September 20, 2023

By Trevor Fitzpatrick

Canadian Baseball Network

At Rogers Centre this week, there are 160 of Canada’s best prospects all fighting for attention. Each with something unique that they bring to the table.

With that comes nerves. It’s only natural, for many of the players this is the largest stage they’ve been on.

Some embrace the nerves and aren’t afraid to show them. Some attempt to hide them – to varying levels of success – and some make you wonder if they’re even capable of feeling pressure.

Cam Gravelle (Smithville, Ont.) fits decidedly into the last category. Just by looking at him, you can tell he’s been waiting for this moment.

As Team New Blue took to the field for their scouting day, Gravelle looked unphased. Simply there to do business.

Already being committed to an NCAA Division I school certainly helps with that. In Gravelle’s case, the University of Toledo has his spot reserved for next season.

“They have a really gritty program, a lot of big guys that just rake. I’m really excited about going there, hitting is the best part of baseball.”

Once the warmups were complete and the scouting activities got underway, Gravelle took off running. Quite literally.

His 60-yard dash clocked in around a flat seven seconds. Not in the top 10 who all broke into the six-second range, but firmly in the top 20 to 30 per cent of all the players there.

Next, fielding. Registered to the showcase as a primary shortstop and secondary second baseman, near perfection was expected from Gravelle – and yet again he delivered. He attacked the grounders well and made strong throws to first, which have been previously clocked at 87 mph.

Finally, the hitting. In his own mind, his favourite part of the game. If we were counting these different scouting activities as at-bats, he would be three-for-three after his impressive hitting display.

Smooth is the best way to describe his swing. Smooth and effective. Gravelle consistently had an exit velocity in the low-to-mid 90s range off the bat in a motion that didn’t look forced.

While he wasn’t at the very top of any one category, he was decisively in the top half of all the players there for every challenge, likely a result of his time spent with the Ontario Royals.

The organization has produced two players who went on to play in the major leagues – Kyle Thomas and Dalton Pompey who played for the Royals for two and three years respectively.

Gravelle’s well-rounded approach to the game is something that he’s been eager to show off to the scouts.

“Showing off my competitiveness and my never-give-up approach at the plate will be exciting,” said Gravelle, “defensively, just not letting anything through the infield and showing off my arm across the diamond [is what I’m looking forward to].”

Aside from showing what he has to offer on the field, his aura of confidence seems to have put him in an early leadership role this week. On day one, he could be seen initiating conversations with others. As day two got started and his Team New Blue took to the diamond for the first game of the day, Gravelle was the first one out, leading his team onto the field out of the dugout.

An important part of being a leader on the diamond is knowing the game inside and out — a skill Gravelle hopes the scouts see even more than his physical play.

“[I hope they see] my baseball IQ. Just knowing all the situations on the field, knowing my role, and not trying to do too much is what will get the job done every time.”

While his commitment to the University of Toledo stands, there is always a chance a strong performance at the showcase may turn a few MLB scout heads.

“It all depends on what happens, it sure would be cool, wouldn’t it?”

What has happened so far has looked good, Gravelle is off to a strong start. In Team New Blue’s first game of the showcase against Team Grey, he had no official at-bats but drove in a run with three walks.

Team New Blue next take the field at 6 p.m. against Team Royal. They follow that game with one against Team Red at 1 p.m. Thursday, then with one more at 10 a.m. Friday against Team Black.