Six Canadians on Baseball America's top 400 draft list

Ontario Blue Jays OF David Calabrese (Maple, Ont.), shown here at Tournament 12 in September, is ranked 68th on Baseball America’s list of top 400 prospects heading into the 2020 MLB Draft. Photo: Christiana Quesko

April 14, 2020

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Six Canadians are on Baseball America’s recently unveiled 2020 MLB Draft Top 400 Prospects list.

Here’s a rundown of the six Canucks:

#68 David Calabrese (Maple, Ont.)

This 17-year-old dazzled scouts with his speed at Tournament 12 at the Rogers Centre in September, registering the fastest 60-yard time (6.43). The left-handed hitting outfielder, who has honed his skills with the Ontario Blue Jays, has continued to impress in the ensuing months, including with the Junior National Team this spring. The 5-foot-9 Calabrese, who has committed to the University of Arkansas, will be one of the youngest players eligible for the draft. Baseball America praises him as a “plus-plus runner who has shown flashes of an impressive hit tool from the left side.”

Trei Cruz (Toronto, Ont.) is ranked 133rd on Baseball America’s list of the top 400, 2020 MLB draft prospects. Photo: Rice University Athletics

#133 Trei Cruz (Toronto, Ont.)

This 21-year-old shortstop is the son of former Toronto Blue Jays’ 30-30 man Jose Cruz Jr. A switch-hitting 6-foot-2, 200-pound infielder, the younger Cruz was born in Toronto and has been drafted twice previously, by the Houston Astros (35th round, 2017) and the Washington Nationals (37th round, 2019). For the past two years, he has honed his skills at Rice University. In 2019, he batted .305 with nine home runs in 58 games and was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team. In his abbreviated 2020 collegiate campaign, he batted .328 and had 19 hits - including a home run - in 16 games for Rice. He also drew 18 walks. Baseball America lauds him for his “power from both sides of the plate.” The esteemed scouting publication also adds that “coaches believe he has the ability to play shortstop at the next level with good hands and a strong arm, though scouts believe his footwork needs to be improved to do so.”

Jordan Nwogu (Ottawa, Ont.) is ranked 184th on Baseball America’s list of the top 400, 2020 MLB draft prospects. Photo: University of Michigan Athletics

#184 Jordan Nwogu (Ottawa, Ont.)

Born in Ottawa, Ont., this 21-year-old power-hitting outfielder stars for the University of Michigan. Raised in Ann Arbour, Mich. Nwogu put up strong numbers in his freshman and sophomore seasons with the Wolverines to land himself on the radar of scouts. In his abbreviated 2020 season with the Wolverines, he batted .353 and had 24 hits - including two home runs - in 15 games. “A beast of an outfielder with a powerful, 6-foot-3, 235-pound frame,” reads Baseball America’s evaluation. “Nwogu has immense raw power, but that comes from an extremely funky swing that doesn’t have much precedent.”

Fieldhouse Pirates standout Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont. ) is ranked 192nd on Baseball America’s list of the top 400, 2020 MLB draft prospects. Photo: Tyler King

#192 Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.)

This 6-foot-4, 190-pound outfielder has honed his skills with the Fieldhouse Pirates and Junior National Team in recent months. If scouts didn’t already know about his left-handed power stroke, they certainly did after his breakout performance at Tournament 12 last September. He was the winner of the home run contest at the event. Caissie also belted a home run to dead centre field for the Junior National Team at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla., this spring in their exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Scouts like his athleticism, raw power and strong throwing arm. He has committed to the University of Michigan.

Ontario Blue Jays alum Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) is ranked 244tth on Baseball America’s list of the top 400, 2020 MLB draft prospects. Photo: Liberty Athletics

#244 Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.)

This 6-foot-3, 215-pound right-hander honed his skills with the Hamilton Cardinals and Ontario Blue Jays before landing at Liberty University. Soon to be 21, he posted a 5-6 record and a 3.76 ERA in 16 appearances - including 15 starts - for Liberty in his sophomore season. Most impressive however, were his 98 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings, which represented a significant jump from his freshman campaign. In his abbreviated 2020 season with the Flames, he posted a 1.96 ERA in four starts and struck out 20 batters in 23 innings. “Big and physical righty with a fastball into the mid-90s and a solid curveball and changeup,” reads the Baseball America report on Skirrow.

Langley Blaze and Junior National Team RHP Theo Millas (Burnaby, B.C.) is rated No. 397 on Baseball America’s list of top 400 prospects heading into this year’s MLB draft. Photo: Amanda Fewer

#397 Theo Millas (Burnaby, B.C.)

This 6-foot-4, 180-pound right-hander has been a standout hurler with the Langley Blaze and the Junior National Team. The 18-year-old Burnaby, B.C. native first joined the JNT program in October 2017 for its annual Fall Instructional League camp and in November 2018, he helped Canada earn a bronze medal at the COPABE U18 Pan Am Championships. Last summer, he became the 14th Canadian selected to compete in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game, which brings together the top 40 high school players in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Scouts like his tall, athletic build and they believe he will become stronger. Right now, his arsenal consists of a low 90s fastball with good sinking action, a curveball and a work-in-progress changeup. He has a college commitment to Louisiana State University.