March 31, 2022

15 Canadians ranked among MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 prospects

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

A strong farm system can be a telling indicator of future success.

Look no further than the 2022 Toronto Blue Jays, a team many are predicting to make a run at their first World Series title since 1993.

On their projected Opening Day roster, key contributors in first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.), shortstop Bo Bichette, outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., catcher Danny Jansen and second baseman Cavan Biggio were all drafted, signed and developed in-house by the Blue Jays’ player development team.

And that’s on the offensive side. On the mound, they scooped up closer Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) from the Ontario Blue Jays and Oral Roberts University in the 2014 draft and starter Alek Manoah out of West Virginia with the 11th overall pick in 2019.

Of those sitting on the outside looking in, few have more knowledge of the best up-and-coming players in the game than MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis.

So where do the top Canuck prospects slot in their Top 100 overall and Top 30 team rankings? Let’s take a look by organization.

Atlanta Braves - No. 15 RHP Indigo Diaz (North Vancouver, BC), a Coquitlam Reds grad and No. 26 LHP Adam Shoemaker (Cambridge, Ont.) former Great Lake Canadian.

Diaz jumps from No. 21 in 2021 to No. 15 in the 2022 Atlanta Braves Top 30 prospect ranking. The former Michigan State Spartans hurler finished last season with the double-A Mississippi Braves, putting together a stellar 2-1 record with a 1.50 ERA over 18 innings. He’s pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in his professional career, which may help put him on the fast track to the big leagues.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2022

Some may be surprised to see Shoemaker crack the Braves Top 30 as the left-hander was selected in the 11th round, 337th overall just last year. With a 6-foot-6 frame and a fastball he can run up between 90-94 mph, there’s reason for optimism for the 19-year-old. In his pro debut after the draft, he was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA for the Braves’ Rookie affiliate. But don’t read too much into those numbers as he threw just 5 1/3 innings.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2025

Baltimore Orioles - No. 28 INF Adam Hall (London, Ont.) former London Badger and Great Lake Canadian.

Unlike Diaz’s ascent, Hall dropped from No. 15 to No. 28 in this year’s rankings. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to like. He put up a .248 batting average with 26 stolen bases in class-A Aberdeen in 2021. With the Orioles being in complete rebuild mode, the opportunities are there to move up with a strong season.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2022

Chicago Cubs - No. 8 OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) formerly of the FieldHouse Pirates and No. 25 OF Jordan Nwogu (Ottawa, Ont.) a Michigan alum.

Caissie is already making quite the name for himself in the Cubs organization after coming over from the Padres in exchange for Yu Darvish. In his first pro season, he split time between Rookie ball and Single-A Myrtle Beach, combining to hit .302 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs in 54 games (32 in Rookie and 22 in Single-A). On March 22, he suited up in a big league Spring Training game against the Seattle Mariners and promptly went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. The double came off former Blue Jays closer Ken Giles.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2024

Nwogu stays in the Cubs Top 30 after hitting .248 with 10 home runs, 48 RBIs, and 16 steals for Single-A Myrtle Beach. The outfielder was born in Ottawa before moving to Michigan early in his childhood. He was a member of the 2019 Michigan Wolverines that lost in the College World Series final to outfielder Cooper Davis (Mississauga, Ont.) and the Vanderbilt Commodores. The Cubs could feature two-thirds of a Canadian outfield in the coming years.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2024

Former Ontario Blue Jays C Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) is in the Cleveland systen.

Cleveland Guardians - No. 16 C Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), Ontario Blue Jays.

Cleveland is a team to keep an eye on for Canadian ball fans. Not only do they feature right-hander Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) and outfielder Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), but Naylor’s younger brother Bo is among the team’s top prospects. Bo spent all of 2021 in double-A Akron, hitting .188 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs. On the defensive side, he threw out 31% of base stealers.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2023

Milwaukee Brewers - No. 7 INF Tyler Black (Toronto, Ont.) former Toronto Met and ex-Wright State Raider.

Black was the highest Canadian pick in last year’s draft, going 33rd overall to the Brewers. Known as a hard nosed gamer, he tore through a quick three-game stint in Rookie ball by hitting .500 with a 1.750 OPS. He was then promoted to Single-A Carolina where he hit .222 for the Mudcats in 23 games to close out the season. It was a long year for the Toronto Mets grad as he led the Wright State Raiders to the Knoxville Regional. With an offseason under his belt, it’ll be interesting to follow his progress in 2022.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2024

Minnesota Twins - No. 5 RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.). ex-Ontario Blue Jays.

Balazovic is knocking on the big league door in what will be his sixth minor league season. He spent the entirety of 2021 with double-A Wichita, going 5-4 with a 3.62 ERA. He’s been added to the Twins’ 40-man roster and may begin the season with the triple-A St. Paul Saints.

The only pitcher ahead of Balazovic in the Twins Top 30? Joe Ryan who made his big league debut in 2021 going 2-1 with a 4.05 ERA in five starts.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2022

New York Mets - No. 11 RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.), former Great Lake Canadian.

Another Canadian high school hurler to crack the prospects lists is Great Lake Canadians grad Ziegler. Armed with a fastball that can reach 97 mph, Ziegler was taken in the second round, 46th overall in 2021. He’ll be making his professional baseball debut this season after not getting into action last year.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2025

Oakland Athletics - No. 17 OF Denzel Clarke (Toronto, Ont.), former Toronto Met.

The A’s began their sell off this offseason by unloading the likes of right-hander Chris Bassit, first baseman Matt Olson, and third baseman Matt Chapman. In return, they were able to bolster their system with catcher Shea Langeliers, outfielder Christian Pache, right hander Gunnar Hogland, right hander JT Ginn, and righty Ryan Cusick to name a few.

Despite the additions, outfielder Clarke remains in the A’s Top 30 at No. 17. The former Canadian Junior National Team member and Cal State Northridge Matador hit .316 with a .988 OPS in just seven Rookie level games in 2021. The athletic 6-foot-5, 220-pounder will look to take another step forward in 2022.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2024

Seattle Mariners - No. 98 overall/No. 6 RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) former Kingston Thunder and No. 11 LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) former Vauxhall Academy Jet.

If Balazovic is knocking on the door, right-hander Brash has one foot inside as the game’s No. 98 overall prospect. Brash was called up to the big leagues on Sept. 28, 2021 and was in the bullpen during the Mariners’ final playoff push. He didn’t appear in a game but will almost certainly do so in 2022 if all things go as planned. He’s currently pitching for a spot in the Mariners Opening Day rotation at spring training and doing quite well. Through two games, he possesses a 0.00 ERA and seven strikeouts in five innings of work.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2022

Former Vauxhall Academy Jet LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.)

Macko isn’t as close to the big leagues as Brash, but he seems to have caught the attention of the Mariners brass. In nine starts last season at Single-A Modesto, he was a respectable 2-2 with a 4.59 ERA.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2024

Texas Rangers - No. 23 LHP Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.), of the Toronto Mets.

The third and final 2021 high school drafted Canadian pitcher on this list is southpaw Bratt. The one-time Florida State commit played for the Toronto Mets and the Junior National team. During his time with the Mets, he worked with pitching coach and former Blue Jays lefty Paul Spoljaric (Kelowna, BC). He had to wait just 134 picks to hear his name called last July and made an immediate impact in the Rangers organization. In six innings, he didn’t allow an earned run, surrendered four hits, and struck out 13.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2025

Toronto Blue Jays - No. 4 INF Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) and No. 27 OF Dasan Brown (Oakville, Ont.) of the Ontario Blue Jays.

Lopez is the only player on this list of Canadians to have already made their big league debut. He did so as a pinch hitter on August 17 of last year in the Blue Jays’ 12-6 loss at Washington. He struck out in his only at bat. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Lopez back in the big leagues at some point in 2022.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2022

Brown is truly homegrown. The Oakville product was selected by the Blue Jays in the third round, 88th overall in 2019. He spent his high school days with the Ontario Blue Jays and Canadian Junior National Team and was initially committed to Texas A&M before he was signed by his hometown team. Last season, he hit .212 with 22 stolen bases in 51 games for Single-A Dunedin.

MLB Pipeline ETA to MLB: 2024