Rank #5: Calvin Ziegler
RHP Calvin Ziegler
Hometown: Heidelberg, Ont.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’ 0” 170 lbs.
Team: Great Lake Canadians/Ontario Youth Team/Junior National Team.
Committed to: University of Connecticut.
Coaches: Adam Stern, David Quattrociocchi, Greg Hamilton.
Previous Teams: Tri-City Giants, Kitchener Panthers.
Previous Coaches: Dave Schmidt, Pete Bateman, JJ Ziegler, Jeff Young.
Good genes: His father,JJ, stands 6-foot-3.
The most influential person in his baseball life: “It’s really hard to name only one person, I’ve been so lucky to have guidance and support from so many great coaches, advisors and my dad. All of them have helped me get to this position.”
Rankings on other lists: 417th on Baseball America’s top 500 combined list of high schoolers and collegians (May 8) ... 387th on Perfect Game’s top 400 (May 18) ... 497th on Perfect Game’s top 500 high schoolers (April 7) ... 376th on Perfect Game’s top 400 (March 23) ... PRB’s top pitcher in province, third-rated high schooler.
Scouting Report:s
Baseball America
(May 12)
“A 6-foot, 195-pound righthander who was trending in the right direction this spring, Ziegler improved his body and cleaned up his delivery over the offseason, which allowed him to improve his control. He throws a fastball that gets up to 93 mph, but sits in the 88-91 range now, with a slider that scouts have also seen improvement from. He has thrown a changeup here and there but largely is a fastball/slider pitcher at the moment. Ziegler is young for the class and will still be 17 on draft day, but some scouts think he is more likely to be a reliever in the future than a starter. Ziegler is committed to Connecticut.”
Perfect Game
(May 18)
Ziegler is one of numerous prep righties to come from our Great Neighbor to the North this draft cycle and the UCONN commit is an intriguing prospect in his own regard. He’s an averagely built right-hander with velocity in the low-90s, peaking at 94 or 95 mph. There’s ingredients and traits to indicate that Ziegler would develop nicely as a starter due to his delivery, strike throwing ability, and ability to use multiple off speed pitches to his advantage.
The Zieglers; son Calvin and father JJ.
National League scout
“Has hit 95 MPH, has battled control at times -- like most teenagers. Had elbow problems in summer of 2019, but bounced back.”
Alexis Brudnicki’s piece on RHP Calvin Zeigler was so good it appeared to leap off the pages.
2020 season _ Hit 97 MPH in Dorchester bullpen session …. Pitched three innings this spring allowing three runs on four hits and one walk, while fanning four.
2019 season _ At T12 he lost his only start as he allowed five runs on three hits, including a home run, while striking out three in two innings ... Pitched for Ontario Youth Team at Canada Cup in Regina. And did he ever pitch, working 4 1/3 innings and 94 pitches in four games with five walks, eight strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA ... He worked two innings against BC in the round robin loss in the opener, allowing one unearned run on one hit and two walks, while fanning four ... He allowed two runs -- one earned -- in a loss to host Saskatchewan in 1/3 of an inning on one hit and three walks ... Facing BC again in the semi-final , he gave up an unearned run on one hit, while striking out a pair in a 6-4 win... And in the gold medal game -- a 3-2 loss to Nova Scotia -- he pitched a scoreless inning striking out a pair.