April 22, 2020

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Four Canadians have cracked MLB Pipeline’s updated Top 150, 2020 draft prospects list, which was released on Tuesday.

Here’s a breakdown of the Canadian prospects on the list:

No. 76 - Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.)

This 6-foot-4, 190-pound outfielder has honed his skills with the Fieldhouse Pirates and Junior National Team in recent months. If scouts didn’t already know about his left-handed power stroke, they certainly did after his breakout performance at Tournament 12 last September. He was the winner of the home run contest at the event. Caissie also belted a home run to dead centre field for the Junior National Team at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla., this spring in their exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays. According to MLB Pipeline’s evaluation, Caissie “has the tools to fit the right field profile very well, starting with his plus raw power. He has legit pop from the left side of the plate, with the ability to drive the ball to all fields.” MLB Pipeline also likes his outfield arm. “Caissie has played a corner outfield spot for the Canadian junior national team. With an arm that delivers low-90s throws from the outfield and his power potential, he fits that mold very well,” reads the MLB Pipeline evaluation. Caissie has committed to the University of Michigan.

No. 98 - David Calabrese (Maple, Ont.)

This 17-year-old dazzled scouts with his speed at Tournament 12 at the Rogers Centre in September, registering the fastest 60-yard time (6.43). The left-handed hitting outfielder, who has honed his skills with the Ontario Blue Jays, has continued to impress in the ensuing months, including with the Junior National Team this spring. The 5-foot-9 Calabrese, who has committed to the University of Arkansas, will be one of the youngest players eligible for the draft. “His speed stands out the most and it's close to top of the scale, with some evaluators recording 80 grades for the outfielder,” reads part of his MLB Pipeline evaluation. “It should allow him to be a basestealing threat and to cover a lot of ground in the outfield.” MLB Pipeline also believes he has potential at the plate. “At the plate, the left-handed hitter has a loose and easy swing geared for hard contact,” they write. “He's a gap-to-gap hitter who can use the whole field who has come on fast offensively and while his game is really built around his speed and defense, he could grow into more power as he matures.”

No. 109 - Jordan Nwogu (Ottawa, Ont.)

Born in Ottawa, Ont., this 21-year-old power-hitting outfielder stars for the University of Michigan. Raised in Ann Arbour, Mich. Nwogu put up strong numbers in his freshman and sophomore seasons with the Wolverines to land himself on the radar of scouts. In his abbreviated 2020 season with the Wolverines, he batted .353 and had 24 hits - including two home runs - in 15 games. “Nwogu packs prodigious strength in his 6-foot-3, 235-pound frame and generates impressive exit velocities, showing the ability to crush fastballs out of any part of any ballpark.” reads part of his MLB Pipeline evaluation. “He has an unorthodox but quick right-handed swing and his lower half seems out of sync with the rest of his body, but his impressive hand-eye coordination makes it work.”

No. 127 - Trei Cruz (Toronto, Ont.)

This 21-year-old shortstop is the son of former Toronto Blue Jays’ 30-30 man Jose Cruz Jr. A switch-hitting 6-foot-2, 200-pound infielder, the younger Cruz was born in Toronto and has been drafted twice previously, by the Houston Astros (35th round, 2017) and the Washington Nationals (37th round, 2019). For the past two years, he has honed his skills at Rice University. In 2019, he batted .305 with nine home runs in 58 games and was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team. In his abbreviated 2020 collegiate campaign, he batted .328 and had 19 hits - including a home run - in 16 games for Rice. He also drew 18 walks. “A switch-hitter, Cruz has toned down his approach after selling out for home runs in the past,” reads part of his MLB Pipeline evaluation. “He has modified a big leg kick he used from the left side of the plate and displayed better strike-zone discipline during the truncated 2020 season. Scouts see him as a hit-over-power guy who could provide 15 homers on an annual basis.” MLB Pipeline believes that Cruz is best fit to be a second baseman.