Cerantola, Clarke, Abram, Kush, Rhodes in PG top 500 freshmen
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
Ontario Terriers grad RHP Ben Abram (Georgetown, Ont.) is the 24th ranked incoming prospect in the Big 12.
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
Former Toronto Mets grad OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering Ont.) is rated the second best freshman in the Big West conference.
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
Langley Blaze grad RHP David Rhodes (White Rock BC) shown here at the Area Code Games in Long Beach is the 42nd ranked freshman in the Pac-12 as he heads to Washington.
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