* Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) tops a list of seven Canadians in the top 500 of Perfect Game's latest ranking of high schoolers for the 2015 draft. ....  

2015 Canadian draft list 2014 Canadian draft list 2013 Canadians in the Minors  Letters of Intent

 

By Bob Elliott

The bats have been packed.

The vans have left the complex in Jupiter, Fla.

The comparisons -- and arguments -- have been made.

And the bottom line is ... the eyes, ears and voices of the Perfect Game Scouting Bureau staff forecast the 2015 draft year as a good one for Canadian players.

No less than seven players are ranked amongst the top 500 high schoolers ... and that’s not counting LHP RyanKellogg (Whitby, Ont.) of the Arizona State Sun Devils.

OF Dazmon Cameron of McDonough, Ga. and the East Cobb Astros is first over-all player in North America, according to Perfect Game a month after the conclusion of the 85-team World Wood Bat championship.

PG’s select seven Canadians ranked in the top 500:

1. (17th over-all, up from 18th) OF-1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays/Canada Junior National Team.

The 6-foot, 225 pounder was outstanding at PG Junior National, showing power and a big arm. One of the top bats in the class

2. (140th) RHP Kristjan Storrie (Langley, BC) Langley Blaze.

The 6-foot-4 right-hander popped in Jupiter hitting 90 MPH in his two outings to burst onto the scene.

3. (149th) RHP Matt Ianni (Ottawa, Ont.) Ottawa-Nepean Canadians/Canada Junior National Team.

The 6-foot-7, 225-pounder was clocked at 89 MPH in Jupiter and has toured Cooperstown to have his picture taken alongside some he once shared a podium with.

4. (187th, up from 202nd) OF Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) Ottawa-Nepean Canadians/Canada Junior National Team.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder moves with a grace seldom seen by players wearing a Canada jersey and has shown big potential with the bat

5. (316th) RHP RJ Freure (Burlington, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

He attends Robert Bateman high school and can paint the corners.

6. (338th) RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) Calgary PBF Redbirds/Canada Junior National Team.

Soroka impressed in Jupiter with a sharp curve ball.

7. (432nd) INF Royce Ando (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays/Canada Junior National Team.

A;though known for his range and quick bat, he hit one of the longest homers at Jupiter.

And on the cusp of making the top 500: INF Jade Salmon-Williams (Brampton, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays and C Darren Shred (Brampton, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

 

The top 10 in North America

1. OF Dazmon Cameron, McDonough, GA, East Cobb Astros

2. INF Brendan Rodgers, Longwood, Fla., Orlando Scorpions

3. OF Jahmai Jones, Roswell, GA, Georgia Roadrunners

4. RHP Kyle Molnar, Aliso Viejo, Calif., CBA Marucci

5. SS John Aiello, Lansdale, Penn., Tri-State Arsenal

6. C-RHP Chris Betts, Long Beach, Calif., CBA Marucci

7. OF Ryan Johnson, College Station, Tex., Twelve Baseball Academy

8. SS Nicholas Shumpert, Lone Tree, Col., Marucci Elite

9. LHP Justin Hooper, San Roman, Calif.

10. LHP Thomas Szapucki, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., All American Prospects