January 31, 2022

By George Farelli and Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Neither of us have anything against the MacLeod family.

Honest.

We swear on a 6-foot-4 stack of old Baseball America issues.

First Elliott …

Kevin MacLeod emailed me Nov. 10, 2012 asking why he was not listed on our 1987 Canadians drafted list? We did not know he was a Canadian. Baseball-reference did not list a place of birth.

Kevin said he was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia. And Kevin checked out -- he pitched for the University of Toledo Rockets and was selected in the 10th round by the Oakland A’s.

Starting in 1987 Kevin pitched 81 games during his four seasons in the minors (16-13, 3.62, with three saves) with the class-A Madison Muskies, class-A Medford A’s, class-A Southern Oregon A’s, class-A Modesto A’s, class-A Hamilton Redbirds and the double-A Huntsville Stars

We added Kevin to our 1987 draft list and to our Canadians in the Minors lists for the four years he was in the A’s system. Before the 1991 season, Canadians were difficult to track since only Canadians attending U.S. schools were eligible for the draft. Canadian high schoolers could be signed as it was in the old days: first come, first serve. Best offer wins.

In fact, the only other Canadian drafted in 1987 was RHP Mike Gardiner (Sarnia, Ont.), selected in the 18th round by the Seattle Mariners from Indiana State University.

While Kevin was not listed anywhere, we found as being a Canadian it was still embarrassing ... but that was nine years and two months ago. That was the last time we heard from Kevin since.

LHP Christian MacLeod

And then George sent me a note this week ...

Farelli wrote ...

As you’re aware, my inventory of Canadians who have played pro ball includes what I call “dual status Canadians” (those individuals not actually born here, but who have a confirmed and strong connection to this country). Like Freddie Freeman or Jameson Taillon, whose parents were born in Canada, which makes them eligible for the World Baseball Classic.

With that in mind, thought you might be interested in a new find I discovered earlier today. If it’s appropriate, you may wish to add him in your Canadian Baseball Network coverage

Name: Christian MacLeod

Born: Huntsville, Ala.

Drafted: 2021 by Minnesota Twins in Fifth Round

Signed: Assigned to FCL Twins – Florida Complex League

Background: His Father Kevin MacLeod was born in Sydney, NS and was drafted by Oakland A’s in the 10th round of the draft, and played in the minors for four seasons.

My profiles for both father and son. Interesting to note that Christian MacLeod’s signing bonus from the Twins was $500,000 -- the same amount his 2021 Mississippi State Bulldogs teammate and fellow Canadian Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) also a fifth round pick, received from the Kansas City Royals.

Kevin Ross MacLeod

Bats: Left, Throws: Left

Height: 6’ 3”, Weight: 195 lb. Pitcher

Born: August 29, 1965 in Sydney, Nova Scotia

Hometown: Huntsville, Ala.

Drafted by: Oakland Athletics in 10th Round of the 1987 MLB Amateur Draft

Teams Played For

Year Age Team League Level Affil GP W-L SV ERA ER IP H BB SO

1987 21 Madison Muskies Midwest A OAK 10 1-3 - 4.89 23 42.1 41 42 39

1987 21 Medford A’s Northwest A OAK 1 1-0 - 3.38 1 2.2 2 3 7

1988 22 Southern Oregon A’s Northwest A OAK 15 9-1 - 2.89 27 84.0 52 43 99

1989 23 Modesto A’s California A OAK 9 0-3 - 5.75 23 36.0 31 38 32 46

1989 23 Madison Muskies Midwest A OAK 11 4-3 - 3.49 22 56.2 44 35 37

1990 24 Hamilton Redbirds New York-Penn A STL 29 1-1 3 1.47 7 43.0 24 27 44

1990 24 Huntsville Stars Southern AA OAK 6 0-2 - 5.14 12 21.0 27 12 11 9

Minor League Totals (4 Years ) 81 16-13 3 3.62 115 285.2 221 196 279

Christian Ferguson MacLeod

Bats: Left, Throws: Left

Height: 6’ 4”, Weight: 225 lb. Pitcher

Born: April 12, 2000 in Huntsville, Ala.

Hometown: Sydney, Nova Scotia

Drafted by Minnesota Twins in Fifth Round of the 2021 draft

In 2021 he was a member of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, winners of NCAA College World Series

Teams Played For

Year Age Team League Level Affil GP W-L SV ERA ER IP H BB SO

2021 21 FCL Twins Florida Complex Rkie MIN 1 - - - 0.00 - 1.2 1 2 5

Elliott wrote ...

Christian was added to our totals changing our numbers to bring the final numbers from 2021 to ...

_ The 18th player selected in July’s 20-round draft and he was added to our draft page

_ He was the sixth Canadian selected -- 20 picks ahead of RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) in the fifth round from Mississippi State by the Kansas City Royals and 61 spot ahead of OF Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) chosen in the seventh round by the Milwaukee Brewers from Southern Illinois.

_ He became the 13th Canadian to sign a six-figure deal.

_ And we added Christian to the 2021 Canadians in the minors page.

We’re sorry we missed you Kevin and Christian.