INF Damiano Palmegiani, 14th round (422nd overall) Signed $157,500 Toronto Blue Jays
INF Damiano Palmegiani
Hometown: Surrey, BC.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’ 1” 195 lbs.
Born: Caracas Venezuela, moved to Canada when his family was five.
School: College of Southern Nevada Coyotes.
Major interest from: Cincinnati Reds oin Day III, the Blue Jays on Day II.
Coaches: Nick Garritano and Mike Eshragh.
Previous Teams: Port Angeles Lefties, Cal State Northridge, Lethbridge Bulls, Canadian Junior National Team, Vauxhall Academy Jets, Cloverdale Spurs.
Previous Coaches: Matt Acker, Greg Moore, Jesse Sawyer, Greg Hamilton, Les McTavish, Joel Blake, Jim Kotkas, Tim Blake and Jim Vulcano.
Drafted: By the Toronto Blue Jays in the 35th round of 2018 draft.
Committed: University of Arizona.
Good genes: Mom, Liliana, played volleyball in high school and some in college. Father also named Damiano played soccer and basketball at college. Sister Maria was named All-Canadian Catcher in 2013, 2014, and 2016, played for the Canadian national team in 2017 and at Purdue Fort Wayne earned Summit League Second Team, All-Tournament Team and Academic All-League Team in 2018, plus Summit League Academic Honor Roll (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19), Summit League Commissioners’ List of Academic Excellence (2017-2018, 2018-19) and Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19).
Most influential people in my life: “Definitely it would be my mom and dad.”
Most influential people in my baseball life besides my parents: “There are a lot of coaches to choose from but the three at Vauxhall -- Les McTavish, Joel Blake and Jim Kotkas -- had the biggest impact on the growth of my game and character throughout my three years there. Without them I wouldn’t have the work ethic or confidence in what I can do on or off the field and I’m thankful for my time with them.”
Twitter handle: @damiano_p24
MLB Draft League: Top Exit Velocities (June 16)
1. Damiano Palmegiani - 105.5 MPH
Summer plans: Attended Reds camp in California and impressed, Competing in the Draft League.
On other lists: 467th on Baseball America’s top 500 list (down 30 spots) … 497th on Baseball America’s top 500 list (June 15), down 105 spots … 392nd on Baseball America’s top 400 list (May 3) … 252nd on Prospects Live top 500 List (Sept. 10, 2020)
Scouting report
Baseball America
461. Damiano Palmegiani
Last: 392
Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R
Committed: Arizona
Age At Draft: 21.5
The native of British Columbia started his college career at Cal State Northridge in 2020, playing sparingly in the shortened season before transferring to the College of Southern Nevada, where he led the offense for the JUCO powerhouse. Palmegiani posted video-game numbers, with 26 home runs in 203 at-bats and a batting line of .389/.521/.867. He also walked (36) nearly as many times as he struck out (38), and was hit by a pitch 23 times. The power is his calling card, but some scouts wonder about the swing and miss in his game. Even more concerning is his defense, with his unsightly fielding percentage of .799 coming mostly at third base. A below-average defender with poor footwork and hands, his likely landing spot is in the corner outfield, where his average arm and fringe-average speed will play. Palmegiani may need more hitting instruction in order to better manipulate the barrel, and he didn’t face much premium velocity in junior college, which gives pause as to whether he will be able to handle the premium velocity that he’ll face in pro ball. He’s a risky pick for many reasons, but the raw power, along with good makeup, will be alluring enough to get him taken in the top-10 rounds. Although committed to Arizona, he’s considered to be signable.
Major League Pipeline
245. Damiano Palmegiani 3B/OF, Southern Nevada
AGE 21 DOB 01/24/2000
BATS R THROWS R
HT 6’ 1” WT 195
DRAFTED 2018, 35th (1046) - TOR
Scouting Grades/Report
(20-80 grading scale)
HIT 45 POWER 50 RUN 45 ARM 50 FIELD 45
OVERALL 40
Born in Venezuela, but raised in British Columbia, Palmegiani was drafted in the 35th round of the 2018 Draft by the Blue Jays before heading to Cal State Northridge to begin his college career. He transferred to College of Southern Nevada last summer and was one of the best offensive performers at the junior college level, leading all Division I JUCO hitters with 26 homers and finishing with a 1.388 OPS.
A right-handed hitter, Palmegiani has some serious now power, with the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Extremely physical, he has strong hands to generate good bat speed and shows solid bat to ball skills. While not a speedster, he is better underway and managed to steal 14 bases this spring.
The biggest question surrounding Palmegiani is where he belongs defensively. He played third for Southern Nevada and has enough arm for the hot corner, but most scouts don’t think he can play there at the next level. He’s played a number of positions as an amateur, but left field seems to be the best fit, or perhaps first base, though it’s the bat teams will be interested in the most.
Prospects Live
Really good athlete who could end up anywhere on the diamond. Above average runner with an above average arm. Plenty of bat speed with power potential burgeoning.
2021 season as a sophomore: On the season he batted .389 with 13 doubles, three triples, 26 homers and 81 RBIs. He had a 1.408 OPS in 63 games, going 14-for-18 on the base paths ... He was 4-for-12 (.333) at the Western District tourney with two homers and four RBIs … The Coyotes dropped the opener of the Region 18 tournament to Southern Idaho, but then went on a roll: beating Utah State Eastern Utah 13-4, Southern Idaho then back-to-back wins over the Salt Lake City Bruins 21-11 and 16-12 ... As they went on a roll with four straight wins he was went 6-for-16 (.375) with nine RBIs thanks to four doubles and three homers ... To finish the regular schedule CSN had a four-game series at Salt Lake and only one once as he hit 5-for-13 (.385) with two doubles, a triple, two homers and six RBIs ... In a four-game set playing Utah State Eastern he was 6-for-16 (.375) with four RBIs, three doubles and two homers ... Against Colorado Northwestern in a four-game series he went 8-for-16 (.500) with eight RBIs, two doubles and two homers ... Facing Community Christian he went 3-for-8 (.375) including a double, a home run and four RBIs ... Against Southern Idaho he was 7-for-12 (.583) including two doubles, a triple and a homer, driving in six ... Against Salt Lake he went 4-for 14 (.286) with a triple ... Going against Utah State Eastern for three games, he went 5-for-12 (.417) with two doubles, a homer and three runs knocked in ... Against Colorado Northwestern he hit 4-for-11 (.363) with a double, homer and six RBIs ... Facing Southern Idaho he was 2-for-9 (.222) hitting a triple and knocking in a pair ... Against Community Christian he was 4-for-8 (.500) with a double and driving in three ... He had a solo homer against Colorado Northwestern ... He had a pair of hits going against Arizona Western with two homers and five RBIs ... Playing Pima he was 8-for-14 (.571) with a double, four bombs and eight runs knocked in ... Against Colorado Northestern he combined in the four-game series to go 5-for-14 (.357) with two doubles, a homer and six RBIs ... On the opening weekend he was 4-for-12 (.333) with a double and six RBIs in the season opener playing Salt Lake twice and Southern Idaho twice.
2020 season: Did not play.
2019 summer with Port Angeles Lefties in West Coast League: Batted .190 with six doubles, five homers and 20 RBIs. Had .565 OPS in 47 games.
2019 spring, freshman season at Cal State Northridge Matadors: Appeared in 31 games, making only 12 starts at second base and third base ... In 51 at bats, he had eight hits, seven walks, three doubles, two RBIs, scored 12 runs and hit .157 ... Went 2-for-4 with a run scored at Washington State ... Reached three times going 2-for-2 in a win at UC Davis.
2018 summer in the Western Canadian League: With the Lethbridge Bulls, hit .125 with three RBIs in 13 games.
Honours 2021 season _ Named NJCAA Division I First Team All-American … Earned a spot on Region XVIII All-Tournament Team ... Won male athlete of the year award at the fifth annual Coyote Athletic Banquet.
Interest: “Think I have heard from all 30 teams.”
Strangest question from a pro scout: “Do you store your peanut butter in the fridge or not?”
Board member Pam Odland gives out the Kalvin Odland memorial scholarship presented by Scotiabank
Alexis Brudnicki: Palmegiani’s Power Could Lead Him To Next Level
Joe McFarland: Palm Before the Storm