October 29, 2024

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

In July of 2024, the first Canadian high school pitcher drafted was Josiah Romeo of the Mississauga Tigers.

Plenty of scouts asked “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”

Plenty had the question, but only Oakland A’s scout Matt Higginson (Grimbsy, Ont.) had the answer. Higginson drafted RHP Romeo (Caledon, Ont.) from the Mississauga Tigers in the sixth round.

Will scouts be asking “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” question again next spring? Well, it’s still early ... but one bright shining Canuck light at the scaled down Perfect Game World Wood Bat championships in Jupiter was Dario Romeo.

Originally over 108 teams were scheduled to attend the 26th annual tournament, the grand daddy of them all. Yet, the impending arrival of Hurricane Milton forced cancellation and the tournament was pushed back a week, although it was during the close period (when college recruiters can’t talk to players) with 72 teams competing. Originally, two Canadian teams were supposed to attend: Brewers Langley Blaze and the Canadian Premier League all-stars. But the revamped week overlapped with the Junior National Team’s trip to the Dominican Republic and trouble re-booking flights. In all, nine Canucks participated.

Canes American OF Romeo (Montreal, Que.), who played for Montréal Orioles at mosquito level with Félix Lanciault, grandson of Saint Celine and Jacques Lanciault, who knows everything there is to know about baseball in Quebec.

Former Academie Baseball Canada coach Robert Fatal recruited Romeo for the TNXL. Next, Romeo, who runs a 6.85 60 and is headed to the North Florida Raiders, had four hits, including a double, knocked in three runs, stole a base and walked

* * *

Canes American 18U

Name Position B-T Grad Yr Ht. Wt, Hometown Team Rank Commitment

Dario Romeo OF R-R 2025 5-11 175 Montreal, Que. TNXL Academy 500 North Florida

He was hitless in a 0-0 tie with the Slammers, but bounced with a double, single and three RBIs as Canes American beat 5 Star Mafia 8-5. Then, he singled in a 9-1 win over the Barwis Dragons and singled again in a 6-4 loss to the Knights Knation/Los Angeles Dodgers Scout Team.

GBR Rays

Name Position B-T Grad Yr Ht. Wt, Hometown Team Rank Commitment

Reuben Malamed RHP R-R 2025 6-8 220 Toronto Ont. West Toronto Wildcats Follow Niagara

The 6-foot-8 giant made an impression working two scoreless innings as GBR blanked the Barwis Dragons 11-0.

Malamed walked two and struck out four in his outing. He threw 38 pitches (42% strikes) and hit 92 MPH with his fastball.

Beside the opening win, the Rays lost 10-2 to Canes American, 7-2 to 5 Star Mafia and battled East Cobb Astros Underclass to a scoreless tie.

* * *

2025 Reuben Malamed (CAN) up to 92-mph in relief, settled 87-9 with some 90’s sprinkled in there during 1st frame of work. 6’8 arm will always grab the eye, big overtop 12/6 CB in mid 60’s flashed as well. #Niagara commit #WWBAWorlds @pg_int1 @GRBRay Wisconsin bases

_ Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 17, 2024

Imposing 6-8/220 frame is outlier in itself and immediately grabbed the attention of eyes in the area. It’s his first ever event at Perfect Game with a current commitment to Niagara. Malamed makes full use of his XL frame to create massive extension down the slope, running his fastball up to 92-mph on the first pitch of the outing before settling 87-89 with a few 90’s sprinkled in after that in his first inning of work. His primary secondary is an overhand 12/6 curve ball flipped in around the mid 60’s range with considerable depth and shape. It plays well from his high over the top slot, and will become even more effective with additional velocity in the coming years. After long inning on the bench in which his club would post seven runs, he’d come back out to wrap it up sitting 85-87 on his fastball. Always intriguing to see a pitcher this size, especially one as lightly shown on the circuit as Malamed.

_ Kyler Peterson, Perfect Game Scouting Service

Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team

Name Position B-T Grad Yr Ht. Wt, Hometown Team Rank Commitment

Jackson Kornylo RHP R-R 2025 6-6 208 Oshawa, Ont. TNXL Academy 391 Oklahoma

He allowed two runs -- one earned on three hits and a walk -- in his two innings in a 9-6 win over Cangelosi Sports. He threw 21 pitches hitting 95 MPH and throwing 61% strikes.

Canes National/NY Mets Scout tied SBA Sticks/White Sox Scout Team 2-2, beat Knights National 8-2 and knocked off PR Future Stars 10-1. In the round of 32, Canes beat 5 Star/Chicago Cubs Scout Team 10-2, but then lost 6-3 to the Knights Knation/Los Angeles Dodgers Scout Team in the round of 16. In exhibition play, Canes scored a 10-9 over Baseball U.

Rawlings National Scout Team

Name Position B-T Grad Yr Ht. Wt, Hometown Team Rank Commitment

Jake Berney INF R-R 2026 6-0 180 Mississauga, Ont. Mississauga Tigers NR

Ramsey Chung SS R/R 2027 5-10 175 Mississauga, Ont. Mississauga Tigers NR

Owen Newman RHP R/R 2025 6-3 229 Mississauga, Ont. Mississauga Tigers NR

Chung (Mississauga, Ont.) pitched an inning, allowing a run in a 9-2 loss to the South Charlotte Panthers Marucci. He allowed two hits in his 12-pitch effort (75% strikes) as his fastball was clocked at 83 MPH.

RHP Owen Newman (Mississauga, Ont.) pitched two innings in a 3-0 win over CBA Victus. Newman walked two and fanned two in his 26 pitches (50% strikes) with his fastball peaking at 87 MPH. Chung added a single.

Rawlings beat Lonestar National 6-4 and lost 2-0 to the Original Florida Pokers. Rawlings won 4-3 in consolation play over the Puerto Rico Scout Team.

And Jake Berney (Mississauga, Ont.) singled as Rawkings edged VSA/Boston Red Sox Scout Team 6-4 in exhibition play.

Chung was 1-for-5 with two walks on the trip, Newman put up two zeroes and while Berney was 1-for-5.

*Royals Scout Team/Team GA

Name Position B-T Grad Yr Ht. Wt, Hometown Team Rank Commitment

Nathan Belle OF R-R 2025 6-2 190 Brampton, Ont. Mississauga Tigers NR

The Royals had more Canadians -- in CF Nathan Belle (Brampton, Ont.) -- in a 7-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team, which had zero Canucks. Belle doubled in a 1-1 tie against VSA/Boston Red Sox Scout Team and singled in a 3-1 loss to Factor National.

*eXposure 18U National

Name Position B-T Grad Yr Ht. Wt, Hometown Team Rank Commitment

Rivers Freckelton SS R-R 2025 6-0 195 Toronto, Ont. Team Ontario Astros NR

He was 0-for-1 and scored a run in a 6-2 loss to the Chicago Scout Team. eXposure lost 8-1 to USA Prime National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, blanked the Slammers 4-0 and knocked off Cangelosi Sparks 5-3 in consolation play.

* * *

Sandlot Scout Team 2025

Name Position B-T Grad Yr Ht. Wt, Hometown Team Rank Commitment

Zij Mina 3B L-R 2025 6-3 215 Wasaga Beach, Ont. Mississauga Tigers Follow

He was 0-for-2 in a 4-0 loss to Cangelosi Sparks, hitless in two at-bats in a 2-1 loss to Ostingers, was 0-for-1 in a 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds Scout Team, was 0-for-3 in a 4-1 win against the Scorpions Scout Team and 0-for-2 in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Scouts Association.

* * *

SBA Sticks/White Sox Scout Team

Name Position B-T Grad Yr Ht. Wt, Hometown Team Rank Commitment

Adyn Schell 3B L-R 2025 6-2 200 Toronto, Ont. Mississauga Tigers 500 Missouri State

He did not play as he was with Greg Hamilton’s Junior National Team.