Big Ten taking notice of Canadian talent
Ontario Terriers outfielder Cameron Chee-Aloy (Toronto, Ont.) is one of the Canadian players that has committed to the University of Illinois in recent months. Photo: Ontario Terriers
December 2, 2021
By Matt Betts
Canadian Baseball Network
If you’ve played, coached or followed the game of baseball in Canada, you’ve probably heard it: “Canadian players take a little longer to develop for a variety of reasons.”
That developmental gap between Canadians and our American counterparts is closing. Like Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) closing in on a ball in the left centre field gap, or the way Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) closes the door in a Blue Jays’ win. And the Big Ten Conference is taking notice.
Just ask University of Illinois assistant coach Adam Christ.
“Canadian programs have made it easier to see and recruit their players,” Christ said. “It really comes down to doing your homework and building the right relationships.”
Christ has been hot on the Canadian recruiting trail recently, locking in four Canadian up-and-comers in the 2022 and 2023 classes. Great Lake Canadians’ right hander Liam Adamson (London, Ont.) and infielder Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.), along with Toronto Mets righty Parker Burgess (Douro-Drummer, Ont.) and Ontario Terriers outfielder Cameron Chee-Aloy (Toronto, Ont.) will all look to be an integral part of what the Fighting Illini are building.
Combine that with the players that are currently on the rosters, or have committed to, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue and Rutgers, and the Big Ten is becoming must-watch baseball for Canadian baseball fans.
It all comes back to that exposure and networking Christ relies on. Programs like the Ontario Blue Jays, Toronto Mets, Mississauga Tigers, Ontario Astros, and Ontario Nationals all went on lengthy fall college trips in 2021.
“These college tours these programs are going on is really opening up the door for their players,” said Christ. “They’ve started coming through the midwest, so now we can see whole teams play as opposed to individual players at showcases like in the past.”
And what happens on those trips?
Connections are made and relationships are built between coaches from across North America.
“Great Lake Canadians Director of Baseball Operations Chris Robinson played at Illinois, so that’s a natural connection,” Christ said. “Then over the years I’ve come across Rich Leitch of the Mets, John Milton (formerly of the Terriers, now with the Okotoks Dawgs) and others. Those guys get to know what kind of players we like and we get to know how they develop players.”
But what about those long winters that some thought would previously drive away Power 5 recruiters?
Well first off, a lot of the schools within the Big Ten and throughout the midwest, northeast, and northwest experience the same type of weather as much of Canada, so knock that off the list of reasons. Facilities is another factor, and that’s something Christ and the Fighting Illini know the importance of. Illinois is currently getting ready to unveil a brand new, eight million dollar, 26,000 square foot state-of-the-art indoor facility.
“The facilities being built up there are incredible,” Christ said. “Players aren’t taking as long to develop. These kids can train more efficiently for longer periods of time and are being exposed to higher levels of baseball earlier in their careers.”
And don’t forget about the role technology has played in getting players in front of college coaches, especially during the past 20 months of the pandemic. A high quality video can be the first impression a player needs to make sure a coach comes out to one of their games.
All of this has helped Canadians find college baseball homes south of the border, including the influx to the Big Ten over the past couple of years. As for the four Canucks Christ has lured to Champagne, Illinois, he’s excited to get them on campus.
“Adamson and Burgess are big arms with tons of potential.” he said. “Chee-Aloy and O’Rae have the mentality that when the lights come on, they’re up for the challenge. Their hard-nosed players.”
There’s plenty more where they came from in the great white north.