Elliott: Bratt, Ziegler show well at Texas showcase

Toronto Mets LHP Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) and Great Lake Canadians RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg Ont.) showed well at a Texas showcase.

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

It may seem a tad on the impersonal level, but the Baseball Factory can churn out players like there is an assembly line in the back room.

Canadians are no stranger to the event. RHP Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) from the Academie Baseball Canada showed at the Cape Cod High School Classic in Wareham, Mass. in July of 2006.

The next year 3B Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) dominated at the Cape Cod Classic.

The Baseball Factory came to Soccer World in Hamilton staging an Under Armour National Tryout. Ontario Terriers’ C Brent Mitchell (Paris, Ont.) was the best of the 61 players on hand. He was headed to play for the University of South Alabama Jaguars.

Prior to 2020, the contest was known as the Under Armour All-America game and featured top Canadian high school prospects, all graduates of Baseball Canada’s Junior National Team program including:

The late Jake Eliopoulos (Toronto, Ont.) in 2008, Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) and Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.) in 2009, Skylar Janisse (Windsor, Ont.) in 2010, Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.) and Gareth Morgan (North York, Ont.) 2011, Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) and Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) 2014, Andy Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) in 2015, Adam Hall (London, Ont.) in 2016, Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) and Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) in 2017, Cesar Valero (Okotoks, Alta.) in 2018 and Theo Millas (Burnaby, BC) in 2019.

In 11 years, a total of 365 All-Americans have been drafted, including 108 first rounders.

Great Lake Canadians’ RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg Ont.) and Toronto Mets LHP Mitch Bratt (Newmarket Ont.) represented Canada at Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Tex. It probably draws the most amateur scouts and recruiters -- next to the Perfect Game World Wood Bat which goes in Fort Myers later this month -- in this strange 2020 season. Most of the 2020 playing season was wiped out, but the 2021 drafts were hurt the most, without the chance to be seen.

Ziegler, who was eligible to be drafted last year but was not, is expected to be the top Canadian high school arm in the draft come June. He has made huge strides and has signed to attend Auburn University, where Josh Donaldson attended.

Baseball Factory report:

Ziegler showed fastball command with location to both corners. Up to 95 MPH a couple of times, with nothing less than 90. Also saw 85 changeup and 82 curve ball to retire side in order.

Bratt won’t be far behind and he has the advantage of throwing with the “right arm” as scout’s say, which means he’s left-hander. Bratt has committed to pitch at Florida State University.

Baseball Factory report:

Bratt worked fast and threw strikes to retire the side in order in the third inning. He touched 88 MPH and showed feel for a low to mid 70s curve and a good change up around 80. He also worked the top of the fourth and surrendered a run on a walk and a double.

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