FieldHouse Pirates SS Nate Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.) impressed at the Canadian Premier League showcase.

March 16, 2022

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

When Walt Burrows ran the Canadian arm of the Major League scouting bureau, it was an endurance test and a blur for scouts.

Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) ran well-organized workouts which often began in Vancouver, then moved to Alberta the next day for a pair of invitational only camps, then Ontario -- sometimes for three camps, sometimes for two -- and then on to Montreal. Or some years rather than go west-to-east, the group would travel east-to-west.

The commissioner’s office did away with the Bureau after 2015 and no longer has scouts. It has four or five video people who go to games and record the prospects. That video is turned over to all the teams. The vast majority of the bureau scouts were let go in the spring of 2016, which is when Burrows joined the Minnesota Twins.

Coaches and clubs have now organized their own workouts -- since the Bureau stopped operating a few years ago to cut cost. So scouts have showed up to see how players eligible for this July’s 20-round draft, as well as getting a reading on the class of 2023 and 2024 grads. In the case of one Ontario workout, the show was organized by the Canadian Premier League.

There could be more displays of talent since the draft has been moved from June to July.

It was a return to old times since there weren’t any trips for the Junior National Team to make since they cut their trip to St. Petersburg short two years ago in March. Six trips in all were missed. In February of 2020, the FieldHouse Pirates and the Ontario Blue Jays staged scout days.

We looked up a past draft and found that Burrows’ tour in 2015 made eight stops in five days. The best arm in the land was RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) of the Calgary PBF Redbirds and the top hitter was OF-1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) of the Ontario Blue Jays.

The top five were rounded out by OF Tristan Pompey (Milton, Ont.) of the Toronto Mets, OF Jean-Francois Garon (Terrebonne, Que.) of the Royals de Repentigny and OF Miles Gordon (Oakville, Ont.) of the Great Lake Canadians. All were drafted save for Garon, who attended Bradley University and then played indy ball. Naylor and Soroka made the majors.

A rundown with some comments by scouts ...

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Inside Performance

North Vancouver, BC

2022 draft, four months away

Carson Latimer RHP (Delta, BC) North Delta Blue Jays/C-Cloud County “Most impressive arm in the facility. Hit 91.5 on the gun as the hardest thrower in the building.”

Tyrus Hall INF (Victoria, BC) Victoria Eagles/Junior National Team “Very athletic shortstop, one of the better defensive infielders in the country.”

Chase Marshall RHP (Surrey, BC) White Rock Tritons/Junior National Team _ Six scoreless for Trosky National 2022 at 2021 17U Ultimate Championship-West ... hit 89.1 mph.”

Kyle Hepburn, C (Richmond, BC) North Delta Blue Jays/Johnson County CC “Thump in his bat.”

Michal Buckham RHP (Abbotsford, BC) Fraser Valley Cardinals/Junior National Team/C-LSU _ Earned spots on Northeast-All Region 2nd Team, PG Preseason All-American and All-Region Teams as well as Preseason underclass All American in 2020. Second highest velocity at 90 mph.

Wylie Waters, INF (Vancouver, BC) North Shore Twins _ Named to Top Prospect list at PG 2021 South Uncommitted Showcase (2022 grads). “Had 102.3 exit velocity in BC.”

Ryan Heppner RHP (Delta, BC) North Delta Blue Jays/C-UBC “Quick arm, throws a heavy, mitt-wrenching fastball. Best exit velocity off the bat at 102.9.”

Oliver Mabee, RHP-OF (Victoria, BC) Victoria Eagles “Probably better suited off the mound. Exit velocity of 101.1.”

Daniel Orfaly RHP-OF (White Rock, BC) White Rock Tritons/UBC “Has a sharp breaking ball. Was 89.2 mph off the mound, 99.6 exit velocity.”

Ty Fluet INF-OF (White Rock, BC) White Rock Tritons Homered in Little League final against Quebec at nationals in Medicine Hat.

2023 draft, 16 months away

Sam Shaw INF (Victoria, BC) Victoria Mariners/Junior National Team “Everything off his bat exploded. Had a 101.1 exit velocity, best among his class.”

Cam MacLeod C (North Vancouver, BC) North Shore Twins “Has been clocked with a 2.10-2.14 pop time by PBR. Had a 98.6 exit velocity in North Van.”

Nick Frers RHP (North Vancouver, BC) Northshore Twins/Junior National Team/C-Arkansas at Little Rock “One to watch for 2023, clocked at 87.6 mph.”

2024 draft, 28 months away

RHP Trevor Holme, RHP (Nanoose Bay, BC) Parksville Royals Part of the Oceanside Reds powerhouse.

Scouts on hand: Kory Lafreniere, Rene Tosoni and Patrick Griffin, Toronto Blue Jays; Doug Mathieson and Marty Lehn, Milwaukee Brewers; Chris Pritchett, Boston Red Sox, Jamie Bodaly, Cincinnati Reds, Taylor Bratten, San Padres, Curtis Pelletier, Miami Marlins and Greg Hamilton, Junior National Team.

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Vauxhall Academy

Vauxhall, Alta.

2022 draft, four months away

Vauxhall Academy Jeys RHP Anson McGorman (Parksville, BC)

Anson McGorman RHP (Parksville, BC) Vauxhall: Body is better, easy velocity with solid delivery. 90-92 with 80-82 slider & 84-85 change.

Jack Wheatley INF (Calgary, Alta.), Vauxhall/Junior National Team: Great athlete, moves extremely well in the INF with soft hands, has some sneaky pop with some 100 plus exits.

Matt McKenzie RHP (Vaughan, NS), Vauxhall; Can throw three pitches for strikes, Clocked in mid 80’s.

David Stewart LHP (Lethbridge, Alta.), Vauxhall/C-Mary: Funky lefty that throws four pitches for strikes.

Demitri Shakotko INF (Fredricton, NB), Vauxhall: Fluid easy left-handed hitter that stays on plane. Trained with Matt Stairs before coming to Vauxhall.

Jared Bendfeld INF (Daysland, Alta.), Vauxhall: Right-handed hitter that has some pop. Ball jumps off the bat with plenty of mid 90s exits.

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2023 draft, 16 months away

Cardel Dick C (Abbotsford, BC) Vauxhall _ MVP with TG D-Backs National at 2021 PG 16U, plus all-tourney honors at PG 16U Southeast World Series and 16U PG Summer Showdown with D-Backs.

Drew Lenehan RHP (Woodstock, NB), Vauxhall _ Spotted at 2019 Ray Carter Cup with Team New Brunswick at the 2019 Nationals inside the walls of Kinsmen Stadium at Oshawa.

Kyle Yip C (Calgary, Alta.), Vauxhall “A switch-hitting slasher.”

Colin Fisher C (Ottawa, Ont.), Vauxhall _ Was 2-for-2 with two RBIs facing his hometown Capital City Reds in a 15-6 win.

Brennan McTavish INF (Lethbridge, Alta.), Vauxhall _ Had base knocks against Capital City, Badlans and University of Calgary in one weekend. Comes from good stock.

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2024, 28 months away

Brett Getz LHP (Medicine Hat, Alta.) Vauxhall _ Started against Capital City and worked four innings allowing one hit and a walk, while fanning four in 18-1 romp.

Scouts on hand: Kory Lafreniere and Patrick Griffin, Toronto Blue Jays; Todd Hubka, Minnesota Twins; Les McTavish, Philadelphia Phillies; Jeff Duda, Washington Nationals; Tyler Hollick, San Francisco Giants; Lou Pote San Diego Padres; and Val Helldobler, Atlanta Braves, Greg Hamilton, Junior National Team.

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Okotoks Academy

Okotoks, Alta.

2022 draft, four months away

Max Hartman OF (St. Albert, Alta.) Okotoks/Junior National Team/C-Washington State “Showed improved arm strength on simulated throws from the outfield, touching 89 mph. Consistently found barrels. Gap to gap approach with flashes of pull-side power.”

Matt Grabmann RHP (Dartmouth, NS) Okotoks/C-Oregon “Clean and effortless delivery. Held 93-96 mph (topped out at 95.9) with life through the zone. Change-up and slider have developed significantly. One of the top two arms in Canada hands down.”

Boston Warkentin RHP (Delta, BC) Okotoks/C-Washington “Up tempo delivery with short arm action. Stabs on the backside, but finds a way to consistently sync up his movements. Regularly 89-92 MPH (topped out at 92.4) with run. Slider is already at a pro level at 80-82 mph with 2600+ spin. Change-up has progressed well. Solid three-pitch mix.”

Tyrelle Chadwick RHP-OF (Kamloops, BC) Okotoks/C-Illinois State “Major League pedigree. Extra large frame. Delivery is max effort. Pitched 90-94 (topped out at 94). Split-change profiles as best secondary pitch with his slider and curve showing flashes of potential average pitches at the next level to round out a solid four-pitch mix.”

Ty Doucette (Dartmouth, NS) INF Okotoks/ Arkansas at Little Rock/C-Oregon State “Physical left-handed hitter. Fills up the box. Advanced bat to ball skills. Finds barrel consistently with natural loft in his swing. Good footwork around 1B.”

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2023 draft, 16 months away

Andrew Johnston C (Toronto, Ont.) Okotoks Uncommitted “Large frame. Barrel chested with thick and strong lower half. Advanced arm strength, Topped 81 MPH on throw to 2B. Showed instincts with receiving and blocking during bullpens. Plus bat-speed with a chance for true power production as he develops.”

Brandon Paez INF (Candiac, Que.) Okotoks Uncommitted “Athletic with good actions. Soft hands. Good footwork with rhythm and timing. Gap to gap approach with lots of hard contact.”

Alex Dionne RHP-OF (Ancienne-Lorette, Que.) Okotoks Uncommitted “Effortless 87-89 mph (topped out at 89.9) with life through the zone. Slight crossfire from a lower 3/4s slot adds deception. Change-up and slider have potential to be average to a tick above average at the next level.”

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Scouts on hand: Kory Lafreniere and Patrick Griffin, Toronto Blue Jays; Chris Reitsma, Kansas City Royals; Todd Hubka, Minnesota Twins; Les McTavish, Philadelphia Phillies; Jeff Duda, Washington Nationals; Tyler Hollick, San Francisco Giants; Lou Pote San Diego Padres; Val Helldobler, Atlanta Braves and Greg Hamilton, Junior National Team.

C Brady Cerkownyk (Toronto, Ont.) of the Mississauga North Tigers

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Mississauga North Tigers

Mississauga, Ont.

2022 draft, four months away

Brady Cerkownyk C (Toronto, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers/C-Connors State _ Earned All Tournament Team honours with Mississauga Tigers and was named to Top Prospect Team at 2021 Great Lakes Prospect Showcase

Blake Simpson INF (Pickering, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers/C-Connors State _ Named to all tournament team with Mississauga Tigers at World Wood Bat 17U National championship and 2019 World Wood Bat championship round robin with 2019 Ontario Blue Jays.

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2023, 16 months away

David Stanley C (Leaside, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers _ Tied for 38th in exit velocity (91 mph) at 2021 Jr. National Showcase in Marietta GA

Kalayo Shaw INF (Mississauga, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers “A smooth-moving, athletic infielder with great range.”

Cole Leclair INF (Toronto, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers/Junior National Team _ Tied for seventh in exit velocity (97 mph) 2021 Jr. National Showcase in Marietta GA

Lachlan Maude C (Etobicoke, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers _ Earned a spot on the WWBA 17U National championship all-tournament team with Mississauga Tigers.

Ryan Marton RHP (Toronto, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers _ Honored with a berth on the WWBA 2022 Grads or 17U National championship all-tournament team with Mississauga Tigers.

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2024 draft, 28 months away

Marcus Kirksey, 1B (Toronto, Ont.) Mississauga Tigers “A big dude at a young age.”

Scouts on hand: Jay Lapp and Patrick Griffin, Toronto Blue Jays, Matt Higginson Oakland A’s and Greg Hamilton, Junior National Team.

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Field House Pirates

Burlington, Ont.

2022 draft, four months away:

Nate Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.) INF FieldHouse Pirates/C-Alabama _ Ranked No. 1 shortstop in Canada by PG, made all-tournament team at World Wood Bat championships in Jupiter in 2021, gained pre-season underclass All-American honors for Canada/Puerto Rico HM in both 2020 and 2021.

Ontario Blue Jays C Sam White (Aurora, Ont.)

Sam White (Aurora, Ont.) C-INF Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team/C-West Virginia “Probably the best high school hitter in the country.”

Hugh Pinkney (Etobicoke, Ont.) C Ontario Terriers/Junior National Team/C-Rutgers “Vastly improved in both his body and technique since I last saw him.”

Cam Gurney (Scotland, Ont.) C FieldHouse Pirates/C-Utah _ “Showed both power and speed at PG East Memorial Day showcase.”

Matthew Marsh (Havelock, Ont.) LHP Ontario Astros/C-Niagara “Coming off a strong tournament season.”

Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.) OF Great Lake Canadians/Junior National Team/C-Illinois “Fastest man in the building. Fastest in the province/ Fastest in the country? Ran a 6.48 at a PBR event.”

Turner Spoljaric RHP (Lisle, Ont.) Toronto Mets/C-Oregon “Few have provided scouts with as much history south of the border. He earned all tournament team honors with the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team at the 2020 World Wood Bat championship, with the Toronto Mets at the WWBA underclass world championship in 2019, the 2021 Grads or 16U National championship in 2019 and the WWBA Underclass World championship in 2018. Also he was a pre-season underclass All American honors for Canada/Puerto Rico for 2020 and 2021, plus PG Preseason Underclassmen All American honorable mention honors.

Caleb Clark LHP (Orillia, Ont.) Great Lake Canadians/C-Nebraska _ Twice he gained all-tourney honors with the Brewers Langley Blaze at the 2020 WWBA World championship and with the Ohio Warhawks at the 2021 WWBA World championship. Plus, he gained pre-season underclassman for Canada/Puerto Rico First Team honors.

Parker Burgess RHP (Douro-Dummer, Ont.) Toronto Mets/Junior National Team/C-Illinois “How can you like a pitcher from Douro-Dummer? Seriously he is one of the better arms in the class.”

Jonah Tong RHP (Markham, Ont.) Toronto Mets/C-North Dakota State - Another product of the Mets pitching triumvirate: Chris Kemlo, Paiul Spoljaric and Jordan Prosper.

Jacob Miller C-OF (Oshawa, Ont.) Toronto Mets/Chipola College _ Earned PG Preseason All-American and All-Region Teams for honorable mention for Canada/Puerto Rico both in 2021 and 2021.

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2023 draft, 16 months away

INF Myles Naylor INF (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays/Junior National Team/C-Texas Tech “Switch hitter with great actions. Can there be three top Canadians of the year from the same household?”

Griffin Howell RHP (Tecumseh, Ont.) Windsor Selects “Once the province’s hotbed for arms, Howell is a good representative. Windsor still has powerhouses at senior, junior and levels.”

Carson Teahen RHP (LaSalle, Ont.) Windsor Selects “Has a lot of upside.”

Brodey Bitove OF (Toronto, Ont.) Toronto Mets “Solid looking hitter. Projects well.”

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2024 draft, 28 months away

Brendan Lawson, INF (Leaside, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays “Solid swing, fields like a Hoover vacuum.”

Matthew Brown, INF (Milton, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays _ “Following the Blake Buckle path.”

Zev Salsberg RHP (Toronto, Ont.) Ontario Royals “No. 18 in the program, No. 1 in the hearts in the Salsberg household.”

Lachlan Harrison LHP (Mississauga, Ont.) Ontario Blue Jays “Was 86 mph in his first live bullpen of the season.”

Scouts on hand: Jay Lapp and Patrick Griffin, Toronto Blue Jays, Peter Orr, Milwaukee Brewers, Adam Stern, Kansas City Royals, Matt Higginson, Oakland A’s, Jeremy Jayaweera, Los Angeles Angels; Jon Carson, Philadelphia Phillies and Greg Hamilton, Junior National Team.

ABC’s Jeremy Pilon (Salaberry-De-Valleyfield, Que.)

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Ministry of Cricket

Montreal, Que.

Best in the building

LHP Jeremy Pilon, 2023, (Salaberry-De-Valleyfield, Que.) Academy Baseball Canada/Junior National Team “Best arm in the facility.”

LHP Elliot Cadieux 2023 (St-Pie, Que.) ABC/Junior National Team “Second best arm on hand.”

RHP Charles Olivier Cyr 2022 (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.) ABC “You have to like the size (6-foot-5), pops the mitt.”

C Deiten Lachance 2023 (Sherbrooke, Que.) ABC/Junior National Team “A young un’ smooth behind the plate.”

LHP Felix Morin 2022, (Quebec, Que.) ABC _ Made all-tourney team at 2021 PG 18U Midwest KC Challenge.

RHP-1B Jacob Wallace, 2024, (Pincourt, Que.) ABC/Canisius “A two-way guy to watch.”

RHP Jimmy Dionne, 2022 (Saint-Augustin de Desmaures Que.) ABC “Lots of strikes. Easy to dream about.”

Scouts on hand: Jasmim Roy and Pat Griffin, Toronto Blue Jays, Alex Agostino, Philadelphia Phillies, Denis Boucher, New York Yankees, Chris Kemlo, San Diego Padres and Greg Hamilton, Junior National Team.

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EXTRA BASES: Jamie (Rock Star) Romak, winner of the 2020 Tip O’Neill award, is now with the Great Lake Canadians, after retiring from hitting bombs in Korea (South) is dipping his toes into the amateur waters.

“I remember my draft year (2003), guys were telling me my stock was rising,” Romak remembered playing for coach Mike Lumley’s London Badgers at Aamjiwnaang First Nation, formerly known as Chippewas of Sarnia First Nation.

“I look around and there are Pat Gillick and two of his scouts wearing their leather jackets. It was pretty neat for a kid.”

Atlanta Braves Guelph-based scout Lonnie Goldberg drafted Romak in the fourth round, beating the Jays to the punch. He played 27 games in the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played 19 seasons with 383 homers in the minors, Japan and Korea.

With the vast number of facilities around players have it easier. Romak had to meet Goldberg at Guelph’s Frozen Ropes to get him to throw him batting practice.

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EXTRA BASES II: RHP Landon Leach (Toronto, Ont.), a second round pick in 2017, was released by the Minnesota Twins. A few days later the World Series champion Atlanta Braves and GM Alex Anthopoulos signed the former Toronto Mets stud. Leach was bothered by a shoulder imbalance and pitched 69 2/3 innings (in 17 games) with the rookie-class Gulf Coast Twins, rookie-class Florida Complex league Twins and class-A Fort Myers.

Three years ago when I was intensive care unit at Foothills Hospital in Calgary the nicest -- an longest -- get well note I received was from the Leach family. @GoGetEmLandon.

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EXTRA BASES III: Mike Siena (Hamilton, Ont.) an Ontario Blue Jays coach recalls the days when the Toronto Blue Jays used to run tournaments with teams from Seattle, Miami, New York, Ohio and Midland.

“We’re playing in the final at the SkyDome before the regularly-scheduled Toronto game,” Siena said. “So, it’s tied after seven, still tied. I’m in the bullpen and a voice says ‘Excuse me, can I throw on the other bullpen mound?’ I turn and say ‘Of course.’ It was Pat Hentgen. Pat Hengten the former Cy Young winner asking me if I could use one of HIS mounds. Both teams packed up our stuff and we went to Connorvale to finish the game.”

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EXTRA BASES IV: Pitching for Team Elite Academy, RHP Blake Gillespie (Lucan, Ont.), who has committed to Georgia, was clocked at 91-93 mph at the Hoover Met Sports Complex in Hoover Ala. LHP Tyler Soucie (Cambridge, Ont.) was 92-94 at the same event.

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EXTRA BASES V: We bumped Jacob Zibin from No. 1 on our 2023 draft list to out 2022 list since he will graduate this fall. His stock will climb.

The Langley Blaze grad had a day with the TNXL in Florida. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel reported

2023 Canadian-born RHP Jacob Zibin is at TNXL Academy in Florida and had a recent velo spike; he’s been up to 98 recently. He’s now expected to become 2022 draft eligible when he graduates later this spring, so scouts will be piling in to see his remaining starts.

Then, C Ryan Leitch (Whitby, Ont.) had the No. 1 spot for 2023 until we found out he was age eligible for this July. So, the No. 1 man now is Sam Shaw (Victoria, BC) of the Victoria Mariners.