Posts in Canadians in the Minors
McFarland: Canadian Tofteland getting ready for Banana Ball

“It might be a while before “Dancin’ Dane” Tofteland is a nickname that sticks.

But don’t be surprised to see the Albertan from just outside Grande Prairie bust a move or two when he suits up in the brand new Banana Ball circuit next summer.

Selected in the seventh round of the league’s inaugural draft by the Loco Beach Coconuts, Tofteland is coming off a successful collegiate career at Indiana State University and a three-year run in the Pioneer League.”

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Elliott: Halos' Bremner signing shakes up $ix-figure li$t, top 3 Canuck spenders: Orioles, Angels, Padres

David Calabrese no longer stands alone.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected the former Ontario Blue Jays OF Calabrese (Maple, Ont.) in the third round of the 2020 draft and gave him a signing bonus of $744,200.

For as long as we have been tracking six-figure signing bonuses given to Canadians, Calabrese was the only Canuck the Angels had deemed worthy of a $100,000 or more bonus.

So, the Angels sat 27th of 30 teams in giving out cold, hard cash -- or giant-sized checks -- to Canucks. That all changed in July. The Angels drafted RHP Tyler Bremner second overall in North America from the Santa Barbara Gauchos and gave him a $7,689,525 bonus.

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Shushkewich: Reds’ Pote focused on things he can control in his pro career

Right-hander Owen Pote (Sherwood Park, Alta.) started his professional career this year when he was signed by the Cincinnati Reds. He is the son of former major league pitcher and Okotoks Dawgs interim manager Lou Pote. Canadian Baseball Network writer Tyson Shushkewich recently caught up with the younger Pote to talk about his first year in the pro ranks.

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McFarland: Logan came up "Aces" in the D-Backs' system in 2025

“A baseball player’s mind can ask a million different questions when they are summoned to the manager’s office.

Is this just a standard check-in? Am I performing well enough? Do I need to make some changes? Am I getting promoted? Am I getting let go?

When Gavin Logan was called in for a chat with Hillsboro Hops skipper Mark Reed in mid-June, he wasn’t entirely sure what to think.”

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McFarland: Hawkins caps outstanding comeback season with Padres’ top minor league pitcher honour

“When Garrett Hawkins toed the rubber at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne for the first time in 2025, it felt surreal.

Facing the Lansing Lugnuts on April 4, he induced a ground out from Sahid Valenzuela, struck out Rodney Green, Jr., and got another ground out from Tommy White.

It was almost as if the Biggar, Saskatchewan native had never left, even though he had last appeared in a TinCaps uniform almost 23 months earlier before undergoing Tommy John surgery.”

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