Elliott: Myles Naylor can hit in most area codes
3B Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) opened eyes at the Area Code Games staged at the University of San Diego.
September 11, 2022
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
Doesn’t matter what the area code is, the Naylors still own the Area Codes Games.
In 2017, Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) improved his stock to first-round status in 2018 when the Area Code Games were staged at Blair Field in Long Beach, Calif.
That’s the 5-6-2 area code.
And in 2014, Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) maintained his status as the top schooler in the country for the 2015 draft when the Area Codes were back in Long Beach.
Again the 5-6-2 area code.
Last month the 36th annual Area Code Games were staged at the University of San Diego. Ah, that would be area code 6-1-9.
No matter the change of locales, Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) walked in the footsteps of his brothers.
Myles doubled and tripled in a 12-2 win over the Kansas City Royals.
“It was his double to left field that left a lot of the scouts with their mouths open,” said an American League evaluator, who was on hand for the event. “Man, what a drive. That seemed to get everyone’s attention.”
And Myles will get a lot of attention at the World Cup in Bradenton and Sarasota, Fla. this week -- from opposing pitchers and pro scouts -- for 12th-ranked Canada. The Canucks are in the same pool as: third-ranked Korea, fifth-ranked USA, eighth-ranked Netherlands, 25th-ranked Brazil and the 26th-ranked South Africa.
Myles is expected to be the top Canadian selected next July — like his brothers Josh and Bo.
Will he be a first rounder like big brother Josh (12th overall in North America, to the Miami Marlins) who now plays first base for the Cleveland Guardians or middle brother Bo (29th overall, to Cleveland)?
That’s a tough ask. Three first round brothers from the same Mississauga household, three from the same organizations -- the Mississauga North Tigers, the Ontario Blue Jays and the Junior National Team. Two was difficult as well, but Josh and Bo got it done, despite any doubters.
In other games, Myles was 0-for-3 in a 9-1 loss to the Washington Nationals, he was 0-for-3 in an 8-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds, was 2-for-3 knocking in a run in an 8-2 loss against the Oakland Athletics and he did not play in an 8-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Yankee roster was composed of six players from New Jersey as well as from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York (four each), Pennsylvania (three), California and Wisconsin (two apiece), Canada, Maryland and Texas (one player each).
In 2021, Myles attended the Area Codes Underclassmen event suiting up for the Yankees, going 0-for-3 in an 8-3 loss to the Athletics, 0-for-1 in a 6-5 win over the Brewers, 0-for-2 in a 6-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox and 0-for-1 in a 7-4 loss to the Washington Nationals.
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Noah, who played for Dino Roumel and Sean Travers his draft year, had two singles for the Yankees in a 4-1 win against the White Sox.
Other Canucks invited that year were OF Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC), OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.), RHP David Rhodes (Langley, BC) and RHP Tate Dearing (White Rock, BC).
Oldest brother Josh Naylor, Cleveland Guardians 1B
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And Josh, who played for coach Dan Bleiwas and Travers, hit .181 (2-for-11) with two homers and six RBIs while walking three times and striking out once.
Suffice to say he did not get cheated during batting practice.