Betts: Five Division I Canadians to watch for in 2024
Great Lake Canadians alum Nick Groves (London, Ont.) is one of the top Canadians playing in the Division 1 college ranks to watch in 2024, according to Matt Betts. Photo: Niagara Athletics
December 5, 2023
By Matt Betts
Canadian Baseball Network
All eyes in the baseball world are clearly set on Shohei Ohtani, and rightfully so.
But if you can spare a second, there’s a lot to look forward to about the Division I college season that begins Feb. 16, which is a full 41 days before Major League Baseball’s Opening Day for those keeping track.
Six DI Canadians find themselves on the preliminary 2024 Canadian Baseball Network Draft list but that doesn’t mean they’re the only ones to be on the lookout for.
Let’s dive deeper into five to keep tabs on when the season rolls around.
INF/OF Nick Groves (London, Ont.) - Niagara University
Making an immediate impact as a freshman is never easy but did Groves ever make it look that way in his first season with the Purple Eagles. The former Great Lake Canadian finished second on the team in average at .339 while posting a .504 on-base percentage (OBP), swiping 21 bases and walking 57 times. Oh, and he did most of it out of the leadoff spot as Niagara finished 14-10 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play, their best record since they won 14 back in 2009.
INF Émilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) - University of Kentucky
The Wildcats have featured plenty of talented Canadians over the years, from left-handers Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.) and James Paxton (Richmond, BC) to outfielder Tristan Pompey (New Westminster, BC) and catcher Cole Cottam (pops hails from Burlington, Ont.). Their most recent star is Pitre. A .318 average and .853 OPS earned him a spot on the All-Southeastern Conference Second Team in 2023. The Académie Baseball Canada graduate is someone to watch for in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft and is currently ranked No. 3 on the CBN list.
LHP Campbell Ellis (Georgetown, Ont.) - Virginia Commonwealth University
The upcoming season represents one last kick at the college can for Ellis and he hopes it’s one of the bounce back variety. After pitching to a 3.25 ERA as a freshman and a 3.27 as a sophomore, he struggled to an 8.41 ERA during his junior campaign. Walks were partly to blame, as he issued 30 in 55 2/3 innings, a drastic difference from the 21 in 74 1/3 innings in 2022. If the former Terrier can find his form, it could go a long way in helping the Rams return to a regional.
OF Ethan Murdoch (Swift Current, Sask.) - Marshall University
The Marshall Herd finished tied for 210th as a team in NCAA Division I home runs with 47 and none of their player finished with more than eight. To address the need they dipped into the junior college transfer market and got a commitment from Canadian slugger Murdoch who swatted 34 home runs in two seasons at McCook Community College, including 18 last season. Add in a .365 average over 106 games and he provides the bat, and the thump, the Herd are desperately seeking.
Jordan Bach (Ladner, BC) - University of Southern Illinois
Let’s stick with the junior college transfers, shall we? Bach is fresh of being named to the Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian College First Team for his work at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College where he hit .411 with a .488 OBP and a .746 slugging percentage last season. His 14 home runs and 69 RBIs led the Golden Norsemen and now he takes his talent to Carbondale, Illinois where he has some big Canadian cleats to fill. Outfielders Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.), who’s currently in double-A with the Tampa Bay Rays, and Pier-Olivier Boucher (Saint-Joseph-de-Bauce, Que.), the Atlanta Braves 10th rounder in 2023, are both former Salukis.