Great Lake Canadians grad RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville Ont.) owns the Perfect Game rating as the top Canadian listed in the top 500 of incoming freshmen.

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

No less than five Canadians are listed among the top 500 freshman arriving on various college campus across North America this fall, according to the Perfect Game Scouting Service.

The top-ranked player is RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville Ont.) a Great Lake Canadians grad, who is headed to the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Cerantola, who also pitched for the Canadian Junior National Team, is ranked 213th of the newcomers.

Next, is Toronto Mets and Junior National Team grad OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering Ont.) who is headed to the Cal State Northridge Matadors. Clarke is ranked at 227th.

Former Ontario Terrier and Junior National Team grad RHP Ben Abram (Georgetown Ont. -- home of the historic Fairgrounds) and now an Oklahoma Sooner is listed 284th.

There are not many junior college pitchers listed but former Ontario Blue Jays RHP Jacob Kush (Guelph Ont.) checks in at 330. Kush will pitch for the Northwest Florida State College Raiders.

And finally, at No. 336 is RHP David Rhodes (White Rock BC) who is headed to play for the Washington Huskies.

Canadians listed in the top 500 incoming freshmen

Rank Name Pos. Hometown State/Province Commitment

1. Carter Stewart RHP Melbourne FL TBD

213. Eric Cerantola RHP Oakville ON Mississippi State

227. Denzel Clarke OF Pickering ON Cal State Northridge

284. Ben Abram RHP Georgetown ON Oklahoma

330. Jacob Kush RHP Guelph ON Northwest Florida State College

336. David Rhodes RHP White Rock BC Washington

Top incoming freshmen by conference

Big 12

Rank Name Pos. Hometown State/Province Commitment

1. Ty Madden RHP Cypress TX Texas

24. Ben Abram RHP Georgetown ON Oklahoma

Abbotsford Cardinals grad Brett Bass (Abbotsford, BC) is the 104th ranked newcomer arriving in the Big 10.

Big Ten

Rank Name Pos. Hometown State/Province Commitment

1. Spencer Schwellenbach SS Saginaw MI Nebraska

104. Brett Bass OF Abbotsford BC Purdue

Big West

Rank Name Pos. Hometown State/Province Commitment

1. Kameron Guangorena C La Mirada CA Cal State Fullerton

4. Denzel Clarke OF Pickering ON Cal State Northridge

Pac-12

Rank Name Pos. Hometown State/Province Commitment

1. Matt McLain SS Tustin CA UCLA

42. David Rhodes RHP White Rock BC Washington

RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) and Mississippi State coach Andy Cannizaro. Cerantola is 71st ranked freshmen in the SEC.

SEC

Rank Name Pos. Hometown State/Province Commitment

1. Kumar Rocker RHP Watkinsville GA Vanderbilt

71. Eric Cerantola RHP Oakville ON Mississippi State

Former Ontario Blue Jay RHP Jacob Kush (Guelphh, Ont.) is the 25th ranked freshman among JUCO teams.

Top Junior College Freshmen

Rank Name Pos. Hometown State/Province Commitment

1. Mitchell Parker LHP Albuquerque NM San Jacinto CC

25. Jacob Kush RHP Guelph ON Northwest Florida State College

Ontario Blue Jays grad OF Ryan Santos (Mississauga, Ont.) is headed to play for the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Golden Norse.

Best of the Rest, Junior College Freshmen

Ryan Santos OF Mississauga ON Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

Former Ontario Blue Jays 1B Ryan Rijo (Barrie, Ont.) hit .386 with 14 doubles and 20 homers while driving in 59 runs for the New Mexico Jr. College Thunderbirds. He takes his 1.345 OPS to the Abilene Christian Wildcats.

Top-ranked Junior College players from the 2018 that have transferred to NCAA Divisions I and II and NAIA programs.

Name Pos. 2019 School 2018 JUCO

Ryan Rijo 1B Abilene Christian New Mexico JC

Justin King 1B/LHP Alabama Indian Hills

Nick Trogrlic-Iverson RHP Gonzaga Central Arizona College

Zach Fascia C Purdue Indian Hills

Cerantola, Clarke, Abram, Kush, Rhodes in PG top 500 freshmen