Kellogg signs with Cubs, $ix-figure Canuck $igns

LHP Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.) a fifth-round choice of the Chicago Cubs and an Ontario Prospects grad, was given a $376,600 US signing bonus.

By Bob Elliott

While the big dawgs haven’t signed yet, one Ontario player signed on the dotted line for a sizeable amount and is headed to camp.

Whitby lefty Ryan Kellogg, an Ontario Prospects grad, has signed with the Chicago Cubs. A fifth-round choice from the Arizona State Sun Devils, Kellogg was chosen 143rd over-all. He signed for the assigned slot signing bonus of $376,700 US.

Mississauga first baseman Josh Naylor, who went 12th over all in North America to the Miami Marlins, and Calgary right-hander Mike Soroka, 28th over-all to the Atlanta Braves, remain unsigned. High school signs are expected to move slowly this year.

Last summer the Houston Astros failed to sign their No. 1 pick Brady Aiken and when they did lost the monies available to sign two other players. So basically they lost three players.

Kellogg’s bonus is the 20th highest in Canadian history (although that is a moving target if Naylor and Soroka sign) and is the seventh highest for an Ontario player. 

After pitching for Rich and Rob Butler’s Prospects team and Greg Hamilton’s Canadian Junior National Team, Kellogg earned a scholarship to ASU. 

And he impressed since Day 1, after being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 12th round in 2012. He went 28-6 with a 3.50 ERA with 11 wins over ranked opponents in his three seasons.

Of all the Canuck college pitchers in NCAA since 2000 only Windsor’s Steve Carter (42-12, 3.74 at Coastal Carolina) and Shane Davis of Belmont, Ont. (35-12, 4.18, at Canisius) had more wins and they pitched for four seasons. 

Welland’s Rob Nixon (28-9, 2.61, Adelphi) has as many victories as Kellogg.

Mississauga catcher Owen Spiwak was given a $100,000 signing bonus by the Toronto Blue Jays. The Ontario Blue Jays grad was selected from Odessa College in the 10th round.

Former Toronto Mets infielder Connor Panas, a Toronto draft, chosen in the ninth round from Canisius, signed as did his Canisius teammate right-hander Devon Stewart of Maple Ridge, B.C. a ninth-rounder by the Cleveland Indians.

Ontario Terriers draft Mattingly Romanin of Chicago State signed with Toronto as well. 

Six-figure signing bonuses handed out to Canadian high school or college players in the annual June draft:

Year Round Team Position  Name  Home Town  School/Team Signing Bonus

Year    Round    Team    Position    Name     Home Town     School/Team    Bonus
2010 1 Pirates RHP Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, Tex., The Woodlands HS, $6.5 Million
2002 1 Orioles LHP Adam Loewen, Surrey, BC, Chipola College, $3.2 Million
2014 2 Mariners OF Gareth Morgan, North York, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays/Canadian National Jr Team $2 Million
2007 1 Mariners RHP Phillippe Aumont, Gatineau, Que. ABC/Canadian National Jr Team $1.9 Million
2002 1 Rockies LHP Jeff Francis, North Delta, BC, University of British Columbia, $1.85 Million

2008 1 Brewers C  Brett Lawrie, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze/Canadian National Jr Team $1.7 Million
2000 1 Braves INF Scott Thorman, Cambridge, Ont. Team Ontario/Canadian National Jr Team $1.125 Million
2010 1 Rangers C Kellin Deglan, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze/Canadian National Jr Team $1 Million
1997 1 Padres SS Kevin Nicholson, Surrey, BC, Stetson College, $830,000
2013 3 Mariners OF Tyler O’Neill, Maple Ridge, BC, Langley Blaze, $650,000 

2002 2 Reds INF Joey Votto, Etobicoke, Ont., Etobicoke Rangers $600,000
2007 1 Reds RHP Kyle Lotzkar Tsawwassen, BC  Langley Blaze/Canadian National Junior Team $594,000
1997 1 Orioles OF Ntema Ndungidi, Montreal, Que., Academie Baseball Canada, $500,000
2010 16 Yankees LHP Evan Rutckyj, Windsor, Ont. Windsor Selects/Detroit Jet Box $500,000
2007 1 Blue Jays RHP Trystan Magnuson, Vancouver, BC, University of Louisville $462,500

2005 3 Indians OF Nick Weglarz, Stevensville, Ont., Team Ontario/Canadian National Junior Team $435,000
2006 4 Dodgers INF Kyle Orr, Victoria B.C., Victoria Mariners $435,000
1996 2 Red Sox RHP Chris Reitsma, Calgary, Alta., Calgary Rockies $425,000
2005 3 Tigers C Chris Robinson, Dorchester, Ont., University of Illinois $422,500
2015 5 Cubs LHP Ryan Kellogg, Whitby, Ont., Arizona State $376,700

1997 1 White Sox RHP Aaron Myette, Surrey, BC, Central Arizona Community College $375,000
2001 3 Braves OF Adam Stern, London, Ont., University of Nebraska $348,000
2007 3 Rockies C Lars Davis, Grande Prairie, Alta., University of Illinois $337,000
2011 4 Blue Jays RHP Tom Robson, Ladner, BC, Langley Blaze, $325,000 
2009 6 Phillies RHP Steven Inch, Edmonton, Alta. Vauxhall Academy/Canadian National Junior Team $300,000

2004 7 Reds LHP Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette, St. Laurent, Que. Academie Baseball Canada/Canadian National Junior Team $300,000
2002 20 Padres C George Kottaras, Markham, Ont., Connors State College $300,000
1994 32 Mariners LHP Jordan Zimmerman, Carsland, Alta., Blinn Jr. College $300,000
1999 3 Twins C Justin Morneau, New Westminister, BC, North Delta Blue Jays $295,000
2013 5 Orioles LHP Travis Seabrooke North Monaghan, Ont. Ontario Terriers $291,800 

2013 10 Cardinals SS Malik Collymore, Mississauga, Ont. Ontario Blue Jays, $275,000 
2010 3 Blue Jays OF  Marcus Knecht, North York, Ont., Connors State College $250,000
2014 6 Astros, RHP Brock Dykxhoorn, Goderich, Ont., Central Arizona College $250,000 US
2004 16 Brewers RHP Alexandre Periard, St-Eustache, Que. ABC/Canadian National Junior Team $243,000
2003 4 Braves 3B Jamie Romak, London, Ont., London Badgers $240,000

2004 11 Mariners OF Mike Saunders, Victoria, BC, Victoria Mariners/Tallahassee College $237,500
2010 4 Padres INF Chris Bisson Orleans, Ont. University of Kentucky $234,000
2007 4 Royals RHP Mitch Hodge Vancouver, BC, White Rock Titons/Canadian National Junior Team $225,000
1995 3 Rangers RHP Ryan Dempster, Gibsons, BC North Shore Twins $200,000
2004 5 Rangers C Mike Nickeas, Vancouver, BC, Georgia Tech University $200,000

2007 6 Reds RHP Evan Hildebrandt, Abbotsford, BC, Abbotsford Cardinals/Canadian National Junior Team $200,000
2007 16 Mariners RHP Colin Buckborough, Niagara Falls, Ont., Bullett Proof Prospects/Canadian National Junior Team $200,000
2001 5 Brewers RHP Judd Richardson, Caledon, Ont., U of Miami Ohio $185,000
1996 3 Blue Jays RHP Yan Lachapelle, Gatineau, Que., ABC $185,000
1993 2 Brewers SS Danny Klassen, Leamington, Ont., Port St. Lucie, Fla. HS $180,000

2010 7 Brewers RHP Joel Pierce, Windsor, Ont. $175,000
2001 5 Mariners 2B John Cole, Kanata, Ont., University of Nebraska $170,000
2003 5 Yankees RHP Cory Stuart, White Rock, BC, University of British Columbia $170,000
2001 5 Dodgers RHP Steve Nelson, Cole Harbour, N.S., Dartmouth Mooseheads $165,000
2005 7 Marlins RHP Chris Leroux, Mississauaga, Ont., Winthrop University $152,000

1997 2 Indians RHP Robbie Vael, Surrey, BC, Eastern Utah $150,000
2011 8 Brewers C Dustin Houle, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze//Canadian National Junior Team $150,000 
2011 11 Reds RHP Vaughn Covington, Vancouver, BC, Vancouver Cannons/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000
2010 10 Astros LHP Evan Grills  Whitby, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000
2009 15 Dodgers 3B Jeff Hunt, Cambridge, Ont., Intercounty Terriers/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000

2008 16 Jays OF Mike Crouse, Port Moody, B.C. North Shore Twins/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000
2010 16 Jays OF Dalton Pompey, Mississauga, Ont., Oakville Royals/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000
2010 32 Rangers RHP Steve McKinnon  Duncan, BC, Nanaimo Pirates/Canadian National Junior Team $150,000
2009 5 Cubs SS Wes Darvill, Langley, B.C. Langley Blaze/Canadian National Junior Team $144,200
2012 7 Brewers LHP David Otterman, Vancouver, BC, UBC $141,700 

2008 11 Rays RHP Brad Furdal  Ancaster, Ont., Intercounty Terriers/Canadian Junior Team $140,000
1995 24 Blue Jays LHP Mark Curtis, St. Albert, Alta., Penscaola Jr. College $135,000
2008 16 Reds OF Carter Morrison, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze/Canadian National Junior Team $132,000
2006 7 Twins 1B Jonathan Walterbury, Whitby, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays $128,500
2009 8 Brewers OF Chad Stang, Surrey, B.C. Midland College  $125,000

2003 48 Mets SS Jonathan Malo, St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que., Northeastern Oklahoma A&M $125,000
2001 6 Blue Jays SS Lee Delfino, Pickering Ont., East Carolina University $122,500
2006 7 Blue Jays OF Jonathan Baksh, Mississauga Ont., Florida Tech University $122,500
2007 6 Mets RHP Guillaume Leduc, Boucherville, Que., ABC $120,000
2003 40 Twins RHP Adam Hawes, Victoria Harbour, Ont., Connors State Jr. College $118,000

1993 2 Expos RHP Martin Mainville, Montreal, Que., ABC $115,000
2000 6 Expos RHP Shawn Hill, Georgetown, Ont., Team Ontario $115,000
2011 15 Cubs C Justin Marra, Toronto, Ont. Ontario Blue Jays $110,000 
2004 7 Brewers RHP Craig Langille, Bedford, NS, Dartmouth Juniors $107,000
2003 4 Giants RHP Brooks McNiven, Vernon, BC, University of British Columbia $105,000

2012 6 Pirates 3B Pirates Eric Wood, Pickering, Ont. Blinn College $100,000 
2015 10 Blue Jays C Owen Spiwak, Mississauga, Ont. Odessa College $100,000
2013 13 Mariners 3B Lachlan Fontaine, North Vancouver, BC North Shore Twins $100,000 
2012 15 Yankees RHP Dayton Dawe, London, Ont., Ontario Terriers/Canadian National Junior Team  $100,000 
2008 16 Brewers RHP Stosh Wawrzasek, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze/Canadian National Junior Team $100,000

2011 26 Blue Jays SS Justin Atkinson, North Surrey BC, Langley Blaze/Canadian National Junior Team $100,000
2012 26 Blue Jays RHP Nathan DeSouza, Milton, Ont. Ontario Blue Jays//Canadian National Junior Team $100,000
2010 34 Reds SS Brandon Dailey, Brantford, Ont., Ontario Terriers/Canadian National Junior Team $100,000
2007 35 Pirates RHP Tom Boleska, Burlington, Ont., High Point University $100,000