Well before right-handed pitchers Micah Bucknam (Abbotsford, B.C.) and Cam Leiter (Maple Ridge, B.C.) became two of the top Canadians selected in the 2025 Major League Baseball draft, they could be found squaring off on the sandlots of British Columbia.
Read MoreRight-hander Brandon Langley started playing baseball in a small PEI town named New Glasgow. Today, he is pitching in the San Diego Padres’ organization. Canadian Baseball Network writer Melissa Verge shares Langley’s story.
Read More“The Kansas City Royals have continued to tap into the Canadian pipeline in recent years and Tyson Moran is the latest player to join the American League Central club.
A product of the Great Lake Canadians program, Moran (Wingham, Ont.) knew there was a chance he would hear his name called in this summer’s draft.”
Read More“When it was time for Tim Piasentin to step into the batting cage at Chase Field for the MLB Combine on June 18, the 18-year-old slugger was so nervous that he was almost shaking.
“I had to put a bunt down for my first pitch and I bunted it straight back and I’m like, ‘Oh, no, this isn’t going to go well,’” recalled Piasentin. “Then the first swing I took I caught a barrel, and it was 105 [mph] or something like that off the bat and I’m like, ‘OK, we’re good.’”
The Coquitlam, B.C. native was more than good that day.
He put on a show, smacking several home runs that registered exit velocities higher than 100 mph. That performance certainly helped his draft stock and the following month he was selected in the fifth round by the Toronto Blue Jays.”
Read More“Sean Duncan is the top Canadian heading into the 2026 draft of high schoolers and collegians.
Duncan has been on the radar for three seasons, but now it is his time ... we’re inside 11 months of his draft. Rated 26th overall by the highly-respected Baseball America, Duncan made his debut in front of scouts who are looking in “the now.”
LHP Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) was one of three Canadians evaluated at the Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. Duncan is listed 105th by Perfect Game Scouting Service, after earlier having him as high as 35.”
Read More“The ink was barely dry on the contracts of the draft class of 2025 when it was time to evaluate players for the 2026 draft.
Between 150 and 160 of the best high school players in the eastern United States and Canada were invited to Hoover, Alabama for four days for the 25th annual East Coast Pro Showcase.”
Read More“The University of Evansville has produced dozens of pro ball players, with Kyle Freeland, Andy Benes, former Toronto Blue Jays coach Sal Fasano and former Expos infielder Jamey Carroll being notable alumni.
This solid track record is one of the many reasons Toronto Mets right-hander Nick Halcovitch committed to the Purple Aces last month, deciding to take his talents to Indiana -- the home of Blue Jays coach Don Mattingly -- for the fall of 2026.”
Read MoreThere is a new name atop the list of Canadians on our all-time list of MLB draft signing bonuses.
In fact, five Canadians who signed last month now rank among the top 30 since we started tracking six-figure bonuses for Canucks.
Read More“It has been said that the game should be called perseverance.
Take Antoine Jean for example.
He didn’t have to battle a bad-hop single or a bad call on the black by the umpire.
Drafted in the 17th round in 2019 by the Minnesota Twins he turned down life-changing money for a high schooler attending Academy Baseball Canada. He said no to $495,000 US to pitch for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Initially he had committed verbally to Pitt.”
Read More“Sometimes when Ray Chadwick watches his son pitch he sees himself out there on the mound.
“I just shake my head when I watch him pitch,” said Ray, who toed the rubber for the California Angels in 1986. “It’s eerie how similar it is.”
Like his dad, Tyrelle Chadwick is a tall right-hander whose fastball can reach the high 90s.
And like his dad, he has had to work to control that pitch.
But thanks to his breakthrough junior season at Illinois State University this spring, Tyrelle, like his dad, will pitch professionally. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander was selected in the 18th round of the 2025 MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies.”
Read MoreBob Elliott: Was a successful draft for Canucks — thanks to high picks, college players and free-agent signs
Read MoreNorth Shore Twins LHP Shane Brinham (North Vancouver, BC) was a 20th round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in this year’s draft. But the young Canadian hurler has opted to attend the University of Michigan rather than turn pro. Canadian Baseball Network writer Tyson Shushkewich recently spoke with Brinham.
Read More“Will Hynes hopes that one day soon he’ll have the opportunity to throw a bullpen session to Bo Naylor.
That seems likely to happen given that the 6-foot-2 right-hander was selected 70th overall by the Cleveland Guardians in the 2025 MLB draft.
Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.), who like Naylor is an Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team grad, officially signed with the Guardians on Friday. “
Read More“The MLB draft wasn’t even on a 13-year-old Blake Gillespie’s radar.
Why would it be?
Baseball wasn’t part of his repertoire.
The young teen was busy dribbling a soccer ball around cones at the field, not coming set on the mound about to throw a zinger to the catcher.
But it was, unbeknownst to Gillespie, part of his future. The now 21-year-old, who didn’t pick up baseball until he was 14, was drafted in the ninth round by the New York Yankees on July 14. “
Read More“It was a full-circle moment for Ty Doucette when his name popped up on the Major League Draft board on Monday.
When he was selected in the 10th round, 294th overall, by the Cincinnati Reds, Ty and his father Darren became the first Nova Scotia family members to be taken in the baseball draft.”
Read MoreSeveral former Western Canadian Baseball League players were selected in the 2025 MLB draft. Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, has a summary.
Read MoreA year after spurning the Blue Jays, USC shortstop Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek has agreed to a $150,000 signing bonus with the New York Yankees, who selected him a few days ago in the 20th round of the MLB draft.
Read MoreTwo UBC players are set to begin their professional careers. Right-hander Ryan Heppner was selected in the 2025 MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves and slugger Jonny McGill will soon sign with the Los Angeles Angels.
Read MoreEight Junior National Team grads were selected on the second - and final - day of the MLB draft yesterday.
Read MoreABC alum and Arkansas Razorbacks outfielder Charles Davalan (St-Bruno-De-Montarville, Que.) was selected 41st overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the MLB draft on Sunday.
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