Glew, Elliott, 2025 Influentials: Rogers, Pivetta, Guerrero, Anthopoulos, Naylor
Edward Rogers holds up the American League championship trophy after the Blue Jays ousted the Seattle Mariners.
January 21, 2026
By Kevin Glew and Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
To the naked eye it looked -- for an instant -- as if the 2025 World Series champions were the Toronto Blue Jays.
With the bases loaded, the infield in, one out in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7, Daulton Varsho bounced to Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas as the sold-out crowd of 44,713 stood at the Rogers Centre.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, pinch-running for hobbled Bo Bichette, looked as if he was safe since the throw home caused catcher Will Smith’s right foot to come off the plate. Rojas’ throw was wide so Smith had to vacate. Did Smith get his right foot back in time, ahead of the sliding IKF?
Upstairs Tony Staffieri, CEO, Rogers Communications, turned to his right and hugged Edward Rogers, executive chair of the board of Rogers Communications. Then, someone pointed down below.
Rojas, 36, had a bad ankle after taking Kiki Hernandez’s on-the-run throw to double off Addison Barger ending Game 6. In fielding the ball, Rojas nearly lost his balance. Earlier in the game, he had his first hit in a month and in the top of the ninth, he hit a game-tying homer off Jeff Hoffman on a 3-2 pitch with Shohei Ohtani awaiting on deck.
IKF didn’t have a large lead (his 7.8 foot primary lead ranked 357th out of all 381 primary leads in the Series, according to Statcast -- brought to you by Google) for fear of being doubled off. Yet, the numbers showed Varsho had not hit one line drive to the third baseman all season. In fact, in Varsho’s 2,387 regular-season plate appearances over six years in the majors, there were seven instances of him “lining out” to the third baseman.
Some of the “line outs” included when the third baseman was shifted toward short, or the ball was a “looping soft liner” into shallow left. By strict definition, the number of balls hit that way was seven (four facing righthanders).
Smith left the plate to catch the throw and the replay room in New York adjudged plate ump Jordan Baker had the play called right: IKF was out. By about the width (length?) of a no-limit American Express credit card.
What would have happened had IFK had a better secondary lead (his 8.9 foot secondary ranked 366th of all 376 secondary leads in the Series)? That wasn’t enough. Not aggressive enough. Or had he been half a step quicker (his 28.2 feet sprint speed was 61st out of all 689 sprint speeds) in the Series? Or had he run through the plate rather than sliding? Or had Varsho bunted as he often does so well?
Edward Rogers (Toronto, Ont.). Photo:George Pimentel
Well, then there would have been zero need to go to the replay room. The Blue Jays would have won their first World Series since 1993.
And Staffieri’s hug of Edward Rogers would have lasted a lot longer into a champagne-popping night.
There is no need to go to the replay to decide the No. 1 most influential Canadian in baseball for 2025, our 19th annual poll.
Blue Jays first baseman Vlad Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) hit line drives and had more postseason hits than anyone but teammate Ernie Clement. Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) had 20 homers, drove in 92 runs and stole 30 bases for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Seattle Mariners. And Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) finished sixth in National League Cy Young award voting.
In a good year for Canadians, Edward Rogers is the most influential man in Canadian baseball. As an owner, he would never be mistaken for George Steinbrenner storming into the clubhouse to berate a reliever who blew a save or a hitter who struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth or rip his players in the tabloids.
The first pro player we know of Edward Rogers meeting was free-agent Ohtani in Dunedin in December of 2023, who signed with the Dodgers. A year later, Edward met in Newport Beach with free-agent Juan Soto, who signed with the New York Mets. And the first Blue Jay player he had contract talks -- or contact with -- was Guerrero, locking up the first baseman to a long-term contract (a 14-year $500,000,000 deal).
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This is the second time you have seen a double byline on our annual most influential list. Why? Because I don’t type as fast as years ago. So, Kevin Glew helped with our top 100. Of course, adding Kevin to the byline removes him from the list (after he was 81st in 2023). I am to blame for the order in which they are ranked, not Kevin. - Elliott.
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Most regard Game 7 as one that got away -- one that will haunt Jays fans until they win again like Red Sox fans reliving their pain -- but for me Game 3’s 18-inning loss was worse. George Springer (right side discomfort), Bo Bichette, Alejandro Kirk and Addison Barger (a combined 6-for-15, .400) were lifted for Ty France, Davis Schneider, Tyler Heineman, Myles Straw and IKF (2-for-15, .133) respectively.
Outside of Springer, the moves were strategic. The lineup the Jays finished with looked like the travel list for a night game in Fort Myers. The regulars and back-ups went 2-for-12 (.167) with men in scoring position.
Now, that was one that really got away.
The World Series was billed as a David vs. Goliath meeting. Yet, while the Dodgers had a payroll of $350,024,106, the Blue Jays were fifth in at $255,230,406 ... $94,793,700 behind LA, according to Sportico. The Mets, who did not make the playoffs, spent the second most ($342,303,011), the New York Yankees, whom the Jays eliminated were third ($304,091,683) and the Philadelphia Phillies were fourth ($293,240,191).
After the World Series ended Edward’s men -- president Mark Shapiro, GM Ross Atkins and Staffieri -- came out guns and checkbooks blazing, signing free agents:
_ RHP Dylan Cease, the former San Diego Padre, to a seven-year $210-million deal.
_ INF Kazuma Okamoto, who has hit 277 homers in his 10-plus seasons with the Yomiuri Giants to a four-year, $60-million contract.
_ RP Tyler Rogers, the former Giant to a three-year, $37-million deal.
_ The Korean League’s MVP Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million contract.
A total commitment of $337 million. Wowser.
The Jays paid $13.6 million in luxury tax -- that’s how much of a spender they were. The Dodgers paid a record $169.4 million, the Mets had the second-highest tax assessment at $91.6 million. Next came the Yankees at $61.8 million and the Phillies at $56.1 million,
For the 2026 season, the Blue Jays have committed $312,390,459, according to Sportrac and will pay an expected tax of $30,323,791.
In the early days of the Rogers Communications ownership, it was real easy to knock management for not spending. They were 10th in payroll in 2015, 18th in 2012 and 22nd in 2011. There were years when the Blue Jays would say that it was “tough to compete” since Toronto was a small market. HA! Then, it was small-revenue. HA!
And knock we did. Three times we were banned from Bob McCown’s Prime Time Sports -- not by McCown. We had been saying “Hello Robert,” to McCown since the days when the station was known at CJCL becoming The Fan in 2011.
One banishment was for writing that Keith Pelley asked in a meeting at the Rogers Centre, “Why are you guys always talking about a relief pitcher, what’s a relief pitcher?” Another we were told was orchestrated by Scott Moore for knocking the way the Jays mishandled keeping Alex Anthopoulos and ... ah the third time? Well, we never knew why. All deserved.
It was their station they could have whatever guests they wanted. I was OK losing out on the $75 per appearance.
Edward Rogers could be listed as the most influential on a number lists for other sports. Besides owning 100% of the Blue Jays, valued at $2.39 billion, he owns 75% of the Toronto Raptors ($5.22 billion), the Toronto Maple Leafs ($4.25 billion) and Toronto FC ($723 million). Forbes Magazine ranks the Jays worth at $2.15 billion.
Edward has achieved his father Ted Rogers’ dream of a sporting empire ... well, all except buying the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and bringing them to town.
Victoria Eagles grad RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) of the Padres.
2. Nick Pivetta, Padres (21)
After signing a four-year contract with the Padres in February, RHP Pivetta (Victoria, BC) proceeded to lead all Canadian big-league pitchers in wins (13), starts (31), innings pitched (181 2/3), strikeouts (190) and WAR (5.3). His WAR was the highest of any Canuck in 2025.
The 6-foot-5 right-hander was also third among National League pitchers in opponents’ batting average (.195) and hits per innings pitched (6.39), fourth in quality starts (19) and sixth in ERA (2.87). His regular season performance earned him the start in the first game of the Padres’ Wild-Card series against the Cubs. In that start, he allowed two runs on three hits in five innings and struck out nine batters, which tied a single-game Canadian postseason record (set by James Paxton (Ladner, BC) with the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the 2019 ALCS).
For his efforts, Pivetta finished sixth in the National League Cy Young Award voting. It seems unlikely Pivetta will pitch for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. When Greg Hamilton was asked about Pivetta’s participation in December, he said it was a possibility but a remote one.
Vlad Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) had a postseason to remember for the Blue Jays.
3. Vladimir Guerrero, Blue Jays (5)
If there was any doubt that Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) would be able to elevate his game in the postseason, it was erased in October. The Blue Jays slugger finished the postseason with 1.289 OPS, which is the highest OPS in postseason history. His eight home runs eclipsed Jose Bautista and Joe Carter for most in franchise history. And his other playoff numbers were downright Ruthian. In 18 games, he batted .397 with 29 hits, 15 RBIs and a .795 slugging percentage. For his efforts, he was named MVP of the ALCS and he led the Blue Jays to within one win of a championship.
Yet, his historic playoff performance came on the heels of an underwhelming regular season. Sure, Guerrero was selected to the All-Star Game and topped Canadian-born major leaguers in home runs (23), on-base percentage (.381), OPS (.848), hits (172), runs (96), doubles (34) and walks (81) in 2025, but Blue Jays fans expected more after he signed a 14-year, $500-million contract - the most lucrative deal in franchise history - in April.
It’s easy to forget that Guerrero is still only 26. He has seven big league seasons under his belt and remains in his prime. And he now knows what it takes to win in the postseason. Expectations for Guerrero and the Blue Jays will be sky-high in 2026. Anything short of a World Series title will be a disappointment.
Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.)
4. Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) GM, Atlanta Braves (4).
In 2024, the Braves won 89 games. In 2025, they managed 76 wins -- their first losing season since 2017 (72-90), ending a string of postseason runs. Injuries hurt for sure ... they used 71 different players, which was a major league record (27 position players and 46 different pitchers). They finished 20 games behind the first-place Phillies and three back of the Marlins.
Pitchers Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Aaron Bummer and Daysbel Hernandez are spent time on the injured list.
C Drake Baldwin took over from C Sean Murphy and won NL Rookie of the Year. CF Ronald Acuña (started 81 games), LF Jurickson Profar (78) and Murphy (61) all played less than 100 games. 3B Austin Riley barely made 100 starts. The Braves were seventh in runs scored (724), tied for ninth with St. Louis in team batting (.245) and 11th in team ERA (4.36).
Ontario Blue Jays grad Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) excelled with the Seattle Mariners in the second half of 2025.
5. 1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) Arizona Diamondbacks/Seattle Mariners (1)
When the Cleveland Guardians dealt Naylor to the Diamondbacks on Dec. 21, 2024, a Cleveland executive said, “We didn’t want to deal him, but at least we traded him to a team that will sign him at the end of 2025.” The D-Backs had signed free agent Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $210-million deal and were considered to be pre-season contenders. Burnes made 11 starts before being sidelined with Tommy John surgery and will miss all of 2026.
On July 24, 2025, Naylor awoke as a member of the D-Backs, two games above .500 and 8 1/2 games behind the Dodgers. Later that day, he was dealt to Seattle. With the Mariners he risked injury ... stealing 30 bases. “No one is going to sign him to steal bases,” people said, “they want him to hit the ball into the upper deck.” Well, the M’s signed him to a five-year, $92.5 million contract in November.
Naylor hit a game-tying and go-ahead three-run double against the Colorado Rockies for a 4-3 win to clinch a playoff berth for the Mariners. He became the 15th first baseman (done 19 times) in big-league history with 20 homers and 20 or more steals in a season and the first to have 10 or more stolen bases and four or more home runs over his first 15 games with any franchise.
On the season, splitting time with the D-Backs and the M’s, he played 147 games and had 20 home runs, 92 RBIs and an .815 OPS. He ranked in the top 20 in lowest strikeout rate among qualified batters. He went 30-for-32 in attempting to steal bases despite having a sprint speed quicker than only Alejandro Kirk of the Jays. For his efforts, he will be honoured with his second Tip O’Neill award by the Canadian Hall of Fame in St. Marys.
Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (Corunna, Ont.). Photo: Philadelphia Phillies.
6. Rob Thomson, manager, Phillies (6)
Thomson will be back for his fifth season as manager of the Phillies in 2026. That wasn’t a certainty after the Dodgers ousted the Phillies in four games in the NLDS in October. But in early December, Thomson received a one-year extension from the Phillies that runs through the 2027 campaign. Philadelphia is a notoriously tough sports town where fans can be brutal. But when you look at Thomson’s track record, it would be hard to justify firing him. The 62-year-old Canadian guided the Phillies to a 96-66 record and a National League East title in 2025 and finished third in the NL Manager of the Year voting.
And since taking over as Phillies manager on June 4, 2022, Thomson has led the club to four straight postseason appearances. The only other major league manager to guide a club to the playoffs in their first four seasons is Dodgers’ dugout boss Dave Roberts (2015 to 2018). Also, Thomson’s .580 winning percentage as Phillies manager is the best in franchise history among skippers who have managed at least 150 games for them. Before joining the Phillies as their bench coach in December 2017, Thomson (Corunna, Ont.) spent 28 years as a coach in the New York Yankees’ organization from 1990 to 2017, earning five World Series rings.
Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Freddie Freeman played for Canada at the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classics. Photo: Baseball Canada
7. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (1A)
Freeman remains a beloved slugger in Canada, even though he belted a walk-off home run against the Blue Jays in the 18th inning of Game 3 of the World Series and was snubbed by the children in a hilarious Sick Kids Hospital Foundation ad produced by Canadian movie star Ryan Reynolds that went viral in December.
That home run was one of Freeman’s six hits for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Fall Classic, which helped them to their second consecutive championship. It was the veteran slugger’s third championship overall (He also won with the Braves in 2021), but this one was special because four of the games were played in Toronto.
“I lost my mom when I was 10, and you come to the place where she was born and raised and grew up and was around a lot in Toronto, you just feel a little closer to her,” Freeman said during Series Media Day at Rogers Centre. “I think that’s why coming back here is so special for me. It makes me feel like I’m closer to my mom.”
Freeman’s mother Rosemary grew up in Peterborough and moved to Windsor, Ont. She died from melanoma, a form of skin cancer, at the unfair age of 47. His father, Fred, is from Windsor. Freeman has played for Canada at the last two World Baseball Classics to honour his mother, but he will not play this March due to personal reasons. The 36-year-old Freeman has two years left on the six-year, $162-million contract he signed with the Dodgers prior to the 2022 season. In 2025, he batted .295 with 24 home runs and 90 RBIs in 147 games. Those numbers were added to an already Hall of Fame worthy resume.
Freeman leads all active major leaguers in hits (2,431), runs (1,379), doubles (547), RBIs (1,322) extra-base hits (947) and total bases (4,145).
Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri. Photo: Rogers Communications
8. Tony Staffieri, CEO, Rogers Communications (22)
Along with Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro, Staffieri was heavily involved in locking up Guerrero to a 14-year $500-million contract extension. Whereas the great Phil Lind was Ted Rogers’ right-hand man, Staffieri serves the same role for Edward Rogers.
The right hand earned $14.09 million (10.5% salary and 89.5% bonuses, including owning .001% of the company’s shares, worth $104,340), according to Simply Wall Street. In other words he earns less than INF Andrés Giménez ($15.57 million) and more than RP Jeff Hoffman ($12.67 million).
During the company’s recent third-quarter earnings call, Staffieri said, “We are in the early stages of transforming our sports and entertainment business into one of the best sports businesses globally. This is our third pillar of growth beyond wireless and cable and will be meaningful to Rogers over time.”
The Blue Jays certainly did not go down in value after the 2025 season. They drew 3,296,559 fans over 91 home dates -- including postseason play (for an average of 36,226 per home date). It’s the most since 2015 when the Jays drew 3,392,099 (41,878) to Rogers Centre. It should be pointed out that renovations cut down seating capacity.
Player agent Dan Vertlieb (Vancouver, BC). Photo: Wasserman Group
9. Dan Vertlieb Wasserman Group (-).
Over the years, a Canadian agent has never had two first-rounders -- with Canadian passports -- in the same draft year, but in July 2025 that changed. Vertlieb (Vancouver, BC), who represents Mariners RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) and LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster, had a pair of first-rounders.
The Angels took RHP Tyler Bremner as the second overall pick in North America from the University of Santa Barbara Gauchos and gave him a $7,689,525 signing bonus. Bremner’s father, Jason, grew up in Mississauga and his late mother in Queensville, near Newmarket. The Orioles selected OF Slater de Brun, a high schooler from Bend, Ore., 37th overall. His mother has Canadian citizenship and was hired for her first job after McGill University by Gord Ash’s wife Susan at TSN. In December of 2025, the Orioles included de Brun in a package to the Rays for RHP Shane Baz.
Other drafted players Vertlieb had were LHP Ben Jacobs, a third rounder given a $722,500 bonus by the Tigers and 12th rounder LHP Nelson Keljo, who received a $325,100 bonus from the Guardians.
Vertlieb also represents Adley Rutschman, who went first overall in 2019 to the Orioles, Tyler Wells, Orioles; RHP Ryne Nelson Diamondbacks; RP Mitch Spence, A’s and Tony Gonsolin, a Dodgers free agent.
Hall of Famers Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) and Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.). Photo: Baseball Canada
10. Fergie Jenkins, Larry Walker, Hall of Famers (7)
Canada’s two National Baseball Hall of Famers reunited in St. Marys, Ont., on June 7 at the Canadian Hall of Fame induction ceremony. It was the first time both of them – who are, of course, also Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees – have been in St. Marys together since 2009. They partnered up on stage to present national teams head coach Greg Hamilton with his inductee blazer.
Jenkins turned 83 on Dec. 13 but you wouldn’t know it by looking at him or by his busy schedule. The baseball legend served as a guest coach at Cubs’ spring training and then after participating in Opening Day ceremonies at Wrigley, he returned to Philadelphia, where he started his major league career, to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Jackie Robinson Day. He also made time to visit with Phillies manager Rob Thomson (Corunna, Ont.).
In early May, Jenkins was on hand for a day that the Chicago White Sox held to honour late 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Dick Allen at Rate Field. The following month, on top of making the trip back to St. Marys, he had his number retired in his hometown by the Intercounty League’s (now Canadian Baseball League) Chatham Barnstormers.
In July, he returned to Cooperstown for induction weekend, but the following month he took a breather and did some fishing in Thunder Bay, Ont. The tireless Jenkins was back at it shortly thereafter, participating in a long list of charitable events and card shows. Along the way this year, he also produced a series called “Flashbacks with Fergie” which appeared on his Facebook page. This December, he was a voter on the 16-member National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Contemporary Era committee that elected Jeff Kent in Orlando.
As mentioned earlier, Walker returned to the Canadian Hall of Fame’s induction weekend in St. Marys for the first time since 2009. He came back for Hamilton’s induction. Walker has served as a coach for Canada at every World Baseball Classic.
And it seemed like fate that on the way home from that weekend in St. Marys, Walker, a former hockey goalie, bumped into Phil Pritchard, the keeper of the Stanley Cup, and the Stanley Cup itself at the Pearson airport in Toronto. Walker was also interviewed for “Who Killed the Montreal Expos?” -- a documentary that debuted on Netflix in October. “Why? Why is that team gone? I heard things, but I don’t know what’s real and what’s not real?” says Walker in an interview in the documentary, when asked about the fate of the Expos.
Walker also continued to promote his custom cigar brand Tres-Trois. The name is a homage to the No. 33 he wore so loyally during his career. Since French was the language spoken in the seats in Montreal and Spanish is spoken where he lives part of the year in Cabo San Lucas, Mex., he came up with the name Tres-Trois. Walker also continued to sign limited edition cards for Topps.
Dan Shulman (Thornhill, Ont.), the TV voice of the Toronto Blue Jays. Photo: Sportsnet
11. Dan Shulman, Sportsnet (9)
One day in the future when Dan Shulman (Thornhill, Ont.) is delivering his Ford C. Frick Award acceptance speech, he’ll reflect back on the 2025 season as one of the highlights of his career. In his three decades as one of the game’s best play-by-play broadcasters, he had never called a World Series that his hometown Blue Jays competed in until this year.
Making this season even more special was that his son, Ben, served as the radio play-by-play voice of the Blue Jays, and the two became the first father/son duo in major league history to be calling the same World Series for a national broadcaster.
Known for being one of the most prepared broadcasters in his industry, the senior Shulman completed his 17th season as the TV voice of the Blue Jays. He called Blue Jays games from 1995 to 2001 before returning in 2016 to provide play-by-play for Sportsnet.
Starting in 1995, Shulman broadcast games for ESPN where he was the voice of Sunday Night Baseball from 2011 to 2017. He also called postseason games for ESPN Radio from 1998 to 2022, including the World Series from 2011 to 2022. The Blue Jays’ broadcast crew -- featuring him with Buck Martinez, Joe Siddall, Hazel Mae, Arden Zwelling, Caleb Joseph, Madison Shipman and Jamie Campbell -- ranked fourth on the 2025 Best Local Broadcasters list compiled by Awful Announcing.
John Ircandia,the founding director of the Okotoks Dawgs. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs
12. John Ircandia, founding director, Okotoks (13).
Ircandia was at the deep end of a swimming pool playing catch with his young grandchild who was standing in the shallow end. The Big Dawg left the pool for a moment and his replacement asked, “I can’t reach the bottom, were you treading water?” John answered jokingly, “No, I’m nine feet tall.” Some days the man seems that tall.
Last July, when I was there we were standing by the Duvernay Fieldhouse and I asked, “What off-season improvements are you making?” It was said in wise-acre manner because Ircandia always has something on the go. He told someone nearby to “pace off 150 feet.” Workmen are in the process of building a 150-by-50 feet extension. Pitching coaches refer to it as a pitching lab. Hitting coaches call it a hitting lab. Also the one-year-old weight training room will be expanded by 300%, on par with many D-1 programs. Additionally, 200 more grandstand seats with another field level suite will be added to Seaman Stadium.
Ircandia is waiting for spring to decide whether to add a Bleacher Creature section adjacent to Kore 4 Corner in left. The Okotoks Dawgs drew 110,029 for its 27 Seaman Stadium home dates in 2025, for an average of 4,075 fans, including 6,498 on Canada Day. And all roads will lead to Okotoks this summer as the best 19U teams from across the country compete on the Road to Okotoks for the Justin Morneau Cup. Sandlot coaches ask why Okotoks? Can you name me one better amateur stadium in Canada?
Greg Hamilton (Peterborough, Ont.), Baseball Canada’s national teams director, was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
13. Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada (10).
Canadian players had a productive 2025 -- 30 players drafted, signed pre and post-draft free agents. Included were 12 Junior National Team players and alumni, with eight drafts and four free agents. Canada moved up two spots to 20th in the World Rankings, one spot ahead of Israel and behind Great Britain. It’s tough to move when a country doesn’t compete in any competitions. The Pan Am qualifier in Panama was postponed when the New York promoter did not deliver.
So, after training in Dunedin for a few days, the Canadians flew home. Canada hopes to gain points in March’s WBC pool in Puerto Rico. Canada only fields teams at the senior and junior level. Canada would not be 20th in those two categories if we had the budget to field international teams in the 22U, 15U and 12U competitions. Canada was sixth in 2012.
The Junior National Team as always had a busy schedule. In 2025, the Canucks played two games each against Frederick Keys, West Virginia Black Bears and State College Spikes of the MLB Draft League. And they will be back for 2026. The Juniors took trips in April (Dunedin), May (Dominican Republic) and October (Dominican Republic). The highest drafted member of the program was Ontario Blue Jays RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) who went in the second round to the Guardians.
Others drafted were former Langley Blaze RHP Micah Bucknam (Abbotsford, BC), fourth round, to the Toronto Blue Jays; Okotoks Dawgs INF-OF Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) fifth, Toronto Blue Jays; Great Lake Canadians’ INF Core Jackson (Wyoming, Ont.), fifth, Yankees, Utah Utes; Academy Baseball Canada’s Antoine Jean (Montréal, Que). seventh, Rockies, Houston Cougars; Dartmouth Mooseheads and Dawgs grad 1B Ty Doucette (Dartmouth, NS) 10th, Rutgers, Reds; Delta Blue Jays RHP Carson Latimer (Delta, BC) 12th, Sacramento State. Reds; Delta’s RHP Ryan Heppner (Delta, BC) 19th, Braves, University of British Columbia and North Shore Twins LHP Shane Brinham (North Vancouver, BC) 20th, Dodgers.
Plus free-agent signs Ontario Blue Jays’ Sam White (Aurora, Ont.) from the West Virginia Mountaineers, Toronto Blue Jays; Langley Blaze LHP Reid Clague (Victoria, BC), Reds; Okotoks Dawgs’ RHP Max Poirier (Nanaimo, BC) Royals and FieldHouse Pirates RHP Aiden Taggart (Grimsby, Ont.), Toronto Blue Jays.
Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont via Peterborough/Lift Lock City) has a cell phone bill higher than Kevin Malone, former Expos GM, who once prepared for the draft without scouts. Whether it is someone at school who lost his position due to a late arrival via the transfer portal or a released minor leaguer ... grads call Hamilton looking for help. For all that he does for Canadian baseball, Hamilton was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in June.
Toronto Blue Jays analyst Joe Siddall (Windsor, Ont.). Photo: CTV Sports
14. Joe Siddall, broadcaster, Sportsnet (11).
There are second guesses in the game and there are first guesses. Siddall does pre- and post-game shows as well as updates, plus late-inning game updates. During Game 5 of the ALCS, he noticed Brendon Little warming before the end of the seventh. “Immediately I commented that Little was up. I said I hoped that is not where they are going six outs away from taking a 3-2 lead home to Toronto.” Siddall pointed out. “You go with your best guys (Seranthony Domínguez or Jeff Hoffman) in the eighth ... never mind matchups or turning around switch-hitters.” Sure enough, Little, who had been struggling and unpredictable, entered.
Cal Raleigh homered. Little walked the next two. On came Domínguez, who gave up a grand slam to Eugenio Suárez. Game point. “I was able to address this before it happened,” Siddall said. “I don’t like playing Monday morning quarterback and questioning a decision after the bad happens. I was able to get out in front of this, then, post game I felt very comfortable revisiting it since I had addressed it before it happened.” Not what you get from every home team analyst.
After the 18-inning loss to the Dodgers in Game 3 in LA, with the Blue Jays down 2-1 in the series, Siddall didn’t see how they would be able to rebound with Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell starting next. “The main focus for me was how Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero hit back-to-back homers to start Game 5 against Snell. I had talked pre-game how Snell had struggled in Game 1 to command his fastball, so, he went to secondary pitches a lot. I thought Snell would come out and use his fastball a lot early to try to establish it. Clearly, that was the Blue Jays’ game plan, too. Both homers came off fastballs and the Jays led 2-0 after three pitches from Snell.”
Looking back on Game 7 and the Jays’ heart-breaking loss in the World Series, he said, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so emotional about a group. This team made the fans fall in love with them. It wasn’t only the winning. It was how they did it ... with contributions from absolutely everyone. Pick any single player and we could bring up a game they won for the team at some point which is very rare.” Siddall said the closest team he ever played on was the class-A West Palm Beach Expos managed by Felipe Alou in 1990. “This was clearly a different stage, but we called ourselves a bunch of ‘suspects’ since the ‘prospects’ went to class-A Rockford or double-A Jacksonville. We were a real blue-collar team that had to grind and we won 94 games. We lost the championship to the Vero Beach Dodgers with Mike Piazza and Eric Young.”
Toronto Blue Jays executive VP, business operations Marnie Starkman (Toronto, Ont.). Photo: Toronto Blue Jays
15. Marnie Starkman, executive vice president, business operations, Blue Jays (17).
George Springer. Vlad Guerrero. Bo Bichette. Add Marnie to the Blue Jays’ star system in 2025. Marnie’s leadership has made her an industry leader and her impact on the Jays and baseball continues to grow. The top woman at 1 Blue Jays Way has driven revenue, fan experience and the team’s brand to unprecedented heights.
In the process, Marnie handled a historic postseason that brought attention (ratings) and revenue (tickets and merchandise) to record levels. Never one to sacrifice the brand while achieving these results, Marnie develops people in the process - helping make the Jays a great place to work. She is continuing to oversee the final renovations of Rogers Centre with a major project this winter - the re-imagining of the TD Clubhouse on the 200 level behind home plate into the Terrace Club.
And as for 2026, Marnie is planning a 50th anniversary celebration that will highlight the Jays history. Her work to support the players and their families was praised by the players and their partners as key to their on field performance this past season.
Player agent Joel Wolfe. Photo: Wasserman Group
16. Joel Wolfe, agent, Wasserman Group (8).
The Wasserman group, led by Wolfe, won three arbitration cases -- a first for any agency: OF Lars Nootbaar ($2.95 million from the Cardinals), OF Mickey Moniak ($2 million from the Angels) and RHP Andre Pallante ($2.1 million from the Cards). Wolfe, whose parents are from Montreal, has some big-time clients: RHP Roki Sasaki, who signed with Dodgers for a $6.5 million bonus, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (year two of a 12-year, $325-million deal with the Dodgers, after he said no to the Blue Jays and earned World Series MVP honours with three road wins), Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (year six of a $325-million, nine-year deal), RHP Jose Berrios will earn $18,714,285 in 2026 with the Jays.
He also represents DH Giancarlo Stanton (year 10 of a 13-year, $325-million deal, Yankees), 3B Nolan Arenado, (year six of his eight-year, $260-million deal, Diamondbacks), 1B Matt Olson (year five of an eight-year, $168-million deal, Braves), INF Javier Baez (year five of a six-year, $140-million deal, Tigers), RHP Tyler Glasnow (year three of a five-year, $136.5 million deal, Dodgers), RHP Yu Darvish (final season of six-year, $126-million package, Padres) and CF Byron Buxton (four years into a seven-year, $100 million extension, Twins). Wasserman also represents Connor McDavid of the Oilers and Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs.
Including Bremner (second overall to the Angels, $7,689,525 bonus) and Slater de Brun (37th, Orioles, $4 million), the Wasserman Agency had five of the first 18 picks and seven first-round selections: RHP Seth Fernandez (sixth to the Pirates, $7.25 million), SS Steele Hall (ninth, Reds, $5,747,500), SS Daniel Piece (14th, Rays, $4.310,600), SS Kayson Cunningham (18th, Diamondbacks, 4,581,900) and LHP Zachary Root (40th, Dodgers, $2,197,500) and SS Quentin Young went in the second round to the Twins for $1,761,600.
Philadelphia Phillies executive and Hall of Famer Pat Gillick. Photo: Philadelphia Phillies
17. Pat Gillick, Phillies minority owner, Hall of Famer (15).
With the 2026 season being the 50th season for the Blue Jays, Gillick’s iron-clad memory will no doubt be tested time and again. An employee from 1976 to 1995, Gillick will be overworked for interviews. From snowy opening day, to Peter Bavasi turning down a Ron Guidry-Bill Singer trade with the Yankees, to his successful use of the Rule V draft to winning the AL East in 1985, to winning it all in Atlanta in 1992 and again the next year on Joe Carter’s swing.
His name can be found in lots of places: a plaque in Cooperstown, the Phillies Wall of Fame, the Level of Excellence at Rogers Centre and St. Marys. Before becoming a minority owner with the Phillies, he ran teams that had winning records in 20 seasons. In March 2025, Forbes pegged the Phillies as being worth $3.1 billion, seventh in the majors -- up 6% over 2024 with $519 million in revenue. Combined the Dave Montgomery family estate and Gillick own 2.5% of the club. In 27 seasons as a GM, his teams (Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners and Phillies) reached post-season play 11 times, capturing three World Series rings -- with the Jays (1992-93) and Phillies (2008).
Longtime Dodgers executive Ellen Harrigan (Beeton, Ont.). Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers
18. Ellen Veronica Harrigan, executive, Dodgers (34).
Let’s see how high we can count: one, two, three, four, five. Five World Series championships for Harrigan (1992-93 with the Blue Jays, plus with the Dodgers 2020 and 2024-25) and do we count 2026? Well, not yet. Ellen always jokes that the reason she was hired by the Blue Jays in 1981 was due to her height (6-foot-1). That made her the only woman who could reach the top of the organizational board of rosters, which had to be changed often.
Ellen has been in the game for 44 years and is eligible to retire in January of 2028 after working for Hall of Famer GM Pat Gillick and Frank Wren with the Orioles, Ellen moved west to work for the Dodgers and GMs Kevin Malone, interim GM Dave Wallace, Danny Evans, Paul DePodesta, Ned Colletti, Farhan Zaidi, Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes. Sports Business Journal named Ellen as one of its “Game Changers” honorees for 2023, which “highlights women who are having success and serving as leaders in the sports industry.”
Ellen said she learned the most from Gillick, who taught her about the game, people, commitment and loyalty. Every other GM that she has worked with knows they have a long way to go to meet his standards.
A prime function of her time is spent on the administration tasks related to player movement, trades, injuries, waivers, roster management and keeping the club in compliance with rules as it relates to these transactions. Ellen works closely with the Dodgers president, GM and assistant GM. She also serves as a liaison to the Commissioner’s Office, agents and lawyers to maintain communication and documentation for all movement at the major league level.
Her additional duties range from negotiating, writing and administering contracts for major league players and baseball ops staff, managing payroll and financial related issues for players and staff, onboarding/offboarding players and staff, as well as managing the major league offices consisting of executive staff and special assistants, providing leadership to department heads and LA-based staff, developing and managing budgets for several departments under baseball ops, spearheading special projects, overseeing the player family resources and staff, assisting in developing a culture of winning and providing mentorship to young employees. As well, Ellen sits on the Dodgers executive leadership committee and the Dodgers DEI leadership team.
Jeffrey Royer (Toronto, Ont.) is a longtime part owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Photo: Arizona Diamondbacks
19. Jeffrey Royer, general partner, Diamondbacks (12).
A lot of people on this list we know very well. A lot of people love the game obviously and have enjoyed success. Yet, I don’t know if there is anyone on this list that I have more in common with than Royer. That’s despite the fact Royer went to Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., home of Tony Kubek. I was raised in Kingston and drove by Queen’s University a few times. We both cheered for the Milwaukee Braves. His fave was Hall of Famer LHP Warren Spahn. Mine was Hall of Fame 3B Eddie Mathews. We could pick ‘em. The Braves beat the Yankees in 1957, lost in a rematch the next year and then in 1959 were eliminated by the Dodgers in a playoff. We enjoyed them and they broke our hearts and then they moved to Atlanta.
Ken Kendrick and Royer (Toronto, Ont.) are equal partners of the ownership group which took over the Diamondbacks in 2004. In 2025, coming off a 89-win season and expectations of contending, the D-Backs won 80. Royer, a dual citizen since 2015, had been in the cable business for 35 years.
The Diamondbacks were valued at $1.6 billion in 2025, according to Forbes, 21st in the majors, up two spots, behind the Milwaukee Brewers and ahead of the Detroit Tigers. Forbes showed the D-Backs had $328 million in operating revenue. He is also chairman of Baylin Technologies. He has served as a director of more than 30 private companies and not-for-profit organizations.
Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae will be presented with the Jack Graney Award this June. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
20. Hazel Mae, Sportsnet (29).
The sign of a great post-game interviewer is to capture the emotion of the moment -- and resuming the train of thought after the player has been dunked with Gatorade. Hazel asked Trey Yesavage in a postgame interview after his Game 2 start in the ALCS what it meant to have his parents/family in the stands to see the game? Yesavage became teary-eyed, telling them “how much he loved them.”
While the Yesavage interview received the most tears, the one which garnered the most attention was Vladimir Guerrero’s post-game interview when he said, “I was born ready.” That made it to ESPN’s Sportscenter and the MLB Network. Another of many good ones was Max Scherzer debunking Eric Lauer’s tall tale that he had been slugged by Scherzer for talking to him on a start day. Scherzer smiled, laughed, joked and was totally at ease.
Hazel is the 2025 winner of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Jack Graney Award, the second woman to win the Graney and first since the late Alison Gordon of the Toronto Star in 2017. Many Octobers Hazel would do double duty, a Sportsnet microphone in one hand then switching to another mike from a US network. Since the Jays went to Game 7 of the World Series, Hazel was a one-network woman this fall. Sportsnet. Hazel covered three champagne celebrations (winning the AL East, beating the Yankees and the Mariners).
Longtime Toronto Blue Jays president Paul Beeston (Welland, Ont.). Photo: CBC News
21. Paul Beeston, president emeritus, Blue Jays (20).
If Tommy Lasorda bled Dodger Blue, Beeston bleeds Blue Jays blue. He was downright grumpy for at least a week after the Blue Jays lost Game 7 to the Dodgers. You can take the man out of the Blue Jays office, but you can’t diminish his love for the ball club. He enjoys most nights in the press lunchroom discussing the state of the club with scribe Frank Zicarelli, before heading to his private box to join Howard Starkman.
Beeston remains a behind the scenes mover and shaker. He serves on chairman Jane Forbes Clark’s board of directors with the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. What’s the big deal there? The board makes decisions such as to shrink the years eligible from 15 to 10 and the New Era ballots from 10 spots to eight. Joe Torre is vice-chairman and Kevin Moore is treasurer. Besides Beeston, management types on the board include Bill DeWitt (Cardinals), Ken Kendrick (Diamondbacks), Arte Moreno (Angels), Jerry Reinsdorf (White Sox), Harvey Schiller (Baseball USA), commissioner Rob Manfred, former Florida Marlins GM Kim Ng and Thomas Tull (Pirates), plus Hall of Famers Craig Biggio, Tom Glavine, Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken and Ozzie Smith.
Toronto Blue Jays assistant GM Andrew Tinnish (Ottawa, Ont.). Photo: Brock University
22. Andrew Tinnish, assistant GM, Blue Jays (27).
Tinnish made the 13 1/2 hour flight to Japan usually once or twice a season. He flew to see Shohei Ohtani. He flew to see RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He flew to see Roki Sasaki. All three eventually wound up with the Dodgers. The Jays also scouted INF Munetaka Murakami, who signed with the White Sox and RHP Tatsuya Imai, who signed with the Astros. Finally Tinnish had success on his last trip in September of 2025. The Jays think they landed a stud in Yomiuri Giants’ 3B Kazuma Okamoto. They signed the 29-year-old to a four-year, $60 million contract in January 2026.
With Tinnish doing a lot of the evaluating, the Jays signed Venezuelan C Juan Caricote for $1.95 million, The other signings by the Jan. 15 deadline included: Dominican Republic SS Juan Sanchez for $1 million, Dominican OF Michael Mesa for $900,000 and Dominican OF Aneudy Severino for $700,000.
Canadian baseball legend Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC), middle, is now an analyst on Minnesota Twins’ TV broadcasts. Photo: YouTube
23. Justin Morneau, Twins (47)
In baseball circles, one of the biggest honours you can receive is to have a ballpark named after you. Well, how about having a national championship tournament named in your honour? That’s what’s happened to Morneau. Next July, the winner of “The Road to Okotoks” tournament, a national 19U championship that will feature 16 elite teams with the best 19 and under talent from across the country battling it out in Okotoks, Alta., will receive the Morneau Cup. The hope from organizers is that some day it will hold the same stature as the Memorial Cup.
On top of lending his name to this tournament, Morneau, the 2006 American League MVP, completed his eighth season in the Twins’ TV broadcast booth and his fifth as the primary analyst. Morneau also serves as a special assistant to baseball operations with the Twins and remains active in the greater Minneapolis community. Each December, he runs his “Winter Warm-Up Coat Drive” for the Salvation Army and in mid-December, he visited the Gillette Children’s Hospital in Minnesota to spread some holiday joy. He will also be a coach for Canada at the WBC in March.
Women’s National Team star Alli Schroder (Fruitvale, BC), middle, received a Special Achievement Award at the Baseball Canada Awards banquet on January 10. Photo: Baseball Canada
24. Alli Schroder, Women’s National Team (19)
In November, Schroder (Fruitvale, BC) became the first Canadian selected in the Women’s Pro League (WPBL) draft when she was taken fifth overall by Boston. When the WPBL begins play in 2026, the 23-year-old right-hander could be joined on the Boston squad by fellow Canucks: RHP Raine Padgham (Abbotsford, BC), INF Zoe Hicks (Boissevain, Man.), RHP Maika Dumais (Quebec, Que.), OF Emily Baxter (Oakville, Ont.) and INF Braidy Birdsall (Saskatoon, Sask.) who were also drafted by the club.
The scouting report on the WPBL website calls Schroder “one of the most decorated Canadian players in the draft. Schroder is a wildfire fighter, a nine-year Canadian national team veteran, a Canadian Collegiate Baseball Conference history-maker, and a star of two national documentaries. Her presence adds toughness, durability, and big-game poise.”
In 2024, Schroder was chosen over six other Canadian nominees to be featured in a groundbreaking documentary called “See Her Be Her,” directed by Jean Fruth and co-produced by Jeff Idelson, which shone the spotlight on girls and women in baseball from across the globe. In 2021, Schroder became the first woman to compete in the CCBC when she took the mound for Vancouver Island University.
Toronto Blue Jays vice president, baseball operations Jeremy Reesor (Stouffville, Ont.).
25. Jeremy Reesor, vice president, baseball operations, Blue Jays (108).
Reesor is a man with a unique and impactful role that leads him to make a meaningful contribution to the decision-making processes across all of baseball operations. Perhaps, more than any individual -- other than Ross Atkins and Andrew Tinnish -- Reesor is comprehensively involved in all decisions from amateur draft, international signings and the highest profile free agents.
His intelligence, collaborative nature, and commitment to learning have fueled a growing influence in the Jays’ front office and he made a significant contribution to assembling the 2025 AL Championship roster. A University of Waterloo grad, some say he is a GM in waiting. Reesor (Stouffville, Ont.) works day-to-day with the major-league staff, helps manage the roster and has an impact on major decisions. It all started for Reesor 12 years ago when he began as part of the Rogers Centre conversions crew (when the yard used to be regularly transformed from a baseball to football and back).
Adnan Virk (Morven, Ont.) consistently highlights Canadians on the MLB Network. Photo: MLB Network
26. Adnan Virk, MLB Network (24).
Over the years, Virk has been called a Swiss-Army Knife, a Jack-of-All-Trades and the Best Utility Man to ever sit behind a TV desk. All came from his co-workers. All were major-league compliments. Call him what you will, the one thing the MLB Network and NHL Network host is happy to be called: Canadian.
It’s no secret to Canadians that Virk is Canada Proud. He never mispronounces Mississauga, Longueuil or Markham (yes, we have heard it mispronounced). Some of his highlights look as if they have been put together by MLB Canada. Virk always highlights Canadians and their exploits no matter the team. Could his Canadian pride have been formed in Kingston, Canada’s first capital? In 1984, Virk’s family moved to Kingston. Five years later, they headed west to Morven, where his parents owned a gas station and variety store. He attended Ryerson in Toronto, then worked at The Score, TSN and Maple Leafs Sports before heading south.
Jeff Mallett (Victoria, BC) is part-owner of the San Francisco Giants.
27. Jeff Mallett, co-owner, Giants (23)
Mallett (Victoria, BC) is a principal owner and executive committee member of the San Francisco Giants. He joined the ownership group in 2002, the year they won 95 games but lost the World Series in seven games to the Anaheim Angels. He possesses World Series rings from the Giants’ championship-winning seasons in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
Forbes valued the Giants at $4 billion in 2025, fifth in the industry (behind the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and Cubs). That’s an increase of $200 million from the previous year with $448 million in revenue.
On top of the Giants, Mallet maintains partial ownership of Oracle Park, the Bay Area’s regional sports cable network, Comcast SportsNet and the class-A San Jose Giants. Through his company, Mallett Sports Entertainment, LLC, he also has ownership stakes in the Vancouver Whitecaps (which are up for sale), Derby County FC of English League and the Northern Super League, a women’s pro soccer circuit that began play in 2025. Everything he touches does not turn to gold as he was one of the men responsible for canceling the remainder of the Canadian Baseball League in 2003.
Doug Mathieson, left, and Jamie Bodaly, right, of the Langley Blaze.
28. Doug Mathieson and Jamie Bodaly, Langley Blaze (44).
Few elite organizations had better years than the Blaze: six players or alumni were drafted, the Blaze won the Perfect Game 18U PG Canadian National Championship at Thames Centre and the BC Premier League. They also toured Arizona as well as the World Wood Bat championships in Jupiter, Fla.
Drafted players included alumni and current players: RHP Cam Leiter, who pitched for the Blaze for three years and whose mother is from Maple Ridge, BC, went in the second round to the Dodgers for a $1.35 million bonus. The others were RHP Micah Bucknam (Abbotsford, BC) Blue Jays, $678,300, Dallas Baptist University, plus free-agents LHP Reid Clague (Victoria, BC), Reds, $150,000, 1B Tom Poole (Calgary, Alta.) Rays, Dallas Baptist and OF Jonny McGill, Angels, Richmond, BC, University of British Columbia.
In his role as a Brewers scout, Mathieson takes players from Alaska, Ohio and BC on his spring and fall tours, like Astros RHP Curtis Hebert selected in the 20th round from the University of Portland. Hebert is following in the footsteps of LHP Chris Aure, of North Pole Alaska who went in the 15th to the Pirates.
Bodaly runs the team during the BCPBL season, as well as scouting for the Reds. Langley opened championship weekend with 2-1 victory over the Delta Blue Jays in extras in a game started by LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC). Next was a 6-4 win over the UBC Thunder. A tough 1-0 loss to the Abbotsford Cardinals followed. The Blaze scored a 6-0 shutout over the Mid Island Pirates to stay alive, then knocked off Abbotsford and in the final won 4-0, with Duncan getting the final outs.
Houston Astros West Coast cross checker Jamie Lehman (North York, Ont.).
29. Jamie Lehman, cross checker, Astros (38),
Scouting for the Astros on the West coast, Lehman had a busy year. Houston selected SS Xavier Neyens in the first round, from Mount Vernon, Wash. Neyens, signed by area scout Tim Costic and Lehman, was given $4.12 million bonus. It was the highest bonus Lehman has ever given a player.
Lehman was also involved in selecting RHP Gabel Pentecost of Taylor University, given $297,500 in the sixth round; Arizona State INF Kyle Walker, seventh, $152,500; Oregon State RHP Kellan Oakes, eighth $247,500; Grand Canyon OF Josh Wakefield, 14th, $150,000 and Portland’s INF Curtis Hebert, 20th, $150,000.
Still in the Blue Jays’ system from his Toronto days that he cross checked are SS Arjun Nimmala, a first rounder (20th overall) given a $3 million bonus; LHP Brandon Barriera, a first rounder (23rd) given a $3,597,500 bonus; Ricky Tiedemann, still on the 40-man roster; Landen Maroudis, a fourth rounder in 2023; Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC), who was at triple-A Buffalo in 2025 and Sam Shaw (Victoria, BC) class-A Vancouver.
Dave McKay (Vancouver, BC), right, is set to return for his 56th season in pro baseball. Photo: Arizona Diamondbacks
30. Dave McKay, coach, Diamondbacks (28)
In 2025, Diamondbacks first base coach Dave McKay (Vancouver, BC) completed his 55th consecutive season in pro ball and his 41st as a big-league coach. That’s the longest streak among active major league coaches. And the 75-year-old lifer plans to return in 2026.
With the D-Backs, McKay doubles as the club’s base-running coach and helped transform fellow Canadian Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) into a base-stealing threat during the first half of the 2025 season. In 93 games with the D-Backs in 2025, Naylor swiped 11 bases. His previous single-season high was 10 with the Guardians in 2023 over a full season. Combined, the Diamondbacks stole 121 bases in 2025 -- seventh most in the NL.
A Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, McKay has earned World Series rings as a coach with the Oakland A’s in 1989 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 and 2011.
Oakland A’s scout Matt Higginson (Grimsby, Ont.)
31. Matt Higginson, scout, A’s (27).
It was not easy scouting for the Athletics when Higginson began evaluating talent. It’s always difficult for a first-year scout, but it is real tough when you team does not draft high schoolers. Fortunately for him, that has changed in recent years and Higginson has scouted and signed the following Canadians, who are still active:
_ RHP Josiah Romeo (Caledon, Ont.), of the Mississauga North Tigers -- the top Canadian high schooler chosen in 2024 -- 1-5 with an 8.81 ERA for the Athletics in the rookie-class Arizona Complex League. He walked 23 and fanned 33 in 48 innings over 13 games -- making 11 starts.
_ 3B Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), a first rounder in 2023 (39th overall). The former Ontario Blue Jay hit .185 at class-A Stockton with 12 doubles, a triple, seven homers and 37 RBIs. He had a .625 OPS in 81 games.
_ T.J. Schofield-Sam (Brampton, Ont.), from the Ontario Blue Jays, a third-rounder in 2019, batted .271 with 21 doubles, five triples, five homers and 55 RBIs with a .727 OPS in 118 games at double-A Midland and class-A Lansing.
And Higginson had filed reports on Toronto Mets’ OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) as a high schooler. Clarke was drafted by the A’s American scout in the fourth round from Cal State Northridge.
Junior National Team alum Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) had another fine season out of the bullpen for the Cleveland Guardians.
32. Cade Smith, Guardians (14)
Smith continued to be an extremely valuable member of the Cleveland Guardians’ bullpen in his second big league season. How valuable?
Well, for the second consecutive season, Smith (Abbotsford, BC) topped all major league relievers with a 2.7 fWAR (FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement). The 26-year-old right-hander also posted an 8-5 record and a 2.93 ERA in 76 relief appearances (fifth most in the majors) and struck out 104 batters in 73 2/3 innings. This made him just the third Canadian reliever to have back-to-back 100-strikeout seasons (joining John Hiller (Toronto, Ont.) and Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.)).
Smith took over as the Guardians’ closer in late July, when Emmanuel Clase was placed on leave due to an investigation into allegations of his involvement in sports betting. The Canuck righty finished with 16 saves, which was the most by a Canadian major leaguer in 2025. In September, Smith was named AL Reliever of the Month after he collected seven saves and fanned 22 batters in 13 innings without issuing a walk.
With Clase now facing criminal charges, Smith is likely to be the Guardians’ full-time closer in 2026.
Ashley Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.) was a position coach with the Dunedin Blue Jays in 2025. Photo: Blue Jays Academy
33. Ashley Stephenson, coach, Dunedin Blue Jays (31)
After two seasons as the position coach of the class-A Vancouver Canadians, Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.) transitioned to the same role with class-A Dunedin in 2025. Among the players she coached in Dunedin were fellow Canucks Bryce Arnold (Grimsby, Ont.) and Sam Shaw (Victoria, BC).
Stephenson was also a panelist on the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s first ever Canadian Women in Baseball discussion which was hosted by Lindsay Earle, the Hall’s care of collections and public engagement supervisor, on Zoom on March 6. Stephenson discussed her career alongside longtime Dodgers’ executive Ellen Harrigan (Beeton, Ont.), current Women’s National Team star Alli Schroder (Fruitvale, BC), longtime umpire Lisa Turbitt (Burlington, Ont.) and Claudette Scrafford (Hawkesbury, Ont.), who’s a manuscript archivist at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Stephenson starred as a player for the Women’s National Team for 15 years and later coached the squad. In 2024, she became the first Women’s National Team member inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Roger Rai (Toronto, Ont.), the vice chairman of the Toronto Blue Jays. Photo: Toronto Blue Jays
34. Roger Rai, vice chairman of the Toronto Blue Jays (62).
Rai, a confidant of Edward Rogers from their days at the University of Western Ontario, was named vice chairman of the Blue Jays and a special advisor to the Chairman at Rogers Communications. He is No. 2 on the Blue Jays’ front office directory behind only Edward and ahead of Staffieri. As of July 8, 2025, the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment board consists of Larry Tanenbaum (Kilmer Sports), Dale Lastman (Goodmans LLP), Mahes Wickramasinghe, Marisa Wyse, David Miller, Rai (all of Rogers), plus Staffieri, deputy chair and Edward Rogers, chair of the board.
Talking to Canadore students in North Bay last year, Rai (Toronto, Ont.) spoke of the future of baseball as a global business and explored the topics of branded media, technology, retail and artificial intelligence. His advice: “While you’re in school, you should really focus on trying to know yourself and figure out what you’re passionate about. When you believe or you’re excited about it, it’s no longer work.”
Legendary Montreal Expos broadcaster Jacques Doucet (Montreal, Que.). Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
35. Jacques Doucet, former Expos broadcaster (32)
Doucet was a finalist for the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick award for the 13th time in 2025, and once again, he wasn’t voted the winner. This is getting old. Since 1978, three Spanish-language broadcasters – Buck Canel (1985), Jaime Jarrín (1998) and Felo Ramírez (2001) - have won the Frick Award. Why not a French-language broadcaster?
Not only was Doucet an outstanding play-by-play man, but he invented a whole new glossary of terms to help French-speaking fans understand the game. For 33 seasons, Doucet broadcast Expos games as the radio voice on their French network (1972 to 2004). Prior to that, he covered the team for La Presse. He returned to the booth from 2012 to 2022 as the Blue Jays’ French-speaking TV voice on TVA. Doucet won the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Jack Graney Award in 2004 and was elected to the Canadian ball hall in 2020. In our opinion, Doucet, who turned 85 in 2025, is long overdue for recognition in Cooperstown.
Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) started off 2025 on a high note when he was inducted onto Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence in January. Photo: Baseball Canada
36. Stubby Clapp, coach, Cardinals (37)
Clapp began 2025 on a high note when he was inducted onto Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence at the national team’s awards banquet in January. After weather issues grounded his plane out of Tennessee, Clapp and his two sons, Cooper and Cannan, drove 13 hours to Toronto to be at the banquet. On the way, Clapp stopped to see his father, also nicknamed Stubby, in Windsor. Sadly, his father passed away just over eight months later but he lived to know his son had been honoured by Baseball Canada.
Cooper and Cannan got to see their father receive a lengthy standing ovation at the end of the national teams awards banquet – one that was richly deserved. Over the years, Clapp has appeared in a Canadian national team uniform at 12 international events, which has earned him the nickname “Captain Canada.” He is the only person to have been in the dugout for all three of Canada’s international gold medals. He played for the junior team that won the World Youth Baseball Championship in Brandon, Man., in 1991 and was a coach on Canada’s gold medal-winning squads at the 2011 and 2015 Pan Am Games.
After his playing career, Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) entered the pro coaching ranks and worked his way up to his current position as first base coach with the Cardinals, a post he has held for seven seasons. He will serve as a coach for Canada at the WBC in March.
Sambat CEO Arlene Anderson, Joe Carter, the first big-leaguer to use the bat, and creator Sam Holman at a Diamondbacks reception in Toronto in 2016.
37. Arlene Anderson, CEO Sam Bat (40).
This small Canadian company pulled forward and had its best sales year to date, despite tariffs, reciprocal tariffs and shipping challenges. Sam Bat has an excellent product and loyal customers. Online sales increased in both the US and Canada by 15%. Shopify recognized the company for making its 10,000th sale in Canada.
The new torpedo bat reinvigorated the wood bat market. Sam Bat crafted torpedoes on many different model designs. A Diamond Density Series was launched by Ben Milinkovich, while production manager Scott Smith designed several models to use more dense wood. Sales to Japan and Korea increased, making Sam Bat the top North American supplier of bats in Japan. Blue Jays Davis Schneider used a Sam Bat for his lead off home run in Game 5 of the World Series. Husband Jim Anderson was yelling watching TV downstairs, while upstairs Arlene’s phone received one message after another.
Sam Bat said its 2025 roster included players from Diamondbacks: Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), Ketel Marte, Braves: Drake Baldwin, Orioles: Gunnar Henderson, Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ride, BC), Red Sox: Connor Wong, Omar Narvaez, Cubs: Carson Kelly; White Sox: Cal Mitchell, Tristan Gray, Reds: Jeimer Candelario, Guardians: Kyle Manzardo, Carlos Santana, Tigers: Spencer Torkelson, Astros: Jon Singleton, Yordan Alvarez, Christian Walker, Dodgers: Miguel Rojas, Austin Barnes, Teoscar Hernandez, Marlins: Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que., Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.): Brewers: David Garcia, Tyler Black, Twins: Harrison Bader, Christian Vasquez, Mets: Juan Soto, Athletics: JJ Bleday, Denzel Clarke, Phillies: Max Kepler. Nick Castellanos, Pirates: Joshua Palacios, Padres: Luis Arraez, Yuliesky Gurriel, Tyler Wade, Fernando Tatis, Giants: Luis Matos, Wilmer Flores, Jung Hoo Lee, Mariners: Randy Arozarena: Cardinals: Jose Fermin, Nolan Gorman. Rangers: Joc Pederson, Jonah Heim, Blue Jays Vlad Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) and Schneider.
Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon will pitch for Canada at the 2026 WBC.
38. Jameson Taillon, Cubs (18).
Taillon went 11-7 with a 3.68 ERA in 23 starts for the Cubs in 2025. He struck out 98 batters in 129 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-5 right-hander had 14 quality starts, while his 1.057 WHIP was second among Cubs’ starting pitchers. He was particularly good in the second half after returning from injuries. In six starts in August and September, he went 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA and had 24 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings.
He also had a strong start in the third - and deciding game - of the National League Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres, permitting just two hits in four scoreless innings to help the Cubs to a 3-1 win.
Though he was born in Lakeland, Fla. and drafted out of The Woodlands, Tex., Taillon has Canadian parents. His mother was born in Toronto while his father is from St. Andrews West, Ont. (near Cornwall). Taillon pitched for Canada in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and he’ll do so again this March.
Former Expo scout Alex Agostino, right, and ex-Expo RHP Pedro Martinez, a member in good standing of Halls of Fame in Cooperstown and St. Marys.
39. Alex Agostino, cross checker, Phillies (35).
Many a funny line is tossed around a war room. When it came time to discuss Charles Davalan, the speedy Arkansas outfielder, Phillies assistant GM Brian Barber said to Agostino (St-Bruno, Que.). “OK, Alex this guy is Canadian ... you have Canada … what do you have on him?” Agostino replied, “Not only is he from Canada, he lives half an hour from my house ... the little town of St-Bruno, Quebec. Charles is from St-Bruno-De-Montarville.” The two live that close but Agostino remembers driving seven hours to see Davalan in a workout at Oakville’s King’s Christian high school when Davalan was an infielder finishing high school. Said Agostino: “I’m Canadian, the players are Canadian. I know how hard they work. Why not stick up for them?” Davalan went 41st overall to the Dodgers.
An Agostino draft, RHP Griff McGarry, a 2021 fifth rounder from Virginia popped, as scouts like to say, striking out 124 in 83 2/3 innings. He was 2-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 21 starts at class-A Clearwater, double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Sportsnet’s baseball insider Shi Davidi. Photo: Sportsnet
40. Shi Davidi, Sportsnet (43)
Davidi completed his 25th season of covering the Toronto Blue Jays and what a season it was. The veteran scribe and Sportsnet insider provided in-depth coverage of the postseason run on Sportsnet.ca and was a key part of Sportsnet’s TV broadcast crew, providing pre- and post-game analysis.
The hardworking Davidi joined Sportsnet in 2011 and is now recognized as one of Canada’s most plugged-in baseball writers and news-breakers. In April, he was the first to report that the Blue Jays had reached a long-term agreement with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.). Among his other scoops (some were co-credited with Ben Nicholson-Smith) were the promotions of left-hander Eric Lauer in April and Trey Yesavage in September and the Blue Jays’ surprise decision to designate reliever Yariel Rodriguez for assignment in December.
Davidi also continues to serve as president of the Toronto BBWAA chapter, as an instructor in the post-graduate sports journalism program at Centennial College and as a contributor to Baseball America.
Kansas City Royals minor league field coordinator Scott Thorman (Cambridge, Ont.).
41. Scott Thorman, minor-league field coordinator, Royals (48).
In 1992-93, the Blue Jays had a pipeline to the Skydome. It started in Dunedin, then moved on to Hagerstown, Knoxville and Syracuse. The Royals’ pipeline was a little different. Different cities. Different states. But the head pipe fitter was Thorman, the former first-round pick of the Atlanta Braves. He managed seven years in the KC system -- class-A Burlington, class-A Lexington, class-A Wilmington, double-A Northwest Arkansas and triple-A Omaha -- winning four titles.
No less than 60 minor leaguers he managed graduated to the majors, including SS Bobby Witt, who was with Thorman at Northwest Arkansas and signed an 11-year extension worth $288 million with KC.
Among those who were on the Thorman’s assembly line of minor-leaguers who graduated to Kauffman Stadium:
RHPs _ Brady Singer, Carlos Hernandez, Alec Marsh, Jonathan Bowlan, Jonathan Heasley, Mike Bender and Andrew Hoffmann ... LHPs _ Daniel Lynch, Ángel Zerpa, Eric Skoglund, Kris Bubic, Austin Cox and Noah Cameron ... RPs _ Josh Staumont, Dylan Coleman, Gabe Speier, Richard Lovelady, Foster Griffin, José Cuas, Jackson Kowar, Ronald Bolaños, Collin Snider and Tyler Zuber; C _ Freddy Fermin, Logan Porter, MJ Melendez, Cam Gallagher, Sebastián Rivero, Nick Dini and Carter Jensen; INFs _ Maikel García, Michael Massey, Nicky Lopez, Nick Loftin, Nate Eaton, Nick Pratto, Adalberto Mondesí, Emmanuel Rivera and Witt ... OFs _ Kyle Isbel, Vinnie Pasquantino, Dairon Blanco, Drew Waters, Edward Olivares, Tyler Cropley, Nick Heath, Brewer Hicklen, Tyler Tolbert, John Rave and Jac Caglianone.
Reds crosschecker Bill Byckowski (Erin, Ont.) has looked through many a chain-link fence.
42. Bill Byckowski cross checker, Reds (36).
One of the highlights of his year was when RHP Chase Burns, a first rounder (second overall) from Wake Forest University in the 2024 July draft, made the majors in June of 2025. He pitched 43 1/3 innings, striking out 67. The Reds gave him a bonus of $9.25 million.
This year, Byckowski drafted second rounder Aaron Watson paying the Jacksonville high schooler $2,747,500. He also drafted Maryland eighth rounder Kyle McCoy, given a $232,700 bonus; Rutgers 1B Ty Doucette (Dartmouth, NS), $157,500; 11th rounder College of Charleston RHP Jake Brink, $150,000 and 13th rounder UConn RHP Brady Afthim $150,000.
Former players Byckowski evaluated can be found on MLB Pipeline’s list of top 30 Reds prospects: No. 3 SS Tyson Lewis, No. 4 SS Steele Hall, No. 7 RHP Chase Petty, No. 18 Ethan O’Donnell, No. 26 Tristan Smith and No. 30 Luke Hayden. Ninth rounder C Ryan McCrystal improved at class-A Daytona and class-A Dayton hitting .289 in 87 games with 21 doubles, three triples, four homers, 57 RBIs and a .766 OPS.
Byckowksi’s territory includes Eastern Canada, the Northeast US, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia and the Carolinas. His staff includes: John Ceprini, Brandon Marr, Ed Lehr and Jerell Johnson.
The Naylor family (without Josh who was on his honeymoon) at the Baseball Canada banquet in January 2025. From left to right: Bo, Jenice, Myles and Chris. Photo: Baseball Canada
43. Bo, Myles, Chris and Jenice Naylor (39).
Bo Naylor started in 106 games and appeared in 119 games for the Guardians. Bo had 22 doubles, a triple, 14 homers and 47 RBIs with a .661 OPS. However, he batted .195 with 99 strikeouts. He has now played in parts of four seasons and in 2025 had career highs in plate appearances (414), doubles, homers and RBIs.
Myles was a first rounder like his older brothers (Josh was 12th overall in 2016, Bo went 29th in 2018 to Cleveland, while Myles was 39th to Oakland in 2023). He was felled by a wrist injury and only played in 81 games in his third year at class-A Stockton. He batted .185 with 12 doubles, a triple, seven homers, 37 RBIs and a .625 OPS.
Chris, the only Canadian father to have three players go in the first round, coached all three with the Mississauga North Tigers. Now he is back coaching youngsters at the Daring Diamond Sport Development in Oakville. The new indoor facility is being run by Troy Daring, who was in Josh Naylor’s wedding party. Mom Jenice oversaw her sons and husband traveling across North America from Miami to Long Beach, from Burlington’s Ireland Park to Mississauga’s Rivergrove.
Langley Blaze grad Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) played in only 54 games in his first season with the Baltimore Orioles in 2025.
44. Tyler O’Neill, Orioles (16)
O’Neill’s 2025 season started on a high note when he belted a home run on Opening Day for the Orioles against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. It was the sixth consecutive Opening Day that he has homered, which is a major league record. It was also a promising start for the outfielder in his first regular season game with the O’s after signing a three-year, $49.5-million contract with them in December 2024.
But it was downhill from there for O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC). He’d play only 54 games in an injury-riddled campaign and bat .199 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs. He recorded 36 hits, 22 runs, four stolen bases and 22 walks and was one of the few veterans to survive the Orioles’ purge at the trade deadline.
O’Neill will be looking for redemption with the O’s in 2026, but first, he hopes to suit up for Canada at the World Baseball Classic. In 2023, he topped the national team with eight hits and a .615 batting average in four games.
Chicago Cubs legend Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) delivers his speech at his induction into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in October. Photo: Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
45. Ryan Dempster, Cubs/MLB Network (41)
Dempster shared his wit and wisdom as co-host of MLB Network’s “Intentional Talk” alongside Kevin Millar and Siera Santos for a third season in 2025. The show is known for its wide variety of guests and the entertaining back and forth between Dempster and Millar. They also took the show on the road to Toronto for the World Series. One of the most watched videos of Dempster featured him outside Rogers Centre on a quest to give away a pair of tickets prior to Game 7.
The national team alum also served as a game and studio analyst for the Cubs on the Marquee Sports Network. On top of his broadcasting duties, Dempster (Gibsons, BC) is a special advisor for the Cubs. He was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in October.
During his 16 seasons in the majors, he accumulated 132 wins –- second-most by a Canadian. And Dempster has never forgotten his roots. One of the highlight auction items at Baseball Canada’s National Teams awards banquet fundraiser each year is the behind-the-scenes Cubs experience Dempster puts together to help raise money for the program.
Toronto Blue Jays scout Patrick Griffin (Oakville, Ont.)
46. Patrick Griffin, amateur scout, Blue Jays (90).
In 2025, Griffin (Oakville, Ont.) won the Canadian Baseball Network Scout of the Year Award named after the late Jim Ridley. He drafted Tim Piasentin in the fifth round and signed him for $747,500 ... more than $240,000 above slot value of $503,800. Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) played for the Okotoks Dawgs and the Junior National Team.
To say that the Jays have not been active on the home front would be an understatement. You would have to go back six years to find a combined signing bonuses to surpass Piasentin’s. INF Sam Shaw (Victoria, BC), a Victoria Eagles grad, was a Griffin pick in the ninth round in 2023, signing for $285,000 and OF Jean-Christophe Masson (Levis, Que.), of the Academy Baseball Canada and Junior National Team, scouted by Kory Lafreniere, was given a $297,500 as a 26th rounder in 2019.
The Jays signed a record four Canucks: RHP Micah Bucknam (Abbotsford, BC) was a fourth rounder from Dallas Baptist, given a $678,000 bonus. Ontario Blue Jays grad Sam White (Aurora, Ont.), from West Virginia Mountaineers, a free-agent sign for $158,000 and before the draft FiledHouse Pirate RHP Aiden Taggart (Grimsby, Ont.) signed for $155,000. Bucknam was signed by scout Blue Jays scout Brad Jacob, White by Tom Burns, while Taggart by Matt O’Brien and Griffin.
Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) was torn about whom to cheer for in the 2025 World Series. Photo: Russell Martin/Instagram
47. Russell Martin, Canada’s greatest catcher (25)
Martin had to be torn watching this year’s World Series. On the one hand, the Dodgers were the team he broke in with and enjoyed his best seasons with. On the other hand, he was also an elite catcher for the Blue Jays, his home country’s squad, for four seasons and in 2015, he helped lead them back to post-season for the first time in over two decades. He had some fun with his competing allegiances in an Instagram post on Oct. 29, writing “Let’s go Dodjays!”
Earlier in the postseason, Martin threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Jays in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Yankees at Rogers Centre. A 2024 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and the greatest Canadian catcher in major league history, Martin ranks in the top 10 in most career offensive categories among Canuck major leaguers, including third in walks (792), fourth in games (1,693), fifth in runs scored (893), and seventh in homers (191).
Prior to his big-league career, Martin honed his skills with the Junior National Team, and Baseball Canada now presents the Russell Martin Award, sponsored by the Toronto Blue Jays, to the Junior National Team MVP each year. Martin was a member of Canada’s coaching staff at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He will likely have a similar position this March.
Mike Steed (Lincoln, Ont.) has become a successful pitching coach in the Atlanta Braves’ organization.
48. Mike Steed, pitching coach, Columbus Clingstones (78).
After being the pitching coach in the Braves system at class-A Rome (2024) and class-A Augusta (2023), Steed (Lincoln, Ont.) moved to the double-A Southern League. The former Ontario Blue Jays coach was entrusted with 10 of the Braves top 30 prospects, according to MLB.Pipeline (20 of which are arms). Second-ranked RHP JR Ritchie, a first rounder in 2022 (35th over-all) started the 2025 Futures Game and struck out 140 in 140 innings.
The others No. 7 Didier Fuentes. No. 10 Drue Hackenberg, No. 11 Blake Burkhalter, No. 12 Lucas Braun, No. 17 Rolddy Munoz, No. 19 Ian Mejia, a Southern League All Star, No. 21 Jhancarlos Lara, No. 25 Hayden Harris and No. 29 Ellison Joseph. Three arms were promoted to Atlanta for their big-league debuts: Fuentes, Harris and Muñoz. All were promoted to triple-A Gwinnett. The Columbus staff finished fourth in the league with 1,183 strikeouts.
Ryan McBride and Rich Leitch, of the Toronto Mets, saw one of their five of their grads play in the big leagues in 2025. Photo: Toronto Mets.
49. Ryan McBride and Rich Leitch (81),
The unofficial record for most Canuck grads from one elite team in the majors the same year came in 2023 when five Ontario Blue Jays grads (RP Jordan Balazovic, C Bo Naylor, 1B Josh Naylor, RP Zach Pop and RP Jordan Romano) appeared. The Toronto Mets equaled that total in 2025 with INF Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.), CF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.), C Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.), RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) and Pop. Next best this year were the Ontario Blue Jays with the Naylor brothers and Romano. Clarke arrived on the scene and was electric in centre making one bring-back-a-homer catch after another. Clarke hit .230 with eight doubles, two triples, three homers and eight RBIs with a .686 OPS.
Hicks was drafted by the Marlins in the Rule V from the Tigers and the rookie appeared in 119 games between first base and catching. Hicks hit .247 with 13 doubles, six homers, 45 RBIs nand a .693 OPS. Tong won the Canadian Baseball Network’s Wayne Norton Award, as the top Canuck minor league pitcher in the affiliated ranks. He led all minor leaguer arms in 2025 in strikeouts (179), ERA (1.43) and opponents’ batting average against (.148) at double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies and triple-A Syracuse Mets. He made five starts for the Mets going 2-3 with a 7.71 ERA. Black was promoted from triple-A Nashville for two games.
Bud Black, whose parents are Canadian, managed the Colorado Rockies for parts of nine seasons. Photo: MLB.com
50. Bud Black, manager, Rockies (35).
Baseball people always talk about winning the last game. Usually it means the end of the season -- the World Series. Black won his last game -- a 9-3 decision over the Padres ending an eight-game losing streak. Yet, that was enough for Rockies owner Dick Monfort as the win only lifted the club’s record to 7-33 who made a managerial change.
Black’s record in 2025 was only one game better than the worst 40-game start in big-league history and Colorado was coming off consecutive 100-plus loss seasons. Black, whose father was from Olds, Alta. and mother was from Melville, Sask., was in his ninth season. He retried with a 1,193-1,403 (.460 win percentage). Black was hired by the Padres as senior adviser to baseball operations. Could Black help out with WBC efforts ... maybe toss an inning or two?
Great Lake Canadians co-owners Adam Stern, left, and Chris Robinson.
51. Chris Robinson, Jamie Romak, Adam Stern, Great Lake Canadians (70).
There is always an argument as to who had the best year among elite teams. This year Langley Blaze had the most drafts, followed closely by the Okotoks Dawgs, Toronto Mets had the most in the majors and the Toronto Blue Jays had the top high schooler (plus three more signing for six figures). Yet without question the scout/coach who had the best year was Stern. In February the Kansas City Royals scout signed RHP Ryan McDonagh (Milton, Ont.). A number of clubs sought to sign McDonagh after his spring debut in Arizona, The max a team can pay an undrafted free agent is $150,000 bonus, but Stern and the Royals had dough left over from 2024 to outbid everyone and give the Ontario Blue Jays $425,000 -- largest bonus given to a non-drafted free agent. Stern also drafted and signed 13th rounder INF Tyson Moran (Wingham, Ont.) from his Great Lake Canadians giving him a $247,500 bonus. There is no truth to the rumor that Stern added $7,500 to the total so Moran would surpass Romak’s bonus. Royals scout Chris Reitsma (Calgary, Alta.) signed Okotoks undrafted free agent RHP Max Poirier for $150,000.
‘Iron Mike’ Robinson continued to be the best BP throwing machine in the country. The man can throw for hours. A sad part of the year for Robinson came July 25, 2025, with the loss of his former manager Ryan Sandberg. Every time I would be in Clearwater or at the winter meetings or in Cooperstown, the former Phillies manager and Cubs star would ask me “how is my son, Robby?” Then, he would say hello. Sandberg managed Robinson at triple-A Iowa in 2010. And Robinson had an excellent relationship with his manager -- like every other manager the former catcher had.
Great Lake Canadians director of player performance Jamie Romak.
Romak managed the Canadian Premier team on its spring and fall trip to both Arizona and Florida. He was in the midst of the February free-agent chase for Ontario Blue Jays RHP Ryan McDonagh, who pitched two scoreless against the Dimaondbacks first and second-year pros, Ge struck out three, allowed a hit and a walk. His fastball was in the 92-96 MPH range. Teams lined up to sign McDonagh and KC won. They put McDonagh’s locker beside LHP Jordan Woods (Oakville, Ont.). RHP Will Hynes, who went in the second round to the Cleveland Guardians was also on that staff and was given a $950,000 bonus -- the highest for a Canuck arm.
Manager Derek Bloomfield (London, Ont.) and Mark Shephard (London, Ont.), former Dodger draft choice, guided the Canadians to the CPBL 15U title.
The innovative Tom Tango (Montreal, Que.), also known as TangoTiger.
52. Tom Tango, Advanced Media, MLB (61).
How is this for figuring out the Cy Young award race.TangoTiger as he is known online predicted a top five in the award to be Tigers’ Tarik Skubal, Boston’s Garrett Crochet, Astro Hunter Brown, Yankee Max Fried and Mariner Bryan Woo on Sept. 29. And it was a Skubal-Crochet-Fried-Brown-Woo finish on Nov. 11. In the NL he predicted the race would go Pirates Paul Skenes, followed by Phillies Cristopher Sánchez, Giants Logan Webb, Dodger Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Brewer Freddy Peralta. It was a Skenes-Sanchez-Yamamoto-Webb-Peralta finish. So he went 9-for-10 in proper order, flip-flopping only Yamamoto and Webb.
Pretty impressive for the Montrealer and you can read all about it …
Best Statscast -- brought to you Google -- numbers (at least half of these categories he created) from 2025 ... Average Exit Velocity _ Leader Oneil Cruz, 95.8 MPH, Jays: No. 30 Vlad Guerrero 92; Most barrels _ Leader Shoehi Ohtani 100, Jays: No. 16 George Springer 63, Average bat speed: Leader _ Cruz 78.8, Jays: 8. Guerrero 76.7, Most five-star catches: Leader: Pete Crow-Armstrong 19, Jays: 24th (tied) Myles Straw 4; Outs Above Average leader: Pete Crow-Armstrong and Bobby Witt 24, Jays: 11th (tied) Ernie Clement 15; Sprint speed (minimum 10 competitive runs): Leader: Trea Turner 30.3 ft/sec; Jays: 101st (tied) Clement 28.6 ft/sec.
Former San Francisco Giants GM Farhan Zaidi (Sudbury, Ont.) is now a special advisor with the Dodgers.
53. Farhan Zaidi, assistant GM, Dodgers (30).
After running the San Francisco Giants from 2018 to 2024, Zaidi rejoined the Dodgers as a special advisor to Dodgers owner Mark Walter on Feb. 10, 2025. Zaidi (Sudbury, Ont.) grew up in the Philippines as a Blue Jays fan.
How do the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers operate more like the Dodgers since Walter’s TWG Sports bought the NBA team in October? Move Dodgers people over to court side. Andrew Friedman and Zaidi are now consulting for the Lakers.
A former Oakland A’s executive, with an analytics background, Zaidi, a senior executive of TWG Sports, is helping with the Lakers after the sale of the team closed in October. Zaidi has also been assisting the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.
Toronto Mets alum Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) was a human highlight reel in centre field for the A’s in 2025.
54. Denzel Clarke, Athletics (53)
In 31 games for the A’s triple-A Las Vegas Aviators prior to his call-up on May 23, Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) batted .286 and posted a .436 on-base percentage. After his promotion, he made several highlight reel catches in centre field for the A’s, which made him the first player to win the MLB Electric Play of the Week award in three consecutive weeks and earned him the Capital One Premier Play of the year at the MLB Awards.
He missed the final two months of the season with a right adductor strain. In total, in 47 major league contests, he batted .230 with three home runs, eight doubles and two triples.
Clarke has committed to play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic in March. It will be his second appearance in the WBC; he played three games in 2023.
Steve Wilson (Victoria, BC), right, has become a highly respected international scout for the New York Yankees. Photo: Yonhap News
55. Steve Wilson, international scout, Yankees (50).
Wilson (Victoria, BC) has a lot to do with some players headed north (and we don’t mean Canada -- we mean the Bronx) and prospects that helped impact the New York system via trades. The 6-foot-7 RHP Carlos Lagrange, signed in 2022 as a passed over guy for 10,000, emerged in 2024, but this past season he really put himself on the map as a top prospect in and should be inside MLB’s top 100 prospect list - possibly inside the top 75. He pitched in at class-A Hudson Valley and double-A Somerset (11-8, 3.53) and has some of the best pure raw stuff in all of minors. He struck out 168 in 120 innings.
C Carlos Navaez was dealt to Boston about a year ago, for RHP Elmer Rodriguez who has also moved into the top 100 prospect list. Narvaez was a $50,000 sign in 2015 out of Venezuala and became Boston’s starting catcher in 2025, finishing sixth in AL rookie voting. C Agustin Ramirez was traded to Miami in July 2024 for Jazz Chishom -- who had a 30-30 season for the Yankees -- along with INF Jared Serna of Mexico. Ramirez opened at triple-A was called up in April, finishing as the Marlins’ starting catcher and leading NL rookies in runs (72), hits (124), doubles (33), homers (21) and total bases. Other deals included LHP Carlos De La Rosa, who started the DSL All star game, when not yet 18 and hitting 96-97 MVP moved at the deadline to the Giants for Camilo Doval and OF Browm Martinez, 2024 class was hitting .404 in 18 games when he was involved in the trade that brought Ahmed Rosario to our big club.
INF Juan Matheus, signed in 2022 out of Venezuela for 10,000, established himself as a prospect in 2025 splitting the year between class-A Tampa and class-A Hudson Valley hitting .275, going 40-for-51 stealing bases. SS Stiven Marinez, part of the 2024 class, was in the DSL and had a solid first year batting .275 with 22 steals. Plus 3B Richard Matic, who slashed .336 /.566/1,053.
Former big league slugger Matt Stairs (Fredericton, N.B.) completed his first full year as a hitting coordinator with the Okotoks Dawgs in 2025. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs
56. Matt Stairs, coast-to-coast, hitting savant (45).
In 2025, Stairs enjoyed his first full year as a hitting coordinator in the Okotoks Dawgs’ organization. He worked with over 120 youth players, ages 10 to 18, in the Dawgs’ program. Stairs also ran a hitting clinic for kids at the Dawgs’ Duvernay Fieldhouse in February and a two-day hitting, pitching and defence camp at the end of November. In between, he continued in his unofficial role as WCBL All-Star Game ambassador at Seaman Stadium.
When he’s not in Okotoks sharing his wisdom, Stairs is back East doing the same. He serves as technical director of the Fredericton Minor Baseball Association, a position that entails regularly going to practices and offering advice to coaches. “On the weekends, I’m probably at the ballparks eight or nine hours a day watching games,” Stairs told the Canadian Baseball Network in 2024. “Some days, I’ll sit in my car and watch a whole practice and take notes and call the coach up the next day.”
Twins scout Walt Burrows, in his pre-Minnesota Twins days, wearing a Blue Jays pullover at a clinic.
57. Walt Burrows, scout, Twins (69).
Year I as a baseball scout for Burrows surrounded a story about a hoops player. When Tom Valcke, head of the Canadian arm of the Major League Scouting Bureau, flew west coast to interview Burrows for his assistant’s position one of the first questions he asked was “who is the best player in the province.” Burrows was quick with an answer. Valcke countered with “well, let’s go see him.” Burrows gave a memroable answer “We can’t, he quit to play basketball.” Burrows ran into the player at an airport as the player was headed to the NBA draft. The scout told him he could have been a big leaguer. The player was Steve Nash, who played 18 years in the NBA, was an eight-time All-Star, a seven-time All-NBA selection, and a two-time MVP.
And the final player Burrows ever signed with the Twins was 6-foot-11 RHP Jason Reitz, a fourth rounder from the University of Oregon, given a $633,200 bonus. He is the tallest plauer Burrows ever drafted -- an inch taller than Hall of Famer Randy Johnson. Burrows.
Burrows retired in September and was the longest-serving scout in Canada. He worked tirelessly for 35 years for the Bureau and the Twins, plus five years part-time traveling across Canada in search of players. If we had a poll of coaches and asked them the most forthright and honest scout ... we have no doubt he would be No. 1. If we polled scouts he would also be No. 1. An honorable man.
And I say this without Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) ever telling me one thing about our draft list. Once or twice he would phone to correct a position, a heigth or weight. One such call late at night I asked if he was in BC? He answered: “Arkansas ... double-A ... saw Mickey Mantle tonight.” He was talking about Mike Trout.
Houston Astros scout Jim Stevenson (Leaside, Ont.)
58. Jim Stevenson, scout, Astros (59).
It’s always a good year when a scout has one of his signees make the majors. RP Logan VanWey pitched in nine games for the Astros. And is the kind of arms scouts like to talk about: an undrafted free agent sign in 2022 out of Missouri Southern. But first since the draft was in July and he wanted to pitch, headed Indy ball in the Pioneer league for the Glacier Range Riders. Stevenson had him at Minute Maid workout in June. He was Stevenson’s 15th big leaguer, including Ramon Laureano, a Northeastern Oklahoma 16th rounder, who had a great bounce back year between the Orioles and Padres. His second rounder from 2011 RHP Adrian Houser signed a two-year $22 million deal with the Giants.
In the 2025 draft he wound up with fifth rounder RHP Nick Potter out of Wichita State, who signed for $336,000 and was clocked at 97-100 mph; 11th rounder OF Justin Thomas, Arkansas, $177,500 and 19th rounder OF Joey McLaughlin, an Oklahoma high schooler and the grandson of former Blue Jay Joey Mclaughlin. McLaughlin chose to attend school and headed to Arkansas State.
Fieldhouse Pirates grad Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) and Toronto Mets alum Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) both made their MLB debuts in 2025.
59. OF Owen Caissie (53) Marlins and RHP Jonah Tong, New York Mets (-)
In 99 games with the Cubs’ triple-A affiliate in Iowa in 2025, Caissie batted .286 and posted an .937 OPS with 22 home runs, 55 RBIs and five stolen bases. For his efforts, the left-handed hitting outfielder received his first big league call-up on August 14. He proceeded to belt a home run and had four RBIs in 12 major league games for the Cubs.
Following the season, Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) was named a triple-A All-Star by Minor League Baseball and earned the Canadian Baseball Network’s Randy Echlin Award, as top Canuck minor league hitter in the affiliated ranks for a second consecutive year.
On Jan. 7, the Cubs traded Caissie to the Miami Marlins as part of a package for right-handed starter Edward Cabrera. The Canuck outfielder has a good shot at cracking the Marlins’ Opening Day roster, alongside two other Canadians - C Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) and SS Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.). But not before he suits up with them for Canada in the World Baseball Classic in March. It will be Caissie’s second appearance in the tournament.
Tong (Markham, Ont.) put together one of the most dominant minor league seasons in recent history, combining to go 10-5 with a 1.43 ERA in 22 starts between the double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies and triple-A Syracuse Mets. His 179 strikeouts were the most by any pitcher in the affiliated minor league ranks this season. He also topped all minor league hurlers in ERA and opponents’ batting average (.148).
For his efforts, he was named the Canadian Baseball Network’s Wayne Norton Award winner as top Canuck pitcher in the affiliated minor ranks, Mets’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Eastern League Pitcher of the Year and Baseball America’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
His minor league dominance earned him his first big league call-up in late August. In five major league starts with the Mets, he went 2-3 with a 7.71 ERA and had 22 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. Tong, 22, will compete for a spot in the Mets’ rotation in the spring.
Pete Orr (Newmarket, Ont.) is a scout for the Milwaukee Brewers. Photo: Milwaukee Brewers
60. Pete Orr, scout Brewers (56).
During his eight years in the majors, Orr had 738 plate appearances with the Braves, Nationals and Phillies. Lifetime he was 0-for-2 against the Blue Jays, yet never had an at-bat at Rogers Centre. Orr knew his way around from his days playing for coach Gary Wilson and the Ontario Blue Jays. And Orr was at the Rogers Centre scouting for the Brewers as the Mariners and the Jays hooked up. His Brewers beat the Cubs in five games, but were swept by the Dodgers in the NLCS.
His most successful draft Dylan O’Rae (Point Edward, Ont.) missed all of the 2025 season due to a wrist injury which required surgery. Orr (Newmarket, Ont.) drafted O’Rae as the top Canuck in the third round in 2022. O’Rae returned to action with the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League. There he hit .302 with four doubles, nine RBIs and a .783 OPS in 14 games. Counting Arizona, the former Great Lake Canadian has now stolen 110 bases in 194 pro games, being thrown out only 19 times.
Orr also coached with Junior National Team and Toronto Mets in charge of player development, as well as scouting. The man who scored one of the most important runs in Canuck international history (gold-medal winning game at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Ajax in extras) is one of the most respected ex ball players from coast to coast. Also in the Brewers system are Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) and LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.), who both spent time at triple-A Nashville,
Jamie Campbell (Oakville, Ont.) has been host of Blue Jays Central for 15 years. Photo: Sportsnet
61. Jamie Campbell, Sportsnet (63)
In 2025, Campbell completed his 15th season on Blue Jays Central (21st in broadcasting), and with the Blue Jays coming within one win of capturing the World Series, it was his most exciting yet. Campbell and the Blue Jays Central crew even took their show on the road to Dodger Stadium for the Fall Classic.
During the Blue Jays’ playoff run, Campbell teamed with Tourism Timmins to create t-shirts with his catchphrase, “He hit it all the way to Timmins!” on them. Sales of the t-shirts raised $31,700 for the oncology department at the Timmins and District Hospital.
For a second consecutive year, Campbell and his son, Jack, toured Western Canadian League parks. In 2024, they visited Alberta, so this July they checked out Saskatchewan ball parks in Weyburn, Saskatoon and Regina. Five years ago, Campbell was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He continues to receive treatments and shared his story with Maclean’s magazine in October. He also continues to use his platform to raise awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.
Among the other charitable organizations that Campbell has supported through his social media posts are Toronto’s Sick Kids hospital, the Save Your Skin Foundation and Heritage Toronto. He has also set up a bursary for students of the Matawa First Nation.
Onetime American League All-Star and current Baseball Canada CEO Jason Dickson (Miramichi, N.B.). Photo: Baseball Canada
62. Jason Dickson, CEO, Baseball Canada (54)
Four years into his tenure as Baseball Canada CEO, Dickson continues to work tirelessly to improve the profile of the sport in our country. In 2025, Dickson led Baseball Canada in it’s second year of its five-year Strategic Plan which is based on three pillars and commitments: growth, development and performance and organizational excellence.
A highlight of 2025 for Baseball Canada was the formation and announcement of “The Road to Okotoks” tournament which will see the top 16 elite teams, featuring the country’s best 19U face off in Okotoks, Alta., for a national championship in July.
One of the most successful initiatives under Dickson’s watch has been Baseball Canada’s Women in Coaching program which was designed to empower female coaches in their development. In March, Baseball Canada introduced the Women in Baseball - Administration and Leadership Workshop Series. Three months later, Baseball Canada held its first National Girls in Baseball Week.
And thanks largely to Baseball Canada’s work, female baseball was played at the Canada Games for the first time this summer. On the administrative side, at the annual general meeting in July, Baseball Canada implemented a new board structure that includes independent directors, athlete representatives, and provincial sport organization leaders.
Highly respected coach Corey Eckstein (Abbotsford, BC) recently returned to the Abbotsford Cardinals organization. Photo: Abbotsford Cardinals
63. Corey Eckstein, Ontario Blue Jays/Abbotsford Cardinals (68).
Eckstein came east to Ancaster to run Ontario’s first elite program and did an excellent job before after much thought, he decided to resign, step aside for personal reasons and return to the West Coast and the original Premier League. Eckstein will be around for when his son, Kohen Eckstein heads to Cooperstown for a tournament.
Pitching coach Jared Kennedy and Eckstein got three arms over 95 mph in February of 2025 on the same day: RHP Ryan McDonagh (Milton, Ont.), RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) and RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.) all popped catcher’s mitt in front of scouts. McDonagh was an undrafted free-agent signed shortly after by the Royals, receiving a $425,000 bonus. Hynes was drafted in the second round by the Guardians and signed for $950,000. Goodacre had an oblique issue in the fall and didn’t throw much. He is headed to West Virginia.
Ontario Blue Jays grad INF Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) of the Florida Gators, is projected to be the No. 1 player selected in 2027 draft. Eckstein returns to Abby and this season will run the 17U Cardinals. Perry Scott (Hamilton, Ont.) takes over as GM of the Ontario Blue Jays and Darren Shred (Caledon, Ont.) will guide the 18U team. The Ontario Blue Jays were the 14U CPBL playoff champs.
MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson (New Glasgow, N.S.) published a bestselling book about the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025.
64. Keegan Matheson, MLB.com (77)
It used to be Sportsnet was Sportsnet and TSN was TSN -- and never the twian shall meet. Yet. Matheson is good enough to appear of both networks. On top of his excellent coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays during their pennant-winning season for the MLB Network, Sportsnet and TSN, Matheson wrote his first book, The Franchise: Toronto Blue Jays, in 2025. Thanks to his engaging prose and superb stories about prominent personalities and events in Blue Jays’ history – not to mention a foreword by John Gibbons – the book enjoyed a good run on The Globe and Mail’s Bestsellers list. It was also a very popular Christmas gift.
Due to the fact that he is so respected and at virtually every Blue Jays press event, Matheson is treated like Helen Thomas, who covered the White House for United Press International and Hearst newspapers for 56 years. Thomas always got the nod to ask the first question to kick off a presidential press conference. When Blue Jays skipper John Schneider arrives for his post-game press conferences, Matheson usually asks the first question.
Terriers coach and The Baseball Zone owner Rick Johnston
65. Rick Johnston and Kevin Horton, The Baseball Zone, Terriers (72).
LHP Jack Perry committed to the University of Michigan Wolverines where he will join LHP Keegan O’Hearn (Mississauga, Ont.). INF Steven Trkulja is off to the Bellarmine Knights and C Noah Currah (Georgetown, Ont.) is headed to the Indianapoli Pacers. And grad RHP Ben Abram (Georgetown, Ont.) was a dominant force for the Welland Jackfish. The Terriers had success south of the border as the 15U won Pittsburgh Cap Classic and the 16U won the Cincinnati Tournament
Kevin Horton of The Baseball Zone with daughter RHP Emma during the ALS Double Play charity day.
Horton will be a busy man as the Terriers host a qualifier at King’s Christian Collegiate for Baseball Canada 9U National Championship - The Road to Okotoks for the Justin Morneau Cup. As always the Bazeball Zone is a heavily involved supporting the ALS Double Play A charity game was staged in September and a Christmas bake sale was held. Both were “very successful.”
Kingston Thunder alum Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) was outstanding out of the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen in 2025. Photo: Seattle Mariners
66. Matt Brash, Mariners (-)
After missing the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery, Brash (Kingston, Ont.) returned to the Seattle Mariners in May to serve as a key setup man. In 53 regular season relief appearances, the 6-foot-1 brash right-hander posted a 2.47 ERA and had 21 holds and four saves. He fanned 58 batters in 47 1/3 innings.
The Mariners ended the first half of their season in Detroit, so Brash was able to go home and spend the All-Star break in Kingston -- Canada’s first capital. After a solid second-half to the season, Brash was also a go-to reliever for the Mariners in the postseason, recording a 2.00 ERA, striking out 10 batters in nine innings, in eight appearances. In the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Canuck righty permitted one run in 4 1/3 innings in four games.
Brash is on board to pitch for Canada in the World Baseball Classic in March. He struck out the side to close out a mercy-rule 18-8 win over Great Britain in his sole appearance for Canada at the 2023 WBC.
Junior National Team grad Myles Gordon (Oakville, Ont.) is now assistant director, player development with the Cincinnati Reds. Photo: Baseball Canada
67. Myles Gordon, assistant director, player development, Reds (-).
After being a fourth-round pick of the Reds from the Great Lake Canadians, Gordon (Oakville, Ont.) played five seasons in the Cincinnati system, two more in the independent league. When he retired the Reds hired him to do video and they love his work ethic and determination he showed as a player.
Said Reds GM Nick Krall: “Miles Gordon represents the next generation of baseball leadership. He is an influential young executive who blends first-hand playing experience with a sharp eye for talent. His journey from the field as a Canadian prospect to the front office shows how passion and vision can redefine Cincinnati Reds player development.”
Mike Bonanno, top, is the player agent for Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) and Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.).
68. Mike Bonanno, agent, Klutch Sports (49).
There are a few things that make an excellent player agent. He or she needs the ability to: negotiate, to give and take; to read the marketplace and be able to recognize talent. Bonnano can do that. He represents both RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) and Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) voted the Canadian Baseball Network’s top pitcher and hittter in affiliated ball over the 2005 season. Tong made five starts for the New York Mets after going 10-5 with a 1.43 ERA, in 22 starts at triple-A Syracuse and double-A Binghamton. He walked 47 and struck out 179, Repeat winner Cassie made his major-league debut appearing in 12 games for the Cubs after hitting .286 with 28 doubles, two triples, 22 homers and 55 RBIs. He had a .937 OPS in 99 games.
Bonanno also looked after Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) of the Guardians, top-30 prospects Micah Buckram (Abbotsford, BC) of the Blue Jays) and Emilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) of the Rays, plus Jordan Woods (Oakville, Ont.) of the Royals, INF Nate Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.) of the Nationals), INF TJ Schofield-Sam (Brampton, Ont.) of the Athletics and INF Bryce Arnold (Grimsby, Ont.) of the Blue Jays.
Klutch also looks after OF Charles Davalan (St-Bruno-De-Montarville, Que.) who went in the first round (41st) to the Dodgers. Klutch did Devin Williams free-agent deal with the NY Mets, while Bonanno handled Jays INF Andres Giminez Canadian endorsements. The other clients include top-30 prospects RHP Ryan Birchard and LHP Tate Kuehner, both of the Brewers, plus C Austin Wynns of the Athletics and RHP Jonathan Pintaro of the Mets.
Fellow Milwaukee Brewers executives and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Doug Melvin (Chatham, Ont. and Gord Ash (Toronto, Ont.).
69. Doug Melvin and Gord Ash, Brewers (66).
These two good friends should be higher. As GMs, Melvin (Rangers), Ash (Blue Jays) and Walt Jocketty (Cardinals) and their wives used to vacation together. Melvin (Chatham, Ont.), a minor-league pitcher in the Pirates and Yankees systems, used to throw winter bullpens inside the same gym as future Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.). Melvin played high school hoops with the late Bill Lankhof.
Ash also knew Lankhof, who did an excellent job covering the Toronto Blue Jays and Ash attended Lankhof’s 72nd birthday at Chuck’s Roadhouse in Orangeville. Ash, vice president projects for the Brewers, and the man responsible for building the club’s new complex in the Dominican Republic. Ash’s wife, Susan Cutajar, hired the mother of first rounder Slater de Brun at TSN, De Brun went in the first round to the Orioles.
Calgary Redbirds grad Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in December. Photo: Arizona Diamondbacks.
70. Michael Soroka, Nationals/Diamondbacks (60)
On Dec. 12, Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) signed a one-year, $7.5 contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks to be a starting pitcher. The 28-year-old ended last season in the bullpen with the Chicago Cubs.
“This is a year (2026) that I need to be able to go out there and prove to myself, not everybody else, that I can go out there and throw 180 innings again,” Soroka said on the Foul Territory podcast in December. “That’s something that I’m still very capable of.” Soroka did make a combined 17 starts with the Washington Nationals and Cubs in 2025, which was his most since his outstanding rookie campaign with the Atlanta Braves in 2019.
He started 2025 with the Nationals and posted a 3-8 record and a 4.87 ERA, while striking out 87 batters in 81 1/3 innings before being dealt to the Cubs at the trade deadline. He then made one start with the Cubs before suffering a shoulder strain which sidelined him for almost six weeks. Upon his return, the Cubs used him exclusively as a reliever, a role he has been successful in over the past two seasons.
The 2026 campaign will be Soroka’s seventh in the big leagues. Over the course of his career, he has had to bounce back from several injuries, most notably he tore his right Achilles tendon twice.
Mal Romanin and Richard Griffin are the co-hosts of an excellent baseball podcast called “Exit Philosophy.”
71. Richard Griffin and Our Pal Romanin, Griff’s The Pitch (64).
Griffin does an excellent job covering the Blue Jays with an insight others writers do not have: since he has worked in the industry, been in suites at winter meetings for high-level trade discussions and has a different relationship with some players than the normal scribe has. He was the Montreal Expos P.R. man for 22 seasons, so he has been behind the curtain. He won the Robert O. Fishel award, which means his name is on a plaque in Cooperstown. I saw it on one visit. Every other name had been glued on but Richard. He name plate was screwed on and one had come undone, so it was on a slant. It came me great pleasure to phone Montreal and say “Richard you have a screw loose.”
After the Expos, he covered the Blue Jays 24 years for the Toronto Star. Next came four years in the Blue Jays media relations department and now the past three years he has been writing for Griff’s The Pitch on Substack -- a must read for Blue Jays fans. Griffin spent two months in the summmer of 2025 managing the Niagara Ironbacks in the Perfect Game summer college league.
Romanin (Burlington, Ont. is his boss and partner when the team plays it’s home games in St. Catharines. Romanin is the GM (he is not from the J.P. Riccardi school) of the college team, which had a late start recruiting for 2025, but the organization has hit the ground running on recruiting for 2026. Romanin is also Griffin’s co-host on most Exit Philosophy podcasts. It’s a good listen and sometimes Griffin has former Expos as guests.
Chris Pritchett has been the head baseball coach at UBC for 10 years. Photo: UBC Athletics
72. Chris Prichett, UBC head coach (75)
In 2025, Pritchett completed his 10th season as head coach of the UBC T-Birds. He has an overall record of 283-181 and a conference record of 167-82. With him at the helm, the T-Birds have secured seven berths to the NAIA World Series Opening Round. In 2025, UBC qualified for the Avista NAIA World Series for only the second time after sweeping their NAIA championship Opening Round tournament. For his efforts, Pritchett was named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year.
Also, in 2025, when RHP Ryan Heppner (Delta, BC) was taken in the 19th round by the Braves in the draft, he became the 10th UBC player selected since Pritchett took over the program in 2015. UBC outfielder Jonny McGill (Richmond, BC) was also signed as a free agent by the Angels shortly after the draft. That brought the total of players either drafted or signed to 34. UBC has the best NAIA university program in Canada -- and only four-year program -- remaining a dream destination for many high schoolers.
Pritchett came to Vancouver in 1995 to play for the triple-A Canadians (then an Angels’ affiliate). He stayed for parts of four seasons, and after a 13-year pro career - including 61 games in parts of four big league campaigns with the Angels and Phillies - he was back as a UBC volunteer in 2006-07. After serving as a hitting coach with class-A Vancouver (an A’s affiliate) in 2007 and scouting for the Red Sox for six years, he took over as UBC’s head coach from Terry McKaig. Pritchett became a dual citizen in 2022 and obtained his Canadian passport.
Women’s National Team coach Anthony Pluta. Photo: WBSC
73. Anthony Pluta, coach, Womens National Team (-).
Pluta saw 12 of his players go in the Women’s Pro Baseball League draft, a tribute to the talent selected each year for Baseball Canada’s Womens National Team. Alli Schroder (Fruitvale, BC) was the highest selected going to Boston in the first round (fifth overall) The 11 others: Raine Padgham (Abbotsford, BC) Boston, first (12th), Zoe Hicks (Boissevain, Man) Boston, first (13th), Jaida Lee (St. John’s, NL) first, New York (14th), Andréanne Leblanc (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.) San Francisco, second, Madison Willan (Edmonton, Alta.) New York, second, Michelle Roche (Burnaby, BC) Los Angeles, second, Ela Day-Bédard (Gatineau, Que.) San Francisco, third, Liz Gilder (New Westminster, BC) San Francisco, third, Juliette Kladko (Vancouver, BC) Los Angeles, fourth, Emily Baxter (Oakville, Ont.) Boston, fifth and Addie Ziebart (Saskatoon, Sask.) New York, fifth.
When Pluta was in the Padres system he could bring it (90s plus). As a 25 years old he was throwing in the off-season in Las Vegas. A 13 year old was at the facility and the catcher’s dad insisted that son catch Pluta’s pen. Pluta asked the father: “Are you sure you want to do this?” The dad answered: “Yes” The teenager caught every pitch like a pro. His name? Bryce Harper.
San Diego Padres scout Chris Kemlo (Oshawa, Ont.).
74. Chris Kemlo, cross checker, Padres (67).
What does Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) have in common with Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) and Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC)? Caissie, like Guerrero and Lawrie, have each won the Canadian Baseball Network’s top hitter in the minors. Only Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) has won more (three). Kemlo drafted Caissie from the FieldHouse Pirates as second rounder in 2020, giving him a $1,200,004 bonus.
Kemlo’s 2021 draft Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.) recovered from Tommy John surgery and was elevated to the Padres’ 40-man roster. Hawkins, a former Vauxall Academy Jet, was a combined 9-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 10 saves in 45 games at class-A Fort Wayne and double-A San Antonio. He struck out T80 in 60 innings.
Kemlo’s pick, Vicarte Domingo (Vancouver, BC), a 19th rounder from the UBC Thunderbirds and the Edmonton Riverhawks was 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA, fanning 86 in 63 innings at class-A Lake Elsinore. His free-agent sign Braden Nett from St. Charles Community College was 6-7 with 3.76 ERA, striking out 116 in 105 2/3 innings at double-A San Antonio and double-A Midland, after he was dealt to the Athletics. The Padres signed free-agent Brandon Langley (New Glasgow, PEI) from the Western Carolina Catamounts.
Dr. Randy Gregg is the managing director of the Edmonton Riverhawks. Photo: Global News
75. Dr. Randy Gregg, Edmonton RIverhawks (84).
Long before he was winning Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, Randy Gregg won it all. He pitched for the Edmonton Tigers ball team from 1975-1982, winning a Canadian title in 1978, earning MVP honors. Dr. Gregg is the managing director and Ryan Gregg is the GM. The Riverhawks tied for first place with the Victoria HarbourCats each going 20-8, thanks to late homers by 1B Stevie Waters and C Kyle Yip (Calgary, Alta.).
The Riverhawks drew 131,966 fans in 27 home dates, averaging 4,888 to Re/Max Field in Edmonton. Re/Max has a seating capacity of 9,200 and on Canada Day drew 7,439 in a 5-2 loss to the Bellingham Bells. RHP Reece Hemmerling (Beaumont, Alta.) pitched a complete game in a 6-1 win over Victoria, After a 3-1 loss, Edmonton won 8-7, despite a five-run ninth. Edmonton lost a one-game-winner-take-all affair featured a one hour and 47 minute hour rain/lightning delay. C Jason Green (Georgetown, Ont.) and Yip each homered.
Head coach Jake Lanferman (Sherwood Park, Alta.) had plenty of Canucks on the roster: RHP Nick Backstrom (Sundre, Alta.), OF Noah Brooks (Cloverdale, BC), RHP Mason Chamberlain (Victoria, BC), RHP Myles Chamberlain (Victoria, BC), Caedyn Colford, (Drayton Valley, Alta.), RHP Logan Colville (Edmonton), James Cote (Edmonton, Alta.),C Jake Daku (Martensville, Sask.), RHP Tate Dearing (Surrey, BC), RHP Reece Devlin (Edmonton), RHP Zac Foden (Edmonton, Alta.),RHP Mitchell Heinrich, (Vermilion, Alta.), RHP Jack Hudson (St. Albert, Alta.), RHP Brady Kobitowich (Edmonton), INF David Krahn (Aldergrove, Bc), 1B Trent Lenihan (White Rock, Bc), RHP Brendan Loeppky (Cochrane, Alta.), RHP Jack Macintosh (Penticton, BC), RHP Owen Mcconnell (Vancouver, BC), RHP CHristopher Menard (St. Albert, Alta.), OF Mitchell Middlemis (Chilliwack, BC), INF Brayden Morris (St. Albert, Alta.), LHP Matthew Ridsdale (Edmonton). RHP Riley Starko (Vermilion, Alta.) and RHP Lucas Webber-Kitching (Calgary, Alta.).
Team Attendance Total Openings Avg
Edmonton Riverhawks 131,966 27 4,888
Okotoks Dawgs 110,029 27 4,075
Victoria HarbourCats 50,702 26 1,950
Saskatoon Berries 46,085 27 1,707
Sylvan Lake Gulls 43,577 27 1,614
Medicine Hat Mavericks 34,626 26 1,332
Nanaimo NightOwls 27,308 27 1,011
Thunder Bay Border Cats 36,334 36 1,009
Regina Red Sox 22,846 25 914
Lethbridge Bulls 24,200 27 896
Energy City Cactus Rats 15,558 21 741
Fort McMurray Giants 18,881 26 726
Kelowna Falcons 13,746 27 509
Kamloops NorthPaws 11,794 26 454
Moose Jaw Miller Express 10,335 27 383
Brooks Bombers 7,912 25 316
Swift Current 57s 6,193 26 238
Weyburn Beavers 806 25 32
WPBL chief advisor Elizabeth Benn (Toronto, Ont.), right, met Women’s National Team star Alli Schroder at Baseball Canada’s Awards banquet on January 10. Photo: Baseball Canada
76. Elizabeth Benn, coach, instructor, WPBL chief advisor (92)
It was a busy year for Benn. In April, she served as a coach/mentor at the MLB Trailblazer Series in Vero Beach. These camps were created to provide playing, development and educational opportunities for girls. Five Canadian players - Kaylee Chan (Aurora, Ont.), Adele Dostaler (Repentigny, Que.), Olivia Roos (Vancouver, BC), Andy Walsh (Fort McMurray, Alta.) and Helen Zhu (Montreal, Que.) - participated in the camps.
Benn was also an instructor at the MLB Youth Development Camps and served as the chief advisor for the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) tryouts. In this position, she led the evaluation of 600 players from 11 countries. The WPBL held their first draft in November and Benn is providing the circuit, which is set to begin play in 2026, with guidance on the game and business decisions.
Benn worked as the New York Mets’ director of major league operations for three seasons from 2022 to 2024, which made her the highest-ranking female in baseball operations in franchise history. She has continued her affiliation with the Mets by working as an analyst on SNY’s (New York sports network) Mets Hot Stove program.
Former big league pitcher Chris Reitsma (Calgary, Alta.), right, is now the director of operations and pitching coordinator for the Webber Academy. Photo: Webber Academy
77. Chris Reitsma, Webber Academy (78)
The Wildcats had an impressive year as INF Matt MacDonald (Kamloops, BC) transferred from Pima Community College to join the Wichita State Shockers. He’ll eventually be in the Joe Carter clubhouse.
Also headed to school or already in school are OF Simon Baker (Cochrane, Alta.) to Missouri State, RHP Sawyer Jensen (Strathmore, Alta.) to Dayton, INF Cohen Miller (Calgary, Alta.) to Kansas State, Zack McDonald (Stettler/Lacombe, Alta.) to Michigan and INF Lucas Loukenen (Nanaimo, BC) to USC Upstate. As a Royals scout. Reitsma signed RHP Max Poirier (Nanaimo, BC) as an undrafted free agent for $150,000. Another 12-to-15 players are headed to junior college.
Sportsnet’s baseball scribe Ben Nicholson-Smith. Photo: Sportsnet
78. Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet (80).
Nicholson-Smith had as good a year as the team he covers. He was accurately into the prediction game, which is not easy. A) How the Jays would handle the trade deadline (expect multiple pitchers, expect it to be busy -- arms Seranthony Domínguez, Louis Varland and Shane Bieber were added, plus Ty France -- adding players with years of controllers r, zero big-time prospects moved and expect action to happen late. B) How the Jays would enter the off-season (expect them connected to big names, the Pacific Rim, patience will be required and impact can come from unexpected places).
And one of his best was capturing the post-game drama in the clubhouse -- on deadline. Re-reading it ... you felt like you were inside the clubhouse listening to Ernie Clement. Nicholson-Smith also co-hosts the popular At The Letters podcast with Arden Zwelling.
StellarAlgo CEO Vincent Ircandia
79. Vincent Ircandia, CEO StellarAlgo (76).
Years ago the Expos hired a new marketing director. A gruff old writer asked “when and where are you buying the fireworks for July 1?” How times have changed. StellarAlgo claims it is the world’s leading sports CDP making it easy to access and take action on fan data across teams and leagues, increase fan engagement, revenue and sponsorship opportunities. The company is partner for more than 200 sports properties and 14 leagues including NBA, WNBA, MLB/MiLB, NHL, CEBL, ECHL and the NBA, which has equity in the Calgary firm.
By opening day more than 80 teams (two-thirds of minor-league franchises) were part of the fan engagement platform, which helps boost revenue through data insights and activations in StellarAlgo lingo, that can appeal to segments of fans. For example: your season-ticket holders, out-of-state fans and people who might be first-time attendees at at a venue. The minors has 120 teams with a total attendance of over 30 million during a full season.
Junior National Team alum and longtime big league pitcher James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) speaks with emcee Mike Wilner after he was inducted onto Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence at the Baseball Canada awards banquet at Rogers Centre on January 10. Photo: Eugenio Matos, Baseball Canada
80. James Paxton, former MLB pitcher (65)
In his first full year of retirement following his 11-season big league career, Paxton (Ladner, BC) pitched in a game for the Savannah Bananas, helped jumpstart a business that advises athletes (AthleteComplete.com) and, most importantly, got to spend some quality time with his wife, Katie, and his two young children in the summer.
The Junior National Team alum ended the year on a high note, when it was announced that he’d become the 14th member of Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence. He’s the third left-handed pitcher to be so honoured, following Jeff Francis (North Delta, BC, 2016) and Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC, 2023).
One of the next honours for Paxton will likely be his election to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. But players are not eligible for the hall until three years after their final professional game. Given that Paxton ranks high in many all-time Canadian major league pitching categories – including sixth in strikeouts (1,005) - he seemed a good bet to be inducted in 2028. But hold on, Paxton is planning to pitch for Canada in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, something he never did during his career. And while it’s likely a bucket list item for him, it will set his Canadian ball hall eligibility back to 2030.
Mississauga Tigers head of college placement Greg Byron (left) and catching coordinator Damon Topolie. Photo: Mississauga Tigers
81. Greg Byron, Damon Topolie, Sean Travers, Mississauga Tigers (86).
Under Byron the Tigers made the 18U nationals again and Kris Markham’s team made the 22U nationals. However, due so many players heading back to school could not compete in the 22U. At the 18U in Firt McMurray, Sean Bradley (Toronto) had five hits and drove in three runs in a 15-10 win against Alberta as Zack Duke (Burlington) pitched the win.
Quinn Lightfoot (Caledon) went 4-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs and Joey Khananisho (Kleinburg) tripled as Nick (Diesel) Petropoulos (Milton) pitched a complete game in a 16-2 win over the hosts. Nathan Chiasson (Scarborough) went the distance in a 10-0 win over Quebec as Lightfoot tripled again. Jacob Berney (Mississauga) had two hits and two RBIs in a 10-4 win over New Brunswick. Noah Arkell (Mississauga, Ont.), Zig Mina (Wasaga Beach) and Bradley each homered in a 13-4 win against Manitoba in the semi-final. Ontario lost the gold medal match, falling 2-1 to BC, despite Simon Santos (Mississauga) strong five innings.
Mississauga Tigers director of player development Sean Travers. Photo: Mississauga Tigers
The organization run by Travers, Ryan Asis and Topolie, comeback player of the year with the Guelph Royals, saw alumni on the move: RHP Max Vlahovich-Nantais (Mississauga) pitched for the Junior National Team and committed to Kansas State, as well as C Lachlin Maude (Etobicoke) who committed to University of New Mexico and OF David Stanley (Toronto) is at Arkansas Little Rock after successful JUCO seasons in 2025. 1B-OF Taeg Gollart (Toronto) and Adyn Schell (Toronto) are at Missouri State and spent time in the MLB Draft League. Joey Khananisho (Mississauga) is off to Midland College, Keon Moseni (Mississauga) is Central Arkansas Ryan Marton (Toronto) is at UNLV and RHP Wes Johnston is at Paris.
Terriers alum Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) started the 2025 season with the Miami Marlins. Photo: Miami Marlins
82. Cal Quantrill, free agent pitcher (45)
It was a rough year for Quantrill who signed a one-year, $3.5-million contract with the Miami Marlins in February. He proceeded to go 4-10 with a 5.50 ERA in 24 starts with them before being selected off waivers by the Atlanta Braves on August 21. He’d make two big league starts with the Braves and then sign a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. He finished the season by making two starts for the Rangers’ triple-A Round Rock Express.
The Junior National Team alum is currently a free agent, but he shouldn’t wind up being invited to a spring camp. Despite his struggles in 2025, he still made 26 starts and pitched 117 2/3 innings – both of which ranked second among Canadian-born major leaguers. He has made at least 19 starts in each of the last five seasons.
Quantrill started the first game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic for Canada, and he is on board to pitch again for his country this March.
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Allan Simpson (Kelowna, BC) is still researching Canadians in the MLB draft. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
83. Allan Simpson, author, historian (74).
The founder of Baseball America, Simpson is still at ... researching. He is still working on a lengthy file of Canadians drafted, while identifying any other random Canadians that may have signed contracts from roughly 1946-1980. He pends all my time these days developing my massive historical draft database. Although he will take a break to vote for 2026 Canadian Hall of Fame class, after being in charge of the conference call.
As for his data. How much did Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) and Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC)? Jenkins? He signed for $8,000. Walker? $1.500. The first bonus to a Canadian Simpson has uncovered? Bryce Carmichael (London, Ont.) given $100 to sign with class-D Baxley in 1948. First bonus from a major league orginization? The Milwaukee Braves gave RHP Alfred Dumouchelle (Waterloo, Ont.) $1,675 in 1950.
He hopes to have all the data compiled by the end of 2026 season and then will turn his attention to parallel lists, like international talent and non-drafted free agents signed, dating to the 1950s.
Vauxhall Academy Jets coach Les McTavish. Photo: Vauxhall Jets
84. Les McTavish, coach, Vauxhall Academy (85).
The Jets had five grads in the minors in 2025: RHP Garret Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.) with the Padres, LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) and INF Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) both with the Blue Jays, RHP Wesley Moore (Surrey, BC) Phillies and RHP Tyler Boudreau (Middle Sackville, NS.) Yankees.
Headed to school this fall and next are Easton Kitura (Spruce Grove, Alta.) to University of Miami, Calum Andersen (Calgary, Alta.) Oklahoma, Rogan Rivard (Bonnyville, Alta.) Kansas State, son of legendary Reggie Rivard, Sheamus Ryan (Calgary, Alta.),, North Dakota State, Kaleb Bozek (Castor, Alta.) Connors State, Carter Bevans (Lethbridge, Alta.) and Cedric Leblanc (Dieppe, NB) Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa, Noah Simpson (Elnora, Alta.) and Graham Thiessen (Rosengart, Man.) both to Cloud County, Mathew Getz (Medicine Hat, Alta.) Eastern Arizona, Aiden Sloan (Great Falls, Mt.) Yavapai, Jaxon George (Belnan, NS) Bismark State, Callum Thomson (South Pinette, PEI), Colby, Ben Simmons (Ottawa, Ont.) Eastern Arizona, Alex Laurence (A;ma. Que.) Nebraska Omaha, Jacob Austin (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.), Northeast Iowa, Hudson Kozicki (Sherwood Park, Alta.) and Kaden Coldwell (Blumenort, Man.) both to Mary and Langdyn Cummins (Taber, Alta.) Jamestown.
Junior National Team members -- now that Kitura has graduated -- include Will Zielinski (Victoria, BC), INF Noah McIntosh (Dartmouth, NS), Rivard and Andersen.
Winnipeg Goldeyes longtime GM Andrew Collier ((Portage La Prairie, Man.). Photo: Winnipeg Goldeyes
85. Andrew Collier, Winnipeg Goldeyes (71).
The story has been told often, but like good ball stories it is worth telling again. One day in 1994 Collier, unhappy in his regular job, was golfing with Goldeyes owner Sam Katz and columnist Scott Taylor at Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg. Collier asked Katz for a job on the par-five 14th and bugged him weeks before being hired a few games into the season.
He worked in tickets and whatever he was asked to do. Now, he has been the GM for 32 years. He has been voted executive of the year in the American Association. In 2025, the Goldeyes draw 163,893 in 48 dates for an average crowd of 3,414. They went 53-47 drawing the third highest attendance in the league behind only the Kane County Cougars and the Chicago Dogs. How long ago is 32 years? Well, the rookies of the year were Bob Hamelin (retired in 1998) of the Royals and Raúl Mondesí of the Dodgers (2005).
Toronto Star baseball writer Mike Wilner emceed the Baseball Canada Awards banquet again in January. Photo: Baseball Canada
86. Mike Wilner, The Star (82), Toronto Star.
Like the team he covered, Wilner had his best year since switching from the broadcast booth: his piece asking Blue Jays what they did on a typical day off ran on page one (credit to the editors for realizing the most casual fan would read it), his Jim Clancy obit was memroable, his annual player’s vote on awards is always a can’t miss read, as well as his approach to the will Bo (Bichette) go? Or will he stay?
Wilner also hosts the annual Baseball Canada fundraiser each January taking over from Jerry Howarth and was heavily involved on the board of the Canadian Hall of Fame in St. Marys. He brought back the popular pre-election conference call for 2026 and despite some bumps in the road put the veteran’s committee together for the first time in years.
Chris Mears (Ottawa, Ont.) is the pitching rehab lead for the Cleveland Guardians.
87. Chris Mears, Guardians/Diamondbacks (90).
Mears worked for Cleveland as their pitching rehab lead. And he was the man responsible for getting Shane Bieber back to A-1, tip-top shape as he recovered from Tommy John surgery before he was dealt to the Blue Jays at the deadline.
At the end of the season he joined the Diamondbacks as pitching coordinator. More travel will be involved than in 2025 as he will visit affiliates. The travel is not as bad as some minor-league systems which have some teams on the east coast and some on the west coast. Mears (Ottawa, Ont.) will visit the triple-A Reno Aces, double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, class-A Hillsboro Hops and class-A Visalia Rawhide and the rookie-class ACL D-backs. The D-Backs also have two Dominican Summer League teams (Arizona Black & Red). The former major-leaguer has held a similar position with the Red Sox.
Canadian MLB umpires Stu Scheurwater (Regina, Sask.) and Alex Tosi (Markham, Ont.).
88. Stu Scheurwater and Alex Tosi, major-league umpires (89).
Scheurwater worked 119 games in 2025, including 30 behind the plate. He had the Guardians-Tigers Wild Card Series. He worked the left field line as Tarik Skubal pitched a 2-1 gem over the Guardians, then had third base as Cleveland bounced back with a 6-1 win -- thanks to five runs in the eighth -- to force a deciding game in the best-of-three series. And he had second base in Game 3 as the Tigers rallied for four runs in the seventh for a 6-3 win.
Tosi worked 117 games in 2025, and also had 30 plate assignments. In the post season he was assigned to the Mariners-Tigers ALDS. He had the plate n Game 1 as the Tigers nipped the M’s 3-2. Tosi missed 23 calls according to UmpireAuditor with a correct call rate of 86.1%. There was plenty of Canadian content in the series with M’s 1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) and RP Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) for Cleveland. For Game 2 he worked the right field line as the M’s scored a 3-2 wins. In Game 3 as the series moved to Comerica Park he did left field in an 8-4 Seattle win. Next in Game 4 he was at third base as the Tigers won 9-3. And Tosi was at second base for all 15 innings as the Mariners prevailed 3-2.
Toronto Star baseball writer Gregor Chisholm (Saint John, N.B.) converses with John Gibbons. Photo: MLB.com
89. Gregor Chisholm (82), Toronto Star
Chisholm (Saint John, NB), like Wilner, had a strong 2025 as well. Biggest complaints we hear about Chisholm is that he is too negative. Second biggest is that he is too positive about the Jays (during the regular season). Now, that my friends is the way life as a scribe is ... in other words he hits it straight down the fairway, like a PGA leader with a four-stroke lead on a Sunday.
Very few people grow up and get to live their childhood dream. Chisholm knew what he wanted to do at age nine watching the Blue Jays win the World Series: write baseball. Legendary hoops coach Jack Donohue always said he “only knew one man who knew what he wanted to do for a living -- and then lived it.” Former umpire John McSherry, a wonderful man, gone too soon. McSherry was Donohue’s team manager at Power Memorial with Lew Alcindor dominated and told the coach he wanted to grow up to be an NBA ref or a majo-league umpire. Chisholm accompplished his goal.
Baseball Sask’s High Performance Director Greg Brons (Saskatoon, Sask.), right. Photo: Baseball Sask
90. Greg Brons, Baseball Sask (94).
Brons coached Saskatchewan to a bronze medal finish at the Canada Games in Newfoundland beating Quebec and Alberta and losing to BC and Ontario in pool play. Saskatchewan couldn’t beat Quebec again in the semi-final so they settled for bronze. Off that performance C Aiden Kilshaw (Saskatoon, Sask.) was invited to the Junior National Team’s fall trip to the Dominican.
Saskatchewan’s 15u team was a game away from going to final in the Arizona Fall Classic in Peoria in October, while the 18u team was 2-2 at the Best of the West in Kamloops.
Scott Crawford (Georgetown, Ont.) takes another group on a tour through the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Ont. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
91. Scott Crawford, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (97)
Crawford’s 25th anniversary with the Canadian ball hall was celebrated at the end of this year’s induction ceremony in June. It was a well-deserved acknowledgment for the hardworking Crawford (Georgetown, Ont.) who has given his heart and soul to the organization. In his quarter century with the Hall, he has risen from intern to director of operations.
The tireless jack-of-all-trades had a busy and successful 2025 that included this year’s induction ceremony which – with Jose Bautista, Greg Hamilton and Amanda Asay being honoured - was the most highly attended ever.
Among the other events Crawford helped organize at the Canadian ball hall this year was the first Canadian Women in Baseball Panel, which was held on Zoom and hosted by the Hall’s care of collections and public engagement supervisor, Lindsay Earle, in February. Crawford and Earle also took artifacts on the road to six Intercounty League parks during the summer. And the Hall hosted a premiere screening of the Netflix documentary, “Who Killed the Montreal Expos?” in October.
Those events were in addition to the hundreds of games on the Hall’s fields Crawford booked and the countless tours he gives throughout the year. Crawford also helped secure several artifacts from the Blue Jays pennant-winning 2025 season that will be on display in 2026.
Stephen Osterer (Ottawa, Ont.) is the Cleveland Guardians’ vice-president player development/farm director.
92. Stephen Osterer, Guardians (88).
There is a reason the Guardians are known for producing pitching. The reasons are: solid scouting, a strong development operation and Osterer (Ottawa, Ont.) vice-president player development/farm director.
A look at Baseball America’s top 30 prospects shows 11 pitchers, led by the highest ranked arm: No. 5. LHP Parker Messick. The others No. 6. RHP Braylon Doughty, No. 8. RHP Khal Stephen, acquired from the Blue Jays July 31, 2025 for RHP Shane Bieber, their former ace coming off Tommy John surgery, No. 12. RHP Joey Oakie, No. 17 RHP Daniel Espino, No. 18. RHP Andrew Walters, No. 20. RHP Yorman Gomez. No. 25. LHP Josh Hartle, No. 28. LHP Doug Nikhazy, No. 29. LHP Rafe Schlesinger and No. 30. RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) the former Ontario Blue Jay.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) holds an ownership stake in B45 bats. Photo: Radio Canada
93. Éric Gagné, B45 ball gear and apparel (91)
Gagné continues to make strides as CEO of B45, an innovative bat company in Québec City. Earlier this season, with an increasing number of balls flying over major league fences, experts attributed it largely to the new torpedo style of bats players were using in which the fattest part of the barrel is closer to the handle. By the time these bats were making headlines, however, Gagné’s bat company had been making them for more than a year.
B45’s website claims the birch it uses is hard like maple and flexible as ash, while having a significantly lower breakage rate, enhancing hitting performance, lowering cost, and adding a measure of safety. Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.), who recently signed with the Kansas City Royals, and Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.), who spent 2025 in the Braves’ organization, are both brand ambassadors. And more than 50 big league players now order B45 bats.
Gagné was also spotted at the 2025 World Series that pitted the Dodgers, his former team, against the Toronto Blue Jays. The former National League Cy Young Award winner was interviewed by TVA Sports. Gagné also continues to sign limited edition baseball cards for Topps and Leaf.
Canadian Girls mastermind Dana Bookman
94. Dana Bookman, Canadian Girls (98).
The found of the Canaidna Girls Baseball is busy getting ready for spring season. Right now it is looking for female coaches who wants a seasonal, temporary job (payment is $1 over minimum wage in each province, involving four hours once a week on Sundays.) Leagues are operating in Ontario and BC from age 5-to-16 and about 400 players are in the fold.
While mom Dana was a Govenor General award recipient for meritorious service decoration (Civil Division) for involvement with girls ball, Dana certainly follows boys as well. Her son Nathan O’Neill batted lead off and started in centre for Ireland in the 18u European championships 18U WBSC in Bulgaria in the summer of 2025. Ireland went 3-2 against Hungary, Sweden, Slovakia, Croatia, Turkey and host Bulgaria. He ended the tournament on three leader boards (runs, stolen bases and walks). He’ll play for Ireland this spring and Canada in the Maccabi Games this summer in Israel.
Joe McFarland (Carmangay, Alta.), of Alberta Dugout Stories and Saskatchewan Dugout Stories, won Baseball Canada’s Bob Elliott Media Recognition Award in 2025. Photo: Baseball Canada
95. Joe McFarland and Ian Wilson, Alberta Dugout Stories/Saskatchewan Dugout Stories (123)
McFarland earned the Baseball Canada media award in 2025. Just as deserving was Wilson. Everyone on this list loves the game. Few would have more combined passion and desire as the McFarland-Wilson entry. They have Alberta covered from the BC to the Alberta border: men, women, college, minors, major leaguers. They have Saskatchewan blanketed from the Alberta border to the Manitoba line. Alberta Dugout Stories site was found in June 2017 and in 2024, they expanded east to the Saskatchewan Dugout Stories. McFarland (Claresholm, Alta.) has a radio background and does podcasts and TV work.
Ian Wilson is the co-founder of Alberta Dugout Stories and Saskatchewan Dugout Stories.
Wilson is a veteran writer with a background in newspapers and serves as the media coordinator for the Western Canadian Baseball League. It is difficult serving two masters -- Wilson has to keep 12 different franchises happy. We enjoy his historical looks at prairie teams. Like a recent post about home run ball collector Todd McFarlane (Calgary, Alta.) or the Edmonton Cracker-Cats all-time team which included Canucks: 1B Brandon Kaye (Victoria, BC), 2B Chris Becker (Guelph, Ont.), SS Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.), OF Jeremy Ware (Guelph, Ont.), OF Greg Morrison (Medicine Hat, Alta.), OF Ryan Radmanovich (Calgary, Alta.), RHP Scott Richmond (Vancouver, BC), RHP Brett Lawson (Mississauga, Ont.), RHP Reggie Rivard (Bonnyville, Alta.), LHP Mike Kusiewicz (Nepean, Ont.) and RHP Mike Johnson (Edmonton, Alta.). Wilson is the type of writer you read and a writer thinks “gee I wish I had written that.”
Fieldhouse Pirates VP and director of baseball operations Jimmy Richardson. Photo: Premier Sports Academy Inc.
96. Lee Delfino, Bob Hooper and Jimmy Richardson, Fieldhouse Pirates (99).
Not many organizations can boast about a grad who is a back-to-back winner of the Canadian Baseball Network’s Randall Echlin award -- as the top hitter in the minors, The Cubs sent prospect Caissie to the Marlins along with INFers Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon to Miami for Edward Cabrera, who went 8-7 with a 3.53 earned-run average in 26 starts and 137 2/3 innings last year.
Pirates president Hooper along with coaches Richardson and Delfino also saw RHP Aiden Taggart (Grimsby, Ont.) sign as a free agent before the draft with the Toronto Blue Jays for a bonus of $155,000. The Pirates were the CPBL 18U 2025 playoff champions.
Sportsnet’s Blake Murphy and Julia Kreuz prior to a 2025 World Series game at Rogers Centre. Photo: Blake Murphy, Instagram
97. Julia Kreuz and Blake Murphy, Sportsnet (-).
Kreuz broke into the beat as a scribe for BlueJays.com and was a frequent guest on Sportsnet radio. How good was Julia? Good enough to be given her own show with Murphy. Julia not only has a deep passion and understanding for the game. Her answers on radio are direct and to the point without any babble.
Murphy, a former hoops writer, is into statistics -- easy to understand numbers. And he does not come off as arrogant, making his point and then moving on to the next subject. He’s also on the Blue Jays pre-game show with host Jamie Campbell.
ABC’s Marc-Antoine Berube, executive director.
98. Marc-Antoine Berube, executive director, ABC (105).
ABC has a grad in majors in 2B in Edouard Julien (Quebec) with the Twins. And in the minors are: RHP Cedric Degrandpré (Saint-Simon-de-Bagot), Archer Brookman (Pointe-Claire) and INF Charles Leblanc (Laval) all with the Braves, INF Emilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) and Jeremy Pilon (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield) both with the Rays, Miguel Cienfuegos (Laval) Padres, Nicolas Deschamps (Quebec) Blue Jays, LP Langevin (Quebec) Royals LHP Antoine Jean (Montreal) Rockies and OF Charles Davalan (St-Bruno-De-Montarville) Dodgers, a first rounder in 2025.
Already at school are INF Maxime Boies (Levis) Kentucky, INF Esteban Dessureault (Trois-Rivieres) Stetson, C Alexandre Giguère (Levis) Washington and INF Justin Rompré (Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade) Iowa Western.
And committed for this fall and next are: RHP Lucas St-Laurent (Ascot Corner) who is headed to Michigan in 2027, LHP Jérome Lucas (Pointes-Aux-Tremble) and C Maxime Décarie (Sainte-Julie) are both committed to Indian Hills, (Trois-Rivières), 1B Zachary Gauthier (Nicolet) and RHP Cédrik Marchand, are bound for Northeastern Oklahoma A@M, C Josué Gélinas (Trois-Rivières) Chipola, RHP Zachary Landreville (Saint-Jérôme) Panola, RHP Charles Bernatchez (Quebec) Iowa Western, OF Maxime Blain (Repentigny) Wabash valley and OF Xavier-Raphael Brault (Blainville) New Mexico Junior College.
RP Jean of the Houston Cougars, earned Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Year honours and was named to the first team. Berube also coached first teamers: C Deiten Lachance (Sherbrooke, Que.) of the McLennan Highlanders. 1B Jimmy Dionne (Quebec, Que.) of the Howard Hawks and Davalan of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Shari Reiniger (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) is a highly respected WBSC international technical director.
99. Shari Reiniger, International Technical director, WBSC, author (-).
When the late Jim Baba was the Technical Commission Chair for the WBSC, Shari was appointed by the WBSC President as a member of the commission in 2022. Baba ran it and Shari (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) worked with him as a member of the commission to oversee WBSC Baseball rules, regulations and protocols. All commissions were disbanded in the fall before the 2026 WBSC Congress. The new commissions have not been named yet. The next commissions will run through the Olympic cycle until 2029.
In 2025, Shari was a Technical Commission Member, the WBSC Baseball Technical Commissioner Licensing Programme Lead, the Technical Director for the Champions League Americas pro event in Mexico City and the Women Lead Sports Master Program nominee for WBSC. At the Mexico event were the champs of the Mexican League (LMB), Nicaragua German Pomares League (GPO), Puerto Rico Superior Double-A League (LBSDA), American Association of Professional Ball (AAPB), Cuba Serie Nacional (SN) and Curaçao double-A league. Former big-leaguers included Robinson Cano and Andrelton Simmons.
Player agents Blake Corosky and Raza Malik of True Gravity.
100. Blake Corosky and Raza Malik, True Gravity (103).
Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.), a client, was added to Padres 40-man roster as the Vauxhall Jets and UBC Thunderbirds grad combined to go 9-1 with a 1.50 ERA at double-A San Antonio and class-A Fort Wayne. He walked 23 and struck out 80 in 60 innings. His current crops of Canucks from 2025 included fifth rounder Core Jackson (Wyoming, Ont.), a Great Lake Canadians grad given a $147,500 from the Yankees, 10th rounder Ty Doucette (Dartmouth, NS) who earned $157,500 from the Reds after playing at Rutgers, as well as undrafted free agents RHP Ty Boudreau (Middle Sackville, NS.) who joined the Yankees and RHP Max Poirier (Nanaimo, BC), who signed with Royals. Both were given a $150,000.
The thing about Corosky and Malik is that they recruit -- with success -- pn both sides of the border. They represented INF Cody Miller of Baton Rouge, a third round choice from East Tennessee State, who signed with the Braves for $297,500 and RHP Anthony Frobose, Yorktown Heights, NY high schooler who went in the ninth round to the Mets and was given $398,500.
101. Rest in Peace _ Jim Baba (Moose Jaw, Sask.), Penny Baba (Moose Jaw, Sask.), Keith “Stubby” Clapp (Windsor, Ont.), Ione Ernst (Moose Jaw, Sask.), Wally Footz (Spedden, Alta.), Val Greenwood (Burnaby, B.C.), David Gregory (Trois-Rivières, Que.), Stewart Hagar (Nepean, Ont.), Tim Harkness (Lachine, Que.), Jamie Hodge (London, Ont.), Ed Jordan (St. Thomas, Ont.), Paul Kinsman (Middleton, N.S.), Bill Lankhof (Chatham, Ont.), Jesse Lubiniecki (Regina, Sask.), Bob McKillop (Toronto, Ont.), Margaret McKillop (Moncton, N.B.), Gary (Max) Millman (Kitchener, Ont.), Claude Pelletier (Saint-Lazare, Que.), George (Buck) Reed (Leaside, Ont..), Bill Slack (Petrolia, Ont.), Randy Strocki (Melville, Sask.), Ron Taylor (Toronto, Ont.), Allan Waffle (Etobicoke, Ont.), Ben Waghorn (St. Marys, Ont.), Barry Wells (London, Ont.)
Longtime Baseball Canada executive director Jim Baba (Moose Jaw, Sask.). Photo: Baseball Canada
Jim Baba passed away on September 12 at the age of 69. He served as the executive director of Baseball Canada from 2000 to 2021. During his time in that post, he helped Baseball Canada strengthen domestic programming, make advances in high-performance development and enhance the organization’s reputation internationally. Baba was also one of the best baseball coaches in our country’s history. He coached and managed national teams at several international competitions, including at the 1991 Pan Am Games and at the 1994, 1998 and 2005 Baseball World Cups. Baba also worked as a technical official for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) at numerous events, including Olympic qualifiers and the World Baseball Classic.
Penny Baba passed away on November 23 at the age of 66. She was a former administrative assistant at Baseball Canada and the wife of Jim Baba. “Penny was a cherished member of the Baseball Canada family who left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of working with her,” wrote Baseball Canada in a tribute. She died just over two months after her husband.
Clapp passed away on September 16 at the age of 75. The father of national team legend and current St. Louis Cardinals first base coach, Stubby Clap, Keith, who was also nicknamed “Stubby,” is described in his official obituary as “a true legend on both the ice and the ball diamond, he proudly wore number 17 for the Mildewed Maple Leafs and number 11 for the Lanny’s and Merryfield’s softball teams.” In 2015, he was inducted into the Windsor-Essex Slo-Pitch Hall of Fame
Ernst passed away on May 18 at the age of 83. She was a longtime Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame board member. Her husband, Earl Berard, was the business manager of the 1991 Junior National Team that won gold at the World Youth Baseball Championships in Brandon, Man.
Alberta baseball legend Wally Footz (Spedden, Alta.). Photo: Baseball Alberta
Footz passed away on June 8 at the age of 92. For more than three decades, he served in various roles for the Edmonton International Baseball Foundation, including governor, technical director, vice-president and president. He is a major reason that eight World Championships have been hosted in Edmonton. Footz continued to umpire 100 games a year until he was 87. For his contributions to baseball in Edmonton, a city field was renamed in his honour.
Gregory passed away on February 11 at the age of 91. He was a lawyer in Montreal for over 50 years. He was a passionate baseball fan and a longtime subscriber to the Canadian Baseball Network.
Greenwood passed away in May. For 27 years, she worked tirelessly in administrative, executive and leadership roles for B.C. Baseball. “Val's leadership in committees, particularly in areas like girls baseball and awards, showcased her dedication to inclusivity and excellence within the sport,” B.C. Baseball wrote in an Instagram tribute. For her efforts, she was inducted into the B.C. Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
Hagar passed away on May 24 at the age of 67. He was a former outfielder with the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians and a standout hockey player during his youth. He was a devoted husband and father who worked for many years at the Queensway Carleton Hospital in Nepean, Ont.
Former big leaguer Tim Harkness (Lachine, Que.)
Harkness passed away on November 27 at the age of 87. He played parts of four major league seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets from 1961 to 1964 before returning to Canada to become a legendary coach, scout and storyteller. As the Mets’ first baseman in 1964, he etched his name in the club’s history books when he singled to right field in the third inning of the team’s home opener to record the first hit by a Met at Shea Stadium. Following his playing career, Harkness managed the Intercounty Baseball League’s Toronto Maple Leafs and became a highly respected scout. In 1996, he was honoured with the Canadian Baseball Network’s Scout of the Year award.
Hodge passed away on June 22 at the age of 72. He was an all-star second baseman for the Intercounty Baseball League’s Toronto Maple Leafs and London Majors. He was part of the 1975 Majors and 1982 Leafs’ IBL championship-winning teams. He was inducted into the London Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 1975 Majors team in 2015.
Jordan passed away on November 13 at the age of 82. He was a former first baseman/left-handed pitcher for the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians and the Leaside Leafs. In more recent years, he scouted for the Sault College Cougars baseball program and was an executive for St. Thomas Minor Baseball.
Kinsman passed away on November 10 at the age of 88. As a player, he was a member of the Amherst Blue Jays Nova Scotia Intermediate baseball champions in 1960. Five years later, he won another championship while playing for the Moncton Schooners of the New Brunswick Senior League. Kinsman continued to spend time on the diamond later in life, playing fastball until he was 70.
Longtime Toronto Sun baseball writer Bill Lankhof (Chatham, Ont.). Photo: Toronto Sun
Lankhof passed away on November 6 at the age of 72. He spent more than four decades as a sports reporter, feature writer, editor and columnist. He started with the Toronto Sun in 1976 and wrote his farewell column for the paper in December 2016. He worked the Blue Jays beat for the Sun from 1989 to 1995. In his wide-ranging sportswriting career, he also covered the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Argonauts, horse racing, auto racing and soccer.
Lubiniecki passed away on May 29 at the age of 22. He was a right-handed pitcher for the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Regina Red Sox. Prior to joining the Red Sox, he honed his skills at the Prairie Baseball Academy. After graduating high school, he toed the rubbed for Taft College in California.
Bob McKillop passed away on August 16 at the age of 83. He was an outstanding two-way player – a catcher and a right-handed pitcher – with the Intercounty Baseball League’s Kitchener Panthers starting in 1966. In all, McKillop suited up for 12 seasons with the Panthers and was an eight-time All-Star and four-time league MVP. He completed his IBL career with a .340 batting average and a 2.34 ERA. Those numbers earned him a spot on the IBL’s list of Top 100 players in 2018. McKillop also played for Canada at the 1967 Pan Am Games and would later serve as the executive director of Baseball Ontario.
Margaret McKillop passed away on March 3 at the age of 82. She was the wife of former Baseball Ontario president and Intercounty Baseball League star Bob McKillop. They were high school sweethearts. She was a much-respected nurse, an exceptional athlete and a huge Blue Jays fan.
Millman passed away on May 19 at the age of 87. He was an umpire in the Intercounty Baseball League for 23 seasons from 1966 to 1988 and was the league’s longest-serving Umpire-in-Chief (1970 to 1988). Prior to his umpiring career, he was an exceptional hockey player who was once drafted by the Montreal Canadiens.
Legendary Canadian baseball scout Claude Pelletier (Saint-Lazare, Que.).
Pelletier passed away on December 14 at the age of 88. While scouting for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he recommended that the club sign future National League Cy Young Award winner Éric Gagné (Mascouche, Que.). After 13 years with the Dodgers, he moved on to the New York Mets. Among the players he either drafted or signed for the Mets were Canadian infielders Shawn Bowman (New Westminster, B.C.) and Jonathan Malo (Saint-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que.). Along the way, Pelletier garnered a reputation as one of the best Canadian scouts of all-time. In 2013, he was named the Canadian Baseball Network’s Scout of the Year. Five years later, he was inducted into the Quebec Baseball Hall of Fame.
Reed passed away on May 13 at the age of 78. In the early 1960s, he honed his skills under Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame coach Howie Birnie at the Pape Playground in Toronto before he went on to play in the Western City Junior League at Christie Pits. In 1968, he became a member of the first Leaside Maple Leafs team.
Slack passed away on November 9 at the age of 92. During his parts of six decades in professional baseball as a player, coach and manager, Slack developed into one of the most respected and influential Canadians in the game. Signed by the Boston Red Sox as a left-handed pitcher in 1951, he’d toe the rubber for 10 minor league seasons before turning to coaching. Beginning as a manager in the Red Sox organization in 1961, Slack settled in Winston-Salem, Carolina, where he would lead the Red Sox Class-A team for parts of 13 seasons. During that time, his teams captured four Carolina League titles. Slack finished his career with more wins than any other manager in Carolina League history. For his efforts, he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Strocki passed away on November 13 at the age of 72. He served as the executive director of Baseball Alberta for parts of three years (1994 to 1996) where he made significant contributions to the growth of baseball in the province. He is the father of Brandon Strocki, who is Baseball Albera’s supervisor of umpires.
Two-time World Series-winning pitcher and former Toronto Blue Jays team doctor Ron Taylor (Toronto, Ont.)
Taylor passed away on June 16 at the age of 87. Signed out of Toronto’s Leaside Baseball Association by the Cleveland Indians, Taylor hurled 11 scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 11, 1962 in his MLB debut. Later that year, Taylor was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he assumed a key bullpen role on the Cards’ 1964 World Series-winning squad. Five years later, he found himself in a crucial relief role again with the New York Mets in the 1969 World Series. With two outs and two men on base in the ninth inning of Game 2, Taylor was summoned to face Brooks Robinson, who grounded to third base to end the game. In helping the Mets emerge victorious in that Fall Classic, Taylor became the only Canadian to win a World Series with two different teams (Cardinals 1964, Mets 1969). Upon retiring from baseball, he returned to Toronto, where he earned a degree in medicine from the University of Toronto and eventually became the Toronto Blue Jays’ team doctor.
Waffle passed away on February 19 at the age of 78. He dedicated nearly 40 years to grassroots baseball in Etobicoke, Ont., in leadership positions with the Royal York League, which now boasts over 1,500 players. He was a pioneer in expanding opportunities for girls and women and worked hard to secure new community facilities. In 2019, he was inducted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame for his contributions to baseball in the city.
Waghorn passed away on May 14 at the age of 57. A much loved and respected lawyer in St. Marys, Ont., Waghorn chaired a fundraising campaign for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame from 1998 to 2000. He was also a long-serving member of the Canadian ball hall’s board of directors and headed the board from 2001 to 2006. He was the recipient of the Hall’s Randy Echlin Lifetime Volunteer Award in 2015.
Wells passed away on November 4 at the age of 71. He was the unofficial historian of the Intercounty Baseball League’s London Majors. Wells founded the "Friends of Labatt Park" group in London and spearheaded the initiative to have the park declared a provincial heritage site and recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s oldest continuously used baseball grounds.
THAT’S THE TOP 101 … WITH MORE TO COME