Elliott: Wojtarowicz invited to pitch in Draft League, O'Toole PBR's top Canuck at JUCO
Former Ontario Terriers and Ontario Royals LHP Andre Wojtarowicz (Oakville, Ont.), of the Frontier Bobcats, is the first Canuck — we know of — to be asked to pitch in the MLB Draft League.
January 4, 2022
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
How good is Canadian talent at the Junior College level heading into next spring?
Well, at least five Canucks have made the grade on PBR’s top 350 JUCO list. PBR selects players to pitch in the MLB Draft league -- as both LHP Mitch Bratt, a former Toronto Met and RHP Garrett Hawkins did in 2021.
Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) went in the fifth round to the Texas Rangers, signing an $850,000 bonus. RHP Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.), a one-time Vauxhall Academy Jet, was selected in the ninth round, going to the San Diego Padres and given a $75,000 bonus.
This year, LHP Andre Wojtarowicz (Oakville, Ont.) has been invited to play in the MLB Draft League. The former Ontario Terrier was 93-94 in fall ball. He pitched for Terrier coach Dean Dicenzo (Mount Hope, Ont.) and also Matt Mills (Burlington, Ont.) and Fabio Del Rio (Ottawa, Ont.) with the Ontario Royals.
RHP Evan O’Toole (Bridgewater, NS) of the Iowa Western Reivers is PBR’s top rated Canuck attending JUCO schools this spring.
PBR Ratings JUCO rating for 2022
57. RHP Evan O’Toole, Iowa Western Reivers IA
Ht: 6’ 3” Wt: 185 lbs.
Hometown: Bridgewater, NS
Committed to: Oklahoma State
2021 stats: 9-0 in 11 games -- 10 starts -- with a 1.31 ERA, 51 strikeouts in 55 innings.
Honors: Canadian Baseball Network 2021 Third Team.
Played for: Junior National Team (coach Greg Hamilton) and Vauxhall Academy Jets (Les McTavish).
RHP Cedric De Grandpre (St. Simon, Que.) of the Chipola Indians — Jose Bautista’s school — is the second-ranked Canuck at a JUCO school, accoring to PBR.
58. RHP Cedric De Grandpre, Chipola Indians FL
Ht: 6’ 2” Wt: 210 lbs.
Hometown: St. Simon, Que.
2021 stats: 2-1 with three saves, 1.69 ERA, 48 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings.
Honors: Canadian Baseball Network 2021 First Team.
Played for: ABC (Maxime Hockhoussen), Guerriers de Granby (Denis Lamontagne).
122. SS Austin Gomm Parkland Community College Cobras IL
Ht: 6’ 1” Wt: 185 lbs.
Hometown: Mississauga, Ont.
2021 stats: Hamilton Cardinals (Injured).
Played for: Junior National Team (coach) Greg Hamilton, Ontario Terriers (Scott VandeValk) and Mississauga Majors.
Honors: Named all-star SS at the 2019 World Juniors in South Korea.
306. LHP Andre Wojtarowicz Frontier Bobcats IL
Ht: 6’ 4” Wt: 200 lbs.
Hometown: Oakville, Ont.
2021: Freshman in 2022
Played for: Ontario Terriers (Dean Dicenzo) and Ontario Royals (Matt Mills).
320. RHP Matthew Brown Frontier Bobcats IL
Ht: 6’ 4” Wt: 230 lbs.
Hometown: Oakville, Ont.
2021: Freshman in 2022
Played for: Ontario Terriers (Dean Dicenzo of Glanbrook, Ont.) and Field House Pirates (Jordan Windisch).