Gordon leads field of 10 Canadians drafted in first 10 rounds

It was possible to mistake the Team Canada junior national team for a hoops squad when the players walked on to the field.

There was 6-foot-8 Matt Ianni, 6-foot-6 Jackson Wark, 6-foot-5 Austin Shields, plus Michael Brettell, Cooper Lamb, Tristan Pompey, Darren Shred, Kristan Storrie, Nicholas Virdo, Niall Windeler, Mike Soroka and Demi Orimoloye, all at 6-foot-4.

“If I’m in the other dugout, no way I want to fight with that team,” former Blue Jays scouting director Tim Wilken said.

Then there was Miles Gordon.

“When you see them in a pack, he looks like a little guy walking in the land of giants, then you stand beside him, look him in the eye and he’s 6-foot-1,” said another scout, who wanted to chose Gordon in the high school and college draft, but saw him go elsewhere.

Gordon was the top Canuck selected on Day 2 of the MLB draft, chosen by the Cincinnati Reds. A member of the Great Lake Canadians, Gordon, an outfielder, went in the fourth round, 115th overall in North America.

It was surprising Gordon went to the Reds. The Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks had shown the most interest.

He said the Milwaukee Brewers phoned and asked if he would agree to a $350,000 US signing bonus.

“I told them I wanted the slot money ($465,000),” Gordon said. End of conversation. Gordon had the live MLB.com feed hooked up to his TV and watched the draft unfold pick by pick with mom Tammy, sister Alex, 19, and grandparents, Margaret and Harold Grieve.

“We’re looking at the TV and all of a sudden, my name pops up,” Gordon said. So rather than go to the Brewers at 121st, he declined and wound up going six picks earlier ($493,400 bonus slot). With their fourth pick, the Brewers took Orimoloye of Orleans, Ont., and the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians.

Gordon was one of seven Canucks taken on Day 2 of the three-day replenishment process. Together with the three taken Day, 1 led by Mississauga’s Josh Naylor, who went 12th in North America, makes for a total of 10, compared to three a year ago.

The 10 Canadians taken equals the 2007 total in the first 10 rounds — the most since Canadians were included in the draft.