A's sign Siddall, Berube

By Bob Elliott

Power was the rarest commodity in this June’s draft.

(See the Miami Marlins scooping Mississauga’s Josh Naylor 12th over all in North America.)

Scout Matt Higginson saw power from outfielder Brett Siddall and made him the Oakland A’s 13th round selection.

“His power was much more noticeable this year,” Higginson said as Siddall bumped his home run total from three to 10 for coach Mike McRae’s Canisius Golden Griffs.

“Brett’s track record was three very good years at Canisius and it helped he had a good summer in the Northwoods League too,” said Higginson. Siddall hit .318 as a freshman, .333 last spring and .324 this year as well as being an all-star with the Lakeshore Chinooks in the Northwoods in the summer of 2014.   

Siddall, the son of Blue Jays broadcaster Joe Siddall, played his first game with the rookie-class Arizona League A’s in Phoenix going 0-for-1 with three walks.

Higginson also signed right-hander Marc-Andre Berube of Trois Pistoles, Que. drafted in the 28th round from the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and he also selected outfielder Eric Senior from the Toronto Mets in the 23rd round. Higginson is “hopeful” of signing Senior once high school classes end this week.   

An A’s scouting supervisor spotted Berube make one of his first starts after transferring from Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College. Higginson drove to see the Panthers face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in April at Pittsburgh.

“I saw Marc with the ABC in Montreal a few years ago and he was in the mid 80s, against Wake Forest I had him at 94,” said Higginson. “He competed with a good sinker and he could spin a breaking ball. He throws from a low slot, so he has a lot of sink There’s a lot more there for him.”

Berube gained the win working 6 1/3 innings allowing two runs on eight hits and four walks against Wake Forest. 

Outfielder Philip Diedrick of Ajax, a 29th round pick of the Washington Nationals has signed. The Ontario Blue Jays grad hit .291 with eight homers and 22 RBIs for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.