22 Canucks drafted, 14 sign, plus 3 FAs, with links
* LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.), Missouri, was selected 41st over-all on Day I of the annual draft of high schoolers and collegians Thursday night. Photos: University of Missouri, Baseball Canada. .... Canadians drafted in the top 200 Top Canucks drafted year by year Canuck$ with si$-figue bonu$
2014 Canadian draft list 2013 Canadians in the Minors 2013 Canadians in College Letters of Intent
Canadians selected in the 2013 June draft of high schoolers and collegians:
1. 2nd round Cubs (41st) -- LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) Missouri -- SIGNED $1.1 million US
Coached by: Tim Jamieson.
Scouted by and signed by: former Jays scout Ron Tostenson (Kelowna, BC) and former Cubs scouting director, now Special Assistant to the Cubs president and General manager Tim Wilken. former Jays scouting director.
Slot money: $1,361,900
Highest selected Canadian since: RHP Jameson Taillon (The Woodlands, Tx.) went in the first round (2nd over-all) in 2010.
13th highest Canadian ever drafted behind: RHP Jameson Taillon, 2nd, The Woodlands, Tex., LHP Adam Loewen, 4th, Surrey, BC, LHP Jeff Francis, North Delta, BC, 9th, Phillippe Aumont, 11th, Gatineau, Que., Brett Lawrie, Langley, BC, 16th, RHP Dave Wainhouse, Scarborough, Ont., 19th, C Kellin Deglan, 22nd, Langley, BC, Kevin Nicholson, 27th, Surrey, BC, INF Scott Thorman, 30th, Cambridge, Ont., RHP Chris Reitsma, 34th, Calgary, Alta., Ntema Ndungidi, 36th, Montreal, Que., LHP James Paxton, 37th, Ladner, BC.
9 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 Ks vs. Mississippi State in 2-1 SEC loss Clocked at 88-93 MPH 24 BBs, 82 Ks in 90.2 IP 2-9, 3.93 ERA in 13 GS Opponents Avg .266 76th on Baseball Anerica's top 250 combined list 81st on Perfect Game's top 500 combined list
ALLAN SIMPSON, Perfect Game, scouting report -- Zastryzny (pronounced ZAS-tres-ny) qualifies as a Canadian for future international competition because he was born in Edmonton in 1992. But the 6-foot-3, 195-pound southpaw left Canada with his family at an early age, and attended high school in Corpus Christi, Tex., where he went 17-1, 0.20 with 198 strikeouts as a senior. Though he went 9-24 in three years as Missouri’s Friday starter, including 2-9 this spring as a junior as the Tigers struggled in their first year in the rugged Southeastern Conference, Zastryzny caught the attention of scouts with his 82-228 walk-to-strikeout ratio over that period, and a fastball that has steadily climbed from the upper-80s as a freshman to a pitch that now tops out at 94-95 mph with excellent sinking and running life. He effortlessly adds and subtracts from his fastball. Zastryzny’s best secondary pitch is a low-80s changeup that has good arm speed; it matches his fastball in terms of life and his ability to spot it low in the strike zone. Zastryzny’s third pitch is a curve that is useful in setting up hitters, but not as a swing-and-miss pitch. He throws strikes, but will need to refine his command at the pro level.
BASEBALL AMERICA, scouting report -- Though Zastryzny won just two of his first 11 starts this spring as Missouri got a rude welcome to the Southeastern Conference, scouts aren’t holding that against him. A lefthander who can really pitch with his fastball, he should go in the first three rounds. Zastrzyny effortlessly adds and subtracts from his fastball, usually sitting around 90 mph but capable of dropping down to 86 or elevating four-seamers up in the zone at 95. The 6-foot-3, 193-pounder can locate his fastball to either side of the plate and gets good angle, which helps it play up further. His most reliable secondary pitch is his changeup, which shows flashes of being a plus offering. His breaking ball is less consistent, as he will switch between a slider and curveball. Zastryzny throws strikes but will need to refine his command in pro ball.
TODD DEVLIN -- Zaztryzny tops at Mizzou, top Canuck
THE MISSOURIAN -- Cubs take Zastryzny
CUBS ON-LINE -- Cubs take lefty
Zaztryzny makes 2012 CBN All-Canadian Second Team
Big Zee (Zed) almost a Blue Jay
2. 3rd (85th) Mariners -- RF Tyler O’Neill, Maple Ridge, BC Langley Blaze/Canadian Junior National Team -- SIGNED $650,000 signing bonus.
Coached by: Jamie Bodaly and Doug Mathieson.
Scouted and signed by: Tom McNamara and Wayne Norton (Port Moody, BC).
Slot money: $631,100.
Ranked 63rd on BA top 500 list
Ranked 84th on PG’s top 500 list
Attended private workouts for Astros, Diamondbacks, Mariners, Rangers
10 hits in Fla to lead team, including 5 doubles, triple, 3 RBIs, .385 (10-for-26) vs. pros
9-for-15 vs. pros with wood bat in Az. Runs 6.6 60
Short, compact stroke, compared to Dan Uggla?
ALLAN SIMPSON, Perfect Game: O’Neill’s ability to swing the bat—both for average and power—is what sets him apart from almost any high-school hitter in the 2013 draft. But his inability to lock in on a set position probably has him on the outside of the first round looking in. Scouts still have hopes that the short, powerfully-built O’Neill, whose father is an 11-time Canadian weight-lifting champion, will find his way as a catcher, but a hernia that prevented him from squatting comfortably a year ago impaired his development behind the plate, and a sore elbow this spring while with Canada’s junior-national team on a barnstorming tour to Florida relegated him to mostly a DH role. Even when healthy, the 6-foot, 215-pound O’Neill never has shown a willingness to catch, and scouts have essentially determined that his actions may always be a little too stiff to continue in that role, though he has the raw arm strength desired in the position. The versatile O’Neill settled in as an all-star shortstop when unable to catch as a junior, but his lack of flexibility and grinder-like approach in the field makes him a better fit as an offensive second baseman (along the lines of stocky Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla), or corner outfielder, if all else fails. In British Columbia baseball circles, O’Neill has drawn constant comparisons to another former top Langley Blaze prospect, Brett Lawrie, an offensive-oriented player who enhanced his first-round candidacy in 2008 by moving behind the plate—though that experiment ended early in his pro career, and Lawrie has since settled in as a third baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays. Scouts who saw both players as high-school seniors say O’Neill is more advanced than Lawrie in most areas. Not only is he stronger and faster, and also possesses a stronger arm, but O’Neill had a much better year with the bat. With a short, quick, compact swing, O’Neill handles wood with ease; his raw power, in particular, has emerged this spring, especially with his ability to drive balls long distances to the opposite field. On the Blaze’s ambitious 23-game exhibition trek to spring-training bases in Arizona in March, where 40-60 scouts typically gathered for most games, O’Neill hit a resounding .714 with five homers. O’Neill committed to Oregon State, but his growing stature as a prospect this spring makes it increasingly unlikely that he will ever play a game at the collegiate level.
BASEBALL AMERICA -- While O’Neill draws comparisons to Brett Lawrie, it’s mostly because he’s a muscular Canadian who recently converted to catcher and has some similar mannerisms. Calling O’Neill muscular is an understatement. With a father who was a Canadian bodybuilding champion, O’Neill has a bulky, square build at 6 feet and 215 pounds and likely has a position change in his future. He doesn’t like catching, and his build makes him too stiff to stay behind the plate. He has above-average arm strength but missed time this spring with a sore elbow. If he doesn’t get more flexible, he might not even be able to remain in the infield. O’Neill’s bat will profile wherever he winds up. There’s no fastball he can’t turn around. He has premium bat speed and projects to be an average hitter with above-average power. O’Neill is committed to Oregon State, but was getting some first-round buzz, so it’s unlikely he winds up in Corvallis.
Scouted by: Tom McNamara, who chose Brett Lawrie in the first round five years ago when he was with the Milwaukee Brewers and area scout Wayne Norton (Port Moody, BC).
STEVE EWAN -- Busy pre-draft schedule
ELLIOTT PAP -- Maple Ridge's O'Neill goes in third
Five Big League Experience campers drafted
CHRISTIAN J. STEWART -- O’Neill Selected in MLB Draft
NEIL CORBETT -- M's get their man in O'Neill
3. 4th. (136th) Nationals -- RHP Nick Pivetta Victoria, BC New Mexico Jr. College/C-University of New Mexico -- SIGNED $364,300 US.
Coached by: Josh Simpson.
Slot money: $364,300.
105th on BA top 500 list
138th (down from 111th) on PG’s top 500 list ... Ranked 3rd
Was 91-94 MPH, peaking at 96
23 BBs, 56 Ks in 83 IPs, 9-2, 3.36
Wins vs. Frank Phillips, NMMI, Blinn, Otero, Clarendon, Midland, Howard, Odessa, Luna
FB 95-97 MPH range in fall ball
BASEBALL AMERICA -- Pivetta spent time with Canada's country’s junior national team and went undrafted out of high school. He has blossomed at New Mexico JC and intrigues scouts with his 6-foot-5, 215-pound build and a fastball that has been clocked as high as 97 mph. As a starter, he pitches more in the 90-93 mph range. His slider and changeup show flashes of being above-average but have been inconsistent this spring. Pivetta has some funk to his delivery, as he’s a bit of a short strider with a low 3/4 arm slot. A team will take a chance on Pivetta around the fifth round because he’s seen as a fresh arm with potential. He has committed to New Mexico.
Five Big League Experience campers drafted
4. 5th (159th) Orioles -- LHP Travis Seabrooke, Peterborough, Ont. Ontario Terriers/Canadian Junior National Team/C-Boston College. SIGNED -- $291,800 US
Coached by: Scott Van deValk.
Scouted and signed by: Ex-Jays scout Gary Rajsich, now Baltimore Orioles scouting director, area scout Tyler Moe (Oakville, Ont.) and Chris Reitzma (Calgary, Alta.).
Slot money: $291,800.
Really jumped with 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 Ks vs. Dominican prospects in Santo Domingo
5 BB, 14 Ks in 10 IPs, 3.60 in D.R.
4 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K vs. Jays in D.R.
86-91 MPH at Connorvale camp
338th on PG list
441st on BA list
PERFECT GAME -- Seabrooke has obvious athleticism in his lanky 6-foot-6, 210-pound frame, and chose at an early age to pursue a baseball career, rather than follow in his father’s footsteps. As a first-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1985 National Hockey League draft (21st overall), Glen Seabrooke had a brief, injury-marred career in the NHL, collecting one goal and seven points in 19 games, before sustaining a severe shoulder injury after colliding with a goal post while playing for the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey, Pa., in 1989. Seabrooke underwent reconstructive shoulder surgery, and later sued Flyers team doctors, claiming they improperly rushed him back from rehabilitation, causing him permanent damage to his left arm. Though his hockey career was over at age 21, he received a $5.5 million settlement in 1995. Seabrooke’s son won’t be a first-rounder in this year’s baseball draft, but he has considerable upside in his tall, projectable frame and plenty of quickness in his loose, easy left arm. Mostly a two-pitch pitcher at this point in his development, Seabrooke can reach 90-91 mph with sinking action on his fastball, but the pitch is also prone to dipping into the mid-80s. He’ll also flash the makings of a plus breaking ball, while his changeup remains a work in progress. Not surprising, given his upbringing in a hockey household, Seabrooke is very competitive in his approach to pitching, and not afraid to challenge hitters. Along with his close friend Cal Quantrill, Seabrooke has enjoyed international success with Canada’s junior-national team, but typical of most young Canadians, he is a late bloomer who might have been best served in the draft had the since-disbanded draft-and-follow rule still been in effect. The rule provided for a team to draft a player and follow his progress for a year before having to make a commitment to sign him. But with a scholarship offer from Boston College hanging in the balance, scouts will have to almost immediately weigh the merits of taking Seabrooke in a signable round to warrant buying him out of college.
BASEBALL AMERICA -- Seabrooke’s father Glen Seabrooke was a first-round pick in the 1985 NHL draft and spent three seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers. Travis is bigger than his father with a lean, 6-foot-5, 182-pound build. He’ll have time to fill out, as he’s one of the youngest players in this year’s draft class and won’t be 18 until September. Seabrooke uses his size to his advantage, creating good plane to the plate on an 87-89 mph fastball that tops out at 92. His secondary stuff needs work, as he mixes in a big-breaking curveball from an over-the-top arm slot and an occasional changeup. Seabrooke has effort in his delivery, but he doesn’t have a lot of mileage on his arm and is a fearless competitor on the mound. He is committed to Boston College.
JESSE THOMAS -- Kawartha lefty surprised
STEVE MELEWSKI -- O's come to terms with lefty
5. 10th (305) Cardinals -- INF Malik Collymore, Mississauga, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays -- SIGNED $275,000 US,
Coached by: Danny Bleiwas.
Slot money: $135,300.
Scouted and signed by: Charles Peterson.
Ranked 190 by BA
Ranked 204th by PG
Ran 6.54 60 yd dash at PG Showcase in Cedar Rapids, added a HR
HR vs. Astros in FLA, only HR on FLA tour
Solid at PG Showcase in Minneapolis
Line drive/gap type hitter
4.23 to 1B
Mark McLemore type
ALLAN SIMPSON, Perfect Game -- Collymore has always flashed considerable raw speed and power potential in his powerful, compact, well-defined 6-foot, 190-pound frame, but his performance at Perfect Game’s pre-draft showcase, in Iowa in mid-May, may have legitimately pushed him into the early rounds of this year’s draft. He ran the 60 in an event-best 6.54 seconds, homered in three of 10 batting-practice swings and went deep again in game competition. As Canada’s representative at the Power Showcase Home Run Derby in Miami in January, Collymore launched one ball that went a reported 472 feet; during speed training on a fast indoor track at Toronto’s York University a short time later, he ran the 60 in a lightning-fast 6.22 seconds. Though Collymore has obvious speed, scouts say he needs to use it more efficiently on the bases and in the field under game conditions. Balls will also jump off his bat, but he’ll struggle making consistent contact with breaking pitches. With his simple hitting approach that emphasizes consistent contact, Collymore projects to hit more for doubles-power rather than true home-run power. His greatest challenge is on the defensive side of the ball, no matter where he eventually plays. He has plenty of arm strength to play on the left side of the infield and is capable of occasionally making the spectacular play at shortstop, but his hands and footwork appear best-suited for second base.
BASEBALL AMERICA -- Collymore stands out for his tightly wound 6-foot, 195-pound build and power/speed combination. He started to translate his tools into performance more this spring, hitting a home run against the Astros when the Canadian junior national team was on its tour of spring training bases in Florida in April, and had late helium as the draft approached. He’s also the type of player who could impress executives at a predraft workout. A good athlete who is built like a running back and has a quick righthanded bat, he has the tools to hit for average and power but will need to continue to improve his pitch recognition and plate discipline. He is an above-average runner in the 60-yard dash, but his speed doesn’t show itself out of the box or at second base. He is raw at second and a team could also try him in center field, though his arm is below-average. Scouts like Collymore’s makeup and work ethic. He has not committed to a college and is considered signable.
IAIN COLPITTS -- Mississauga’s own
6. 11th (376th) Nationals -- RHP Andrew Cooper Belle River, Ont. Sierra Jr. College -- SIGNED.
30 BBs, 56 Ks in 98.2 IP, 13-3, 2.65 in Big 8 Conference
18 G, 16 GS, 3 CG
Wins over San Mateo, Los Medanos, Chabot, Laney, Diablo Valley, Sacramento, Cosumnes River, Modesto, Santa Rosa, San Joaquin Delta (three), Sequoias
Ranked 25th on PG’s top 126 JUCO prospects in Calif.
118th on BA’s list of prospects in Calif.
MARY CATON -- Cooper top Windsor prospects for draft
7. 12th (387th) Mariners -- 3B Lachlin Fontaine, North Vancouver, BC North Shore Twins/Canadian Junior National Team -- SIGNED, $100,000.
Coached by: Larson Bauck and John Harr.
Scouted by: Wayne Norton (Port Moody, BC).
Bases-loaded double vs. Jays plus two singles in FLA
Impressed at PG Camelback Ranch: 2 hits, including a double, short hopping RF fence
14th Canadian on BA HS list
ALLAN SIMPSON, Perfect Game -- With impressive raw offensive ability, including a smooth stroke, consistent hard contact and occasional pull power from the left side, along with sound side-to-side actions defensively and plenty of arm strength at the hot corner, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Fontaine profiled as a solid candidate for the top 10 rounds in this year’s draft as recently as last fall. But his stock appears to have taken a hit this spring as Fontaine struggled to swing the bat effectively in a number of high-profile performances for Canada’s junior-national team in Arizona and Florida, often showing a long, loopy stroke. Despite an apparent dip in his draft status, Fontaine is still considered very signable as his college commitment is only to a junior college (Central Arizona).
8. 18th (527th) Astros -- 3B-OF Adam Nelubowich, Stony Plain, Alta. Washington State University -- SIGNED.
Coached by: Donnie Marbut
Scouted by: Paul Gale.
13 Ds, 3 T, 3 HR, 34 RBIs, .295 AVG in 54 games
.430 SLG, .345 OBA, .785 OPS
Drafted 14th rounder, M’s (09)
O352nd PG’s top 500 combined list
434th on BA’s top 500
PG’s 9th best prospect in Washington
ALLAN SIMPSON, Perfect Game -- Nelubowich, a 14th-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2009 out of an Alberta high school, is one of those players who seems to thrive in summer-league competition, but struggles to put best foot forward in college. He missed his freshman season at Washington State because of shoulder surgery, and played sparingly as a red-shirt freshman in 2011. But he led the West Coast League in homers and RBIs in a breakout summer-league season. He also performed admirably in the Cape Cod League last summer, both at the plate (.288-4-20, league-high 14 2B) and in the field, after a disappointing college season (.254-4-36). This spring, as a fourth-year junior at WSU, he again fell short of expectations by hitting a pedestrian .299-3-34. When on his game, Nelubowich has a loose, easy lefthanded swing with good raw power to the pull side. His greatest improvement last summer on the Cape came defensively, when he displayed better lateral range and an ability to come in on balls, combined with a strong, accurate arm. But those gains were largely negated this spring at WSU as he spent most of the season in the outfield, and his stock for this year’s draft may have dipped a bit in the process.
BASEBALL AMERICA -- Nelubowich has an athletic build at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds and played volleyball and basketball in high school, in addition to being on the 2009 Canadian junior national team. He was a 14th-round pick by the Mariners in 2009 and has improved each year for the Cougars. He has a line-drive-oriented lefthanded swing and below-average power. He doesn’t strike out a lot but doesn’t draw many walks, either. That’s a problem for scouts, as he will either have to play third base or, more likely, left field, which will put a lot of emphasis on his bat. The team that takes him will be betting on the fact that as a Canadian multi-sport athlete he still has some projection left, even though he’s a 22-year-old redshirt junior.
9. 18th (535th) Blue Jays -- Sean Ratcliffe, Ajax, Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/Canadian Junior National Team -- SIGNED: $75,000 signing bonus.
Coached by: Danny Bleiwas.
Scouted and signed by: Jamie Lehman.
5 BB, 3 K, 3.2 IP in D.R.
2 IP, 2 R for save vs. Royals, plus scoreless inning vs. Jays in Dominican ...
5 BB, 4 Ks in 2 outings vs. extended
Making the switch from behind the plate two years earlier than Chris Leroux
ALLAN SIMPSON, Perfect Game -- The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Ratcliffe has been likened by long-time Canadian scouts to Chris Leroux, who was drafted in the ninth round in 2002 as a lefthanded-hitting catcher out of an Ontario high school and emerged three years later out of South Carolina’s Winthrop University as a power righthander. Leroux spent the better part of the last three years in the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen, before venturing off to play in Japan this season. Ratcliffe flashed impressive raw power as a catching prospect through his junior year of high school, but it rarely translated to games, and scouts already see a higher upside on the mound with a fastball at 90-93 mph and the makings of a power breaking ball. It may be a roll of the dice for a team to draft Ratcliffe in the top 10-12 rounds this year as he has a minimum number of innings as a pitcher on his resume, but he has an easy arm action and may pitch consistently in the mid-90s one day. He is also considered extremely signable as he has little or no interest in attending college.
10. 19th (579th) Orioles -- RHP Dylan Rheault, Garson, Ont., Central Michigan University -- SIGNED, $100,000.
Coached by: Steve Jaksa
Scouted by: Bob Szymkowski.
Former Sudbury Hitmen
31 BBs, 29 Ks in 40 IPs
1-4, 6.07 in 15 G, 4 GS
12th on PG’s top 57 collegians in Michigan
11. 20th (587th) Astros -- INF Daniel Pinero, Toronto, Ont. Ontario Blue Jays/C-University of Virginia
Coached by: Danny Bleiwas.
Scouted by: Bobby St.Pierre
HR vs. Oakville
Ran 6.86, 60 at Cedar Rapids
6.85 at Connorvale Bureau camp
Impressed at Jupiter
Ranked 467 on BA’s top 500
Listed 466th on PG’s top 500
ALLAN SIMPSON, Perfect Game -- Besides being an over-sized 6-foot-6 shortstop, Pinero has an intriguing background as his father Reinaldo is a former member of the Cuban national baseball team while his mother Elena is Russian. Pinero, 19, also has the distinction of being eligible for the draft a year ago as an Ontario high-school senior, though went undrafted. He sat out the fall semester and re-enrolled this spring at a Toronto tech school, making him eligible again. Ontario high-school regulations allow students the option of moving on to an additional year of high school (grade 13), or returning to grade 12 to improve their grades for college. Not only has Pinero earned a college scholarship to Virginia in the last year, but he has accelerated his pace as a baseball prospect sufficiently enough to warrant being taken in the top 10-12 rounds this year. With his long, leveraged, projectable frame, Pinero can put on an impressive show of power in batting practice, though his swing will still often break down in games. He also has been clocked at 6.7-6.8 seconds in the 60, much faster times than those he recorded as recently as two years ago. He also shows loose glove actions at shortstop with near-average arm strength in the field. When teaming with Malik Collymore in the middle infield for the Ontario Blue Jays over the last year, Pinero generally has played shortstop while the quicker, more-athletic Collymore has been stationed at second. Inevitably, though, Pinero will end up at third base in the long run.
BASEBALL AMERICA -- Pinero was draft-eligible last year but wasn’t picked. The Royals showed interest in him as a nondrafted free agent, but he instead returned for his optional fifth year of high school, making him eligible for selection again. He has a rangy build at 6-foot-6 and 180 pounds, and while he’s a solid high school shortstop he’ll eventually move to third base. He is an average runner and has a strong arm, so he should be able to make it there. Because of his size and his long arms, Pinero has length to his swing, and he shows good bat speed and power potential. He will likely have to be drafted in the top five rounds to pass on his commitment to Virginia, where he would be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2015.
12. 20th (615) Reds -- C Morgan Lofstrom, Kelowna, BC, Okanagan Athletics/Canadian Junior National Team/C-San Jacinto Community College. SIGNED -- $100,000 US.
Scouted by: Bill Byckowski.
4-for-15, 2 RBIs in D.R.
Attended Astros private workout at Angels Stadium
Double, 3 singles, RBI in FLA
Homered vs. KC Royals in Az
Earned all-tourney honours at 85-team PG World Wood Bat in Jupiter .417 (5-for-12) double, 4 RBIs
Lofstrom has intriguing upside with his emerging skills as a lefthanded-hitting catcher. Relatively new to the position defensively, he already shows good feel for the fundamentals of catching, and possesses solid-average arm strength. He gained valuable experience this spring while with the Langley Blaze on the team’s extensive tour of Arizona spring-training sites in March, and later with Canada’s junior national team on its annual trek to the Dominican Republic. He just needs to get stronger to drive balls more consistently, and could emerge as a legitimate prospect for the draft if he elects to play a year or two at San Jacinto (Texas) CC.
WARREN HENDERSON -- Pro dream takes shape
13. 21st (625) C Mike Reeves, Peterborough, Ont., Florida Gulf Coast University -- SIGNED.
8 Ds, T, HR, 27 RBIs
.330 Avg. in 57 G, .389 SLG, .417 OBA, .806 OPS
Drafted by Blue Jays ‘09 (42nd)
456th on BA’s top 500
PG’s 52nd best collegian in FLA
BA’s 42nd best collegian in FLA
ALLAN SIMPSON, Perfect Game -- Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 42nd round in 2009, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Reeves passed up an offer to sign at the time for an opportunity to play in college at Florida Gulf Coast, and started all four years behind the plate for the Eagles. He hit .330-1-27 as a senior, and though he does a fine job of controlling the strike zone with a 30-25 walk-to-strikeout ratio and excels at handling the bat with a club-high 20 sacrifice bunts (fifth nationally), his raw power potential never evolved as hoped. He went deep only five times in his college career. But Reeves did develop into a quality defender, with sound catching skills and solid-average arm strength. As a college senior, he could become a coveted target in the top 10 rounds for any number of clubs, including the Blue Jays, who might be looking for a budget-saving pick with the intent of re-distributing discretionary funds to other draft picks elsewhere in the early rounds.
BASEBALL AMERICA -- Reeves came to Florida Gulf Coast from Canada, where he started out as a prep hockey player. His older brother Jeff Reeves pitched at Winthrop and helped steer Mike toward baseball, and the Blue Jays made him a 42nd-round pick in 2009 out of high school in Peterborough, Ont. The 6-foot, 201-pound senior has a Brian Schneider profile as a lefthanded hitter with solid catch-and-throw skills. He has performed well, hitting .333/.416/.393 and showing the ability to handle the bat. He controls the strike zone and has become an accomplished bunter. Reeves lacks power and will have to prove he won’t get overpowered by pro pitchers.
14. 22nd (656th) Mets -- RHP Daniel Procopio, Toronto, Ont., Toronto Mets/Windsor Selects/Marucci Elite
Coached by: Ryan McBride
Scouted by: Claude Pelletier.
1 BB, 2 K in 5 IPs in DR
4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K vs. Royals in D.R.
88-91 MPH at Cedar Rapids
94 vs. Tigers extended spring team in April
1st 94 by Canadian HS since Phillippe Aumont and Kyle Lotzkar (both in 2007)
Effortless, long loose arm action
Ranked 12 Canuck by BA
ALLAN SIMPSON, Perfect Game -- Procopio gained a measure of notoriety earlier this spring with Canada’s junior-national team on its barnstorming trip to Florida when his fastball was clocked at 94 mph—the highest-recorded velocity by a Canadian high-school pitcher in six years, or since 2007 first-rounder Phillippe Aumont (Mariners) and supplemental first-rounder Kyle Lotzkar (Reds) achieved that mark. Righthander Cal Quantrill, another potential high-rounder, has since exceeded that figure. Procopio isn’t in that kind of select company as a draft pick, though, and may actually be a longshot to crack even the top 10 rounds as his 5-foot-10 frame doesn’t hold water with scouts. Furthermore, the little righthander’s velocity typically falls off quickly, often into the high-80s. He’ll also flash an average breaking ball that is generally effective against both righthanded and lefthanded hitters, though has limited feel for a changeup. Despite his smaller size, Procopio has impressive arm speed, and isn’t afraid to challenge hitters with only his fastball.
15. 26th (776th) Mets -- C Owen Spiwak, Mississauga, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays/Canadian Junior National Team
3-for-16 in D.R.
Double, single in FLA
5 H, 4 RBIs at World Jrs. in Korea
Size, strong arm
Best tool is his bat, left handed hitter with power
Flawless play behind plate.
ALLAN SIMPSON, Perfect Game -- Spiwak has the classic look of a big-league catcher in his athletic 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame, and also has a track record of success in international competition with Canada’s junior-national team. But scouts say Spiwak’s game has leveled off, and even regressed over the past year or two, and he has become mostly an afterthought in this year’s draft in the eyes of many. He’ll still show flashes of raw power in a smooth, fluid, lefthanded stroke, and easy catch-and-throw skills, but his game has been rocked by wild bouts of inconsistency with increasing frequency; when one part of his game breaks down, everything tends to deteriorate. Spiwak recently signed with Florida International, and the college route now appears to be his appropriate course of action in the short term as he attempts to jump-start a once-promising career.
IAIN COLPITTS -- Mississauga’s own
16. 26th (794th) Yankees -- RHP Cal Quantrill, Port Hope Ont. Ontario Terriers/Canadian Junior National Team/C-Stanford University
Coached by: Scott Van de Valk.
Scouted by: Denis Boucher.
4 BB, 11 Ks in 7.2 IPs in D.R. vs. Dominican prospects, Brewers
89-94 MPH at Bureau camp
3 scoreless, 1 H vs. Nationals in “outstanding” outing in Fla
Ranked 90th on BA top 500 combined list
127th on PG top 500 list
ALLAN SIMPSON, Perfect Game -- Paul Quantrill worked in 841 games in a 14-year, big-league career from 1992-2005, three times leading major-league pitchers in appearances. He has subsequently managed to teach his son Cal, the top pitching prospect in Canada, most of the finer points of pitching—most-recently as his pitching coach with the Ontario Terriers—and the younger Quantrill, not surprisingly, ranks as one of the most-polished high-school arms in this year’s draft class. As primarily a command/control pitcher as recently as last fall, Quantrill appeared earmarked to fulfill his college-scholarship commitment to Stanford. But he has made major strides in the development of his raw stuff this spring and his stock for the draft has climbed appreciably, to possibly the second or third rounds. Quantrill’s fastball, mostly in the upper-80s last fall, has been a steady 90-94 mph, touching 96 on occasion. He’s also added a slider to give him the potential for two above-average breaking balls. His changeup also holds considerable promise. With his slender, athletic frame, and quick, clean arm action, the 6-foot-3, 170-pound Quantrill still has plenty of room for physical growth, and could conceivably throw in the mid-90s consistently one day, much like his father once did. He also has the same fierce, aggressive demeanor on the mound, and is a superior athlete who fields his position exceptionally well. In addition to the tutelage he has received from his father, Quantrill has gotten plenty of time and exposure with Canada’s junior-national team, and helped that squad to a silver medal at last year’s World junior 18-and-under championship, though he was just 16 at the time. Though an exceptional student, Quantrill appears more signable than most Stanford recruits (especially as his draft stock rises), and would appear a likely target for the hometown Toronto Blue Jays, especially after that team hired his father as a consultant in February. Scouts who frequent Canada say Quantrill is much farther along this year than lefthander Ryan Kellogg, the best prep arm in Canada in 2012. The Blue Jays didn’t take Kellogg until the 12th-round a year ago.
BASEBALL AMERICA -- Quantrill has as much polish as any pitcher in the draft, no surprise for the son of former big league pitcher Paul Quantrill, who spent 14 years in the big leagues. With the Canadian junior national team, Cal has gotten plenty of experience against premium competition, as the team routinely travels to Florida, Arizona and the Dominican Republic to play against pro Rookie-level pro squads. Quantrill has a slender, athletic frame at 6-foot-3 and 172 pounds, with long limbs and plenty of room to fill out. His fastball sits in the 89-91 mph range with late life, and he can reach back for 93 when he needs it. Most scouts think he’ll eventually pitch in the mid-90s. He shows good feel for his changeup, which has plus potential. He throws two different breaking balls. Both are currently below-average, with the slider showing more promise. Quantrill is a fierce competitor with an aggressive demeanor on the mound and a good athlete who fields his position well. He is also an exceptional student, though he is considered more signable than most Stanford recruits. Like many Canadians, Quantrill is young for the class and won’t be 18 until October. Don’t be surprised if the Blue Jays -- who employ his father as a consultant -- grab Quantrill in the second or third round and buy him out of his commitment.
PAUL J. RELLINGER -- Cal Quantrill drafted by Yankees, committed to Stanford
17. 30th (912th) Giants -- RHP Dylan Brooks, Dorchester, Ont. Ontario Nationals/Canadian Junior National Team. SIGNED.
Coached by: Shawn Gillespie.
Scouted by: Ray Callari.
One good outing in Fla: 3 scoreless vs. Tigers, 1 H
One not so good: 6 R, 5 H, 4 BB vs. Nationals
14th on BA Canuck list
JONATHON BRODIE -- Dorchester giant selected
18. 32nd (992nd) Brewers -- INF Charles Leblanc Laval, Que., Academy Baseball Canada
Coached by: Joel Landy.
Scouted by Jay Lapp and J.P. Roy.
Singled against the Phillies
Two-run double vs. Ontario Blue Jays in March at Vero
Also tripled in another Jays game
19. 34th (1023rd) White Sox -- LHP Tyrell King, Yavapai College
L-L 6’ 4” 180 lbs.
Calgary, Alta.
20. 37th (1100) Twins -- OF Julian Service, Sarnia, Ont., Northeast Texas CC
Coached by: Josh Stewart
Scouted by: Mark Wilson.
.214 Avg., .214 Slg, .353 OBA, .567 OPS
Drafted by the Orioles 2012 (21st)
21. 38th (1140) Diamondbacks -- RHP Kurtis Kostuk, Abbotsford, B.C., Abbotsford Cardinals. SIGNED -- $65,000.
89 MPH in FLA
5 BB, 10 Ks in 5 IP
0-2, 9.10
.318, 5 Ds, 2 HR, 16 RBIs, 10 SBs
Five Big League Experience campers drafted
22. 40th (1198) Padres -- INF Chris Thibideau, Cole Harbour, N.S., Vauxhall Acadmey/Canadian Junior National Team/C-Central Michigan
6-for-28, 7 RBIs in D.R.
.261 (6-for-23) vs. pros on FLA trip
3rd most hits (behind Tyler O’Neill 10 Demi Orimoloye 7)
Popped some prairie ears with a 6.5 60
Players Drafted
Drafted by: Astros 2, Jays 2, Mariners 2, Mets 2, Nationals 2, Orioles 2, Brewers 1, Cardinals 1, Cubs 1, Diamondbacks 1, Giants 1, Padres 1, Reds 1, Twins 1, Yankees 1.
By Province: Ontario 12, British Columbia 5, Alberta 2, Nova Scotia 1, Quebec 1.
Free agents
RHP Tom Brendel (Victoria, BC) formerly with New Mexico State signs with Arizona Diamondbacks; RP Jon Fitzsimmons (London, Ont.) Canisius College, signed by the Kansas City Royals and scout Casey Fahy; C Simon Gravel. (Terrebonne, Que.) Broward Bangers, signs with the Boston Red Sox and scout Chris Pritchett.