September 22, 2022

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

OTTAWA - Roughly 1,450 high schoolers -- give or take a couple of 100, either way -- from across Canada wish they were at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park playing in the Canadians Futures Showcase against the best teenagers in the country on Friday night.

Never mind that at game’s end it was five degrees.

Catcher Rees Kozar was there on this chilly night, never mind that his week here has been bittersweet.

On the one hand, he was invited as one of the best 146 players in Canada. On the other, he hasn’t had an at-bat.

Kozar (Amherstburg, Ont.) was able to participate in scout day activities on Tuesday and threw to second base in drills with the other Team Grey catcher Nathan King (Lindsay, Ont.) of the Toronto Mets and Keegan Cottam (Burlington, Ont.) of the FieldHouse Pirates. He was able to catch bullpens. But he can’t play for another month.

The Great Lake Canadian had an MRI and then shoulder surgery, performed by the talented Dr. Jason Smith, after Kozar injured his shoulder while swimming while the Junior National Team was in Jupiter, Fla.

Swimming? What did you do crash into the end of a hotel pool?

“No, just swimming, it just popped out, it’s happened a few times, the more it happens the easier it pops out,” said Kozar.

A rundown of his shoulder injuries: playing pick-up hockey when he fell, jamming his shoulder, playing basketball and in the pool.

Canadians Adam Stern (London, Ont.) compared Kosar’s injury to that of San Diego Padres INF Fernando Tatis, who had shoulder troubles when he swings.

But while Kozar has lost a few games and missed a summer of ball, he has lost much more than that in his young life.

His mosquito year with the Riverside Royals, he lost his coach Rob Morneau. An electrician, Morneau perished in an industrial accident in November 2016.

“Worst funeral I have ever been to,” Kozar said. “We all wore our jerseys to the funeral. Rob’s son Noah was on the team. It was Rob got me started. He taught me the basics.

“Rob’s biggest quote was ‘when you step between the lines ... you compete.’”

And along came the next season. Kozar was on third base in the minor peewee OBA final in a tie game against the Milton Mets at Etobicoke.

“Their guy spiked a curve ball and I headed for home ... think I just blacked out and we walked them off,” said Kozar. “No, we didn’t dedicate the championship to Rob. We all knew what we were playing for ... for him.”

Less than three months later, cancer took Morneau’s wife Tricia, a teacher for the Catholic school board. Rob Morneau’s brother Andrew and his wife Leslie, are the guardians of the two children, Noah and Christian. Noah no longer plays ball, but he skates for the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL.

Kozar was supposed to catch for 18U coach Sean Refflinghaus, although Stern said going into the season they were hoping to give him more options by playing him at third base.

Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals is Kozar’s favourite big leaguer to watch and he gets his catching lessons from previously top drafted Canuck Chris Robinson (Dorchester, Ont.).

He was asked if he had seen the video of Robinson hitting a homer with the San Diego Padres and Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Enberg getting so emotional that his voice cracks as the former London Badger hits his first homer.

“Yes, and I also saw the vid of him bunting against Mexico and starting the brawl in the World Baseball Classic,” said Kozar.

Suddenly the chilly night wasn’t so cold, with the thought of Robinson’s homer and Larry Walker saying after the game against Mexico, “Hey it’s Saturday, we’re Canadians, we just wanted to get on Coach’s Corner.”

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And it is thumbnail time …

Name: C Evan Deringer (Regina, Sask.)

Teams: Regina Wolfpack/Martin Academy/Red Sox Academy.

Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “My mom Donarae. Mom teaches grade 11-12. My mom keeps me going, keeps supporting me. And is always super encouraging.”

Who is the most influential person in your baseball life, beside your mother and why? “Cole Warken with the Red Sox. He’s my catching coach.”

Your greatest day on the ball field? “Today. I was 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and an RBI in our 6-6 tie against Navy.”

Your favourite player and why? “Yadier Molina. I love his style. I’m only one-knee guy to frame a pitch.”

If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “An engineer. I have a 4.0 GPA.”

What’s the most important life rule you’ve learned playing ball? “Always treat each other with respect.”

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Name: 3B Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.).

Team: Ontario Blue Jays.

Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “My brothers Josh (Cleveland Guardians) and Bo (triple-A Columbus Clippers). My brothers taught me a lot about the game. It made me want to pursue the same dreams.”

Who is the most influential person in your baseball life, beside your brothers? “My father Chris. He coached me both with the Mississauga North Tigers and the Ontario Blue Jays.”

Your greatest day on the ball field? “At the Worlds this year in Sarasota. We lost 7-6 to Team USA. But it was the most intense game I’ve ever been in. The atmosphere was electric. Me? I was 1-for-1, with three walks, a single, an RBI and a couple of nice plays in the field.”

Your favourite player and why? “My brother Josh. I love the energy. And Bo far behind (laughter). No seriously. They both inspire me.”

If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “Something in athletics ... maybe sports therapy.”

What’s the most important life rule you’ve learned playing ball? “Have fun and believe in yourself.”

* * *

Name: RHP Owen Pote (Sherwood Park, Alta.).

Team: Sherwood Park Dukes.

Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “My father Lou (reliever with 2002 World Series champion Anaheim Angels, coach Okotoks Dawgs and Okotoks angel life saver): “My father got me into it. I saw where it got him (to the majors) and he motivated me to get where he was.”

Who is the most influential person in your baseball life, beside your father and why? “Ethan Elias. I’ve only been with him a little while. He cares what happens. Before that I was with AHP in St. Albert.”

Your greatest day on the ball field? “We won the 2018 peewee provincials beating Camrose in St. Albert. That was the year the Dawgs won the midget, bantam and peewee on the same day. I was catching them (he’s 6-foot-6 now), I was smaller then. I went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Josh MacInnis and Curtis Taylor were our coaches.”

Your favourite player and why? “Jacob deGrom. I love the way he pitches. I look at him as an inspiration.”

If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “A basketball player I would be a 6-foot-6 point guard.”

What’s the most important life rule you’ve learned playing ball? “To have fun ... sports are meant to be fun ... so you should try to enjoy it.”

* * *

Name: INF-OF Sam Shaw (Victoria, BC)

Team: Victoria Eagles.

Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “My dad, Craig, who coached our Little League team at Beacon Hill. He is always in the cage throwing to me. He hit ground balls and hit fly balls. He has always, always helped me.”

Who is the most influential person in your baseball life, beside your father and why? “Mitch Davidoff, he’s my hitting coach and has helped me a lot.”

Your greatest day on the ball field? “When we were playing in the final of the Little League districts we were winning by a run and they brought me in to close. I walked a guy, then gave up a double and a ground ball evened the score. I was up third. I knew I was going to do something after blowing the save. We had a single, then a walk and then I hit a ball over the fence into the trees at our Hollywood Park -- our home park.”

Your favourite player and why? “Either Steven Kwan or Joey Votto. Kwan slaps the ball and I like the fact he plays chess. He’s kind of quirky. Votto seems like a nice guy, he’s Canadian. My dad has met Joey’s former coach (Bob Smyth) who now lives in Ladysmith, BC.”

If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “I’d like to be a scout. You’re asking me the best player here? I’d like to say myself. But it’s Myles Naylor. He has so much pop.”

What’s the most important life rule you’ve learned playing ball? “Don’t listen to bad advice? How do you tell good advice from good advice? That’s the trick.”

* * *

Whispers: The Toronto Blue Jays approached Olympic Stadium about hosting the showcase there but the price tag was $200,000 ... Meanwhile, the UCONN Huskies are looking at playing an early-season series at either the Rogers Centre or Olympic Stadium.

* * *

Numbers ... from the eighth Canadian Futures Showcase.

2 _ Blue jackets -- one hanging in each dugout -- similar to the Blue Jays home run jacket. On the back are the names of all 10 provinces.

5 _ College recruiters and coaches on hand _ Canisius College, University of Illinois, Marshall University, University of British Columbia, University of Mary.

24 _ Pro scouts representing 16 teams on hand: Toronto Blue Jays (five), Cincinnati Reds (three), Atlanta Braves (two), Milwaukee Brewers (two), Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland A’s, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers.