LHP Jérémy Pilon, 18th round (543rd) – Tampa Bay Rays - Signed $172,500

Hometown: Salaberry-De-Valleyfield Que.

Born: Valleyfield, Que.

Height/Weight: 6’ 0” 185 lbs.

Bats/Throws: L-L

School/Teams: Academie Baseball Canada, Junior National Team

Coaches: Marc-Antoine Bérubé, Mathieu Dion, Greg Hamilton.

Committed: Alabama.

Drafted: 18th round of the 2022 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Previous Teams: A’s of Lachine, Lac St. Louis.

Previous Coaches: Jessen Therrien, Milton Lopez, Eric Pilon.

Rankings: 381st on Baseball America’s top 400 list ... 400th on Perfect Game’s top 400 list

Good genes: “My mom (Colette Benjamin) didn’t play sports, my dad (Eric Pilon) was a good baseball and hockey player. He played in the top league in Quebec for years as a goaltender.”

The most influential person in my baseball life: “Sambu Ndungidi. He was my coach when I was in seventh grade. He was really tough with me knowing my potential. He helped me create a good work ethic and be strong mentally. I don’t know if you can find him because he quit coaching a long time ago but he played pro ball (two years in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, plus two years of independent ball).” Sambu’s older brother, Ntema Ndungidi, was a first-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles (six years in the O’s system and one year of Indy ball).

2023 with Junior National Team _ Had one outing in April before being shut down with an injury … Pitched 2 1/3 innings against the Pirates allowing five runs — four earned — giving up two hits on six walks, while striking out a pair.

2021 with Academy Baseball Canada _ Pitched 5 1/3 scoreless allowing two hits and five walks, while striking out 12 (that’s 12 out of 16 outs recorded) at Perfext Game Coastal Elite Championship at Holly, NC.

Honours _ 2023 season with Academy Baseball Canada _ Perfect Game/Rawlings Preseason Underclass All American All Region First Team for Canada/Puerto Rico region ... 2022 with Academy Baseball Canada _ Perfect Game/Rawlings Preseason Underclass All American All Region First Team for Canada/Puerto Rico region … 2021 with Academy Baseball Canada _ All Tournament Team 16U PG Coastal Elite Championship at Holly, NC ... All Tournament Team 16U BCS National Championship at Fort Myers, Fla.

Scouting report

MLB Pipeline Scouting report

LHP Jeremy Pilon

Salaberry-De-Valleyfield, Que.

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 200 | B-T: L-L

Commit: Alabama

Age At Draft: 17.8

April Report: The Blue Jays drafted Pilon as a 16-year-old in the 18th round of the 2022 draft class, making him the youngest player selected. Again draft-eligible in 2023 the Canadian lefthander will remain one of the youngest names in the class and will still be 17 years old on draft day. He is listed at 6-foot, 200 pounds and mostly pitches in the upper 80s, touching a 90-91 here and there with a high-spin, mid-70s curve ball that looks like a future plus offering and feel for a change up around 80. Pilon is committed to Alabama.