baba was a big deal in his prairie province ... long before he moved to the capital. But he is still a big whoop. “Jim Baba is everything to me and a lot of baseball people in Saskatchewan,” said Team Sask’s Greg Brons. “He coached many of us through the Team Saskatchewan program and raised the level of in all of us. He set the standard. Babs also instilled the ‘Earl Weaver’ style of ball in Saskatchewan. When I was coaching Team Sask he would often come over to Todd Plaxton and I to give us his thoughts of our strategy ... ‘so with you calling a bunt in that situation - you are basically telling me your team can’t hit.’ He was never afraid to give us his insight - and Babs was always right. He’s one of the smartest baseball people I know.”

INF Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) was the first Canadian selected in the 2021 MLB Draft. Photo: Wright State Raiders

50. Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) Brewers (-).

And so the torch was passed from father to son. That’s the way it is in baseball. Yet, it seldom unfolds like this: Rod Black, known coast-to-coast as Canada’s most respected and well-liked, do-it-all broadcaster and nice guy handled hoops, Blue Jays, figure skating and CFL football. His son Tyler tagged along to the SkyDome and followed 2B Aaron Hill. There is a story that inside a competing news room a boss said, “Look, you guys don’t have to act like jerks ... look at Rod Black. Everyone loves him.”

Due to injuries, Black wasn’t a draft when he graduated from the Toronto Mets and off he went to play for the Wright State Raiders. He was the top Canadian selected in the 2021 draft -- 33rd overall in North America by the Milwaukee Brewers. His $2.2 million US bonus was the sixth highest ever for a Canuck behind RHP Jameson Taillon (The Woodlands, Tex.) $6.5 million; Ontario Terrier RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope Ont.) $3,963,045; Whalley Chief LHP Adam Loewen (Surrey BC) $3.2 million, C Noah Naylor (Mississauga Ont.) $2,578,138 and Josh Naylor (Mississauga Ont.) $2.5 million. The Naylor brothers played for the Ontario Blue Jays.

His father, ‘Hot” Rod Black penned an introductory piece on the Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Year ... who happened to be his son a rare unanimous selection. Black was rated No. 5 on Baseball America’s top 10 prospects and No. 7 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Brewers prospect list;

Mike McRae (Niagara Falls, Ont.), head coach William & Mary University. Photo: William & Mary University Athletics

51. Mike McRae, head coach, William & Mary University (64).

McRae brings 16 years of head coaching experience and 450 career wins to his new school, becoming the 53rd head coach of the Tribe. McRae spent four years at Virginia Commonwealth as pitching coach, helping the Rams to an A-10 Championship in 2021 and regular season titles in 2019 and 2021. VCU won at least 34 games in his four seasons with his pitching staff, which was consistently one of the toughest in the A-10. VCU’s pitchers combined to have a sub-4.00 ERA in three of the four seasons in which McRae was on campus. The Rams also held opponents to a sub .235 batting average in 2018 and 2019. Under McRae, Rams pitching struck out 1,564 batters, walking 673.

The McRae men at VCU and how they fared in 2021: LHP Campbell Ellis (Georgetown, Ont.) 6-1 with a 3.25 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings, RHP Evan Chenier (Georgetown, Ont.) was 3-0 with a 4.07 ERA striking out 41 in 42 innings, LHP Jaden Griffin (Lower Sackville, NS). 2-0. 5.88 with 24 whiffs in 26 innings and RHP Justin Humenay (Montreal, Que.) 0-0, 11.12 in 5 2/3 innings.

Before VCU, McRae spent 13 years as the head coach of Canisius Golden Griffins taking the program’s first MAAC Championship and appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2015. He won three regular season MAAC championships in his final eight seasons, with a .600 winning percentage. McRae won 30 or more games in 10 of his final 11 years in Buffalo. At Williams and Mary, he has landed two Canucks to date -- OF-RHP Charlie Iriotakis (Toronto, Ont.) and OF Aiden Zimmerman (Caledonia, Ont.). They won’t be his last.

52. Rob Corte, Sportsnet (-).

People at Sportsnet tell me it was Corte who decided to go without a radio broadcast of Jays TV games this season. After Mike Wilner was let go, Ben Wagner was ready to start the season. Rather than hire an analyst, they went with a simulcast of the TV broadcast. It was an unfair position for Sportsnet to place broadcasters Dan Shulman, Buck Martinez and Pat Tabler in.

So people would be driving or listening to the radio hearing, “Well, as you can clearly see on the replay, his foot is off the bag.” I looked at my dashboard. I couldn’t see a thing. Same for the old, “There you see his numbers at the bottom of the screen.” They have been broadcasting one way for 20 years and now they were supposed to be like radio broadcasters? It did not work. Baseball on radio is not like when Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth ruled the air waves with loyal followings. Yet, it is still a more enjoyable game on the radio and sometimes the only choice at the cottage, in the car or sneaking away from a family barbecue to catch the score.

Wagner returned to the broadcast booth -- the job he signed up for -- on July 30 and the simulcast was dropped and he was finally rescued from reporting from the outfield boardwalk known as either the Dunedin Trail or the West Jet Flight Deck. He worked the final 62 games of the season solo.

53. Maury Gostfrand, agent (46).

Gostfrand joined The Montag Group in January, 2018 as partner & executive vice president, after founding Vision Sports Group, a New York-based sports management and marketing agency representing primarily sports broadcasters and coaches. And what a stable he has. It includes the league leader in information Ken Rosenthal (MLB Network, Fox Sports and The Athletic), talented scribe Tom Verducci (MLB Network, Sports Illustrated) and the prolific Jayson Stark (MLB Network, The Athletic). Some of his other diamond clients include Marquee Sports Network’s Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC), MLB Network’s Kevin Millar, ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian -- BBWAA Career Excellence award winner in 2021 -- as well as broadcasters John Kruk (Phillies), Dave O’Brien (Red Sox), FOX’s Adam Amin and Jesse Agler (Padres).

He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1991 and began his career with the New York-based firm, Athletes and Artists, serving as the director of marketing, then attended University of Miami School of Law, and while in law school, Gostfrand (Chomedey, Que.) worked for Impact Sports in Boca Raton, Fla., representing professional athletes, including NFL and NBA players. In 1996, he joined New York-based RLR Associates, an agency which represents sports broadcasters, where he served as an agent for nine years. He looks after the business deals for Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre and former Reds’ GM Jim Bowden (CBS Sports, The Athletic, ESPN Radio and MLB.Network radio).

Rogers Communications Phil Lind (Toronto, Ont.)

54. Phil Lind, Vice Chairman, Rogers Communications (58).

There may be more than one person who can trace his friendship and closeness from pioneer Ted Rogers to the current Rogers Communication empire, led by Ted’s only son, Edward Rogers, but the No. 1 man is Lind. He has been loyal, insightful and still sits No. 2 on the Blue Jays front office directory. Edward is No. 1 as chairman of the Jays, Lind: is No. 2 and third is Jordan Banks: president, media business unit.

People in the industry thought it would be better to have a team within driving distance of 1 Blue Jays way at Jackson Field in Lansing, Mich.. When the re-shuffle of minor league teams came, Lind pointed out Rogers had better name recognition and sizzle in Canada than across the river from Windsor. And it will be the right decision when the Canadians return to Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver in 2022.

Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) belted 10 home runs in double-A in the Cleveland Guardians’ organization in 2021.

55. The Naylors, Josh and Bo, Guardians (48).

Ball players never want to be on a lowlight package and fortunately we have not seen RF Josh Naylor’s collision with 2B Ernie Clement. The pair collided in the fourth inning on June 27 at Target Field on a bloop single by Jorge Polanco. Josh had multiple fibula fractures and ligament damage leading to surgeries on his foot and ankle July 2 at Cleveland Clinic. He began rehabbing in Arizona in mid-September. In his 69 games with Cleveland in 2021, Josh batted .253 with 13 doubles, seven homers, 21 RBIs and a .700 OPS. At the time of the injury, he was 10-for-28 (.357) in his previous nine games with a double, two homers and five RBIs, starting 50 games in right and 11 at first.

OF Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) former Ontario Blue Jay.

Bo is sixth on MLB Pipeline and seventh on Baseball America’s list of Cleveland’s best prospects. After the 2020 season was wiped out, he hit .188 in 2021 with 13 doubles, a triple, 10 homers, 44 RBIs and a .612 OPS in 87 games at double-A Akron. Josh went 12th overall in 2015 getting a $2.2 million bonus from the Marlins, while Bo went 29th in 2018 earning $2,578,137 from Cleveland.

Blake Corosky, left, Evan White and Raza Malik the day 1B White signed a six-year $24 million deal.

56. Blake Corosky and Raza Malik, True Gravity (62).

The two had a successful draft representing Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.), 46th overall in North America, who went in the second round to the Mets. RHP Garrett Hawkins (ninth, Padres) and LHP Adam Shoemaker (11th, Braves) were also selected. Ziegler signed for $910,000, Hawkins for $75,000 and Shoemaker for $477,500 in talks with fellow Canadian, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.)

Former Blue Jays scout Mike Pesce, the man who loved George Springer when other Jays scouts thought he was a “snowflake that would melt in the spring,” works for True Gravity and advises Diamondbacks third rounder Jacob Steinmetz, the first known practicing Orthodox Jewish Player ever selected in the draft, according to The Times of Israel. On the pro side, Canadians Indigo Diaz (North Vancouver, BC) of the Braves, Brendan McGuigan, who played for Canada in the Olympic qualifier before returning to the Mariners, and Kole Cottam, whose father is from Burlington and is in the Red Sox systems, all had strong seasons. True Gravity clients from south of the border include Ethan Elliott (Padres), Robert Neustrom (Orioles) and Korry Howell (Brewers). Also in the stable are LHP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.). Breakfast Television host Sid Seixeiro is the only non-baseball client, but he bakes a mean stack of pancakes.

Former Expo broadcaster Jacques Doucet (Beloeil, Que.)

57. Jacques Doucet, broadcaster (54).

Three times since 1978 have the Ford C. Frick award voters elected Spanish-language broadcasters. Buck Canel, who worked Yankees and Mets games was honoured in1985, the wonderful Jaime Jarrín, who formed quite a pair at Dodger games with Saint Vincent Scully won in 1998 and in 2001 Felo Ramírez of the Marlins won. Why has a French-language broadcaster not be honoured? Doucet has been a finalist in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2020. He has been elected to the Canadian Hall of Fame in St. Marys but due to COVID the induction has not taken place.

It is a question not asked often enough. Doucet (Beloeil, Que.) is expected to be on the Frick ballot again in 2022. It is his time. He educated a whole province on the games. First as a ball scribe for La Presse in 1968 and during the Expos’ first season in 1969, Doucet occasionally replaced Jean-Pierre Roy as colour commentator on CKLM 1570, which held the French radio broadcast rights, when Roy moved to the TV broadcast once a week.

Ken Harrelson beat Doucet and six others in 2020. Also on the ballot that year were Pat Hughes, poised to begin his 26th season as radio play-by-play voice of the Cubs and 39th as a major-league broadcaster, Red Sox voice Joe Castiglione; Cardinals announcer Mike Shannon; Cleveland play-by-play man Tom Hamilton; Dewayne Staats, a former Cubs announcer now with the Rays; and the late Ned Martin, who called Boston games from 1961 to 1992 and died in 2002.

Former big league all-star Jason Dickson (Miramichi, N.B.) is now Baseball Canada’s president and CEO. Photo: Baseball Canada

58. Jason Dickson, President & CEO, Baseball Canada (85).

The answer to the old line about “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Practice. Practice. How does one get to Cooperstown? Practice. And performance. How does one get to Cooperstown to watch a Canuck icon inducted? Well, Dickson travelled the Fredericton-Toronto-Newark-Boston-Syracuse and was picked up by Junior National Team coach Greg Hamilton. It’s a 10 1/2 hour drive, except Dickson could not drive across the border. With the cancellations, airport to airport took 18 hours. And he would not have missed it for the world.

Walker inspired many a hitter from BC to the Maritimes. “Larry’s a guy you’d like to have a beer with,” Dickson said. Dickson will attempt to take amateur ball in Canada to a new level. 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 but is necessary to qualify in the Premier12 every four years. How Canada fared the last four years — 2018: U-18 Pan Am bronze; 2019: Pan Am qualifier fourth, Pan Am Games second, Premier 12 10th; 2020: zero events and 2021: Olympic qualifier fourth. September’s U18 World Cup was pushed back until 2022.

Bill Byckowski (Erin, Ont.) presents a trophy to CF and future NHLer Mark Jankowski.

59. Bill Byckowski, East Coast crosschecker, Reds (66).

Byckowski (Erin, Ont.) liked SS Jonathan India when he saw him at American Heritage High in Delray Beach, Fla. in 2015 and three years later, he was on the winning side of the Reds’ war room debate as Cincy selected India in the first round (fifth) from Florida. India picked up 29 of 30 NL Rookie of the Year first-place votes, hitting .269 with 34 doubles, two triples, 21 homers, 69 RBIs and an .835 OPS. Tyler Stephenson, also a first rounder in 2015 (11th) had rookie votes with 21 doubles, 10 homers, 45 RBIs, batting .286 with an .797 OPS in 132 games. To make room for Stephenson, Tucker Barnhart was dealt to the Tigers.

In the 2021 draft, Byckowski was involved in evaluating C Matheu Nelson, a first rounder (35th) from Florida State, who received $2,093,300. Nelson hit .179 with three RBIs and a .664 OPS with Dayton in 10 games before being sidelined by an injury. Nelson is ninth on the MLB.Pipeline list of top Reds prospects. Second-rounder LHP Andrew Abbott from Virginia was given $1.3 million and struck out 22 in 13 innings with rookie-class Reds Arizona Complex league and class-A Daytona.

Tom Tango (Montreal, Que.)

60. Tom Tango, Advanced Media, MLB (69).

Any of those new statistics giving you problems? The metric man -- THE EXPERT -- whether it comes to barrels, catch probability, exit velocity (speed off the bat) and sprint speed is a man who goes by the nom de plume TangoTiger (Montreal, Que.) online. His title is MLBAM senior data architect and he follows the Habs and the Alouettes, as well as history of the Expos and the triple-A Montreal Royals.

The best numbers from the 2020 postseason Jays, courtesy of TV star Sarah Langs. Most barrels: Leader – Shohei Ohtani, 78, Jays leader – Vlad Guerrero, 75; Most five-star catches: Trent Grisham, Lorenzo Cain, Enrique Hernandez, Manuel Margot, four each; Jays leader Teoscar Hernandez; Most OAA: Leader – Nicky Lopez, 25; Jays leader – Marcus Semien and Santiago Espinal, five each; Highest exit velocity (minimum 300 batted balls) – Aaron Judge, 95.8; Jays leader – Vlad Guerrero 95.1 mph (tied for second with Giancarlo Stanton; Above-average Jays in sprint speed (minimum 10 competitive runs) _ Marcus Semien 28.6 ft/sec, Teoscar Hernandez and George Springer 28.4.

Toronto Blue Jays scout Jamie Lehman (Brampton, Ont.). Photo: MLB.com

61. Jamie Lehman, California scout, Blue Jays (49).

Lehman did the crosschecking on the Jays third round pick in 2021, LHP Ricky Tiedemann, from Golden West College Rustlers. Tiedemann 19, was given a $644,800 signing bonus. In instructional ball, he was clocked at 95-98 MPH. For the Rustlers, he was 2-1 with a save, a 3.55 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 38 innings.

Lehman won’t be scouting Cali schools next year as the Jays have promoted him from one of the top three amateur ball hotbeds to cross-check Florida. He is replacing Matt Bishoff, credited with pushing to draft high school SS Bo Bichette. Bishoff has been hired as an international crosschecker with the Angels. So, Lehman is moving from You can say from the area of the John Wayne Airport in Irvine, Calif. to Sarasota Bradenton International airport. Next stop Texas?

62. Jamie Campbell, Sportsnet (58).

This year Campbell set up the Jamie Campbell Free Library located at the corner of Southwood Dr. and Glen Stewart Ave. in Toronto. Several books from his own collection, including those written about HOFers Roy Halladay, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Home Run Baker, Smoky Joe Wood, Rube Waddell and Catfish Hunter, were circulated. Campbell asked ball fans to take one book and replace with another if they could.

Campbell was Sportsnet MVC -- Most Valuable Citizen -- in 2020 driving a van to deliver Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from Timmins and Windsor with stops in between on the 8,000K trip. He also bought a second cell, gave out the number to fans who wanted to “talk ball” during COVID-19. He estimates he spoke to 1,300 ball fans.

The red-headed young un who grew up playing at Wallace Park in Oakville looked like he had left the set of the Andy Griffith Show after standing in for Opie Taylor was a ball fan then and he is the same now. He described the first home date against the Kansas City Royals on July 30 after a year and a half away as an “immense joy to get back to normalcy.” A total of 13,446 fans were in Rogers Centre which was capped at 15,000.

The other top moment was the last day, when the Blue Jays pummeled the Orioles 12-4. A huge crowd gathered around the set in left field hoping that the Jays would get help from Tampa Bay and Washington. At 6:08 Aaron Judge singled to give the Yankees a 1-0 walk off win, but things looked promising in DC with the Nationals leading 5-2 in the sixth. At 6:29 the Jays wrapped up their win. But the Red Sox rallied.

“The transition from exhalation to disappointment was sudden and devastating to everyone in the area,” said Campbell.

Gord Ash (left), Brewers vice-president of baseball projects and Taylor Green (Comox, BC), assistant director of scouting/international player development,

63. Gord Ash, Taylor Green, Doug Melvin, Peter Orr, Jeff Simpson, Brewers (60).

The Brewers won 95 games to take the NL Central division five games ahead of the Cardinals. They had plenty of Canuck representation:

Ash (Toronto, Ont.) vice president of baseball projects, was at Miller Park for games against the Atlanta Braves. And reports are Ash has dropped 70 pounds, the lowest he has been in 40 years. He is now listed officially in Wisconsin as half a missing person.

Green (Comox, BC), assistant director of scouting/international player development, started 29 games for Milwaukee in parts of two seasons. Obviously he impressed the front office to stay around and make evaluations. He’s the chief scout on the international side and has a big say in any free agents the Brewers sign.

Melvin (Chatham, Ont.), special assistant, president, baseball operations, was formerly the GM of the Rangers (1994–2001) making the post-season with them three times and then running the Brewers (2002-2015) making the playoffs four times.

Orr (Newmarket, Ont.), area scout, is a former major leaguer who doubles as both an amateur and pro scout. He covers Canadian amateurs and is a pro scout the rest of the time, with the majority of his time on the pro side. He did not get anyone in the 2021 draft. And in his spare time he’s with the Toronto Mets program.

Simpson, is an area scout base in Nashville, Tenn. and is the son of Baseball America founder Allan Simpson (Kelowna, BC). Simpson drafted 3B Alex Binelas from Louisville in the third round and gave him a bonus of $700,000. In 2021, he hit .309 with 11 doubles, nine homers, 29 RBIs and a .973 OPS in 36 games in rookie-ball Arizona complex league and class-A Carolina. Prior the league-wide lockout, the Red Sox and Brewers completed one of the off-season’s biggest trades as the Brewers acquired slugging RF Hunter Renfroe in exchange for CF Jackie Bradley and prospects, INFs David Hamilton and Binelas.

Vincent Ircandia (Calgary, Alta.), founder and CEO of StellarAlgo.

64. Vincent Ircandia, StellarAlgo (-).

Ircandia (Calgary, Alta.) is the founder and CEO of StellarAlgo, a leading data solutions provider for the sport and live entertainment industry. Backed by proprietary machine learning technology, StellarAlgo’s impressive roster of clients include the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Kings, and the US Open tennis Grand Slam among its 85 clients.

StellarAlgo ranked 209th on the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business list of Canada’s Top Growing Companies. In total, 448 companies earned a spot on this year’s ranking. With 45 employees, StellarAlgo had revenue of $2-to-$5 million in 2020 and a three-year growth of 195%. The company ranked behind Ottawa’s Orangutech Inc. ($10-$25M revenue, 197% growth) and Toronto’s Solution Stack ($10-$25M revenue, 194% increase).

Ircandia raised US$16.5 million in additional funding in November, allowing it to continue development of its cloud-based customer data platform and double its workforce over the next 12 months. Vincent did not fall far from the tall Canadian maple who runs the Okotoks Dawgs, rather he shimmied down the trunk.

65. Ron Tostenson, national crosschecker, Cubs (50).

LHP Jordan Wicks was a first-rounder (21st) in 2021 draft from Kansas State that the ex-Jays scout and Kelowna, B.C., native was in on, receiving a $3,132,300 signing bonus. They overpaid on the allotted slot ($1,276,400), giving 3B James Triantos a Vienna, Va. high schooler $2.1 million in the second round. LHP Drew Gray of IMG Academy went in the third round and was given $900,000.

Wicks had a 5.14 ERA in four starts at class-A South Bend with five strikeouts in seven innings and is rated fifth on Baseball America’s top 10 Cubs prospects list and sixth on MLB.Pipeline’s top 30. Triantos hit .327 with seven doubles, a triple, six homers, 18 RBIs and a .970 OPS in the rookie-class Arizona Complex League. Gray had a 2.25 ERA, fanning nine in four innings in Arizona.

Dan Vertlieb, left, Bruce Springsteen and Vertlieb’s wife Emma at the Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle, 2016.

66. Dan Vertlieb, sports lawyer/agent (59).

RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.), from the Vertlieb stable, took the express elevator through the Mariners’ system to the majors. He wore a big-league uniform the final week, but did not get in a game. He had two first rounders: INF Carson Williams (28th overall) a San Diego high schooler given a $2,347,500 bonus by the Rays and Joe Mack (31st) an East Amherst, NY high schooler who earned $2.5 million.

Their Adley Rutschman remains the No. 1 prospect in the industry and reached triple-A in 2021, while LHP Tyler Anderson pitched for the Mariners during their half playoff push and Rule V pick Tyler Wells made the Orioles opening day roster and eventually closed games. RHP Scott McGough won a silver medal for Team USA and won the Japan Series with the Yakult Swallows and former Blue Jay Jacob Waguespack signed a deal to head to Japan with the Orix Buffaloes.

Dave McKay (Vancouver, BC), Arizona Diamondbacks first base coach. Photo: USA Today Sports

67. Dave McKay, coach, Diamondbacks (43).

McKay, Arizona’s first base coach, under manager Torey Lovullo slipped on the dugout steps at Scottsdale Stadium March 8 during a spring game against the Giants. The Vancouver native fell into the bench in the visitors’ dugout. Two days later, he was at home when he collapsed in front of his wife. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital where doctors discovered he’d been bleeding internally for two days. Surgery was required,

McKay’s misstep and fall, caused a third-degree lacerated spleen and a broken rib. McKay returned to the Diamondbacks’ first base coaching duties on Oct. 2 for the final two games of the season. And the veteran will return for the 2022 season. For close to four decades, McKay has been coaching first in the majors. The Diamondbacks stole 43 bases (15th in the NL) and were caught the second most (16) in 2021. The previous full season with McKay around they stole 88 (fifth best) and were thrown out 14 times (second least).

The 2022 season will be McKay’s 38th consecutive campaign as a big-league coach, his sixth with the Diamondbacks. The previous three decades were spent with three teams: the A’s (1984–1995), Cardinals (1996–2011) and Cubs (2012–2013).

Shari Reiniger (Sherwood Park, Alta.)

68. Shari Reiniger, WBSC Director, Olympic Technical Official.

Canada did not make the 2021 Olympics, but Reiniger -- as the international technical official -- did. Shari (Sherwood Park, Alta.) moved from being grounds keeper at Legion Park, which hosted the bantam Nationals, coached, ran coaching clinics, coached Team Alberta, relaunched Baseball Calgary, sat on the Baseball Alberta board, and supervised the inaugural Women’s World Cup at Telus Field before taking on her Olympic role.

As technical director, Shari checked passports, made sure the field was game ready, settled all protests and handled any scheduling disputes. The WBSC asked Shari to be both the technical commissioner for the U18 Baseball World Cup in Gijang, South Korea and the Premier12 Pool A in Zapopan, Mex. As well, Shari attended the 2008 Women’s Baseball World Cup in Matsuyama, Japan.

She has served on the long-term Athletes’ Development Committee. Being able to be a part of women’s tournament at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Ajax was something to remember as well.

Scout Jason Bryans (Tecumseh, Ont.)

69. Jason Bryans, amateur scout, Cardinals.

RHP Sean Manaea, who Bryans (Tecumseh, Ont.) was involved with scouting as a first rounder (34th overall) with the Royals in 2013 had a solid year for the A’s. He shared the American League lead in starts (32), going 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA as he fanned 194 in 179 1/3 innings. LHP Zack Thompson, a Cardinals first rounder (19th) in 2019 from Kentucky, is No. 8 on MLB.Pipeline list of Cards prospects. He was 2-10 with a 7.06 ERA fanning 82 in 93 innings.

OF Nick Plummer, a first round selection by the Cards in 2015, was grabbed by the Mets and placed on their 40-man roster. Plummer hit .280 with 20 doubles, six triples, 15 homers, 54 RBIs and an .894 OPS at double-A Springfield and triple-A Memphis. 2B Andy Young, drafted by the Cards as a 37th rounder in 2016 from Indiana State, made his debut with the Diamondbacks, starting 16 games. He batted .209 with seven doubles, six homers, 15 RBIs and a .782 OPS in 58 games.

RHP Mike Brettell (Fonthill, Ont.) reached Springfield going 2-5 with a 7.19 ERA fanning 70 in 82 2/3 innings, which includes four games at class-A Peoria. Mike Brdar, a Bryans’ 36th rounder with the Cards in 2017, was hired as a Padres hitting coach.

70. Eric Daliere, president, FieldTurf.

The Montreal-based company on Chemin de la Côte-de-Liesse takes orders from around the world and bases its manufacturing facility in Georgia. The “third generation” turf has been laid at 25,000 places around the world, including surfaces where baseball, soccer, football, field hockey and lacrosse are played.

They have laid turf at over 30 university programs, including the likes of Tennessee, Notre Dame, Southern Mississippi, Texas Tech, Texas, Oregon State, Oregon, Houston, Oklahoma State, Illinois, Louisville, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, Rutgers, James Madison, Wake Forest, Dartmouth, Maryland, Texas State, Cornell, Utah Valley, Navy and Air Force, according to Iannick Di Sanza, director of marketing.

They have provided fields for minor league clubs, including the class-A Beloit Snappers, Orem Owlz of the independent Pioneer League and Joliette Slammers of the independent Frontier League. A subsidiary of Tarkett, which deals in residential buildings and hospitals, FieldTurf trades on the Paris stock market as a public company. John Gilman, former CFLer, and Jean Prevost discovered the turf 25 years ago and it was acquired by Tarkett in 2008.

**Anuk Karunaratne (Toronto, Ont.) Jays executive VP**

71. Anuk Karunaratne, Jays executive VP (-).

The Jays executive vice-president of business operations basically split departed CFO Andrew Miller’s portfolio with Marnie Starkman when Miller headed to the NFL. Starkman received more praise -- deserved praise -- for solving the ‘where we will play?’ question as well as making the adjustments to getting TD Stadium and Sahlen Field up to big-league standards.

Karunaratne commented on the status of the Jays returning to the Rogers Centre in late June. “If we can find away to get our federal government aligned on a plan that works … it will be great to get back in front of our fans,” Karunaratne told Rob Longley. “I think at this point (this possibility) is more realistic than it was a year ago or even three months ago. Being in front of a home crowd will be such a luxury.”

Greg Brons (Saskatoon, Sask.) of Team Sask

72. Greg Brons, Going Yard facility (71).

Two former Team Sask players were drafted in 2021: Thomas Ireland (Regina, Sask.) and Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.). Ireland went in the 13th round to the Rangers for a $125,000 bonus and Hawkins went to the Padres for a $75,000 bonus in the ninth -- prompting notice of the sign entering Hawkins hometown: “New York is big, but this is Biggar (POP: 2,161).” Logan Hofmann (Muenster, Sask.) was 6-4 with a 3.59 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings for the class-A Bradenton Marauders. Brons (Saskatoon, Sask.) has a thumb print on most anything that happens on a ball diamond in his province.

LHP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.) pitched well for Canada in the Olympic qualifier and with the triple-A St. Paul Saints and was called up by the Twins on three occasions. Facing Colombia in the first game of the Olympic Qualifier, Albers retired 20 in a row and struck out seven batters, including five in a row at one point. RHP Brendan McGuigan of Austin, Tex. and LHP Ben Onyshko (Winnipeg, Man.) pitched a scoreless inning each. Dustin Molleken (Regina, Sask.) was also with the Canucks who just failed to qualify.

Registration was up considerably since the first year of the pandemic and almost near the levels of 2019, as 2021 play began at the end of May.

Vancouver Canadians co-owner Jake Kerr (Vancouver, BC)

73. Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney, co-owners, Vancouver Canadians (53).

The Blue Jays came home to Rogers Centre on July 30 to play their first game in 2021 on home and native land. Five days earlier, the Vancouver Canadians were the home team against the Everett Aquasox. Problem was they were not playing at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver. They were the second team to bat 329 miles away in Hillsboro, Ore. For the 10-1 loss, 199 fans showed. COVID-19 kept the Canadians out of the country and crowds were restricted to a maximum of 825 fans at the Hops’ Ron Tonkin Field. Usually the C’s played in front of crowds of 6,413 at The Nat.

Canadians fans listened to them at night and broadcaster Tyler Zickel. Kerr (Vancouver, BC) was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan but after gaining a degree from UBC, he enrolled at Cal-Berkeley and became a Giants fan. The Canadians drew a total of 15,822 fans, averaging 268 fans in 59 ‘home’ dates. In 2019, the last normal season for minor league ball, the C’s drew 235,980 -- averaging 6,210 fans. Next year they will own the only affiliated team based in Canada. Again.

74. Rick Johnston, coach, Ontario Terriers/The Baseball Zone (72).

As years go, this was a solid one for Terrier players. Despite the pandemic they found a way to advance to the next level: LHP Jordan Woods (Oakville, Ont.), C Hugh Pinkney (Etobicoke, Ont.) OF Elijah Hammil (Oakville, Ont.), OF Cameron Chee-Aloy (Toronto Ont.) and OF Keegan O’Hearn (Oshawa Ont.) all made the Junior National Team. Woods is headed to East Tennessee State, Pinkney to Rutgers, Hamil to Utah, Chee-Aloy to Illinois and O’Hearn to Northeastern Junior College. Meanwhile, RHP Max Lanoue (Oakville, Ont.) is off to Stony Brook

Proof of vaccine is required to attend camps at The Baseball Zone, owned by Nicole and Mike Tevlin and Johnston. Kevvy Horton, the former lefty with Martingrove, Etobicoke and now York, is the director of programming and business development.

Dr. Randy Gregg (Edmonton, Alta.) gives it a second try with the West Coast’s Edmonton Riverhawks.

75. Dr. Randy Gregg, Edmonton Riverhawks (63).

Former Edmonton Oiler, Gregg is gearing up for his second opening day in 2022 -- after the team’s inaugural season was cancelled due to COVID-19 in the summer of 2021. The Riverhawks will play in the West Coast wood bat collegiate league. The loop has 15 teams in three divisions. The South has teams in Oregon and Washington, the North is made up of clubs in Northern Washington, while the Canada division has the Kamloops NorthPaws, Kelowna Falcons, Nanaimo NightOwls, Victoria HarbourCats and Edmonton.

RE/MAX Field holds 9,200 and had improvements made to its infield turf, scoreboard, dugouts and clubhouses. Kelly Stinnett, head coach at Park University-Gilbert, will run the club after a 15-year major league career with the Diamondbacks, Mets, Reds, Brewers, Royals, Phillies, Cardinals and Yankees.

76. Corey Eckstein and Mike Steed, Ontario Blue Jays.

While a lot of elite organizations were strapped for diamond time due to the pandemic, the Ontario Blue Jays were able to pivot around the COVID restrictions and offer something from a developmental and exposure standpoint. Steed and Eckstein, recently named president and director of player development, headed south to Florida for a five-week trip.

Stephanie Wilkinson, director of administration and GM Joey Ellison gave the green light for a pair of students to create a documentary for social media to shed light on the trip. The incoming class has two players from Ottawa, two from Nova Scotia, plus one each from PEI, Quebec, Saskatchewan and one player from Japan.

Steed, the Blue Jays’ college placement advisor, was busy with Sam White (Aurora, Ont.) heading to University of Virginia, Kansai Sugimoto (Mississauga, Ont.) Yavapai, Liam Watt (Burlington, Ont.) LSU-Eunice, Quinn Tavares (Mississauga, Ont.) and Corey Morro (Cheltenham, Ont.) both to Eastern Oklahoma, Andrew MacNeil (Georgetown, Ont.) and Wil Yamka (Oakville, Ont.) Cloud County, Alex Ellert (White City, Sask.) Colby, James Wilson (Toronto, Ont.) Walters State, Manny Alberto (Aurora, Ont.) McLennan, Dylan Shepherd (Barrie, Ont.) Highland and Jackson Somerville (Burlington, Ont.) Jefferson.

They won in the Perfect Game Summer Select Championship with a 9-1 victory over Puerto Rico as White doubled, singled and knocked in four, while Morro doubled and knocked in two runs. Steed, or High Socks as he is known, was supposed to manage Thunder Bay in the Northwoods League in 2022. The league cited ongoing uncertainties regarding vaccinations and requirements for COVID-19 testing at the border as the reasons to not include Thunder Bay in the schedule.

Phil Devey (Lachute, Que.) back in his pitching days with the Lousiania-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.

77. Phil Devey, Ragin’ Cajun HOFer.

The first time I met Devey was in 1998 on Cape Cod. It was his turn to go through the crowd and sell raffle tickets, as all the pitchers did -- when not scheduled to work. He explained how he wound up with the University of Lousiania-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns. His mom attended a Francophone teacher conference in Lafayette, La. Devey (Lachute, Que.) was from a harness racing hotbed -- not a baseball centre.

The game is about perseverance. He persevered. He and his mother showed up at the clubhouse door in 1996, saying he wanted to play for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He loved the story of Cajuns migrating to South Louisiana from the Maritimes. Head coach Tony Robichaux told him freshman tryouts were over. Devey talked his way onto the team and 25 years later he was inducted into the UL Hall of Fame in 2021.

As a freshman, Devey pitched 11 innings, including a win over No. 1 ranked LSU. Robichaux brought in Devey with the bases loaded and none out with two All-Americans due up. He struck out the side. Devey finished as UL’s all-time leader in wins, innings and strikeouts. They reached NCAA regionals in 1998 and then into the Super Regionals the next year. Devey organized a players-only fundraising drive to erect a larger-than-life statue of Robichaux in front of Russo Park. A fifth round pick of the Dodgers in 1999, he pitched seven pro seasons, reaching triple-A.

78. Scott Thorman, manager double-A Northwest Arkansas (-).

Three seasons. Three titles. There is a pattern here. This was probably the most difficult. Thorman (Cambridge, Ont.), former first-round pick of the Braves, now has three titles in the past three different seasons. Entering the 2021 regular-season finale against Springfield, the Thorman’s Northwest Arkansas Naturals were a half-game behind Arkansas and a game back of Frisco for the final spot. The Naturals needed to win and for both Arkansas and Frisco to lose. Northwest Arkansas rallied from a 3-2 deficit to win 9-4. Arkansas was eliminated in an 11-6 loss to Wichita and Frisco blew a lead in the bottom of the ninth, losing to Amarillo 14-11 in 10 innings.

Thorman managed the Naturals to a win in the fifth and deciding game against Springfield in the semi-final and then swept the Wichita Wind Surge in the final. The loop’s MVP was Naturals 1B MJ Melendez (.285, 28, 65) and the top prospect was SS Bobby Witt (.295, 16, 51).

Managing the 2018 class-A Lexington Legends, Thorman finished first with a 76-60 record, sweeping the Rome Braves and winning the Atlantic League by taking the Lakewood BlueClaws in four games. In 2019, he skippered the Wilmington Blue Rocks to an 82-56 mark, eliminated the Salem Red Sox in the fifth and deciding game and took the Carolina league title knocking off the Fayetteville Woodpeckers in a deciding game. In the past three full seasons - counting playoffs - Thorman had a 240-178 record (.574 winning mark).

Why the Naturals? Arkansas is known as the Natural State, but the team is owned by the Rich Products, which also owns the Buffalo Bisons. ‘The Natural’ starring Robert Redford was filmed at the Bisons’ old home, War Memorial Stadium. Thorman was able to give RHP Jon Heasley the news that he was promoted to the majors (his first). Heasley made three starts for KC (1-1, 4,91 ERA, 14 2/3 innings).

79. Rob Longley and Steve Simmons, columnists (79).

There is not a better fix for a ball fan than reading about his or her team in the middle of the winter. It means that spring -- lock out or not -- is getting closer. When it comes to enterprise, Longley leads the way. He did features on Bo Bichette, Teoscar Hernandez and Danny Jansen as the locked out Jays worked out at an indoor facility in Clearwater. Directions to the facility are not in the game notes. And he tracked down Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) and discovered the closer had post-season surgery.

Simmons had a season to remember, as usual ... showing up to cover a September Yankee game ... on crutches ... after he tore his Achillies. He had good read columns on Rays manager Kevin Cash, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and Jays skipper Charlie Montoyo who all remain close friends from their days with the Rays and talk via chat group once a week while competing against each other in AL East, Vlad Guerrero, the game’s most lovable superstar, after winning all star game MVP and tracking down Buck Showalter to ask him about newest Jays RHP Kevin Gausman. They were together in Baltimore for 5 1/2 seasons. Simmons was the only newspaper scribe we read who tracked down Showalter. Both were hired by editor Wayne Parrish, Simmons in 1987, Longley in 1988.

Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame director of operations Scott Crawford (Georgetown, Ont.) (right) with Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) in Cooperstown.

80. Scott Crawford and Jeremy Diamond, Canadian Hall of Fame (73).

The January 2022 elections will be the second with Diamond as the new chair of the Hall in St. Marys, Ont. The COVID-19 pandemic has him pitching an induction shutout. An experienced expert with 25 years in fundraising, Diamond (North York, Ont.) took over in June 2020 for Adam Stephens. In 2020, Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC), John Olerud, Duane Ward and broadcaster Jacques Doucet (Montreal, Que.) were elected, but they have not been inducted. Regular elections were not held in 2020 or 2021.

However, the Hall’s Board of Directors elected: Bob Addy (Port Hope, Ont.), James F. Cairns (Saskatoon, Sask.), Helen (Callaghan) Candaele St. Aubin (Vancouver, BC), Jimmy Claxton (Wellington, BC), Charlie Culver (Montreal, Que.), William ‘Hipple’ Galloway (Dunnville, Ont.), Roland Gladu (Montreal, Que.), Vern Handrahan (Charlottetown, PEI). Manny McIntyre (Devon, NB), Joe Page (Montreal, Que.), Ernie Quigley (Newcastle, NB), Hector Racine (La Prairie, Que.), Jimmy Rattlesnake (Hobbema, Alta.), Jean-Pierre Roy (Montreal, Que.), Fred Thomas (Windsor, Ont.), Roy Yamamura (Vancouver, BC) and the 1877 London Tecumsehs. They were inducted virtually Nov. 16, 2021.

Crawford (Georgetown, Ont.) is hoping to be as busy as he always is on induction weekend -- doing the work of four people -- on June 18, 2022. The new building includes the R. Howard Webster Foundation visitors’ lounge, curator Christi Hudson’s exhibits and the Harry Simmons Memorial Library and Centre for Canadian Research which houses one-of-a-kind historic documents and artifacts.

81. Laura Armstrong, Gregor Chisholm and Mike Wilner, Toronto Star (88).

Armstrong may be best known for her soccer coverage. Yet Armstrong digs up some fine background and human-interest stories on ball players as well. Armstrong is well read by her peers as her information provides depth and context beyond Zoom calls.

Chisholm is very consistent and steady. Some of his more memorable pieces were: ‘Meltdowns, gamesmanship and indecent exposure, Crackdown on sticky stuff off to a laughable start,’ the Brad Hand trade, ‘A swing and a miss — but give the Jays credit for a quick hook,” locking up José Berríos at $131 million ‘Worth it for the Jays — less risky than Robbie Ray,’ and a recent piece on how George Springer gets a ‘Mulligan after a tough season, but it’s time to start living up to the biggest contract in Jays history in 2022.’

Maybe the best piece we read in a Toronto bugle in 2021 was Wilner’s story on A’s Tony Kemp watching former Oakland teammate Marcus Semien celebrate a game-winning, three-run, ninth-inning homer at Rogers Centre. “It gives me chills talking about it now,” Kemp told Wilner. “The place was electric and it wasn’t full.” Then, Kemp showed Wilner his goose bumps. Semien took former teammates to dinner before the opener: Khris Davis, Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Mark Canha, James Kaprielian and Kemp, who explained Sieman paid, adding “that’s what happens when you pay it forward. You pay for dinner, you hit walk-off home runs.” Best podcasts included talking Jack Graney winner Mr. John Lott into a guest spot, former Jay Josh Donaldson, the Canada Day show with Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC), John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) Dan Shulman (Toronto, Ont.) and Joe Siddall (Windsor, Ont.) and a Tom Cheek tribute with former president Paul Beeston and ex-Star columnist Dave Perkins. Wilner is on the board of director for the Canadian Hall of Fame in St. Marys.

82. Les McTavish coach, Vauxhall Academy (70).

Two former Jets went in the draft: RHP Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.), who left Vauxhall for the University of British Columbia went in the ninth round to the Padres for a $75,000 bonus and INF Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) was a 14th rounder drafted and signed by the Blue Jays for $157,500.

The Jets only played four games (3-1 record against the WCBL Lethbridge Bulls) plus a full year of scrimmage. McTavish thinks his was only program that operated day in and day out through the pandemic since the players live together. And 100% of players gained scholarships. McTavish was hired as the Phillies western Canadian scout.

83. Dana Bookman, Canadian Girls League (87).

Three Dog Night used to sing how “One Is The Loneliest Number.” Well, the number one is also a powerful number for Bookman. One young woman was the impetus for Bookman starting the Canadian Girls Baseball for her daughter. The league holds the belief that ALL girls who want to play should be able in the male-dominated sport like baseball.

As the parent of any elite teenage boy will tell you, one barrier can often be the financial aspects. COVID-19 hurt this league like all the others in 2021. After operating virtually, this loop has made plans to forge ahead with an indoor facility schedule: Edmonton, eight weeks of training at the Enoch Recreational Centre; Comox Valley, BC, Jan 16-Feb 13 2022, Dartmouth, NS at The Warehouse78, Lower Sackville, NS, Windsor, Ont. and Ottawa, Ont. Jan. 15-Feb. 12 and March 20-April 10; Toronto, Ont., Blyth Academy Downsview Park, Jan. 15-Feb. 12 and March 20-April 10. The winter schedule will no doubt see the league jump from 1,200 participants across Canada.

84. Michel Laplante, president, Les Capitales de Quebec.

Someone deserves a ton of credit for there being a Equipe Quebec in the Frontier League and putting together a season that began with a 77-day road trip. We say it was Laplante (Val D’Or, Que.), the ex-minor leaguer who has been president of the Capitales for 21 years since Madison, Wisc. owner, Miles Wolff suggested Laplante create a pro team in Quebec and continue to pitch.

Équipe Québec was supposed to be a combination platter with the best Canucks from the Les Aigles de Trois-Rivières, the Ottawa Titans and the Capitales. It was a Capitales show with Patrick Scalabrini (Waterford, Que.) managing as well as Miguel Cienfuegos (Laval, Que.), Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.), Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.), Andrew Case (St. John, NB) and Kyle Thomas (Mississauga, Ont.) contributing. Aigles additions were David Gauthier (Mont St. Hillaire, Que.) Raphael Gladu (Trois Rivieres, Que.) and Louis-Philippe Pelletier Montreal, Que.) and one Titan in Elliott Curtis (Kitchener, Ont),

As a 12 year-old, he and his friends decided to build a ball diamond in their hometown, until the police said no. Three decades later, he will help open a soccer and baseball centre at ExpoCité, a stadium in L’Ancienne-Lorette, where Capitales players can train on the artificial turf and under the dome in winter.

85. Kory Lafreniere Canadian scout, Jays (76).

A Laurentian University grad, Lafreniere (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) is the manager, amateur for the Jays. He began in the organization as an intern with the Bluefield Blue Jays. Next, he assisted with the minor league video at class-A Vancouver and in 2014, he began to work at 1 Blue Jays Way.

During the July draft in 2021, the Jays went 1-for-2 signing Canadians. They signed 14th rounder INF Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) from the College of Southern Nevada and drafted RHP Micah Bucknam (Abbotsford, BC) of the Abbotsford Cardinals who did not sign and will be eligible in the 2022 draft.

86. Rich Leitch, Toronto Mets (90).

We have all kinds of movers and shakers on our list of most influential and they hold all kinds of different jobs. When discussing Leitch (Whitby, Ont.), he is both a mover and a shaker. In 2020, he was on the move as the Mets moved from Scarborough to Richmond Hill. And when INF Tyler Black didn’t get much of a look from universities as a high schooler, Leitch shook things up getting a Wright State recruiter to take a look at Black. They liked what they saw and in July Black went 33rd overall in North American, earning a $2.2 million signing bonus

Darryl Reid, Hugh Walters, Honsing Leung, Ryan McBride and Leitch made sure others found a place to go to school: OF Charlie Iriotakis (Toronto, Ont.) committed to William & Mary, RHP Zak Szabo (Whitby, Ont.) Troy, RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) North Dakota State, LHP Hayden Simon (Stouffville, Ont.) INF Griffin McMillan (Oshawa, Ont.) and OF Josh Whent (Toronto, Ont.) all to Rio Grande, INF Liam Conway (Whitby, Ont.) and C Jackson Hutchison (Whitby, Ont.) both to Salem, OF Jacob Miller (Oshawa, Ont.) Chipola, LHP Caleb Taylor (Peterborough, Ont.) Mineral Area, RHP Griffin Catto (Whitby, Ont.), INF Cole Iantomasi (Whitby, Ont.) and INF Greg LaChance (Whitby, Ont), all to Jefferson (MO), LHP Johnny Halls (Newmarket, Ont.) Hutchison, C Keegan Martin (Markham, Ont.) Frontier and OF Bryce Elias (Toronto, Ont.) Ventura.

He is head coach of the Toronto Mets 17U club and is the director of operations for the club. In its annual all-Canadian team of college players, the Canadian Baseball Network named seven former Mets to the 2021 team: first teamers C Connor Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) Mineral Area and Black; second teamer Ben Jones (Toronto, Ont.) Mineral Area and third teamer Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) California State Northridge and Honourable Mentions Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) Arkansas State, Justin Carinci (Toronto, Ont.) Highland and Evan Magill (Ajax), Monroe.

William Humber was recently appointed to the Order of Canada. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

87. William Humber, Canadian baseball historian (80).

Well, there are only two choices now for Humber, a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (2018), an honorary inductee into the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame (2004), a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), as well as serving on selection committees for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Hall in St. Marys and the Clarington Sports Hall of Fame, the Black Ice Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame in the writers category (2006). Humber (Bowmanville, Ont.) was one of 93 Canadians to receive the Order of Canada from Governor General Mary Simon.

All that is left to honor Humber is to either name a ball diamond after him or a building at Seneca College after him from where he taught. Available soon will be a book on Bob Addy (Port Hope, Ont.) the first pro Canadian with the 1871 Rockford Forest Citys, who went 4-21 in the National Association. As part of the SABR 19th Century speaker series Humber spoke on “A Thoroughly Modern Ballplayer: The Imaginative, Illicit and Improbable Life of Bob Addy.”

88. Stu Scheurwater, umpire (83).

Scheurwater (Regina, Sask.) worked 114 games, including 28 games behind the plate in 2021 in his fourth year of being a big-league ump. He did not work any post-season games in 2021, but in 2020, he worked the Braves-Reds wild card game and the Marlins-Braves NL Division series.

Scheurwater ejected Mets manager Luis Rojas after he argued with the first Canadian ump in the majors since Jim McKean on a low 1-2 pitch to Brandon Nimmo that ended the seventh. During the commercial break, Rojas barked at Scheurwater, who eventually replied, “This is your last chance” more than once. Rojas continued to yap and Scheurwater gave him the thumb. He gone.

89. Alexis Brudnicki, Baseball America/MLB.Pipeline (89)

Leading into the draft, Alexis wrote profiles about Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.), Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.), Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.), Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.), Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC), Jordan Marks (Bright’s Grove, Ont.), Denzel Clarke (Pieckering, Ont.), Elijha Hammill (Oakville, Ont.), Micah Bucknam (Abbotsford, BC) and Adam Shoemaker (Cambridge, Ont.) and 14 American players.

For a women in baseball series, Alexis wrote about the like of Katie Dannemiller, vice president of baseball operations for the Greensboro Grasshoppers, Brit Minder, Twins’ coordinator of amateur scouting, Brewers scout Ginger Poulson, Emilee Fragapane, senior data analyst, Dodgers, Katie Krall, baseball operations analyst, Reds and Bailie Brown, strategy department, Astros.

Alexis was an excellent choice to win the Baseball Canada media recognition award. Alexis is currently in her first year at the University of Missouri’s School of Law. For the summer of 2022, Alexis has a job in the Commissioner’s Office in New York.

90. The Griffins, Richard and Patrick (86).

Shortly after the Expos were born, Richard began working long hours for Canada’s first big-league team. Dave Perkins, of the Toronto Star, hired Griffin in 1995. He limped through his third season in 2021 working in a similar capacity with the Jays with the title of communications advisor and liaison with the help of Adam Felton and Rodney Hiemstra. It’s not easy having three home cities. Griffin had hip replacement surgery after the season. I emailed him asking how he was doing. His answer was, “It’s fabulous to be without a limp, surgery loosened up my whole body. I had a (Larry) Walker and a (Lorenzo) Cain and hardly need either after nine days.”

Richard’s son Patrick is entering his sixth season with the Blue Jays organization, starting at Vancouver with the 2017 champion Canadians. Kory Lafreniere (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.), manager, amateur scouting and Patrick scout Canadian prospects for the draft each July. And we’re betting their hope is that this is not a repeat of 2020 when the draft consisted of five rounds. In 2021, the draft was 20 rounds with the Jays drafting and signing 14th rounder INF Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) from the College of Southern Nevada and RHP Micah Bucknam (Abbotsford, BC), who did not sign.

Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet. Photo: Twitter

91. Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet (102).

Co-host of a podcast with Arden Zwelling, Nicholson-Smith had a solid year like always. John Wooden always said the biggest compliment one could give was to say “he was consistent.” The UCLA hoops legend was neither a fan of peaks nor valleys. He would have loved reading the consistent Nicholson-Smith. Some of his better pieces included: the news piece on ‘Why Blue Jays now have a humidor and what it means for Rogers Centre,’ How a ‘Painful end to season should motivate Blue Jays to be even better in 2022’ and ‘What might trade talks actually look like for Blue Jays at GM Meetings?’ in Carlsbad, Calif.

Nicholson-Smith is excellent at pounding out stories, appearing on TV, guesting on radio or doing his At the Letters Podcast.

92. Michael Bonanno, agent (94).

Bonanno represents 42 players including the likes of RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) of the Jays, who assumed the closer role’s role and converted 23 consecutive save opportunities, OF Seth Brown, who hit 13 doubles, 20 homers, 48 RBIs and had a .754 OPS with the A’s, Orioles C Austin Wynns, who played a career-high 45 games. LHP Brandon Waddell, who pitched for the Orioles, Twins and Cards, combining to go 0-1, with a 6.75 ERA with nine strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings, Beau Taylor, triple-A Louisville in 2021 and Josh Smith, who was at triple-A Jacksonville before under going Tommy John surgery

His top Canadian clients include OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) of the Cubs, ranked No. 3 prospect in the organization by Baseball America and No. 9 by MLB Pipeline. Caissie batted .302 with 11 doubles, seven homers and 29 RBIs in 54 games with an OPS of .923; INF TJ Schofield-Sam (Brampton, Ont.) of the A’s, .236, 20 doubles, five triples, nine homers, 62 RBIs and a .714 OPS and Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Ont.) who was 2-0, 1.86 with 41 whiffs in 29 innings at class-A Fort Wayne and then went in the minor league portion of the Rule V draft to the Guardians. He also looks after LaRon Smith (Spruce Grove, Alta.), Zac Fascia (Brampton, Ont.), Willy Diaz (Edmonton, Alta.), Connor Panas (North York, Ont.) and Andrew Case (Saint John, NB). As well he had four players selected in the first 10 rounds: Team USA and Arkansas C Casey Opitz, an eighth rounder who went to the Cubs and had a cup of tea at triple-A. His brother INF Shane Opitz played in the Jays’ organization, reaching triple-A Buffalo in 2017.

93. Jonathan Erlichman, coach, Rays (81)

Erlichman (Toronto, Ont.) was in uniform as Rays’ process and analytic coach. The former Jays intern, helped Tampa Bay win the AL East with a 100-win season before the Red Sox said, “Get those guys eating popcorn during the game out of here. He was nicknamed “J-Money” by one of the players.

Erlichman, who graduated Princeton in 2012, never played past T-ball and didn’t coach at any level. He joined the Rays in 2013, rising from to director of analytics within four years. Then came the job offer to wear a big-league uniform for someone who gave up the game in kindergarten.

94. Jason Booth, Team Ontario Astros (-).

The Astros won the Perfect Game Fall SouthEast championship in Atlanta by running the table. RHP Frank-Anthony Caietta was named the Most Valuable Pitcher of the tournament, while Evan MacFadden started the championship game. He worked three innings, allowing two earned runs on one hit and two walks. Julian Robertson pitched two scoreless innings for the win. The Astros beat the Georgia Academy Braves 16-0, AB National Scout Team 7-4, then a 9-3 win, a 7-2 triumph in the semi-final and a 12-3 win in the final.

On the same trip south, the Astros won the Pastime Tournament Wood Bat National championships in Indianapolis. The championship game against Precision saw Precision take a 6-0 lead but the Astros chipped away, eventually scoring eight unanswered runs. Matt Marsh got the start in the final and Brandon Marimuthu closed out the game. Team Ontario’s fall team was coached by Jason Booth and Shawn Lynn.

Scott Mitchell, TSN baseball writer with that awesome background collage of baseball cards.

95. Scott Mitchell, TSN (99).

Mitchell gives TSN their diamond expertise for what is considered a hockey-centric network. He does deep dives into the top prospects in the system. Mitchell (Oshawa, Ont.) wrote for the TSN site, was on air and on TV.

He covered the team from start to finish to Arizona Fall League, with an excellent piece on highly-regarded prospect Gabriel Moreno, who is either a catcher or a third baseman, but he owns the batter’s box. He also had strong pieces on free-agent sign Kevin Gausman, Robbie Ray winning the Cy Young award and the Jose Berrios contract extension.

96. Sammie Starr, assistant coach, UBC (-).

Starr’s ball roots run deeper than the Toronto Blue Jays. His grandfather Sam Starr was a part owner of the triple-A Toronto Maple Leafs. Now Starr is the assistant coach for Chris Pritchett, the Modesto, Calif. native who took over for Hall of Famer Terry McKaig. Since it plays south of the border, UBC had been sidelined by COVID restrictions. That had not prevented the Thunderbirds from working out. Starr (Toronto, Ont.) is an assistant after two years in a part-time position.

Starr joined the program as a player in 2007. As a Thunderbird, he was a four-year starter through 2010. During his tenure as a T-Bird, he was recognized as a top defender at shortstop in the NAIA West by receiving Gold Glove Awards in back-to-back seasons (2009-10), along with NAIA West All Conference Team honours in 2010. He represented Canada at the World University Games in the Czech Republic (2008), and at the World Baseball Challenge in Prince George (2009).

Following his university career, he was selected by the Orioles in the 34th round and made it all the way to triple-A . He played at every minor league level, making his way to AAA Norfolk in 2012. After a five-year playing career (343 games), Starr made the transition to coaching, spending two seasons coaching in the Baltimore system at the Rookie and class-A levels as a third base coach and infield coach.

97. Kevin Glew, ball scribe (104)

Whether it is writing his Cooperstowners in Canada blog, writing for collectible magazines, editing, writing and doing social media for the Canadian Baseball Network, Glew is baseball-minded ... all the time. With the Canadian Baseball Network he is the chief editor. He catches all the mistakes I make. He writes. He tweets. He posts to social media.

He also works hard as a volunteer for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys whether it’s writing a release on an inductee or an award winner. Glew righted the Jack Graney award voting by looking after the voting. From 1988 until 2009 the award was given out only eight times. Now, under Glew’s leadership it has become an annual event. He runs the selection process and contacts past winners who do the voting ... even having to chase down the odd delinquent voter.

Amanda Tallon (Lindsay, Ont.), MLBAM. Photo: Mohawk College

98. Amanda Tallon, MLBAM (-).

Tallon (Lindsay, Ont.) works as a tracking operator and support for Major League Baseball. The Mohawk grad’s position with MLB is a support role for behind-the-scenes staff. It is her responsibility to send information to the staff of each of the 15 stadia active on a given night.

She also operates the system that tracks everything happening on the field including a Pitch FX Operator – using a graphic technology that shows TV viewers whether pitches are in -- or out -- of the strike zone, as well as running the clock between innings so the audience doesn’t return to ‘live action’ with a 1-1 count on the hitter.

99. Danny Gallagher ball scribe (-).

As a ball player whether it was with the Renfrew Red Sox, the Sudbury Shamrocks or the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians, Gallagher (Douglas, Ont.) was a hustler. He is the same as a freelance writer. His next book -- Bases Loaded -- is the title of his 12th career book, eighth on the Montreal Expos, a team he covered for a number of outlets.

His work has appeared in The Toronto Star, Montreal Gazette, the National Post and the Canadian Baseball Network. His Star stories included the induction of Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Joey McLaughlin’s time in the Blue Jays bullpen and the Jays cancelling exhibition games at Olympic Stadium. For the Gazette, he wrote on the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut with the triple-A Montreal Royals and former Expos owner Charles Bronfman’ 90th birthday. And for the Post he told us about George ‘Twinkletoes’ Selkirk (Huntsville, Ont.).

100. Chris English, owner, Vermont and Brockton.

English (Montreal, Que.) and his investment group Nos Amours Baseball Club bought the Vermont Lake Monsters Futures collegiate champs in 2021. He also owns the Brockton Rox in the same league. English owned the Nashua Pride of the independent Atlantic and Can-Am Leagues from 1997 to 2004.

Canucks playing summer college ball in Vermont were Saint Michael’s RHP Julien Giroux-Harvey (Montreal, Que.) and Crowder C-3B Tyler Favretto (Ville Mont Royal, Que.). Giroux-Harvey had a 4.50 ERA in 11 games, striking out 12 in 13 1/3 innings, while Favretto hit .189 with six RBIs in 32 games. Favretto led off the championship game with a single as Vermont edged the Pittsfield Sunds 3-2.

***

We lost a lot of good people in a bad year of 2021 ... Kevin Glew wrote of those who passed ... 10 in all, compared to 37 a year ago ...

101. Rest in peace – Amanda Asay ( Prince George, BC), longest serving member of the women’s national team; Dick Callahan (Kitchener, Ont.) Oakland A’s P.A. announcer; Rheal Cormier (Cap-Pele, N.B.), Jack Fairs (Tillsonburg, Ont.), Carl Faulkner (Ottawa, Ont.), Jay Greenberg (Johnston, Pa.), Walter Gretzky (Brantford, Ont.), Audrey Haine Daniels (Winnipeg, Man.), Keith Kean (Chalk River, Ont.), Helen Nicol Fox (Ardley, Alta.), Harold Riopelle (Ottawa, Ont.) and Elliott Wahle (Toronto, Ont.).

Asay passed away on January 7, 2022 at the age of 33. She joined the Canadian national team in 2005 and participated in the Women’s National Team Showcase last summer in Trois-Rivières, Qué. 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, as well as was a silver at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Ajax, Ont. Asay played hockey and softball for Brown University and University of British Columbia gaining a master’s in science. Asay earned all-tournament honours in 2006 at first base and in 2016 as a pitcher beating Chinese Taipei 2-1.

Callahan passed away Jan. 29, 2021. He was the public address announcer for 15 seasons and more than 1,000 games at the Oakland Coliseum. He took over P.A. duties in 2005, when his predecessor, Roy Steele, stepped aside from full-time duty. From that point on, any trip to the Coliseum was narrated by his soothing, friendly voice, from pregame announcements to player intros to mid-inning promotions. Callahan also spent two decades as the P.A. announcer for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, through their 2000-01 season.

Cormier, a longtime big leaguer and Cap Pele, N.B., native, passed away on March 8 at the age of 53 after battling cancer. Selected in the sixth round of the 1988 MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, the crafty lefty would make 683 appearances (second-most by a Canadian pitcher) in a 16-season major league career that included stops with the Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Montreal Expos, Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds. His best season was 2003 with the Phillies, when he finished with an 8-0 win-loss record and a 1.70 ERA in 65 relief appearances. Cormier also toed the rubber for his country in multiple international competitions, including at the 1988 and 2008 Olympics and in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

Fairs, who was the last living member of the Intercounty Baseball League’s London Majors 1948 championship team, passed away on August 30 at the age of 98. Fairs was the catcher on the Majors squad that defeated a team from Fort Wayne, Ind., at Labatt Park in 1948 to win the National Baseball Congress Canadian-American championship series. That Majors team was the only Canuck squad to ever defeat a U.S. club in the history of the event. Born in Toronto, but raised in Tillsonburg, Ont., Fairs played for parts of six seasons with the Majors, but prior to his tenure with the IBL squad, he caught for the semi-pro Welland Atlas Steels of the Niagara District Baseball League. He attended Western University before heading off to Columbia University to secure his Master’s in Physical Education. He then returned to teach and coach at Western University for more than 50 years. He is considered one of the founders of the university’s physical education program and at various times in his long tenure at Western, he coached the football, basketball, tennis, baseball and squash teams.

Faulkner, a legendary Ottawa baseball coach and executive, passed away on April 21 in Perth, Ont., at the age of 91. He coached local teams to four national championships, nine provincial titles and 15 city titles. His national titles came with a team in the Big League age group (16-to-18) and with Little League squads in 1978, 1986 and 1990. In 1978 and 1990, his Ottawa-Pinecrest teams were honoured as the ACT Travelers Team of the Year at the city’s annual sports banquet. For his efforts and contributions, a Little League ballpark in Pinecrest was renamed in his honour.

Greenberg, a longtime sportswriter, passed away in New Jersey on August 12 at the age of 71 after a valiant battle with West Nile Virus. In his five decades in his field, the Johnston, Pa., native penned sports stories for The Kansas City Star, Philadelphia Bulletin and Philly Daily News, Sports Illustrated, New York Post and The Hockey News. Canadians will best remember him for his tenure covering the Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Maple Leafs and the CFL for the Toronto Sun from 1992 to 1994. In 2013, he was the recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson Award presented by the Professional Hockey Writers Association for excellence in hockey journalism.

Gretzky, Canada’s most famous hockey dad and onetime part-owner of the Intercounty Baseball League’s Brantford Red Sox, passed away on March 4 at the age of 82. He had been battling Parkinson’s disease and other health issues in recent years. After coaching and training his son, Wayne, to become the highest scoring player in NHL history, the senior Gretzky became a beloved national celebrity in his own right. For decades, he was a cheerful presence at hockey events, banquets and rinks around the county. While he’s best known as a hockey dad, he was also a baseball fan. In fact, he was reportedly at a Brantford Red Sox game when he received the phone call informing him that his son was being traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in August 1988.

Haine Daniels, who emerged from the sandlots of Winnipeg, Man., to throw multiple no-hitters in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), passed away on September 11 at the age of 94. As a 16-year-old, she cracked the roster of the St. Vital Tigerettes of the Greater Winnipeg Senior Girls Softball League and propelled them to a championship. Her talents were soon brought to the attention of scouts of the fledgling AAGPBL and she was signed after the 1943 season and assigned to the expansion Minneapolis Milleretes, where she would hurl a career-high 230 innings in her rookie season. The following campaign, she toed the rubber for the Fort Wayne Daisies and went 16-10 with a 2.46 ERA in 223 innings in 32 games. She would later enjoy tenures with the Grand Rapids Chicks, Peoria Redwings and Rockford Peaches and complete her AAGPBL career with 72 wins and a 3.48 ERA in parts of six seasons. For her efforts, she was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Kean, a pitching legend in the North Renfrew Senior Baseball League in the 1960s, passed away in Ottawa, Ont., on October 26 at the age of 82. A farmer by trade, Kean starred on the mound for the Chalk River Railroaders during the golden era of baseball in the Upper Ottawa Valley. He was a hard-thrower who was at one point recognized as the best pitcher in the North Renfrew circuit. In 1961, his strong performance on the mound helped the Railroaders secure their first league championship since 1930. After he hurt his arm, he later served as an infielder for the team.

Nicol Fox, who emerged from the Alberta hamlet of Ardley to become the winningest pitcher in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) history, passed away on July 25 at the age of 101 in Phoenix, Ariz. The 5-foot-3, 120-pound right-hander was pitching for a local Army and Navy Pats softball team in Calgary in 1942 when she was spotted and signed by a scout for the AAGPBL’s Kenosha Comets. In her first season with the Comets, she appeared in 47 games and led the league with 31 wins, 348 innings pitched, 220 strikeouts, eight shutouts and a 1.83 ERA. For her efforts, she was named AAGPBL Pitcher of the Year. For an encore, in her sophomore campaign, she recorded a minuscule 0.93 ERA – which once again topped the circuit. In 1945, she enjoyed her second 20-win season for the Comets and pitched a career-high 357 innings. She was later dealt to the Rockford Peaches with whom she won 17, 13 and 14 games from 1948 to 1950 and helped them capture three consecutive championships. Nicol Fox retired as the AAGPBL’s all-time leader in wins (163), innings pitched (2,382), appearances (313) and strikeouts (1,076). She was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Riopelle, a former linemate of Brian Kilrea with the Ottawa Montagnards, passed away January 28 at the age of 87 in Richmond, Va. Born and raised on Champagne Avenue in Ottawa, Riopelle travelled south to attend St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., on a hockey scholarship. After he graduated, he briefly lived in Brockville, Ont., before moving permanently to Virginia. He worked in concrete sales and then as a probation and parole officer. In 2011, he was inducted into the St. Lawrence Athletic Hall of Fame. He may have left Ottawa when he was young but he never forgot the lessons he learned on Champagne Ave, wrote Brian and Betsy Riopelle in a tribute to their father. Riopelle returned to Ottawa every August to visit family, friends and former teammates.

Wahle, the Toronto Blue Jays’ original administrator of player personnel, passed away on January 29 at the age of 69 after battling cancer. A New York native, Wahle was working as the Yankees assistant director of minor league operations when Pat Gillick was hired to be the Blue Jays’ vice-president of player personnel in August 1976. Gillick brought Wahle with him from the Yankees and named him the Blue Jays’ first administrator of player personnel. The two worked together to identify talent and make selections in the 1976 American League expansion draft. In Wahle’s six years in the Blue Jays’ player personnel department, the club’s draft picks included Jesse Barfield, Dave Stieb and Lloyd Moseby. While Wahle was with the club, the Blue Jays picked up players like Willie Upshaw (1977) and George Bell (1980) in the Rule 5 draft. In January 1983, Wahle resigned from his position with the Blue Jays. He later became a successful business executive in the private sector. Though he never worked in professional baseball after 1983, he settled in Toronto and never lost his passion for the game. In recent years, he was a regular at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s induction weekend in St. Marys, Ont.

Honourable Mentions

Anwar Abdi, Edmonton, Alta., University Magazine; Jim Adduci, Burnaby, BC, Chicago Cubs coach as run production coordinator (705 runs scored); Mike Addy, Langley, BC, executive director, BC Premier League; Kyle Adoranti, Hamilton, Ont., pitching coach, FieldHouse Pirates, LHP Andrew Albers, North Battleford, Sask., Twins/triple-A St. Paul Saints; Jonathan Ali, Winnipeg, Man., general manager, Home Run Sports Training Centre and Academy; Jeff Amos, Brantford, Ont., head coach, Muskoka Outlaws Academy; Alex Andreopoulos, Etobicoke, Ont., bullpen catcher, Toronto Blue Jays; J.P. Antonacci, Simcoe, Ont., Canadian Baseball Network; Don Archer, White Rock, BC, scout and former coach of HOFer Larry Walker, Angels; Cole Armstrong, Surrey, BC, Kamloops NorthPaws, Adam Arnold, St. Thomas, Ont., area scout Four Corners, Toronto Blue Jays, signed LHP Cooper Benson, 17th rounder for $125,000 of Arizona State and undrafted RHP Justin Kelly from Utah.

Nick Ashbourne, Toronto, Ont., astute ball writer Sportsnet; Casey Auerbach, Westmount, Que., coach, McGill University; John Axford, Port Dover, Ont., Brewers; Justin Ayles, Brampton, Ont., Canadian Baseball Guru; John Azzoli, St. Catharines, Ont., vice-president, Fergie Jenkins league convenor and expansion; Ken Babcock, Oshawa, Ont., athletic director, Durham College, Oshawa Legionaires 15U coach, 22U coach; Allan Bailey, Vancouver, BC, general manager, 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., 81st overall on MLB Pipeline’s top 100, 85th on Baseball America’s top 100 prospects, third on Twins top 30 prospect list; third on Baseball America’s top 10 Twins list; Chris Balison, Kamloops, BC, president Baseball BC; Scott Ballantyne, Kincardine, Ont., head coach, Laurier, Jordan Banks, Toronto, Ont., president of Rogers Sports Media, Mitch Bannon, Toronto, Ont., Sports Illustrated, covering the Blue Jays like a tarp; Kirk Barclay, Wyoming, Ont., assistant coach, Great Lake Canadians 18U/Royals scout, Ross Baron, grounds keeper, Nat Bailey Stadium; John Barr, London, Ont., ESPN; Larson Bauck, Nanaimo, BC, head coach, Mid-Island Pirates.

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 2021 hosting podcasts; 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; Cam Black-Araujo, director Of communications/Ontario Astros/PBR/Williamsport Crosscutters, MLB Draft League.

Hot’ Rod Black, Stouffville, Ont., TSN broadcaster/author for Toronto Star/Canadian Baseball Network; Chris Black, Oshawa, Ont., producer, Blue Jays Central, Sportsnet, Matthew Blackborow, Stoney Creek, Ont., umpire, class-A; Jeff Blair, Hamilton, Ont. and Stephen Brunt, Hamilton, Ont., The Fan; Savannah Blakley, Okotoks, Alta., athletic therapist, live-saving angel, Okotoks Dawgs Academy, Damian Blen, Hamilton, Ont., president, program director, Ontario Rockies; Scott Blinn, Toronto, Ont., clubhouse manager, Toronto Blue Jays; Derek Bloomfield, Strathroy, Ont., infield/hitting instructor Great Lake Canadians, manager 15U Black/scout Kansas City Royals; Jordan Blundell, head coach, Edmonton Prospects/Evolution Baseball.

Kevin Bly, Toronto, Ont., head coach, Ryerson University Jamie Bodaly, head coach, Langley Blaze, amateur scout, Cincinnati Reds; Kyle Boddy, Kent, Wash./Toronto, Driveline, Mike Boon, Etobicoke, Ont.; Toronto Mike’d Podcast; Ont.; Steve Boston, Nepean, Ont., Ottawa-Nepean Canadians executive where his father Brian Boston was a founding father in 1979, Denis Boucher, Lachine, Que., New York Yankees scout/pitching coach Team Canada, Nick Boudreau, Fredericton, NB, executive director Baseball New Brunswick; Shawn Bowman, Coquitlam, BC, minor league field coordinator, Pittsburgh Pirates, RHP Matt Brash, Kingston, Ont., No. 45 on Baseball America’s top 100 prospects, No. 10 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Mariner prospect list, Seattle Mariners.

Taylor Bratton, Oakville, Ont., head coach Abbotsford Cardinals/San Padres scout, Bruce Brenner, Toronto, Ont., visiting clubhouse, Rogers Centre; Kevin Briand, Montreal, Que., pro scout, Toronto Blue Jays; RHP Trevor Brigden, North York, Ont. triple-A Durham Bulls, Jordan Broatch, White Rock, BC, director of scouting PBR, British Columbia; Charles Bronfman, Montreal, Que./New York, former Expo owner, Montreal, Que.; Gary Brotzel, Cupar, Sask., president, Regina Red Sox, Saskatchewan HOFer; OF Dasan Brown, Oakville, Ont., No. 19 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Jays prospect list; Scott Bullett, Welland, Ont., Bullett Proof Prospects/President of the Fergie Jenkins league, manager, Bullettproof Elite 16U; Angela Burger, Calgary, Alta., Okotoks Dawgs photographer/Life saver/Angel; Connor Burns, St. Albert, Alta., director of hitting development, Absolute Human Performance, co-head coach associate head coach Sherwood Park Dukes 18U.

Rob and Rich Butler, Ajax, Ont., instructors, Butler Baseball Academy, Leaside peewees, Terry Butler, Saskatoon, Sask., president, Baseball Sask.; Taylor Burns, St. Albert, Alta., president and founder, Absolute Human Performance; Craig Burt, Rosedale, BC, umpire, Gulf Coast League; T.J. Burton, Ottawa, Ont., Toronto Blue Jays, crowd noise, Buffalo, OF Owen Caissie No. 8 on Baseball America’s top 10 prospect list; No. 9 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Cubs prospect list; OF David Calabrese, Maple, Ont., 24th on MLB Pipeline’s Angels prospect list, Raimondo Callari, Côté St-Luc, Que., scout, Giants/ABC advisor; Remo Cardinale, Thornhill, Ont., province’s best pitching coach emeritus; Don Campbell, Nepean, Ont., president, Premier League of Ontario; Jon Carson, Newmarket, Ont., GM/director Of analytics, Team Ontario/scout Phillies.

Ray Carter, Tsawwassen, BC, former Baseball Canada president, his Ray Carter Cup runneth over; Pat Cassidy, St. Albert, Alta., managing partner, Edmonton Prospects; Dean Castelli, Hamilton, Ont., manager, Hamilton Redbirds; Rory Cava, Thunder Bay Ont., part owner, Thunder Bay Border Cats; Roop Chanderdat, London, Ont., manager, London Majors, IBL champeens; Jason Chatwood, Innisfail, Alta., infield coordinator and hitting coach, Absolute Human Performance, head coach and general manaager Sylvan Lake Gulls, scout Arizona Diamondbacks; Mike Chewpoy, Victoria, BC, head coach/GM, Victoria Mariners; vice-president, BC Premier League; OF Denzel Clarke, Pickering, Ont., No. 9 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 A’s prospect list; Sharon Clarke, Regina, Sask., executive director, Regina Red Sox, Saskatchewan HOFer; Voon Chong, Vancouver BC, assistant trainer, Toronto Blue Jays.

Dan Cimoroni, Toronto, Ont. agent, Cimoroni & Company, Jacob Clark, Toronto, Ont., Sportsnet in-studio producer, Blue Jays Central, All-Star Game; Gary Cohen, Montreal, Que., The Baseball Cube; Jeremy Cohen, New York, vice-president, corporate sales, marketing, MLB, Andrew Collier, Portage la Prairie, Man., general manager, Winnipeg Goldeyes, Dave Cooper, Lakeshore, Ont., manager, Tecumseh Thunder 18U, player development consultant; Joanna Cornish, Toronto, Ont., Hum and Chuck; Mike Cormack, Toronto, Ont., Big-time editor, Toronto Star; Scott Costello, Barrie, Ont., umpire in chief Intercounty League; Daylon Courchene, Ottawa, Ont., head coach, Carleton University, executive director, head coach, Ottawa Knights 15U.

Melissa Couto, Toronto, Ont., ball writer, Canadian Press; Greg Cranker, Mississauga, Ont., manager, Erindale Cardinals top groundskeeper north of Dundas, looking after Cranker Field; INF Trei Cruz, Toronto, Ont., No. 20 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Tigers prospect list; Shannon Curley, Toronto, Ont., executive, Toronto Blue Jays; Phil Curtis, Sherwood Park, Alta., coordinator 18U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Eddie Dagg, Langley, BC, manager, Whalley Chiefs 18U; Tom Dakers, Calgary, Alta., Bluebird Banter; Jonathan Dale, Ottawa, Ont., head coach, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians 18U, Shane Dawson, Fort McMurray, Alta., head coach/technical director, Parkland Twins Academy; C Kellin Deglan, Langley, BC, triple-A Buffalo.

Claude Delorme, Hollywood, Fla., executive vice president, operations and events; Fabio Del Rio, Ottawa, Ont., pitching coach, Brock University, Charles Demers, Quebec City, Que., general manager, Les Capitales de Quebec, Yannick Desjardins, Laval, Que., coach, Academie Baseball Canada, Jayson DesLauriers, Oshawa, Ont., head coach, Oshawa Legionaires 18U, Ira DeWitt, Philip Pocock Secondary School grad, married to St. Louis Cardinals president Bill Dewitt III, Kyle Dhanani, White Rock, BC, White Rock Tritons; Ethan Diamandas, Toronto, Ont., Sports Illustrated; Dean Dicenzo, Hamilton, Ont., manager, Ontario Terriers 18U, savoir Hamilton Cardinals; Mike Didier, Toronto, Ont., head coach, University of Toronto Blues, OUA champ-EENS.

Mark Ditmars, Toronto, Ont., vice-president, corporate partnerships, Toronto Blue Jays; Rosie DiManno, Toronto, Ont. excellent columnist for all seasons, all sports, Toronto Star; Steve Donahue, Mount Pearl, Nfld., Sudbury Voyageurs, head coach 18U; Andrew Downs, Halifax, N.S., president Baseball Nova Scotia, 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)

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, BLG; RHP Brock Dykxhoorn, Goderich, Ont., Uni President 7-Eleven Lions, winner of Claude Pelletier award; Shawn Earle, Oshawa, Ont., head coach, Oshawa Legionaires, 16U; Cory Eckstein, Ancaster, Ont., president, director of player personnel, Ontario Blue Jays/Kansas City Royals scout; Bernie Eiswirth, Regina, Sask., GM/instructor, Regina Red Sox/Saskatchewan HOFer; Joey Ellison, Mississauga, Ont., general manager, pitching coach; Ontario Blue Jays, Rick Elstone, North Vancouver, BC, GM, North Shore Twins; Dave Empey, North Vancouver, BC, North Shore Hall of Fame inductee/Dave talks Baseball blog; Brian Essery, Vancouver, BC, manager, Welland Jackfish.

Spencer Estey, Toronto, Ont., analyst, Toronto Blue Jays; Dwain Ervin, Mississauga, Ont., coach, Mississauga North Tigers/Michael Kim tourney convenor; Ray Fagnant, East Granby, Conn., scout, Red Sox; Frank Fanning, London, Ont. GM, class-A Jamestown Tarp Skunks; Rob Fai, Vancouver, BC, Rob Fai Nation Podcast, Brad Fairholm, player and coach development, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians, Drew Fairservice, Orangeville, Ont. and Kaitlyn McGrath, Toronto, Ont., The Athletic, SpinRate podcast, he also has a Substack newsletter, The Vlad Religion; Mike Farrell, Toronto, Ont., ESPN, director, Jackson Farough, London, Ont., Rogers Cable/Ryerson University/host, OBL on Deck/Canadian Baseball Network; Frank Fascia, Brampton, Ont., commissioner of Elite League of Ontario.

Ryan Faubert, Azilda, Ont., Sudbury Voyageurs, pitching coach 14U; Dr. Irv Feferman, Toronto, Ont., Toronto Blue Jays physician; Bruce Flatt, Toronto, Ont., Brookfield Asset Management; Derek Florko, Langley, BC, defensive coach double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim); Pablo Forno, Okotoks, Alta., Grand Slam Sports, Stacy Fournier, Surrey, BC, Women’s National Team/BC Girl’s Baseball/Baseball BC High Performance and Grassroots Committees, Stacey May Fowles, Toronto, Ont., author, of Good Mom On Paper (2022) and The Invitation (2023); Ethan Fox, Campbell River, BC, pitching coach/coordinator, University of Victoria; Larisa Fraser, Mississauga, Ont., model, wife of former Milwaukee Brewer OF Ryan Braun; Geoff Freeborn, Calgary, Alta., Sidearm Nation, coach University of Calgary, scout Baltimore Orioles.

After winning the 2021 World Series with the Atlanta Braves Mike Frostad (Edmonton, Alta.) took the head job with the Los Angeles Angels.

Mike Frostad, Edmonton, Alta., trainer, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Shawn Fuller, St. George, Ont., owner, general manager, Guelph Royals; Martine Gaillard, Toronto, Ont., broadcaster, Sportsnet; Karl Gélinas, Laval, Que., pitching coach, Academie Baseball Canada; Perry (Perry G) Giannias, Laval, Que., Exposfest organizer, raises monies for children’s brain cancer research in memory of beautiful niece Kat; Ted Giannoulas, London, Ont., The Famous Chicken, invited by umpire Joe West to attend his record-breaking game; Dan Giesbrecht, Winkler, Man., chairman, Manitoba Hall of Fame, Liz Gilger, Port Moody, BC, Women’s National Team/BC Girls Baseball Program; Johnny Giunta, Mississauga, Ont., host, Officially Unofficial podcast, George Godfrey, Kingston, Ont., Jays Aggregator.

Mitchell Godkin, Walton Ont., Leadbury Bat Company; Alex Gordner, Kitchener, Ont., associate head coach, University of Waterloo, Nick Gorneautl, Springfield, Mass., scout Anaheim Angels; Julie Gosselin, women’s baseball, Quebec, Bryan Graham, Thunder Bay, Ont., vice president/owner Thunder Bay Border Cats; Patrick Gray, Oakville, Ont., senior director of development, University of Michigan athletics; Jean-Paul Grice, director, OES Inc. scoreboards, London; Trevor Grieve, Toronto, World Baseball Classic umpire; Marc Griffin, Montreal, Que., broadcaster, RDS; Mike Griffin, Nanaimo, BC, director of baseball development, Pro5 Academy, Holly Springs, NC; John Haar, director of baseball operations, North Shore Twins, Canadian HOFer.

Jayson Hajdu, Regina, Sask., media relations director, University of North Dakota; George Halim, Grimsby, Ont., College Placement Incorporated, INF Adam Hall (London, Ont.) No. 15 MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Orioles prospect list; Mike Hansford, Burlington, Ont., Corbett’s Source for Sports; Paul Hargreaves, Surrey, BC, general manager Whalley Chiefs, Dr. Bryan Har, Calgary, BC, heart surgeon, Foothills Hospital, Aileen Hartman, St. Albert, Alta., vice-Chair Baseball Canada, scorers committee; Ellen Harrigan, senior director, baseball administration, Los Angeles Dodgers; Ryan Harrison, Thorold, Ont., president Welland Jackfish/Intercounty executive and marketing chair; Mustafa (Moose) Hassan, Toronto, Ont., home clubhouse manager, equipment, Toronto Blue Jays, Ernie Hawkins, North Delta, BC, head coach Delta Blue Jays.

Ed Heather, Cambridge, Ont., mentor emeritus, Ontario Terriers, Chris Henderson, Jays Journal; Jim Henderson, Calgary, Alta., bullpen coach, Milwaukee Brewers, Alex Hendra-Brown, Victoria, BC, hitting/recruiting coordinator, University of Victoria, Andrew Hendricks, Toronto, Ont., scribe, Canadian Baseball Network and data caster of MLB.com; Josh Herback-South, Regina, Sask., head coach, Bulldogs Academy; Matt Higginson, Grimsby, Ont., amateur scout, Oakland A’s, Shawn Hill, Mississauga, Ont., pro scout, New York Yankees; Maxime Hockhoussen, Laval, Que. head co-ordinator, head coach 16U, Academie Baseball Canada; Mitch Hodge, Vancouver, BC, coach BC Thunder; Jonathan Hodgson, Victoria, BC, Writer, podcaster for Area 51 Sports Network, covering the 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.

TSN’s Paul Hollingsworth (Dartmouth, NS)

Paul Hollingsworth, Dartmouth, N.S., broadcaster, TSN; Ted Hotzak, outgoing president, Vancouver, BC, BC Premier League; Bob Hooper, Burlington, Ont., president and business director, FieldHouse Pirates, Paul Howarth, Burlington, Ont., coach Abbotsford Cardinals, Todd Hubka, Claresholm, Alta., head coach, Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs; David Huctwith, Mississauga, Ont, past president and treasurer, Baseball Ontario, coach McMaster; Christi Hudson, Stratford, Ont., curator, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Marc Hulet, London, Ont., scribe, MLB Trade Rumors, NBC Sports, Hardball Times; Frank Humber, Corner Brook Association, Corner Brook, Nfld.

Ian Hunter, Kitchener, Ont., scribe, @Daily HiveTO; Dutche Iannetti, owner, Fort McMurray Giants; 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; Steven Jaschinski, Mount Hope, Ont., umpire, double-A; Chris James, Spruce Grove, Alta., program director, Parkland Twins Academy; Jeremy Jayaweera, president and 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; Frank Kaluzniak, Brandon, Man., head coach, Parksville Royals 18U; Andrew Karkoulas, Guelph, Ont., owner PPA hithouse; John Kastner, Stratford Ont., Intercounty league commissioner; Tom Katelnikoff, president, West Kelowna, BC, Okanogan Athletics; Sam Katz, Winnipeg, Man., president & CEO, Winnipeg Goldeyes, co-owner Ottawa Titans; Bert Kauf, Weyburn, Sask. president, Baseball Sask, Jamie Kell, Windsor, Ont., head coach, Tecumseh Thunder seniors, LHP Ryan Kellogg, Whitby, Ont. triple A Iowa, Mike Kelly, North Delta, BC, BC Minor, presented a lifetime membership after attending the American Baseball Coaches Association for the 35th year in Chicago.

Mike Koreen, Toronto, Ont., Sportsnet and many other daily bugles as sports editor Corey Koskie, Anola, Man./Plymouth, Minn., Linklete.com, Kevin Kvame, Lethbridge, Alta., president WMBL, GM Lethbridge Bulls, André Lachance, Baseball Canada, who has a book coming out on Team Chemistry with endorsements from Damian Warner, decathlete, 2020 Olympic gold medallist, Laurent Duvernay–Tardif, Super Bowl champ, Danielle Goyette, three-time Olympian, eight-time World Champion, hockey HOF 2013, Derek Johnson, pitching coach, Cincinnati Reds, Bev Priestman, head Coach, Team Canada Women’s Soccer, 2021 Olympic Gold Medallist, Danny Maciocia, Vanier Cup and Grey Cup championship-winning coach, GM, Montreal Alouettes and Scott Moir, three-time Olympic and World figure skating champ.

Jessica Lack (Clagary, Alta.)

Jessica Lack, Calgary, Alta., digital media coordination, community relations, class-A Tampa Yankees; David Laing, Langley, BC, executive director, Baseball BC; 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 National Team/Baseball Manitoba Girl’s Program; Holly Lapierre, Hammonds Plains, NS, board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Jay Lapp, London, Ont., scout, Toronto Blue Jays.

Jean-Gilles Larocque, Azilda, Ont., hitting and catching coach, Laurentian University, Sudbury Voyageurs, head coach 14U; Dr. Michel Larivière, Sudbury, Ont., head coach, mental conditioning coach and recruiting coordinator, Laurentian; Brent Lavallee, North Delta, BC, manager, rookie-class Gulf Coast Blue Jays, Dr. David Lawrence: primary care physician, Toronto Blue Jays; Alexander Lawrie, Mineville, NS, umpire, Gulf Coast League; INF Charles Leblanc, Laval, Que. triple-A Round Rock, Kevin Legge, Conception Bay South, Nfld, president, Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador; Marty Lehn, White Rock, BC, Brewers scout/White Rock Tritons coach/Big League Experience, Ryan Lennerton, Langley, BC, A&M Consolidated High School, College Station, Tx., Marc LePage, Welland, Ont., head coach Brock University.

Linda Lewis, commissioner, Port Lambton, Ont., Premier League of Ontario; INF Otto Lopez, Montreal, Que., No. 5 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Jays prospect list No. 6 on Baseball America’s top 10; Jeff Lounsberry, Smithville, Ont., Ont., general manager, Hamilton Cardinals, assistant coach, Wilfrid Laurier University; Mike Lumley, London, Ont., coach, London Badgers 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. but may consider moving to Whitby, Ont., OBA Hall of Famer; Marika Lyszczyk, Tsawwassen BC, Rivier University, Drew MacDonald, Bradford, Ont., trainer, double-A New Hampshire; Ryan MacDonald, Kennetcook N.S, Prairie Baseball Academy/Lethbridge Bulls; Walter MacEwen, Stratford, PEI, president, Baseball Prince Edward Island; Kyle Mackinnon, Caledon, Ont., head coach, McPherson College, infield coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays; Andrew MacNevin, St. Catherines, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy, head coach, Holland College; LHP Adam Macko. Stony Plain, Alta., No. 12 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Mariners prospect list.

Arash Madani, Toronto, Ont., reporter, Sportsnet; Jay-Dell Mah, Nakusp, BC, author, Western Canada Baseball, Scoresheet Baseball; Kevin Malloy, visiting clubhouse manager, Toronto Blue Jays; Kevin Mandzuk, Regina, Sask., umpire, class-A; Chris Marco, Hamilton, Ont., umpire, triple-A; Arturo Marcano, Toronto, Ont., sport director, Toros de Tijuana, Mexican League champions; Dave Margetts, Burlington, Ont., umpire, Dean Mariani, Mississauga, Ont., head coach, Guelph University; Derek Marques, Whitby, Ont., agent, Lakeridge Sports Management, Aaron Marshall, Oshawa, Ont., head coach, Oshawa Legionaires, 18U.

Hannah Martensen (Ottawa, Ont.,) of the women’s national team

Hannah Martensen, Ottawa, Ont., Baseball Canada women’s national team; Chip Martin, London, Ont., Canadian baseball historian and author of multiple Canadian baseball books; Keegan Matheson, Toronto, Ont. scribe, MLB.com; Josh Matlow, Innisfil, Ont., general manager and field manager, president, Barrie Baycats; Takahito (Taka) Matsuda, Hamilton, Ont., umpire, triple-A; John Matthew IV, Ormond, Ont., producer extraordinare, MLB.com; Steve McAllister, Georgetown, Ont., cditor-in-chief, The Parleh; Joe McFarland, Airdrie, Alta., Alberta Dugout Stories; Ryan McBride, Whitby, Ont., head coach, Toronto Mets 18U, president; Todd McFarlane, Edmonton, Alta., collector; Matt McGovern, Ottawa, Ont., manager, Brantford Red Sox; Kaitlyn McGrath, The Athletic and SpinRate podcast with Drew Fairservice.

Conor McKenna, Mississauga, Ont., umpire, class-A; 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; Don Menard, Windsor, Ont., manager, Kitchener Panthers, Jason Miller, Winnipeg, Man., executive director, Baseball Manitoba; Tim Micallef, Toronto, Ont., Tim and Friends, Sportsnet; Tanya Millette, St Jerome, Qué., umpire, attending Wendelstedt School in Florida; Matt Mills, Hamilton, Ont., president and general manager, 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/Sarasota, Fla., Okotoks Dawgs advisor, program coordinator St. Petersburg baseball commission, assistant coach, Erie County Community College, Kevin Mitchell, Cambridge, Ont., hitting coach, Ontario Blue Jays, Ryan Mittleman, director, pro scouting, Toronto Blue Jays; Joey Moher, Val Therese, Ont., Sudbury Voyageurs, head coach 16U; 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, Ottawa, Ont., public relations and best-dressed man this side of Don Cherry, Baseball Canada; Colin Moro, Calgary, Alta., head coach University of Calgary, assistant coach 18U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy, scout, Hudson Athletic Recruiting.

Neil Munro, North Bay, Ont., Canada’s stat guru, Canadian Baseball Network; Leo Mui, Toronto, Ont. scribe, Bluebird Banter; 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; Aaron Myette, New Westminster, BC, women’s team manager, Tina Nagratha, Ottawa, Ont., treasurer and board member, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians; Bill Neale, Collingwood, Ont., head coach Kansas Wesleyan University; Shelby Nelson, Dunedin, Fla., director of Florida operations, Toronto Blue Jays; Scott Neiles, Winnipeg, Man., Home Run Sports.

Nancy Newman (Barrie, Ont.) of the YES Network sits where Ford C. Frick winner Mel Allen once did.

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, OF Jordan Nwogu, Ottawa, Ont., No. 26 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Cubs prospect list; Trevor Nyp, Kitchener, Ont., class-A Inland Empire, defensive coach, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Mark Nonis, Kelowa, BC, general manager, Kelowna Falcons; Andrew North, St. Marys, Ont., organizer of the annual Canadian Baseball History Conference, founding 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.

Santa Ono, Vancouver, BC, president, University of British Columbia; LHP Ben Onyshko, Winnipeg, Man. Triple A Tacoma; Pete Orr, pro/amateur scout, Milwaukee Brewers, player development/infield co-ordinator, Toronto Mets; Justin Orton, Essex, Ont., development coach, Dominican Summer League, Pirates, Mark Orr, Kamloops, BC, Kamloops RiverDogs, Kyle Orr, Victoria, BC, hitting coach, University of Victoria; 1B J.D. Osborne, Whitby, Ont. triple-A Jacksonville; Stephen Osterer, Ottawa, Ont., pitching resource coordinator, Cleveland Guardians; Stephen Paine, Mississauga, Ont., Sportsnet, remote producer (postseason/features/sit down interviews).

Shail Paliwal, Ottawa, Ont., president and board member, assistant coach, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians 18U; James Parker, Toronto, Ont., area scout, Padres; Steve Paine, Toronto, Ont., producer, Blue Jays Central, Sportsnet; Wayne Parrish, Etobicoke, Ont., The Toronto Star;, Rhonda Pauls, Abbotsford, BC, Baseball Canada umpire developer; LHP James Paxton, Ladner, BC, Settle Mariners; Pierre Karl Péladeau, CEO, TVA, only man to give his private plane for the weekend, 2012; Allan Perkins, Toronto, Ont., TSN.ca, scribe; David Quattrociocchi, Toronto, Ont., coach, 17U Team Ontario (2022 Canada Summer Games), 18U Vaughan Vikings; Darryl Reid, Oshawa, Ont., head coach/Durham College/head coach 14U and GM Toronto Mets; Bill Pegg, Kitchener, Ont., president, Kitchener Panthers, Intercounty executive.

Rob Pegg, Flesherton, Ont., head coach, Vanguard University; Curtis Pelletier, Victoria, BC, general manager and director of player development, Victoria HarbourCats, head coach, University of Victoria Golden Tide, Miami Marlins scout; John Picco, Windsor, Ont., general manager, Windsor Selects; Marc Philippon, Hamilton, Ont., Steadman Philippon Research Clinic, Vail, Col.; Marc Picard, Windsor, Ont., coach anywhere he wants, Windsor Selects; INF Daniel Pinero, Toronto, Ont. triple-A Toledo, Jamie Pogue, Guelph, Ont., bullpen catcher, St. Louis Cardinals; Mark Polishuk, London, Ont., MLB Trade Rumors, Connie and Rick Pomerleau, Brantford, Ont., manager, general manager, co-owners, Brantford Red Sox.

Ontario Blue Jays grad RP Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.) pitched in 50 games for the Marlins in 2021

RHP Zach Pop, Brampton, Ont., Miami Marlins; Adam Prendergast, Montreal, Que., associate director of athletics/communications and creative content, Troy University Trojans; Elliott Price, Welland, Ont., broadcaster, Welland Jackfish; Lou Proietti, Hamilton, Ont., head coach, Saint Peter’s University; Terry Puhl, Melville, Sask. coach, University of Houston-Victoria, Houston Astros HOFer; Joe Pulia, instructor, Atlantic Academy, pitching coach, Holland College; Keith Pyne, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., medical consultant, Dodgers; Shawn Pynn, Brampton, Ont., recruiting coach NCSA (Next College Student Athlete); Ed Quinlan, Stoney Creek, Ont., president Baseball Ontario, Dr. Satish Raj, Calgary, Alta., heart surgeon, Foothills Hospital, Mark Randall, Edmonton, Alta., coach, Team Alberta; 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 Fame voter, former Expo; Al Ready, London, Ont., coach, University of Indianapolis; Shiraz Rehman, Montreal, Que., assistant GM, Rangers, Morgan Reiter, Regina, Sask., director of player development, Inside Pitch Baseball Academy; Jeremy Reesor, Stouffville, Ont., executive, Toronto Blue Jays; Jim Richardson, Milton, Ont., vice-president, director of baseball operations, head coach, FieldHouse Pirates 18U; Katie Reyes, Surrey, BC, Women’s National Team/BC Girls Baseball Program; Vanessa Riopel, Repentigny, Que., Women’s National Team alum/Baseball Québec Girls Baseball Lead; Frederic Rioux, Montreal, Que., minor league operations assistant, Pirates, Estrellas Orientales, Dominican League; technology data processing consultant, Academie du Baseball Canada; OF Jacob Robson, Windsor, Ont., No. 28 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Tigers prospect list, Detroit Tigers.

Mattingly Romanin, Burlington, Ont., Ontario Royals; Dino Roumel, Guelph, Ont., manager, Guelph Royals; 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., president of operations/treasurer, Hamilton Cardinals; Aqil Samuel, president and chief operations manager, Consort, Alta., Sylvan Lake Gulls; OF Jake Sanford (Cole Harbour, NS) No. 23 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Yankees prospect list; Patrick Scalabrini, Waterford, Que., manager, Les Capitales de Quebec.

Jen and Graham Schetzsle, Veteran, Alta., Sylvan Lake Gulls; Ernie Schroeder, president Ottawa-Nepean Canadians, RHP Allison Schroder, Fruitvale, BC, Women’s National Team/Vancouver Island University; Robb Scott, Greenfield, NS, Baseball America cover artist (College preview issue with Vandy’s Kumar Rocker, Florida’s Jud Fabian, Miami’s Adrian Del Castillo and UCLA’s Matt McLain); Mike Shaw, Oakville, Ont., Blue Jays travelling secretary, Toronto Blue Jays; Dr. William Short, Credit Valley Hospital; Jane Shury, Battleford, Sask., Saskatchewan Hall of Fame; Tony Siemens, Rosenort, Man., president Baseball Manitoba.

John Silverman (Montreal, Que.) left with former Marlins GM Mike Hill.

John Silverman, Montreal, equipment manager, Miami Marlins; Marie-Pierre Simard, La Beauce, Que., co-owner Les Capitales de Québec; Kip Simon, Regina, Sask., owner, 22Fresh Apparel, Inc.; David Singh, Toronto, Ont., Sportsnet scribe, Jeff Skelhorne-Gross, Kingston, Ont., head coach, Queen’s University Golden Gaels; Matt Skirving, London, Ont., coordinator, amateur scouting operations, Pittsburgh Pirates; Annakin Slayd, hip-hop, rap, passionate Expos fan; Dr. Jason Smith, Toronto, Ont., Toronto Blue Jays, consulting orthopedic surgeon.

Mary-Ann Smith, Cambridge, Ont. director of operations, Baseball Ontario, who along with Enza Finnie, Kaira Ostrosser and Rita Dupon looked after 1,236 teams and 16,704 rep and select players (counting house leaguers the number is roughly 90,000); Ryan Snair, Margaret’s Bay, N.S., head coach, Sullivan County Community College, Tyler Soucie, Cambridge, Ont., co-pitching coordinator, Ontario Nationals, Bernie Soulliere, Windsor, Ont., chef de mission Team Canada/president Windsor Selects; Tanner Spencer, Craik, Sask,, coach, University of Mary; Chad Stang, Surrey, BC, head coach, player development, White Rock Tritons 18U; Howard Starkman, Mississauga, Ont., scorekeeper, Toronto Blue Jays.

Mike Steed, Burlington, Ont., pitching coordinator, college placement advisor, Ontario Blue Jays; Brandon Steele, London, Ont., head coach, Tusculum College; Ashley Stephenson, Mississauga, Ont. coach, Women’s National Team; Ben Steiner, Vancouver, BC, Chesterfield Sports; Dale Stevens, Dundas, Ont., longest-serving member, MLB.com; John Stewart, Brighton, Ont., manager, clubhouse operations, Vancouver Canadians; Andrew Stoeten, Toronto, Ont., The Bat Flip Substack newsletter, Charlie Strandlund, Victoria, BC, coach, Victoria Eagles; Adam Strongman, Caledonia, Ont., head coach, and life-saving hero, McMaster Univerity; Jim Swanson, Prince George, BC, managing partner/GM, Victoria HarbourCats/Nanaimo NightOwls.

Ryan Sweeney, Paradise, NL, president Premier Sports Academy, RHP Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, Tex., New York Yankees; Dr. Ron Taylor, Leaside, Ont. physician emeritus Blue Jays; RHP Curtis Taylor, Port Coquitlam, BC triple-A Buffalo; Wes Taylor, Port Coquitlam, BC, president, BC Premier League; Devon Teeple, North Bay, Ont., GM’s Perspective, named a Rising Star for work on site and ignite CHANGE in the LA-based Voyage Magazine, combines performance coaching and mentorship with mental health awareness; Nichole and Mike Tevlin, Toronto, Ont., co-owners The Baseball Zone and Ontario Terriers; Dr. John Theodoropoulos, Toronto, Ont., head orthopedic surgeon, Jays; Dennis Thiessen, Toronto, Ont., author of Tip O’Neill and the St. Louis Browns of 1887; Jason Thomasen, Brooks, Alta., president, Brooks Bombers.

Jordon Tiegs (Woodstock, Ont.) pitching coach for class-A Kinston in the Texas Rangers system in 2021.

Jordan Tiegs, Woodstock, Ont,, pitching coach, class-A Kinston, Rangers; Dale Tilleman, Tabor, Alta., High Performance Coordinator Alberta Baseball, scout Tigers; Joe Tilley’s podcast; Ben Tinklin, Kitchener, Ont., player development, roving coach/catching coordinator, Ontario Nationals 18u, Tom Tippett, Lexington, Mass., teams, Tippett Analytics; Damon Topolie, North Bay, Ont., manager, Toronto Maple Leafs; 3B Abraham Toro, Longueuil, Que. Seattle Mariners; Alex Tosi, Markham, Ont., umpire, triple-A, 42 games in the majors; 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 North Tigers. Dave Tredgett, Toronto, Ont., Sportsnet executive producer of Blue Jays games; Jean 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, Academie Baseball Canada, Randy Town, Calgary, Alta., associate athletic director for athletic operations and director of physical education director, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges; Marc Vadboncoeur, Laval, Que., president of Baseball Quebec; David Valente, Thunder Bay, Ont., president Border Cats; Scott VandeValk, Georgetown, Ont., senior advisor, Ontario Terriers; Jimmy Van Ostrand, Richmond, BC, mental performance coach, Toronto Blue Jays.

Gary Van Tol, Pincher Creek, Alta., coach, Boise State; Allison Vickers, Mississauga, Ont., beach ball specialist, One Heart Care; Jaime Viera, Georgetown, Ont., hitting coach class-A Dunedin, on analytics side; Paul Villeneuve, Nepean, Ont., head coach and president, Ottawa Patriots 18U; Surya Viswanathan, Surrey, BC, head coach, Douglas College; Carson Vitale, Victoria, BC, major-league field coordinator, Seattle Mariners; Christian Vogler, Berwick, NS, development coach, Boston Red Sox; Darnell Vrban, Oakville, Ont., head coach, Oakville Hammers; Chris Walsh, Caledon Ont., trainer, class-A Palm Beach (St. Louis Cardinals); Doug Walton, Burlington, Ont., producer, Sportsnet; Lori Wall, Fredericton, NB, Baseball New Brunswick; Trevor Wamback, Windsor, NS, head coach, King’s-Edgehill School/Newbridge Academy.

Brandon Washkevich, Guelph, Ont., third base coach, life-saving hero, Guelph University; Tanner Watson, Arnprior, Ont., (second best player to live in the burg behind HOFer Tim Raines), founder/manager Watson Elite 17u, Rob Watt, Chemainus, BC, head coach, Mount Olive College; Scott Weberg, Kelowna BC, head strength and conditioning coach, Toronto Blue Jays; RP Rowan Wick, North Vancouver, BC, Chicago Cubs; Tim Wharnsby, Waterloo, Ont., The Canadian Press; Gerry White, general manager, Delta Blue Jays; Stephanie Wilkinson, Oakville, Ont., director of administration, Ontario Blue Jays; Justin Willard, Brampton, Ont., pitching coordinator Minnesota Twins.

Charlie Wilson, director, minor league operations, Blue Jays; Ian Wilson, Calgary, Alta., Alberta Dugout Stories, Kassandra and Mark Wilson, Delta, BC, Nettex netting; Nigel Wilson, Ajax, Ont., hitting coach, player development, Ontario Yankees 18U; Stan Wilson, Brampton, Ont., coach, Ontario Blue Jays 16U; Martin Winstanley, Victoria, BC, co-GM Victoria Eagles; Joe Wiwchar, Morden, Man., administrative manager Manitoba Hall of Fame, located near Joe Wiwchar Field; Greg Wolfe, Edmonton, Alta., New Zealand Baseball Federation development manager; Brad Wolansky, St. Albert, Alta., director and coach, St. Francis Xavier Academy.

Brad Woods, Swift Current, Sask., president, Swift Current 57s; Fred Wray, Calgary, Alta. Independent Sports & Entertainment agent; Andrew Wright, Woodstock, NB, director of Dominican Republic operations, New York Yankees; Bart Yabsley, Toronto, Ont., president of Sportsnet; 1B Jared Young, Prince George, BC, triple-A; LHP Rob Zastryzny, Edmonton, Alta. triple-A Jacksonville; Christian Zuger, Terrace, BC, co-founder, Metalhead Software Inc. Super MEGA Baseball, EA Sports, It’s In the Game and Arden Zwelling, writer/podcaster Sportsnet.

Again, it was suggested by some that, adults and children kept the game alive in 2020 should be our No. 1 for 2020. Coaches, parents, officials and convenors have said it was almost as tough to keep baseball running as way back in 2020, the most difficult summer since 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. Or threw batting practice from 60 1/2 feet or 45 feet or whatever -- but farther than six feet -- away.

So here we go a thank you to all who helped in 2021 … and those who will help again in 2022 ...

Thank yous to ...

Zach Aaron, Montreal, Que., infield coach, McGill University; Lyle Abbott, treasurer, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Clark Adams, Ottawa, Ont., vice president, operations and board Member, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians; Jason Adamyk, Hamilton, Ont., live-saving, paramedic; LJ Aguinaga, Montreal, Que., pitching coach, McGill University; Jordy Alexander, Calgary, Alta., pitching coach 15U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Rob Alksne, Comox, BC, Okanagan A’s 15U; Braeden Allemann, Surrey, BC, pitching coach, Douglas College; James Anderson, Barrie, Ont., assistant coach, Central Ontario Reds 15U; Karissa Anderson, Edmonton, Alta., strength and conditioning coach, St. Francis Xavier Academy.

Kyle Angelow, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 16U; Peter Angelow, Toronto, Ont., head coach, Toronto Mets 15U; Paul Ante, Guelph, Ont., coach, Guelph Royals; Tom Arnold, St. Thomas, Ont., coach, Great Lake Canadians, 15U; Pierre Arsenault, Pierrefonds, Que. assistant coach, Équipe Québec/Québec Capitales; Justin Aubin, Thornbury, Ont., assistant coach, Lake Simcoe Nationals 17U, Bevan Austin, assistant coach, Toronto Giants 17U; Al Bailey, North York, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Titans 18U; Denis Bailey, East York, Ont., associate head coach, Ontario Titans 17U; Aaron Bain, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Terriers 18U.

Jamie Baker, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Oshawa Legionaires 18U, coach Durham College; Larry Balkwill, Chatham, Ont., catching/hitting instructor, Great Lake Canadians; Ian Bala, Mississauga, Ont., pitching co-ordinator, pitching coach, Ontario Terriers 18U; Ryan Balan, Etobicoke, Ont., head coach, Ontario Royals 15U, Mike Bannon, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Terriers 17U, Jesse Barker, Newmarket, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Titans 17U; Matt Barlow, Charlottetown, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy, Ryan Barton, Sudbury Ont., assistant coach, Sudbury Voyageurs 16U, Charlotte Bate, ICU nurse, Guelph student live-saving, therapist; Frank Bauer, Amherstburg, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 15U.

Jordan Bellinger, coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 15U; Don Beneteau, LaSalle, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 18U; Sam Bent, Ottawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ottawa Knights 15; Scott Bent, Ottawa, Ont., bench coach, Carleton University; Matt Berger, Stratford, Ont., manager, Ontario Nationals, 15U; Wade Bergeron, London, Ont., coach, London Badgers 14U; John Bethune, Newmarket, Ont., head coach, Toronto Titans 14U; Cobourn Bickle, Ottawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ottawa Knights 18U; Bruce Biro, Deep Bay, BC, assistant coach, Parksville Royals 18U; Kevin Biro, assistant coach, Parksville Royals 18U.

Chris Black, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Terriers 17U; Joel Blake, Langley, BC, Vauxhall Academy Jets; Dave Blanch, Alliston, Ont., New Lowell Reds, head coach 15U; Damian Blen, Havana, Cuba, president, program director, Ontario Rockies 17; Chris Boatto, Vaughan, Ont., assistant coach and pitching coach, Ontario Terriers 17U; Mike Boehmer, Alliston, Ont., general manager and import recruitment, Kitchener Panthers, Jason Borghese, Guelph, Ont., outfield instructor, coach, Ontario Nationals 15U; Tristan Bouchat, Windsor, Ont., associate head coach/outfielders, St. Clair College; Rick Boutilier, Mississauga, Ont., SST strength and conditioning coach, Ontario Terriers; Matt Bowden, Lambeth, Ont., infield instructor Great Lake Canadians manager, 14U Black.

Brody Boyenko, Saskatoon, Sask., instructor, Going Yard facility; Matt Braumberger, Sudbury, Ont., pitching coach, Laurentian University; Omari Briscoe, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Terriers 15U; Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 18U; Landon Briscoe, North Vancouver, BC, assistant coach, Northeast Community College; Jon Brooks, London, Ont., coach, Ontario Nationals 14U; Will Brooks, London., Ont. catching instructor, Ontario Nationals 14U; Steve Brown, head coach, Clarington Renegades 15U.

Cleveland Brownlee of the ICL champion London Majors

Cleveland Brownlee, London, Ont., assistant coach, London Majors; Ronan Bryne, Abbotsford, BC, mental skills coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays; Zach Bryksa, Calgary, Alta., assistant coach 13U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Chris Burke, assistant coach, Tecumseh, Ont., Tecumseh Thunder 22U; Paul Burley, Bowmanville, Ont., assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 15U, Matthieu Butler, Sudbury, Ont., assistant coach, Sudbury, Ont., Voyageurs 14U, Brayden Byers, Newmarket, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Titans 15U; 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..

Zach Campagne, White Rock, BC, pitching coach, White Rock Tritons 16U; Colin Campbell, coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 14U; Matthew Casburn, St. Catharines, Ont., assistant coach, Brock University; Pat Casey, assistant coach, Welland Jackfish; Scott Cawker, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Durham College, head coach, Toronto Mets 15U; 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.

Rob Cherepuschak, Regina, Sask., instructor, Martin Academy; Hyung Cho, Scarborough, Ont., infield coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays; Damian Clarke, Waterdown, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 15U; Liam Clarke, Barrie, Ont., assistant coach 17U, Ontario Astros 17U; Jacob Clement, Ottawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ottawa Knights 14U; Richard Clemons, Mississauga, Ont., director of facilities, hitting coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Corinne Chow, Vancouver, BC, board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Aiden Colangelo, Brantford, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Giants 15U; Sean Collette, Kitchener, Ont., baserunning and speed coach, Ontario Nationals; Spencer Connelly, Hamilton, Ont., live-saving, paramedic.

Bradley Cooke, coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 15U; Mike Cookson, Milton, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Giants 15U; Daniel Cordero, Ottawa, Ont., head coach, Ottawa Patriots 15U; Brad Crone, Orangeville, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 16U; Mike Cross, Windsor, Ont., coach, Windsor Selects 15U, Wayne Corness, Surrey, BC, University of British Columbia, pitching coach; Rich Corrente, Chatham, Ont., pitching coach, Ontario Giants 15U; Dave Covemaker, London, Ont., coach London Badgers 14U; Alex Crocco, Vaughan, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Titans 15U; Randy Crouse, Antigonish, NS, national coordinator for Challenger Baseball Canada, Baseball Canada Volunteer of the Year Award; Francis Cubos, Scarborough, Ont., director of sandlot programming, infield coach, Ontario Blue Jays.

Derek Cuffy (Brantford, Ont.) of the Ontario Royals.

Derek Cuffy, Brantford, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 15U; Quinn Cumming, Toronto, Ont., associate head coach, Ryerson University; Colin Cummins, Mississauga, Ont., head coach, Ontario Giants 16U; Eric Cunningham, LaSalle, Ont., catchers/hitting coach, St. Clair College; Cory Curtis, Sherwood Park, Alta., head coach 15U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Elliott Curtis, Kitchener, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Terriers; Kevin Cruickshank, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach 15U, Ontario Astros; Palmer Cruickshank, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach 15U, Ontario Astros, Tony Daicar, Kingston Ont, assistant Coach Kingston Colts 18U; Brody Daigneau, South Woodslee, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 18U.

Jason Darichuk, Oakville, Ont., Mount Mercy University, assistant coach; Scott Dart, London, Ont., Intercounty executive; Lars Davis, Grand Prairie, Alta., volunteer assistant coach, University of Florida; Shane Davis, Belmont, Ont., 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; Ryan Debi, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach 16U, Ontario Astros; Domingo De La Rosa, London, Ont., London Badgers assistant coach 18U

Cashtyn de Leuw, Grimshaw, Alta., instructor, Northern Lights Academy; Lee Delfino, Brantford, Ont., hitting coordinator, FieldHouse Pirates head coach 17U; Guido Dell’unto, Mississauga, Ont., pitching coach, Ontario Blue Jays, Dakoda Denby, Whitby, Ont., pitching coach, Ontario Yankees 16U; Colin Dempster, Whitby, Ont., assistant coach, Durham College; Matt Deneau, LaSalle, Ont., coach, Windsor Selects 17U; Jason Desando, coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 16U; Marek Deska, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Guelph University; Kyle Dhanani, White Rock, BC, coach, White Rock Tritons; Ryan Dillon, assistant coach, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians 18U.

Nick Dimpfel, Richmond Hill, Ont., head coach, Toronto Titans 15U; Justin Dineen, Ottawa, Ont., assistant coach, Sudbury Voyageurs 14U; Julie Docker-Johnson, St. Marys, Ont., board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Ed Doiron, Winnipeg, Man., group sales and game presentation, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Scott Doucet, White Rock, BC, head coach, White Rock Tritons 16U; Evan Douglas, Surrey, BC, assistant coach, White Rock Tritons 16U: Gord Dowling, Kitchener, Ont., assistant coach, University of Waterloo; Jordan Draeger, Saskatoon, Sask., instructor, Going Yard facility; Derrick Drover, Spaniards Bay, Nfld., assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 17U.

Rob Ducey is coaching high school ball near Spring Hill, Fla.

Rob Ducey, Tarpon Springs, Fla., Ont., Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Spring Hill Fla.; Jordan Duffy, Fort Augustus PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy, Paul Duque, Winnipeg, Man. box office manager, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Shawn Earle, Oshawa, Ont., head coach, Oshawa Legionaires 15U; Marcus Eaton, Kanata, Ont., manager, Watson Elite 16U; Rob Edney ex officio, St. Marys, Ont., board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Jason Eisenstandt, assistant coach, Belleville Dawgs 17U; Ethan Elias, Saskatoon, Sask., associate pitching coordinator, Absolute Human Performance, co-head coach, pitching coach Edmonton Riverhawks, head coach Sherwood Park Dukes 18U; Matti Emery, Ottawa, Ont., associate head coach, Capital City Reds, Perfect Game league; Jake English, London, Ont., pitching coach, Ontario Nationals 18U, Tyler Enns, St. Paul, Man., University of British Columbia, strength and conditioning coach.

Aaron Ethier, Calgary, Alta., catching coordinator, assistant coach Okotoks Dawgs 15U Black; Paul Ewart, Waterloo, Ont., assistant coach, Wilfrid Laurier University; George Farid, Mississauga, Ont., sandlot instructor, Ontario Blue Jays; Ryan Faubert, Azilda, Ont., assistant coach Sudbury Voyageurs 14U; Lino Feijo, Mississauga, Ont., infield coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Don Ferguson, Winnipeg, Man., facility manager and groundskeeper, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Rhett Feser, Unity, Sask., junior varsity pitching coach, Prairie Baseball Academy; Mitch Fiacco, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Ryerson University; Kyle Fillier, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 16U; Cooper Finch, Calgary, Alta., assistant coach 15U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy.

Troy Findlay, St. Catharines, Ont., catching coach, Bullettproof Academy; Ian Finlay, Surrey, BC White Rock Tritons 15U; Ian Finlay, Calgary, Alta., head coach 15U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Connor Fitzgerald, head coach, Carleton Place, Ont., Ottawa Knights 14U; Jon Fitzsimmons, London, Ont., pitching coordinator, Great Lake Canadians; Dylan Flasch, Lloydminister, Alta., assistant coach, Badlands Academy, Will Flodin, Surrey, BC, assistant coach, Delta Blue Jays; Kevin Floyd, Calgary, Alta., assistant coach 15U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Brent Foreman, Coquitlam BC, assistant coach, Coquitlam Reds 18U; Wayne Forman, Brantford, Ont., catching coordinator, FieldHouse Pirates.

Mike Fonso, coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 17U; Cody Foster, assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 17U; Brock Fraser, Kitchener, Ont., head coach, Bullettproof Prospects 13U; Dane Friedland, Grand Prairie, Alta., instructor, Northern Lights Academy; Chris Fulton, director of business operations/co-owner, Halton Badgers; Logan Gallant, Cornwall, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy, assistant coach Holland College; Tim Gasparotto, Mississauga, Ont., Erindale Cardinals/Terriers coach 18U; Orville Germaine, Aldergrove, BC, assistant Coach, Douglas College; Brett Gibson, Brantford, Ont., head coach, Kingston Colts 13U; Blair Gignac, Waterloo, Ont., assistant coach, Guelph University.

Kingston Colts 15U Pat Gilmour of the famous Gilmour clan and yes he might be the best dressed of the group.

Pat Gilmour, Kingston, Ont., assistant coach, Kingston Colts 16U; Cam Gillis, Newmarket, Ont., assistant coach 14U, Ontario Astros, Dan Gillis, Sutton, Ont., assistant coach 17U, director of education Ontario Astros; Sean Gonsalves, Markham, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Astros 17U, Dave Girard, assistant coach, Windsor, Ont., Tecumseh Thunder seniors; Simon Gordner, Kitchener, Ont., assistant coach, University of Waterloo; Doug Goudy, St. Marys, site supervisor, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Bretton Gouthro, Calgary, Alta., strength and conditioning coordinator, head coach Okotoks Dawgs, 18U Red; Andrew Graham, East York, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Titans 18U; Kevin Grenier, assistant coach, Tecumseh, Ont., Tecumseh Thunder 22U.

Brad Grieveson, Barrie, Ont., pitching coach, Barrie Baycats; Jordan Harcout, Ottawa, Ont., organizational hitting coach, head coach, Ottawa Knights 15U, outfield instructor and third base coach, Carleton University; Tim Harkness, Jr., Bowmanville, Ont., assistant coach, Durham College; Jalen Harris, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 18U; Luana Harris, Toronto, Ont., RBC Wealth Management/Junior National Team mentorship program; 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; Brody Hawkins, North Delta, BC, assistant coach, Delta Blue Jays; Joe Hawkins, Oshawa, Ont., hitting coach, class-A Peoria (St. Louis Cardinals).

Blake Hawksworth, North Vancouver BC, mental skills coach, Junipero Serra, San Juan Capistrano High, Calif.; Alex Hawley, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Guelph University; Larry Hazel, London, Ont., head coach, London Badgers 15U; Michael Heffer, Whitby, Ont., infield and first base coach, Carleton University; Ryan Heimbecker, Brantford, Ont., assistant coach, Bullettproof Prospects 14U; Jeff Heinbuch, Mississaua, Ont., assistant coach, Mississauga Majors; Jeff Helps, Wyoming, Ont., manager and infield coordinator, Great Lake Canadians 16U; Javier Herrera Lanza, Kitchener, Ont., coach, Kitchener Panthers; Jake Hesselink, Regina, Sask., assistant coach 18U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Matt Hilderbrandt, Oshawa, Ont. assistant coach, Toronto Mets 14U.

Kazuo Honuchi, Richmond Hill, Ont. assistant coach, Toronto Mets 16U; Riley Hoover, Newmarket, Ont., assistant coach 14U, Ontario Astros; Kevin Horton, Toronto, Ont., administrative coordinator/left-hander, Ontario Terriers; Tony Hrynkiw, Brampton, Ont., catching coach, Ontario Blue Jays; David Huctwith, Mississauga, Ont. Second vice-president, secretary, COBA, Mississauga South coach, 18U, best groundskeeper south of Dundas, assistant coach, McMaster University; Mitch Hudvanger, Cottam, Ont., coach Windsor Selects 17U, Drew Huerter, Orangeville, Ont., assistant coach, Wilfrid Laurier University; Mike Hugall, Windsor, Ont., coach Windsor Selects 16U, Jim Hughes, King City, Ont., mental skills coach, Ontario Astros; Mike Hughes, Ladner, BC assistant coach, White Rock Tritons 18U.

Ex-pro Nial Hughes (Head of Cardigan, PEI) is passing on what he learned.

Nial Hughes, Head of Cardigan, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy; Mike Hughson, assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 15U; Jeff Hunt, Cambridge, Ont., assistant coach, Wilfrid Laurier University; Jim Hunt, Kingston Ont, head coach, Kingston Colts 16U; Kevin Hussey, Burlington, Ont., catching instructor and head coach, Ontario Terriers 16U; Ken Hussey, Burlington, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Terriers 16U; JJ Hyde, Coquitlam, BC, coach, Tri-City Indians; Joe Iannuzzi, Hamilton, Ont., schedule and college placement coordinator, Ontario Terriers; Laurie Inkol, live-saving, mother of Gryphons’ RHP Jordan Inkol.

Daniel Inglis, Waterloo, Ont., assistant coach and systems developer, University of Waterloo; Justin Interisano, Guelph, Ont., assistant coach, Guelph University; Mike Irving, Mississauga, Ont., coach Mississauga Majors, Batter Up School; Ed Ivy, Mississauga, Ont., pitching coach, McMaster Univerity; John Izumi, Toronto, Ont., pitching coach, Ontario Astros; Glenn Jackson, assistant coach, Toronto Mets 17U; 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.

Brodie Jeffery, Waterloo, Ont., assistant coach, Wilfrid Laurier University; Lindsay Jestin, Winnipeg, Man., administrative Assistant, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Curtis Johnson, Sudbury, Ont., Sudbury Voyageurs, assistant coach 18U; Greg Johnson, Sudbury, Ont., Sudbury Voyageurs, pitching coach 18U; Mark Johnston, Kitchener, Ont., manager, Ontario Nationals 15U; Mackinnon Johnson, Harrow, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 16U; Peter Joseph, Thornhill, Ont., pitching coach, Toronto Mets 16U; Jeff Justice, assistant coach, Ontario Astros 15U; Troy Kehoe, North Bay, Ont., assistant coach, Belleville Dawgs 16U; Rob Kaal, president, director of operations, Tri City Giants.

Tyler Kaal, Kitchener, Ont., coach, hitting and fielding instructor Tri City Giants 18U; Zach Kaal, Kitchener, Ont., coach, director of player development Tri City Giants 16U; John Kalivas, Brockville, Ont., outfield and hitting coach, Carleton University; Regan Katz, Winnipeg, Man., vice-President & COO, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Travis Kayler, Burlington, Ont., assistant pitching coordinator, FieldHouse Pirates, head coach 16U, assistant coach Waterloo; Tyler Kean, Woodstock, Ont., director of baseball operations, Ontario Nationals; Kris Kehoe, Kingston, Ont, assistant coach, Kingston Colts 14U; Scott Kelly, Belleville, Ont., pitching coach, Belleville Dawgs 17U; Jared Kennedy, Calgary, Alta., assistant pitching coordinator, information director, Ontario Blue Jays; Mark Kinal, Mississauga, Ont., coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Dean Kirkey, head coach, Ontario Tusks 16U.

Brock Kjeldgaard (London, Ont.) manager of the 17U Great Lake Canadians.

Brock Kjeldgaard, London, Ont., manager, Great Lake Canadians, 17U manager, infield/outfield/hitting Instructor; Kareem Kobrosli, Windsor, Ont., pitching coach, St. Clair College; Jim Kotkas, Lethbridge, Alta., assistant coach, Vauxhall Academy; Matt Korman, Calgary, Alta., catching coordinator, Calgary Wildcats; Matthew Kosteniuk, Saskatoon, Sask., instructor, Going Yard facility; Jonathan Kovack, Niagara On-the-Lake, Ont., head coach, Ontario Royals 16U; Julia Kreuz, Toronto, Ont., ball scribe, YAHOO! Sports; Joshua Kuderian, Fort Erie, Ont., assistant pitching coach, Bullettproof Academy; Jonathan Lacroix, Montreal, Que., assistant hitting coach, Academie Baseball Canada.

Kevin Lakes, Windsor, NS, pitching coach, King’s-Edgehill School; Roch Lambert, Gatineau, Que., general manager, Capital City Reds; Jeffrey (Starbucks?) Lamont, Oakville, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 17U; Jake Lanferman, Sherwood Park, Alta., outfield and hitting coach, Absolute Human Performance, head coach, Edmonton Trappers; (Every Day) Eddie Largy, Mississauga, Ont., catching coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays; Chris Latimer, Ottawa, Ont., assistant coach, Watson Elite; Reed Lavallee, Richmond, BC, associate coach, White Rock Tritons; Tyler Lawrence, Burlington, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 17U; Chris Lazar, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Wilfrid Laurier University; Andy Leader, Kitchener, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Nationals 16U; Randy LeBleau, Winnipeg, Man., Campbellsville University, assistant coach.

Ryan Leonard, Windsor, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 16U; Honsing Leung, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 18U; Josh Leuszler, Woodstock, Ont., coach, Ontario Nationals 15U; Jesse Levine, Thornhill, Ont., coordinator of scouting and analytics, Great Lake Canadians, coordinator of baseball operations and scouting, University of Waterloo; Matt Linder, Thunder Bay, Ont., pitching coach, Watson Elite 16U; Rick Lindquist, Tecumseh, Ont., pitching consultant, Tecumseh Thunder; Jason Little, Brantford, Ont., Intercounty league registrar; Nelson Lipszyc, Calgary, Alta., head of analytics integration/pitching coordinator, Calgary Wildcats; Bob Lofgren, London, Ont., head coach, London Badgers 16U, catching coach, Western Ontario; Shawn Loglisci, Victoria, BC, assistant coach/pitching coach, University of Victoria.

Noah London, Whitby, Ont., outfield coach, assistant coach, Ontario Yankees 18U; Eric Louis-Seize, Orleans, Ont., Ottawa Patriots 15U; Marshal Luiz, Surrey, BC, White Rock Tritons 15U; Shawn Lynn, North York, Ont., head coach 18U, VP of baseball operations/assistant director of player development, Ontario Astros; Katie MacAskill, McMaster student field live-saving, therapist; Bryce MacDonald-Wilson, Eastern Passage, N.S., assistant coach, Ottawa Knights 15U; Andrew Macdonald, Charlottetown, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy; Kevin MacDonald, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Ryerson University; Mitch MacDonald, Regina, Sask. assistant coach, Regina Red Sox; Scott MacDonald, Napanee, Ont., head coach, Kingston Colts 15U.

Tigers farmhand Cole MacLaren (Charlottetown, PEI) who spent time in 2021 at class-A Lakeland, class-A West Michigan and double-A Erie

Cole MacLaren, Charlottetown, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy; Jon Marcheterre, St. Catharines, Ont., assistant coach, Brock Badgers; John Mariotti, pitching coordinator, FieldHouse Pirates, head coach 15U; Drew Markle, Whitby, Ont., player development, Ontario Tusks; Jordan Markle, Whitby, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Tusks 16U; Justin Marra, Toronto, Ont., catching coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Eric Marriott, Niagara Falls, Ont., fielding coach, Bullettproof Academy, manager Moose Jaw Millers; Aaron Marshall, Oshawa, Ont., head Coach, Oshawa Legionaires 17U; Vinny Martin, Pender Island, BC, secretary, BC Premier League; Sean Masch, Calgary, Alta., pitching coach 13U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy.

Aidan Massad, Leamington, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 18U, Tyler Mathier, Grand Prairie, Alta., instructor, Northern Lights Academy; Ben Matheson, Calgary, Alta., head coach 15U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Eugenio Matos, Nepean, Ont., Baseball Canada, head coach, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians 15U, Baseball Canada; Neal Mattes, Whity, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 14U; Chad Matton, LaSalle, Ont., head coach, Windsor Selects 16U, Frank Maury, Brampton, Ont., director of player development, infield coordinator, Toronto Mets 16U; C.J. May, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Yankees, Jamie May, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 16U; Dave McCallum. coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 14U.

Kevin McCallum, coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 14U; Kurt McCallum coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 17U; Bryce McDonald, Eastern Passage, NS, organizational pitching coach, assistant coach, Ottawa Knights 15U; Brad McElroy, London, Ont., outfield/hitting instructor, Great Lake Canadians, manager, 14U Red; Candy McEwan, St. Marys Ont., board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Brent McGhee, Ajax, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Giants 15U; Sean McGuire, Surrey, BC, pitching coach, White Rock Tritons 18U, Shaun McGuire, Aurora, Ont., head coach 14U, Ontario Astros, Kendel McKenna, Kirland, Que., hitting coach, McGill University; Josh McInnis, Minnedosa, Man., assistant coach 18U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy.

Aaron McKay, Stratford, Ont., player development, Ontario Nationals manager 16U; 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; 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; 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 13U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Jason McRae-King, Winnipeg, Man., CFO, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Sean McVeigh, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach 14U, Ontario Astros.

Dennis Melanson, an assistant coach with the Sudbury Voyageurs

Dennis Melanson, Sudbury Ont., assistant coach, Sudbury Voyageurs 16U; Mike Melanson, head coach, Belleville Dawgs 17U; Marc Messier, Burlington, Ont., Sudbury Voyageurs, assistant coach 14U; Dave Miller, Welland, Ont., assistant coach, Bullettproof Elite 15U; Tanya Millette, St. Jerome. Que., umpire, attending Hunter Wendelstedt umpiring school; Tyler Milton, Okotoks Dawgs, head coach, Dawgs 13U, Okotoks Dawgs; Brett Platts, Searletown, PEI, assistant strength and conditioning coach Okotoks Dawgs Academy; Greg (Chopper) Miner, Ajax, Ont., Ontario Yankees 18U; Kevin Mitchell, Cambridge, Ont., hitting coach, Ontario Blue Jays.

Dustin Molleken, Regina, Sask., assistant coach, Regina Red Sox, pitching coach, Prairie Baseball Academy, Regina Red Sox Baseball Academy; Herb Morell, Mississauga, Ont., treasurer, statistician, Intercounty league/scorekeeper Rogers Centre; Geoff Moroz, Waterloo, Ont., pitching coach, University of Waterloo; Matt Morrison, Bowmanville, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Tusks; Ian Mosher, Kentville, NS, Baseball Canada’s Lifelong Coaching Award; Joseph Moher, Hanmer, Ont., assistant coach, Sudbury Voyageurs 16U; Mike Moskalyk, coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 15U; Gabe (Tranquillo) Monterrey, Oakville, Ont., sandlot instructor, Ontario Blue Jays; Conner Morro, Caledon, Ont., director of player development, strength coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays.

Donald (Buzz) Morris, Woodslee, Ont., manager, Windsor Selects 18U; Matt Morrison, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Tusks 16U; Mike Mueller, Mississauga, Ont., roving instructor/pitching coach, Ontario Nationals; Willie Mulligan, Red Deer, Alta., assistant coach 18U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Matt Munn, Fort Erie, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Giants 17U; 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 Colts 15U; Noah Murphy-Sealy, Aurora, Ont., assistant coach 18U, Ontario Astros.

Dom Murray, Ottawa, Ont., organizational pitching coach, head coach, Ottawa Knights 18U; Ed Muscat, Oakville, Ont., assistant coach, Oakville Hammers; Mikey Musselwhite, Victoria, BC, graduate assistant, University of Victoria; Peter Nash, Ajax, Ont., pitching coach Toronto Mets 14U; Brenden Nevills, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Clarington Renegades 17U; Shawn Neale, Collingwood, Ont., assistant coach, West Texas A&M University; Michael Nightingale, Oakville, Ont., pitching coach, head coach, Bullettproof Academy Elite 17-18U; Ben Norris, Waterloo, Ont., manager of baseball operations, University of Waterloo; Carson Nylund, Surrey, BC, pitching coach, Delta Blue Jays; Matt Obradovich, Sudbury, Ont., Sudbury Voyageurs, assistant coach 16U; Tyler O’Brien, Thorold, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 16U.

Waterloo assistant coach Daniel O’Connor

Daniel O’Connor, Etobicoke, Ont., assistant coach, University of Waterloo; Brendan O’Flynn, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach 18U, Ontario Astros; Brad O’Hara, Surrey, BC, assistant coach, White Rock Tritons 18U; Rob O’Neill, Hamilton, Ont., head coach, FieldHouse Pirates, 14U; Jeremy Orton, Ruthven, Ont., coach Windsor Selects 17U; Yusuke Oshima, Markham, Ont., pitching coach, Toronto Mets 15U; J Osborne, Newcastle, Ont., assistant coach 14U, Ontario Astros; Taran Oulton, St. Albert, Alta., pitching coach, Absolute Human Performance, assistant coach Sherwood Park Dukes 18U; Matt Paculan, Mississauga, Ont., head coach, White Rock Tritons 15U, Shawn Paquette, Lively Ont., head coach, Sudbury Voyageurs 16U, Kevin Paradis, LaSalle, Ont., infield co-ordinator, Windsor Selects 16U.

Mike Parlow, Qualicum Beach, BC, GM Parksville Royals, treasurer; Jeff Peach, Calgary, Alta., director of baseball operations/player development, Calgary Wildcats; Joseph Paulin, Kitchener, Ont., assistant coach, University of Waterloo, coach, Kitchener Panthers; Zach Pearson, Georgetown, Ont., pitching coach 16U,Ontario Astros; James Pepin, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 15U; Krista Perron, Hanmer, Ont., manager, Sudbury Voyageurs 14U; Phil Phillips, Belleville, Ont., assistant coach, Belleville Dawgs 17U; Rick Pillitteri, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont. assistant coach, Welland Jackfish; Justin Pisano, St. Catharines, Ont., assistant coach, Bullettproof Elite 16U; Yannick Plante, Hearst, Ont., strength and conditioning coach, triple-A Omaha.

Ryan Pollard, Milton, Ont., coach, Ontario Terriers 17U; Dustin Pope, London, Ont., coach/infield instructor Ontario Nationals 14U; Lou Pote, Okotoks, Alta., director of player development; 15U Black head coach, associate scout San Diego Padres; Nick Prasad, Oshawa, Ont., pitching coach, Toronto Mets 14U; Joe Presutti, Maple, Ont., head coach 15U, Ontario Astros; Ken Price, assistant coach, Windsor, Ont., Tecumseh Thunder seniors; Mitchell Prsa, Tecumseh, Ont., bench coach, St. Clair College, Adam Prior, Windsor, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 18u; assistant coach Tecumseh Thunder 16U; Jordan Prosper, Oshawa, Ont., pitching coordinator, Toronto Mets, Durham College; Jordi Psikla coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 17U; Mike Pulia,

Tony Quick, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Oshawa Legionnaires 17U, Matt Quartel, Sturgeon County, Alta., instructor, assistant coach, Absolute Human Performance; David Quattrociocchi, Toronto, Ont., Vaughan Vikings; John Raddi, assistant general manager, Kitchener Panthers, Jake Rajsigl, Windsor, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 15U, Mark Rajsigl, Windsor, Ont., manager, Windsor Selects 15U, Dave Ramsdale, coach, London, Ont., coach 16U; Matteo Ramundo, Welland, Ont., Bullettproof Academy head coach 14U.

Ontario Nationals; assistant coach Jack Rankin

Jack Rankin, Stratford, Ont., coach, Ontario Nationals 18U; Tyler Rathwell, head coach, head coach, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians 16U; Laura Redgate, Ottawa, Ont., mindset coach, Dawgs academy; Sean Refflighaus, London, Ont., catching/hitting instructor, Great Lake Canadians; Amanda Regoto, Okotoks, Alta. nutritionist, Dawgs Academy; Sean Reilly, Guelph, Ont., assistant general manager, Guelph Royals; Steve Renaud, Ottawa, Ont., executive director, assistant coach, organizational hitting coach, fielding coach, Ottawa Knights 15U; Wes Richards, coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 16U; B.J. Richardson, Windsor, hitting co-ordinator, Windsor Selects; Clayton Richer, Clarington, Ont., head coach, Clarington Renegades 17U; Mike Rogers, Oakville, Ont., assistant coach, Oakville Hammers; Chris Rinaldi Ross, catching and hitting instructor, assistant coach, University of Windsor; Mike Rondeau, assistant coach, Toronto Titans 16U.

Adam Roos coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 16U; Kurt Roy, New Lowell, Ont., assistant coach, Central Ontario Reds 14U; Daryl Ringwald, Oakville, Ont., assistant coach 16U, assistant director of baseball operations Ontario Astros, Dr. Andrew Robb, Waterloo, Ont., manager of player development, University of Waterloo; Dave Robb, Lac La Biche, Alta., Mesa Community College/Okotoks Dawgs, presented a lifetime membership after attending the American Baseball Coaches Association for the 35th year in Chicago; Marty Roberts, Barrie, Ont., pitching coach, Durham College; Andre Robidoux, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., co-founder, Ottawa’s Saint Anthony Baseball Academy; Chris Robinson, Ajax, Ont., hitting coach, assistant coach, Ontario Yankees 18U; Colin Robinson, Windsor, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 15U, Scott Rodway, treasurer, Parksville Royals; Liza Roikm, Hamilton, Ont., McMaster student field live-saving therapist; Jamie Romak, London, Ont., SSG Landers, infield and hitting instructor, Great Lake Canadians.

Jason Rubinstein, Thornhill, Ont., pitching coach 17U, Ontario Astros; Connor Russell, Victoria, BC, assistant coach, Parksville Royals 18U; Ray Rutgers, Hamilton, Ont., assistant coach, McMaster Univerity; Howard Rubin, North York, Ont., bench coach, Ryerson University; Dave Ruhr, Calgary, Alta., hitting/outfield coach, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Max Rydholm, coach, Thunder Bay Lakers 15U; Erik Sabrowski, Edmonton, Alta., instructor (seasonal), Absolute Human Performance; Jamie Samson, St. Andrews, Man., clubhouse manager, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Brian Savard, Hanmer, Ont,, Sudbury Voyageurs, assistant coach 14U; Parker Savard, Hanmer, Ont., Sudbury Voyageurs, assistant coach 14U; Brendan Saville, Ottawa, Ont., roving pitching instructor, Great Lake Canadians coach 15U Red.

Shawn Schaefer, Burlington, Ont., assistant GM, outfield coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays; Tim Schell, Mississauga, Ont., bench coach, Guelph University; Jordan Schofield, Corunna, Ont., assistant treasurer, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Brady Schnarr, Waterloo, Ont., pitching instructor, Ontario Nationals coach 15U; Rob Scicluna, Mississauga, Ont., assistant coach, Mississauga Majors; Liam Scott, Toronto, Ont., board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Perry Scott, Hamilton, Ont., director of player development and college placement coordinator FieldHouse Pirates; Roch Séguin, Gatineau, Que., president and head coach, Capital City Reds, Perfect Game league; Sean Seguin, Toronto, Ont., head coach, Oakville A’s 16U.

Lake Simcoe Nationals pitching coach Meyer Shemtov and one of his top advisors.

Meyer Shemtov, Barrie, Ont., pitching coach, Lake Simcoe Nationals; Mike Siena, Ancaster, Ont., director of operations, catching coach, Ontario Blue Jays.Vito Signorile, Val Therese, Ont., manager, Sudbury Voyageurs 16U; Jeff Shapton, Ingersoll, Ont., coach, Ontario Nationals 15U; Jeff Sharpe, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Terriers 15U, Meyer Shemtov, Richmond Hill, Ont. scout, Colorado Rockies/pitching coach, Lake Simcoe Nationals 17U; Tony Simone, Amherstburg, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 17U; TJ Singh, Toronto, Ont., head coach, FieldHouse Pirates 14U; Kirby Smith, president, head coach New Lowell Reds, 14U; LaRon Smith, Spruce Grove, Alta., catching and hitting coach (seasonal), Dawgs Academy; Mike Smith, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Oshawa Legionaires 15Ul Scott Smith, Okotoks, Alta., 15U Black assistant coach, Okotoks Dawgs.

Scott Smith, secretary, Toronto, board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Tim Smith, Toronto, Ont., hitting coordinator, Ontario Blue Jays; Matt Soanes, Lakeshore, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 18U; Mike Sonne, Hamilton, Ont., research director, Baseball Development Group; Tyler Soucie, Cambridge, Ont., co-pitching coordinator, Ontario Nationals;

Jerry Soulliere, Tecumseh, Ont., assistant coach, Windsor Selects 18U; Quinton Spagnol, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont., assistant college placement, assistant coach, Bullettproof Academy Elite 17-18U, Matt Spatafora, Scarborough, Ont., assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, Niagara University; Drew Spencer, Lakeview, Ont., Ontario Yankees assistant coach; Craig Spencer, Calgary, Alta., head coach, Okotoks Dawgs 16U.

Paul Spoljaric, Lisle, Ont., pitching coach, Toronto Mets 18U; Brodie Stairs, Calgary, Alta., pitching coach 15U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Jordan Stamp, Brantford, Ont. coach, FieldHouse Pirates; Chris Stamper, Oakville, Ont., board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Danny Stearns, Kelowna, BC, coach Okanagan A’s 18U and Okanagan College Coyotes; Jordan Stevenson, New Glasglow, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy, assistant coach, Holland College; JP Stevenson, Hunter River, PEI, instructor, Atlantic Academy; pitching coach Holland College; Alex Stewart, Aurora, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Titans 18U.

Former catcher Matt Stocco (Guelph, Ont.) who once caught Greg Maddux in a spring game.

Matt Stocco, Guelph, Ont., catching coach, assistant coach, Ontario Terriers 18u; Chad Stone, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 18U; Al Strathdee, St. Marys, Ont., ex officio, board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Todd Stronks, Brantford, Ont., infield instructor/coach, Ontario Nationals 15U; Jeremias Sucre, San Felix, Ven., assistant coach, Bulletproof Toronto Cubs 16U; Myles Swartz, Tornhill, Ont., assistant general manager/assistant pitching coordinator, Ontario Astros, pitching coach, Ryerson University; Austen Swift, Etobicoke, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Cubs 17-18U; Roberto Suppa, West London, Ont., pitching coach, Capital City Reds; Steven Szoldra, first base coach, Newmarket, Ont., Barrie Baycats; Steve Tait, defensive coach, FieldHouse Pirates 14U; John-Michael Tashos. Thornhill, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Titans, 15U.

Josh Taylor, assistant coach, Toronto Titans 17U; Kurtis Taylor, Okotoks, Alta. pitching coach, Okotoks Dawgs 18U; Wes Taylor, Port Coquitlam BC, Coquitlam Reds; Graham Tebbit, Burlington, Ont., co-pitching coordinator/player development, Ontario Nationals; Luke Tevlin, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Terriers 16U; Kevin Thomson, Thorold, Ont., hitting/fielding, head coach Bullettproof Academy Elite 15U; Nenad Tomic, Milton, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Giants 16U; Travis Tomlinson, Oakville, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Royals 18U; Ivan Torres, Whitby, Ont., head coach, Toronto Giants 15U; Matt Trimble, Coquitlam BC, pitching coach, Coquitlam Reds 18U.

Mark Trimble, Coquitlam BC, assistant coach, Coquitlam Reds 18U, Jamie Trull, Burlington, Ont., assistant coach 18U, Ontario Astros; Sam Turcotte, Toronto, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Terriers 17U; Paul Tyhurst, Hamilton, Ont., live-saving, paramedic; Jeremy Uylenbroek, Barrie, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Titans 16U, Jackson VanBakel, Dorchester, Ont., assistant coach, London Badgers 15U; Matt Van Geene, Barrie, Ont., head coach, Lake Simcoe Nationals 17U; 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 16; Pat Visca, Toronto, Ont., hitting coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Flavio Volpe, Toronto, Ont., head coach, Toronto Cubs 17-18U; Jimmy Walerowich, Clarington, Ont., assistant coach 14U, Ontario Astros; Brent Wales, London, Ont., third base and pitching coach, London Majors; Jim Walker, Barrie, Ont., recruiting coordinator, Ontario Astros; Libby Walker, board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Matt Walker, Lakeshore, Ont., assistant coach, Tecumseh Thunder 22U; Chris Walters, Whitby, Ont., pitching coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Hugh Walters, Bowmanville, Ont., head coach, Toronto Mets 16U.

Toronto Mets coach Duncan Watt

Duncan Watt, Pickering, Ont., head coach, Toronto Mets 16U; Dr. Neil Webber, Calgary, Alta., Webber Academy Athletic Park; Chance Wheatley, Bawlf, Alta., junior varsity coach, Prairie Baseball Academy; Dakota Wheatley, Bawlf, Alta., assistant coach, Bulldogs Academy; Andrew White, Barrie, Ont., bench coach and third base coach, Barrie Baycats; Steve White, Georgetown, Ont., assistant coach, Oakville Hammers; Bryce Wilkie, Kelowna BC, coach Okanagan A’s 18U and 15U; Cam Williams, Coquitlam, BC, hitting/infield coach 18U, Canadian Pro Baseball Academy; Greg Williams, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, Baseball Canada Coach Developer award winner; J.D. Williams, Brampton, Ont., infield coach, Ontario Blue Jays; Kurtis Windrow, North Bay, Ont., Sudbury Voyageurs assistant coach 18U; Corey Wood, Campbell River, BC, coach Okanagan A’s 15U.

Chris Willins, Brampton, Ont., assistant and catching coach, Ontario Terriers 17U; Geoff Whent, Whitby, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 1uu, Pete Wiebe, Bayham, Ont., assistant coach, London Badgers 18U; Mitch Wilbur, Oshawa, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 16U, Chris Willins, Brampton, Ont., catching coach, Ontario Terriers 16U, Kurtis Windrow, North Bay, Ont., assistant coach, Sudbury Voyageurs 16U, Doug Wong, Surrey, BC, head coach, Coquitlam Reds Jrs., Keenan Wong, Surrey, BC, assistant coach, Coquitlam Reds; Larry Wood, Hamilton, Ont., assistant general manager, Hamilton Cardinals; Cecil Wright, Halifax, NS, board of directors, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

Chris Wright, Grimsby, Ont., assistant coach, Bullettproof Elite 15U; Brenden Yip, Surrey, BC, assistant coach, Coquitlam Reds; BJ York, Waterloo, Ont., assistant coach, Ontario Nationals 14U; Dave Young, Bowmanville, Ont., assistant coach, Toronto Mets 15U; Ryan Zimmer, London, Ont., roving instructor, Great Lake Canadians, Jack Zimmerman, Tecumseh, Ont., coach Windsor 17U; Jack Zinck, Bridgewater, NS, pitching coach, Badlands Academy.

Elliott 2021 most influentials: Anthopoulos, Walker and Honourable Mentions