Elliott: Caissie, Calabrese, Seward, Mateychuk, Lusignan enjoyed winter camps
Fieldhouse Pirates Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.). Photo Tyler King.
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
It’s not an easy choice.
Which high school outfielder will pro scouts prefer?
Either Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) of the fieldhouse Pirates or David Calabrese (Maple Ont.) of the Ontario Blue Jays. Right now some prefer the 6-foot-4, 190-pound Caissie as THE guy. Others prefer the speedy Calabrese, at 5-foot-11 and 160 lbs.
Calabrese has one tool that all the king’s player development and minor league people can’t teach: speed.
And Caissie has another power that players either have or don’t have: power. Players could spend hours in the cage working on launch angle and not match Caissie.
The other high schooler in the top five is RHP Theo Millas (Burnaby, BC) of the Langley Blaze. Like Caissie and Calabrese, Millas are all with the Canadian Junior National Team who are in St. Petersburg, Fla. on their spring tour.
Rating players by ability is just one portion of the process. Millas has the option of attending LSU and Calabrese can attend the University of Arkansas this fall. And in the fall of 2021 Caissie can attend Michigan.
Scouts made the rounds visiting four provinces for stopovers from Quebec to British Columbia to see the best available for this June’s amateur draft. Let’s take a look ....
At Claude Robillard Centre
(Montreal, Que.)
For the 2020 draft
RHP Cedric De Grandpre (St-Simon Que.) Academy Baseball Quebec/Canadian Junior National Team.
He didn’t throw at the showcase and won’t be able to pitch on the Juniors trip to Florida. Yet he belongs.
C Louka Daoust (Repentigny, Que.) ABC/C-Virginia.
Has a big-time scholarship and is headed to University of Virginia.
3B Alfonso Villalobos (Kirkland, Que.) ABC.
Has a scholarship to Russell Martin’s former school, Chipola Junior College.
For the 2021 draft
OF Alexis Gravel (Repentigny Que.) ABC/Canadian Junior National Team.
For the 2022 draft
OF Joshua Jones (Blainville Que.) ABC/Canadian Junior National Team.
One that the scouts were watching.
Scouts on hand: Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.) New York Yankees, Chris Kemlo (Oshawa, Ont.) San Diego Padres, Patrick Griffin (Oakville, Ont.) Blue Jays, Kory Lafreniere (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) Toronto Blue Jays, Frédérick Rioux (Montreal, Que.) Seattle Mariners, Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.) coach of Canadian Junior National Team.
Vauxhall Community Hall/Indoor Facility
(Vauxhall, Alta.)
For the 2020 draft
Maddux Mateychuk (Dominion City, Man.) Vauxhall Jets/Canadian Junior National Team.
He was 91-92 MPH with control. He has a big arm and a strong body. Needs command and feel for secondary.
INF-C Max Grant (Fredericton, NB) Vauxhall Jets/Canadian Junior National Team.
Athletic, versatile who can run. He shows bat speed and can flat out hit.
RHP Levi Abbott (Lethbridge, Alta.) Vauxhall Jets.
Lanky body at 6-foot-4. Owns a plus curve ball. Velocity needs to jump from 86-87 MPH.
LHP Ben Adams (Ottawa, Ont.) Vauxhall Jets C-St. John’s University.
Left handed Arm that showed a good curve ball. Easy delivery at 86-87 MPB.
OF Carlin Dick (Abbotsford BC) Vauxhall Jets.
A flat our hitter with a Matt stairs type bat.
RHP Jack Mount (Ottawa, Ont.) Vauxhall Jets.
Was 86-88 MPH with athletic delivery and feel for his curve and changeup.
For the 2021 draft
RHP Anson McGorman (Parksville, BC) Vauxhall Jets.
Has a quick arm. Showed athletic delivery sitting 89-90 MPH touching 91. Good shape to curve ball, with a solid feel for change
1B Jackson Clemett (Calgary, Alta.) Vauxhall Jets.
Potential for an impact bat. Athletic OF who does everything easy. Power is starting to develop. Probably a corner outfilder, Good genes: his father Jason Clemett played at Simon Fraser and then seven years as a linebacker in the (1997-2003) with the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos.]
1B Cole Alguire (Calgary, Alta.) Vauxhall Jets.
Easy arm that flashes 86-87 MPH with plenty more in the tank. Velocity should develop quickly.
Scouts on hand: Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) Minnesota Twins, Jeff Duda (Okotoks, Alta.) Washington Nationals, Geoff Freeborn (Calgary, Alta.) Baltimore Orioles, Tyler Hollick (Okotoks, Alta.) Milwaukee Brewers, Chris Kemlo (Oshawa, Ont.) San Diego Padres, Kory Lafreniere (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) Blue Jays, Les McTavish (Vauxhall, Alta). Seattle Mariners, Dale Tilleman (Taber, Alta.) Detroit Tigers, Zach Friedman, Philadelphia Phillies, Brandon Marr, Cincinnati Reds, Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.) coach of Canadian Junior National Team, Todd Hubka (Lethbridge, Alta.) Minnesota Twins/{Prairie Baseball Academy.
Duvernay Fieldhouse
(Okotoks, Alta.)
For the 2020 draft
OF Alejandro Cazorla (White Rock, BC)/C-Bossier-Parish CC
At six-foot, 210 pounds, he is a physical corner outfielder with doubles and triples power to all fields. Consistent high 80s arm from the outfield. High baseball I.Q. with good instincts.
INF Ricardo Sanchez (Oktoks, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Crowder College.
Has quick first step with good actions. Best infielder in Western Canada hands down. Strong at the point of contact with balanced approach and ability to handle the barrel. Up to 89 off the mound.
INF Dryden Howse (Okotoks, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Crowder College.
Corner infielder with plus arm strength, hit 90 across the diamond and was 87-89 off the mound. Ability to drive the ball to all fields with flashes of loft power to pull-side
RHP Jackson Fraser (Swift Current, Sask.) Okotoks/C-LSU Eunice.
Is 6-foot-7 and a 210 pounder who tends to stab with the ball on drop-off, gets back into high 3/4s slot on-time surprisingly well. Arm has loosened up quite a bit, still a little stiff. Holding 89/90 and T91 with good tilt. Ball has life through the zone. Feel for below average, underdeveloped split/change and breaking ball.
INF Justin Breen (Fort McMurray, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Bossier-Parish CC.
Easy, raw loft power to all fields. Doesn’t really have a position, has the ability to play third, will realistically end up at 1B. Needs more power production at that position.
For the 2021 draft
Simon Lusignan (Montreal, Que.) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Stetson University)
Standing 6-foot-5, the 200 pounder has a deliberate delivery with clean, quick arm from high 3/4 slot. First pitch was 93 MPH, holding 91-92 MPH, hitting 93 with good tilt and ride through the zone. Potential for plus split (87-88 MPH) with late depth. Stays on top and behind the ball well on fastball and split. Slider flashed slightly below average at 82-83 MPH with late lateral movement and some depth. Inconsistent, tends to lower arm slot and backs up on him.
C Nicolas Fortin (Sainte-Julie, Que.) Okotoks Dawgs.
Thick, strong lower half with plus catch and throw ability -- consistent low 1.9’s Projectable loft power with balance and extension through the zone.
C Bennett Freiter (North Winnipeg, Man.) Okotoks Dawgs.
Big and physical with plus arm strength. Blocking and footwork is underdeveloped. Power to all fields, different sound off the bat.
RHP Matt Wilkinson (White Rock, BC) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Central Arizona.
Has a smooth, effortless delivery with a 3/4 arm slot, a balanced finish and an arm that works very well with projectable arm speed. Holding at 87-88 MPH, has topped out at 89 with late run and plenty of life through the zone. Good feel for three pitch mix: fastball, curve, slider. There is a potential for an above average change with late fade and plenty of depth. Sweeping breaking ball with late bite, big lateral movement.
INF Connor Crowson (Okotoks, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Bossier-Parish CC.
Pure ability to drive the ball to all fields with good balance and extension. Strong at the point of contact. Makes the routine play and profiles best at 2B.
INF Cody Hendriks (Coquitlam, BC) Okotoks Dawgs.
At 6-foot-2 and 185 lbs, he has a lean, projectable frame with good actions. Ability to play left side of the infield. Loose, easy swing with above average bat speed for his age. Balanced approach with good bat-to-ball skills.
Connor Pote, right, with his father, Lou, of the Okotoks Dawgs.
For the 2022 draft
RHP-3B Conor Pote (Okotoks, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Oregon State.
He stands 6-foot-7 and the 180 pounder is the top prospect in 2022 class. Slightly lower arm slot with effortless, plus arm speed for his age. Potential for above average to plus fastball/slider with an average change-up. Held 88 MPH every pitch after being bedridden for five days with the flu. Slider 80-83 MPH. Change 78-80 MPH. Is head and shoulders above those his same age group.
OF Max Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs.
He has road shoulders, high waist and calves with lean and athletic build. Arm strength is slightly below average for his age. Plus bat speed with projectable gap-to-gap loft power. Runs well. High ceiling.
RHP Logan Rumberg (Okotoks, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs.
He is undersized, yet smooth, effortless delivery with clean, quick arm. Holding at 86-87 MPH and topped out at 88. Good feel and hand-speed on his breaking ball with short late 10-4 shape. Split-change is inconsistent, but has shown potential for average third pitch.
For the 2023 draft
INF Eric Machej (St. Albert, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs.
Good raw actions with slightly above average arm strength for his age. Looks the part. Above average bat-speed for his age with flashes of pull-side power. Needs to refine his approach.
RHP Jose Nunez (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs.
A tad undersized. Smooth, abbreviated delivery with shorter, compact arm action. Has good life on his fastball through the zone, a good feel for his fastball and change. Breaking ball is underdeveloped. Holding 84-85 MPH and topped out at 86.
Scouts on hand: Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) Minnesota Twins, Jeff Duda (Okotoks, Alta.) Washington Nationals, Geoff Freeborn (Calgary, Alta.) Baltimore Orioles, Tyler Hollick (Okotoks, Alta.), Milwaukee Brewers, Chris Kemlo (Oshawa, Ont.) San Diego Padres, Kory Lafreniere (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) Blue Jays, Les McTavish (Vauxhall, Alta). Seattle Mariners, Dale Tilleman (Taber, Alta.) Detroit Tigers, Zach Friedman, Philadelphia Phillies, Brandon Marr, Cincinnati Reds, Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.) coach of Canadian Junior National Team, Todd Hubka (Lethbridge, Alta.) Minnesota Twins/{Prairie Baseball Academy.
Inside Performance
(North Vancouver, BC)
For the 2020 Draft
RHP Jack Seward (Port Moody, BC) Coquitlam Reds/Canadian Junior National Team/C-Oregon/C-San Jacinto Community College.
Was 88-89 MPH with good movement.
RHP Vic Domingo (Burnaby, BC) UBC Thunder/BC Selects.
Hit 89 MPH.
RHP Noah Takacs (Victoria, BC) Victoria Eagles/Dbacks Langley Blaze/C-Sacramento State.
3B Brody Alexandre (Swift Current, Sask/) Swift Current 57’s/Team Sask/Brewers Scout Team.
For the 2021 draft
RHP Dominic Hambley (Victoria, BC) Victoria Mariners.
Was clocked at 92 MPH.
RHP Micah Bucknam (Abbotsford, BC) Fraser Valley Cardinals
Hit 90 MPH.
RHP Nate Rosser (North Delta, BC) North Delta Blue Jays.
Scouts on hand: Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) Minnesota Twins, Corey Eckstien (Abbotsford, BC) Kansas City Royals, Patrick Griffin (Oakville, Ont.) Toronto Blue Jays, Chris Kemlo (Oshawa, Ont.) San Diego Padres, Kory Lafreniere (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) Blue Jays, Marty Lehn (White Rock, BC) Milwaukee Brewers, Doug Mathieson (Aldergrove, BC) Milwaukee Brewers, Rene Tosoni (Coquitilam, BC), Toronto Blue Jays, Zach Friedman, Philadelphia Phillies, Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.) coach of Canadian Junior National Team, Chris Pritchert, coach, University of British Columbia.
The Athlete Matrix
(Mississauga, Ont.)
For the 2020 draft
OF David Calabrese (Toronto, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.
Fast like a “wascially wabbit.” Has one major-league tool that can’t be taught already (speed).
OF Darius Armober (Brooklin, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.
Can really throw, strong arm.
For the 2021 draft
OF Tanner Almond (Thornbury, Ont.) Ontario Nationals.
Big and physical looks like he can hit for power.
For the 2022 draft
OF Jackson Somerville (Burlington, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.
Thick chested line drive hitter with a future.
For the 2023 draft
INF Miles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.
The youngest of the Naylor trio (Josh Naylor went in the first round to the Miami Marlins, Noah Naylor to the Cleveland Indians). Miles filled up the cage with plenty of line drives off the L screen and had more video cameras on him than anyone else.
“Miles has Josh’s face and Noah’s body,” said one veteran scout.
INF Cole LeClair (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.
Left-handed hitter who looked interesting
OF Mateo Zeppieri (Newmarket, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.
Scouts on hand: Kirk Barclay (Wyoming, Ont.), Kansas City Royals; Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) Minnesota Twins; Jon Carson (Newmarket, Ont.) Philadelphia Phillies; Patrick Griffin (Oakville, Ont.) Blue Jays, Matt Higginson (Beamsville, Ont), Oakland A’s, Jeremy Jayaweera (Kitchener, Ont.) Los Angeles Angels; Chris Kemlo (Oshawa, Ont.) San Diego Padres, Kory Lafreniere (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) Blue Jays, Jay Lapp (London, Ont.), Peter Orr (Newmarket, Ont). Adam Stern (London, Ont.), Royals, Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.) coach of Canadian Junior National Team.
The Baseball Zone
(Mississauga, Ont.)
For the 2020 draft
LHP Connor O’Halloran (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Terriers/C-Michigan.
For the 2021 draft
INF-OF Elijha Hammill (Oakville, Ont.) Ontario Terriers.
Nice short stroke. He has to figure out if he is a third baseman, second baseman or an outfielder. He’ll hit.
LHP Rhys Montgomery (Mississaua, Ont.)
C Tyson Gomm (Mississauga Ont.) Ontario Terriers.
LHP Jordan Wood (Oakville, Ont.) Ontario Terriers.
LHP Will Yamka (Oakville, Ont.) Ontario Terriers.
Scouts on hand: Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC), Chris Kemlo (Oshawa, Ont.) San Diego Padres, Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.) coach of Canadian Junior National Team
Field House Pirates facility
(Burlington, Ont.)
For the 2020 draft
OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates/C-Michigan.
Continued to mash as he did a Tournament 12 when he easily won the home run derby. He is a big bopper as the older scouts used to say -- a masher.
C Raphael Pelletier (Mascouche, Que.) ABC/C-TCU
Took the train up from Montreal to be seen by scouts and evaluators. Showed strong arm.
C Nick Thibodeau (Burlington, Ont.) Great Lake Canadians/C-Howard College.
Displayed a strong bat in the cage. Scout: “Did you hear it?” No. “His swing makes a different sound.”
.
For the 2021 draft
INF Nathaniel Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates/Canadian Junior National Team.
Was one of the top three bats with exit velocity in the high 80s. He’s 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds and he’s only a pup. Best position player in the country for 2021?
RHP Willy Watson (Brampton, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates/C-Kansas State.
Best arm in the building -- next to Yankees scout Denis Boucher.
For the 2022 draft
OF Luis Pimentel-Guerrero (Burlington, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates.
Lots of things to like.
C Cam Gurney (Scotland, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates.
Former shortstop with the easy hands. Former Tri-City Giant.
RHP Carter Krawchuk (St. Catharines, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates.
Was 85 MPH vs. Bo Jackson Elite last July. May be eligible in 2021.
RHP Max Zentil (Toronto, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates.
Strapping 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame. Not the classic Jim Palmer build. More like a Roger Clemens or Charlie Kerfeld.
SS Colby Ariss (Guelph, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates.
Quick arm, smooth fielder on the turf at Fieldhouse.
RHP Matt Donnison (Oakville, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates.
Scouts on hand: Kirk Barclay (Wyoming, Ont.), Kansas City Royals; Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.) New York Yankees; Jon Carson (Newmarket, Ont.) Philadelphia Phillies; Patrick Griffin (Oakville, Ont.) Blue Jays, Matt Higginson (Beamsville, Ont), Oakland A’s, Chris Kemlo (Oshawa, Ont.) San Diego Padres, Kory Lafreniere (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) Blue Jays, Takeshi Sakurayama, Texas Rangers.