September 30, 2024

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

The 10th Canadian Futures Showcase brought together the best 161 high schoolers from across the country.

And that much talent drew those people with the special eyes -- pro scouts and college recruiters.

To sum up the basic review from a pro angle “much, much more talent than last year.”

From 2023, five high schoolers at the event were drafted in July:

The 2023 home run derby champion Nathan Flewelling (Red Deer, Alta.) of the CarStar Braves and the Junior National Team.

_ C Nathan Flewelling (Red Deer, Alta.), of the CarStar Braves and the Junior National Team, went in the third round to the Tampa Bay Rays, receiving at $774,000 US bonus.

_ RHP Josiah Romeo (Caledon, Ont.), of the Mississauga Tigers, who was chosen in the sixth by the Oakland A’s, signing for $550,000.

_ INF Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.), former Ontario Blue Jay, selected in the 19th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. Lawson did not sign and is headed to the Florida Gators.

_ RHP Owen Pote (Spruce Grove, Alta.), of the Sylvan Lake Gulls, drafted in the 19th round by the Cincinnati Reds. Pote did not sign and is attending Barton College.

_ And OF Eric Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.), of the Okotoks Dawgs, chosen by the Atlanta Braves in the 20th who signed for $337,500.

So of the five high schoolers who were at the event ... three signings.

“I left here last year I didn’t have Flewelling as a prospect ... later in the year, yes for sure,” said one veteran scout. “Romeo was probably the only guy we liked.

“This year there are a lot more guys we like. How many ... Double figures if you include the players for both 2025 and 2026.”

Conducting our informal survey of scouts all but one agreed that more talent was on display last week, while two other scouts gave us the “it’s too early” line. The 2025 draft is 10 months away. Players can regress, players can improve and then there is the injury bug.

We’ve asked scouts and instructors for their opinions on which of the 161 players impressed the most on scout day and the 12 games which followed.

It used to be fun when former big leaguers would rate the best. Former Toronto Blue Jays like Lloyd Moseby, Devon White, Duane Ward, George Bell and others. They shot from the hip. Well, Bell was a little different. He’d say, “No way, get away from me I’m not doing it.” Then, the next year I did not ask and he walked over and gave me his top 10 list as well as his reasons why. George always was a complicated guy.

LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC), of the Langley Blaze, who is eligible for the 2026 draft -- 22 months away -- was by far the clear-cut fave being named as the top prospect/top arm by seven of the nine people we spoke with. One evaluator said barring any setbacks Duncan could go in the first two rounds.

The best pitchers, in a pitching dominated showcase, included the likes of Toronto Mets RHP Keegan Russell (Whitby, Ont.), Ontario Blue Jays RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.), White Rock Tritons RHP Walker Kokotailo (Surrey, BC), Ontario Blue Jays RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) and teammate RHP Julian Sabourin (Hamilton, Ont.).

“It was a really good event with lots of talent,” said one scout. “I was impressed with size and projection. There is a lot of depth in talent pool.”

Top position players, according to our crack evaluating staff were Okotoks Dawg INF Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC), North Shore Twins OF Finn Hoeschen (North Vancouver, BC), Mississauga Tigers 3B-RHP Adyn Schell (Toronto, Ont.), Academie Baseball Canada’s C Alexander Giguere (Levis, Que.) and Tigers OF Nathan Belle ((Brampton, Ont.).

Top hitter for 2026 was FieldHouse Pirates INF Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.).

* * *

The best arms and position players at the Canadian Futures Showcase …

T.J. Burton, outgoing program manager, amateur baseball, Toronto Blue Jays, bound for the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians.

1. LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) Langley Blaze. “The best left-handed pitching prospect this country has seen since Adam Loewen.”

2. INF Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) FieldHouse Pirates. “Plus hit tool, very advanced for his age.”

3. RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays. “A Wake Forrest commit with a really big arm. Important offseason coming up to get stronger leading into the draft.”

4. LHP Mathis McKenna (Rigaud, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada. “Big left handed arm that has room to grow. Good pitchability with a chance to remain a starter long term.”

5. INF Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Miami (FL) . “Left handed hitter with some power upside. Will be interesting to see how he comes out of the gates in the spring.”

Mississauga Tigers 3B-RHP Adyn Schell (Toronto, Ont,) who is also with the Junior National Team.

6. 3B-RHP Adyn Schell (Toronto, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers/C-Missouri State and 3B-C Justin Rompré (Ste-Anne-De-La-Perade, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada. “They have similar profiles, both third baseman that are physical and can really hit.”

8. RHP Walker Kokotailo (Surrey, BC) White Rock Tritons. “Strong right-handed arm that really plays. Up to 93 in game and I think there is more in there in the future.”

9. INF Tommy Hanger (Toronto, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers. “A great ball player who does everything really well at this stage of his career.”

10. C Alexander Giguere (Levis, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada. “A fun guy to watch play the game. Can really defend and seems to have a good understanding of the game.”

11. RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays/Logan Forgie (Ottawa, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays/RHP Keegan Russell (Whitby, Ont.) Toronto Mets/RHP Aiden Taggart (Grimsby, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates. “All four are good quality arms with upside. Interested to see what they look like in the spring.”

Honourable Mentions

OF Xavier-Raphael Brault (Blainville, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada.

RHP Jackson Long (Guelph, Ont.) Great Lake Canadians.

RHP Max Poirier (Nanaimo, BC) Okotoks Dawgs.

OF Quinn Carson (Oakville, Ont.) FieldHouse Pirates

INF Maxime Boies (Levis, Que.) Academy Baseball Canada.

Ontario Blue Jays 1B Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) and his older brother Jordan , who is headed to Pitt, impressed.

3B Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays

OF Ryan Stalony (Mississauga, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates

INF Elliott Lascelles (Toronto, Ont.) Toronto Mets.

Next Up – Futures

C Gino Desantis (Chatham, Ont.) Great Lake Canadians.

INF Cohen Miller (Calgary, Alta.) Webber Wildcats.

RHP Nathan Wall (Leamington, Ont.) Great Lake Canadians.

RHP Noah Powell (Toronto, Ont.) Toronto Mets.

INF Logan Cummins (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Giants.

Ottawa-Nepean Canadians INF Sam Ellis (Wakefield, Que.)

INF Sam Ellis (Wakefield, Que.) Ottawa-Nepean Canadians.

INF Christian Iriotakis (Toronto, Ont.) Toronto Mets.

* * *

Corey Eckstien, president, Ontario Blue Jays

Ontario Blue Jays RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.)

RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays/C-Wake Forest. “Easy operation with tons of projection. Not his best outing but makings of a front of the rotation starter down the road.”

LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) Langley Blaze. “Velocity continues to climb and stock continues to rise.”

OF Finn Hoeschen (North Vancouver, BC) North Shore Twins. “A 6.6 runner with sneaky pop from left side and he glides in the outfield.”

INF Phillip Cheong (Richmond Hill, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays. “Most athletic kid at the dome this past week. A 6.3 runner with a ton of twitch. Got better as the week went on. Starting to mature as a player and has a better understanding of how he needs to be in order to be successful.”

C Alexander Giguere (Levis, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada. “The fact that this player is uncommitted is ridiculous. I haven’t seen an arm or release like that behind the plate in a long time. But might be light, but his at-bats are competitive.”

FieldHouse Pirates INF Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.)

INF Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) FieldHouse Pirates. “Best bat to ball skills in the country. No idea where he is going to play positionally down the road.”

OF Easton Kitura (Spruce Grove, Alta.) Vauxhall Academy Jets. “A left-hander hitting outfield with sneaky pull side juice. Pretty swing. Power will increase as he becomes more physical.”

RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays. “You can’t deny the arm. Has flashed 95 twice over the past year. Needs to be able to repeat delivery and slot on all pitches.”

RHP Keegan Russell (Whitby, Ont.) Toronto Mets. “A steady incline since he put the bat down. Excited to watch him continue to develop over the next season.”

1B Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays. “A must follow. The power and bat speed generated by a kid who just turned 15 a month ago is absurd. Needs to continue to work on his defence but bat will carry him.”

* * *

Nigel Wilson (Ajax, Ont.) former major leaguer, coach Ontario Yankees.

Toronto Blue Jays C Benji Kautto (Toronto, Ont.)

C Benji Kautto (Toronto, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays. “Strong arm behind the plate. Gap to gap hitter. Good plate awareness.”

3B-RHP Adyn Schell (Toronto, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers/C-Missouri State. “Can hit and pitch. Strong. Great arm.”

INF Maxime Boies (Levis, Que.) Academy Baseball Canada. “Has good hands at shortstop. Good hitter quick hands.”

RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays. “Great fastball. Good mound composure. Good command.”

1B Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays. “Has big time pop in his bat.”

3B-RHP Adyn Schell (Toronto, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers/C-Missouri State.

* * *

Les McTavish, coach, Vauxhall Academy Jets.

1. LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) Langley Blaze.

2. RHP Walker Kokotailo (Surrey, BC) White Rock Tritons.

3. INF Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Miami,.

4. RHP Keegan Russell (Whitby, Ont.) Toronto Mets.

5. RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

Ontario Blue Jays RHP Julian Sabourin (Hamilton, Ont.)

6. RHP Julian Sabourin (Hamilton, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

7. INF Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) FieldHouse Pirates.

8. RHP Luke Thomas (Surrey, BC) White Rock Tritons.

9. RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays/C-Wake Forest.

10. C Alexander Giguere (Levis, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada.

* * *

Lou (LSL) Pote, Okotoks Dawgs summer college team manager and Dawgs academy, director of player development, whose son, RHP Owen Pote, was drafted in July by the Cincinnati Reds.

1. LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) Langley Blaze.

Okotoks Dawgs INF Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC), who has a scholarship to Miamia (FL).

2. INF Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Miami..

3. RHP Max Poirier (Nanaimo, BC) Okotoks Dawgs.

4. RHP Julian Sabourin (Hamilton, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

5. C Alexander Giguere (Levis, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada.

6. INF Quincy Jenkins (St. Albert, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs.

North Shore Twins OF Finn Hoeschen (North Vancouver, BC)

7. OF Finn Hoeschen (North Vancouver, BC) North Shore Twins.

8. c Dom Morgan (Sherwood Park, Alta. ) AHP Acedemy Renegades.

9. C Taye Thierman (Calgary, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs.

10. RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays/C-Wake Forest.

* * *

Veteran National League scout

Best arms

LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) Langley Blaze. “Gives me Mike Montgomery (Royals) vibes. Big wing span. Long and loose. Lively fastball.”

Toronto Mets RHP Keegan Russell (Whitby, Ont.) was a dominant arm at the Futures.

RHP Keegan Russell (Whitby, Ont.) Toronto Mets. “He was playing catch at 92. Innings eater look that should come into some big velocity and starter profile. Aaron Harang type body.”

RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays. “Fastball traits too good to ignore. I wouldn’t want to face him. Late inning guy. Grant Balfour.”

RHP Nathan Wall (Leamington, Ont.) Great Lake Canadians. “Is 6-foot-5 with huge shoulders and very loose. He showed some good angle and could become a sinker ball guy like Jared Hughes.”

RHP-OF Austin Blair (Victoria, BC) Victoria Eagles: “Big projection, young arm kid. Looks like a Texas high school arm.”

Top five position players

INF Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) FieldHouse Pirates. “Loads/turns the barrel over like hitters from Japan. Doesn’t miss much. Safe bet to hit.”

1B Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays. “Completely unfazed by arms he faced and the stage that he was on. The way he took pitches was as impressive as his swings. Prince Fielder.”

OF Finn Hoeschen (North Vancouver, BC) North Shore Twins. “Tooled out with baseball actions. I liked the way he got out of the box. Body projects really well. Compares to Max Kepler.”

Academie Baseball Canada. C Alexander Giguere (Levis, Que.)

C Alexander Giguere (Levis, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada. “His catch and throw is as good as it gets. High motor/great energy. There’s more hit in there then he gets credit for. Future pro. JT Realmuto.”

INF Christian Iriotakis (Toronto, Ont.) Toronto Mets. “I thought I was watching a pro hitter. He didn’t budge in the box and was right on good velocity as a 15-year old. Daniel Murphy type balance.”

* * *

Long-time amateur scout

(“I missed a few guys I’m sure and I know some of the prospects people were talking about didn’t impress me.”)

LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) Langley Blaze. “An elite pitcher with command of three pitches and is fearless. Comes inside with his fastball and challenges guys.”

Langley Blaze OF Logan Booth (Agassiz, BC) was one of the top position players at Roger Centre.

OF Logan Booth (Agassiz, BC) Langley Blaze. “Has a physical and impressive build. He threw some bullets from right field to home plate and hit a few balls really hard 104 exit velocity.”

OF Finn Hoeschen (North Vancouver, BC) North Shore Twins. “He was really impressive how ‘toolsy’ he is and he is one to watch down the road.”

OF Nathan Belle (Brampton, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers. “He was a physical specimen and the ball jumped off his bat for multiple hits.”

RHP Walker Kokotailo (Surrey, BC) White Rock Tritons. “He sat 93 MPH and tipped 94 albeit with a unique arm action. A lot of arm strength.”

INF Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) FieldHouse Pirates. “He can flat out hit.”

OF-RHP Daniel Dykema (North Vancouver, BC) North Shore Twins. “He stood out on the mound in his one inning with a loose arm with a lot more in the tank. Very protectable player.”

C Alexander Giguere (Levis, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada. “He had a cannon for an arm and threw out multiple base runners.”

Okotoks Dawgs speedster Quincy Jenkins (St. Albert, Alta.)

INF Quincy Jenkins (St. Albert, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs. “Barrelled up with strong velocity and oozes athleticism. One to watch.”

RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays. “Show a really good arm, his fastball has some serious life.”

* * *

Veteran American League scout

Top arms

LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) Langley Blaze.

Ontario Blue Jays RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.) set a show velocity record.

RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

RHP Keegan Russell (Whitby, Ont.) Toronto Mets.

RHP Walker Kokotailo (Surrey, BC) White Rock Tritons.

RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays/C-Wake Forest.

RHP Aiden Taggart (Grimsby, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates.

Top position players

INF Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) FieldHouse Pirates.

Mississauga Tigers OF Nathan Belle (Caledon, Ont.) former Milton Met.

OF Nathan Belle (Caledon, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers.

2B Quincy Jenkins (St. Albert, Alta.) Okotoks Dawgs,

OF Finn Hoeschen (North Vancouver, BC) North Shore Reds.

INF Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Miami

1B Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

C Alexander Giguere (Levis, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada.

* * *

Long-time major-league amateur scout.

RHP Keegan Russell (Whitby, Ont.) Toronto Mets.

3B-RHP Adyn Schell (Toronto, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers/C-Missouri State.

INF Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Miami..

RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays/C-Wake Forest.

White Rock Tritons RHP Walker Kokotailo (Surrey, BC)

RHP Walker Kokotailo (Surrey, BC) White Rock Tritons.

OF Quinn Lightfoot (Caledon, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers.

INF Quinn Carson (Oakville, Ont.) FieldHouse Pirates.

LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) Langley Blaze.

OF Easton Kittura (Spruve Grove, Alta.) Vauxhall Jets.

* * *

Veteran big-league scout

Pitchers

1. LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) Langley Blaze.

2. RHP Keegan Russell (Whitby, Ont.) Toronto Mets.

3. RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays/C-Wake Forest.

4. RHP Ben Goodacre (Ancaster, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

5. RHP Walker Kokotailo (Surrey, BC) White Rock Tritons.

FieldHouse Pirates fireballer RHP Aiden Taggart (Grimsby, Ont.)

6. RHP Aiden Taggart (Grimsby, Ont.) Fieldhouse Pirates.

7. RHP Julian Sabourin (Hamilton, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

8. RHP Ryan McDonagh (Milton, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

9. RHP Nathan Wall (Leamington, Ont.) Great Lake Canadians.

10. RHP Jackson Long (Guelph, Ont.) Great Lake Canadians.

* * *

Position players

1 INF Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) Okotoks Dawgs/C-Miami..

2. OF Finn Hoeschen (North Vancouver, BC) North Shore Twins.

3. C Benji Kautto (Toronto, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

Ontario Blue Jays Stanford-bound INF Phillip Cheong (Richmond Hill, Ont.)

4. INF Phillip Cheong (Richmond Hill, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

5. INF Quinn Carson (Oakville, Ont.) FieldHouse Pirates.

6. 1B Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays.

7. INF Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) FieldHouse Pirates.

8. C Alexander Giguere (Levis, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada.

9. 3B Justin Rompre (Ste-Anne-De-La-Perade, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada.

10. C Cameron Dubé (Cambridge, Ont.) Ontario Nationals and 1B Felix Gosselin (Drummonville, Que.) Academie Baseball Canada.