Elliott: Pros pick the best amateurs at the sixth annual Tournament 12 

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

In all, 19 games were played at the sixth annual Tournament 12. Commissioner Robbie Alomar was there for each and every pitch … not to mention pro scouts and recruiters.

As well, each of the eight teams had a one hour workout on scout day to strut their stuff.

Ontario Green claimed the title and accepted the trophy from Alomar with a 5-2 win against Alberta in the final.

Now that we know who won … who was the most impressive of the 160 players on display?

We asked four Toronto Blue Jays alumni and a pair of scouts, about the teenagers and who they enjoyed watching.

Jesse Barfield, former AL home run champion

1. RHP Theo Millas (Burnaby, BC/Langley Blaze).

“I thought he had a real good arm and showed good poise.”

2. LHP Justin Thorsteinson (Langley, BC/Langley Blaze).

“Like as a pitcher. He has good size (6-foot-4, 205 lbs.), good body and a great arm.”

3. OF Brandon Nicoll (Coombs, BC/Langley Blaze).

“He’s a spark plug, I like him a lot.”

4. INF Joshua Walker (Victoria, BC/Victoria Mariners).

“He handled the bat well and I liked the way he played with the glove.”

5. INF Cesar Valero (Calgary, Alta./Okotoks Dawgs).

“He hasn’t shown a lot here with the but. You know it is there. He has to learn to make adjustments: he has that leg kick, but it’s difficult for him to get his  timing right well when a pitcher will slide step with a man on base.”

6. INF Bryce Arnold (Grimsby, Ont./Fieldhouse Pirates).

“He attacks the ball. He wants to get better. He must have asked me 25 questions: like when do you look for a breaking ball; like how do pitchers think through an at-bat. He keeps his weight back. He has a feel for the game.”

7. OF Zachary Laurie (Peterborough, Ont./Stouffville Elite).

“He’s a bit of a scrapper, a left-handed hitter, who knows the zone.”

8, LHP Mitch Bradt (Newmarket, Ont.,/Brampton Royals).

“He showed good command. He kept the ball down and he has a huge upside because of his age.”

9. OF Micah McDowell (Coldbrook, NS/Okotoks Dawgs).

“He knows what he is doing. He has a flair. Pitchers won’t like facing him.”

10. RHP Evan O’Toole (Bridgewater, NS/Vauxhall).

“He knows how to pitch one of the few 90s that I saw.”

Honourable mention: OF Dasan Brown (Mississauga, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

Lloyd Moseby, included into the Canadian Hall of Fame in June.

(Alphabetical order)

INF Bryce Arnold (Grimsby, Ont./Fieldhouse Pirates).

“He’s going to be really, really good.”

OF Dasan Brown (Mississauga, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“I don’t care what his average is ... his speed guarantees that he can play.”

Jaden Brown (Mississauga, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays)

“He can get drafted easy, but he needs to learn the strike zone.”

OF Blake Buckle (Milton, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“He delivered, don’t know if his game can get much better.”

OF Owen Caisse (Burlington, Ont./Fieldhouse Athletics).

“He stayed back on breaking balls and got great breaks on balls in the field.”

C Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont./Great Lake Canadians).

“He’s an absolute stud.”

INF Elijha Hammill (Oakville, Ont./Ontario Terriers).

“Elijha is going to be fine -- as soon as he learns that four at-bats doesn’t kill a hole squirrel.”

INF Joshua Jones (Blainville, Que./Academy Baseball Canada).

“Showed great hands as he’s learning the strike zone. Someone said he was the youngest guy here.”

OF Micah McDowell (Coldbrook, NS/Okotoks Dawgs).

“He’s improved so much off a year ago, and he certainly wasn’t bad last year when he won the MVP.”

C Raphael Pelletier (Masouche, Que./Academy Baseball Canada).

“He’s great at blocking the plate and showed a big, big arm.”

INF Ricardo Sanchez (Okotoks, Alta./Okotoks Dawgs).

“He’s like Jose Altuve, he believes he’s in a good place.”

INF TJ Schofield-Sam (Brampton, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“He’ll be something, He has learned so much from a year ago.”

INF Joshua Walker (Victoria, BC/Victoria Mariners).

“I really like the kid. He has incredible hands. He can get to the next level.”

Honourable Mention: C Ryan Faragher (London, Ont./Great Lake Canadians); 1B Joshua Myers (Elmsdale, PEI/SUNY Adirondack Community College.

Tanyon Sturtze, Appeared in 40 games for the 2003 Jays, accepted in some quarters as No. 41 on Sportsnet top 40 all-time list. 

1. C Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont./Great Lake Canadians).

“He almost hit three home runs, bouncing one over when he tried to go deep where the big boys go. I like the way he has worked to improve since last year.”

2. OF Dasan Brown (Mississauga, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“Speed, speed and more speed. It should guarantee that he can play.”

3. INF Cesar Valero (Calgary, Alta./Okotoks Dawgs).

“Obviously he’s a great talent -- with a lot of power. Look at him playing third. He’s a player. We don’t have to see him hit to know that he can play.”

4. INF Jaden Brown (Mississauga, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“He’s become a better player. It’s as they say you can’t teach speed.”

5. INF Joshua Walker (Victoria, BC/Victoria Mariners).

“He’s a great hitter, he crushed the ball. He showed well in the field and swung the bat real well.”

6. OF Micah McDowell (Coldbrook, NS/Okotoks Dawgs).

“He absolutely raked ... even his outs were hard hit.”

7. RHP Eli Saul (Vancouver, BC/UBC Thunder).

“I saw him at 89 MPH. I love his build, his arm strength and he displayed great mechanics,”

8. RHP Theo Millas (Burnaby, BC/Langley Blaze).

“He attacked the strike zone and showed excellent composure.”

9. LHP Keegan Pulford-Thorpe (Newmarket, Ont./Toronto Mets).

“He’s a great young talent, plus he will get stronger and bigger.”

10. C Raphael Pelletier (Masouche, Que./Academy Baseball Canada).

“I like the way he handles himself. He is a legit catcher. Some guys here wearing the gear may be moved. He is the best defensive catcher here.”

Honourable Mention: RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont./Tri-City Giants).

Duane Ward, two-time World Series winner

1. C Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont./Great Lake Canadians).

“He’s the best player here in his draft year. He’s a good hitting catcher who handles himself well.”

2. RHP Theo Millas (Burnaby, BC/Langley Blaze).

“He’s the best pitcher here with a lot of upside. He went out and pitched. One of the few guys who hit 90 MPH.”

3. RHP Eli Saul (Vancouver, BC/UBC Thunder).

“He has good size (6-foot-5, 205 lbs.). The older he’ll get the better he’ll get.

4. OF Alejandro Cazorla (Surrey, BC/Okotoks Dawgs).

“Showed good instinct. Played the outfield well and puts the ball inn play.”

5. INF Bryce Arnold (Grimsby, Ont./Fieldhouse Pirates).

“Man, he’s a hard-nosed player. He almost always puts the ball in play. I really like the way he plays the game.”

6. OF Dasan Brown (Mississauga, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“He has to find a way to get on base. He’s a threat and plays the outfield very well, but he needs to learn to get on by bunting or slapping the ball.”

7. OF Micah McDowell (Coldbrook, NS/Okotoks Dawgs).

“He’s solid. He does what an outfielder is supposed to do.”

8. INF Cesar Valero (Calgary, Alta./Okotoks Dawgs).

“I’ve talked to a few scouts and while he hasn’t hit a lot here, he tore it up this summer. He shows great raw ability both with his arm and in the field.”

9. RHP Jackson Fraser (Wymark, Sask./Okotoks Dawgs).

“How can you not like his size (6-foot-7, 190 lbs.)? He wants to throw harder and he will. He has a little bit to work on with his mechanics, but that happens with taller guys. He can work it out.”

10. RHP Carter Morris (Vernon, BC/Okanagan Athletics).

“He’s young, but he hit 90 MPH and he used all his pitches.”

Honourable Mention: LHP Ben Adams (Ottawa, Ont./Ottawa-Nepean Canadians); OF Zachary Laurie (Peterborough, Ont./Stouffville Elite); LHP Connor O’Halloran (Mississauga, Ont./Ontario Terriers); RHP Loreto Siniscalchi (Burnaby, BC/Langley Blaze); RHP Turner Spoljaric (Bolton, Ont./Toronto Mets); LHP Justin Thorsteinson (Langley, BC/Langley Blaze); RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont./Tri-City Giants).

Veteran scout

1. C Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont./Great Lake Canadians).

“He crushed everything he saw ... he hit his homers but also took his walks and worked up the middle of the field and hit a double to dead centre against BC.”

2. RHP Theo Millas (Burnaby, BC/Langley Blaze).

“He worked five plus innings and was smooth and effortless with a fastball up to 89 MPH with a good slider.”

3. RHP Eli Saul (Vancouver, BC/UBC Thunder).

“He attacked hitters and ran the fastball up to 90 MPH. He threw some good sliders and a few change ups.”

4. OF Daniel Martin (Langley, BC/Langley, BC).

“He showed a good approach at the plate and hit a ball to the second deck flashing his power. He seemed he had a couple hits every game. He also showed best arm from the outfield throwing out multiple runners.”

5. RHP-OF Evan O’Toole (Bridgewater, NS/Vauxhall).

“He threw 87-89 MPH with a loose arm. He will be one to follow this upcoming year.”

6. LHP Justin Thorsteinson (Langley, BC/Langley Blaze).

“He attacked hitters filling up the strike zone with an imposing frame and his fastball was 88 MPH. He looks the part.”

7. RHP Loreto Siniscalchi (Burnaby, BC/Langley Blaze).

“He was up to 86 MPH with a live arm with natural cut on his fastball and a sharp curve ball.”

8. 1B-C Blake Buckle (Milton, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“He seemed to be on base every time he was up and showed he can flat out hit.”

9. OF Micah McDowell (Coldbrook, NS/Okotoks Dawgs).

“He showed good speed and one day you could see he could be a player when he figures out the bat. His arm is solid.”

10. SS Jaden Brown (Mississauga, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“His speed was evident legging out infield hit after infield hit ... He has a special kind of speed you rarely see.”

11. INF Cesar Valero (Calgary, Alta./Okotoks Dawgs)

“He struggled at T12 because nobody would throw to him, but you can tell there is something special there.”

Veteran scout

(Alphabetical order) 

INF Jaden Brown (Mississauga, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“He has a plus arm for his position and will only get better.”

1B-C Blake Buckle (Milton, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“Showed a good arm and hit with power. A catcher.”

C Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont./Great Lake Canadians)

“If he can learn to play behind the plate with the power he generates with the bat he will be in demand. As of now he is a first baseman.”

LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta./Vauxhall Jets).

“Below average velocity now. I like his delivery, he looks at ease gets the job done.” 

OF Micah McDowell (Coldbrook, NS/Okotoks Dawgs).

“He swung the bat OK and makes the plays in centre field. He has good range with a playable arm. He is a heads up base runner. 

RHP Carter Morris (Vernon, BC/Okanagan Athletics)

“His fastball was close to major-league average. It was not one of his best games. I think he needs to work on his mechanics.”

RHP-OF Evan O’Toole (Bridgewater, NS/Vauxhall).

“I like this guy playing a position rather than pitching. He can swing the bat with power and run for average.”

RHP Eli Saul (Vancouver, BC/UBC Thunder).

“Touched 89 MPH and there is more in that arm. He has a nice and easy delivery.”

OF Nic Tremblay (Mont-St.Hilaire, Que./Academy Baseball Canada).

“He had a good T12, the bat came alive.”

INF Joshua Walker (Victoria, BC/Victoria Mariners).

“Had a good batting practice and played well at third. Good fielding and hitting.”

Veteran scout

1. INF Cesar Valero (Calgary, Alta./Okotoks Dawgs).

“I know he didn’t knock down any fences, but he had the face, he had the look. Prospects are supposed to look like that. I think he’ll hit, but I’m not sure he’ll stay at shortstop — maybe third base.”

2. Owen Caisse (Burlington, Ont. Fieldhhouse Pirates).

“Very impressive arm. Twice he threw from right field to the plate in games in the air. and he did it again on scout day. Very young, but ipressive.”

3. C Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont./Great Lake Canadians).

“Big man. Big bat. Not the best defensive catcher there, but the best hitter. The bat will play.”

4. OF Nic Tremblay (Mont-St.Hilaire, Que./Academy Baseball Canada).

“How about this, he is headed to Okotoks and played against Alberta. Am surprised there weren’t any hard feelings like a few years ago when BC players left to go to Alberta.”

5. RHP Eli Saul (Vancouver, BC/UBC Thunder).

“Everyone I spoke to liked him. First player to watch from UBC’s entry into the Premier League?”

6. RHP Theo Millas (Burnaby, BC/Langley Blaze).

“Threw hard and threw for strikes. I can see him being a guy to watch.”

7. INF Joshua Walker (Victoria, BC/Victoria Mariners).

“Could the pendelum be swinging back to the west coast. He’s a good one to watch.”

8. OF Dasan Brown (Mississauga, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“Showed great speed and unlike some guys with speed showed some sense on the base paths. We’re here looking for players and intelligent players.”

9. C-OF Blake Buckle (Milton, Ont./Ontario Blue Jays).

“Am not sure he was the MVP, I probably would have picked Brayden Cust (Cold Lake, Alta/Prospects Academy), who pitched the no hitter in the semi-final game.”

10. INF Bryce Arnold (Grimsby, Ont./Fieldhouse Pirates).

“You are not supposed to have favourites but I could not wait to see this guy hit. Pound for pound he was one of the better guys there.”