Five DI college teams Canadian fans should keep an eye on

Fieldhouse Pirates alum and Niagara University Purple Eagles right-hander Zach Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) is a pitcher to keep an eye on in 2023. Photo: Niagara University Athletics

December 6, 2022

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The Division I college baseball season begins in just under three months with first pitch set to fly on Friday, February 17.

In 2022, 166 players took the field at the Division I level. Jumping to 2023, let’s take a look at five teams baseball fans should be keeping an eye on for their Canadian content.

Niagara University Purple Eagles

No. of Canadians: 14

Niagara University head coach Rob McCoy has to have a Nexus pass. The Purple Eagles are consistently near the top when it comes to the number of Canadians they recruit. This year that number is 14, or 40 per cent of the entire roster.

Canadian pitcher to watch: RHP Zach Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) - 15 appearances, 2-0 record, 2.38 ERA, 22 2/3 innings in 2022.

Canadian hitter to watch: OF Marcus Spencer (Chatham-Kent, Ont.) - 37 games played, .329 average, two home runs, 15 RBIs in 2022.

Keep an eye on: RHP Brady Kobitowich (Edmonton, Alta.). The newcomer is a transfer from Cloud County Community College, another school that loves their Canadians. Kobitowich made 11 appearances and one start for the Thunderbirds in 2022.

The rest of the NU Canucks: INF Mike Brisson (St. Albert, Alta.), INF Nick Groves (London, Ont.), RHP Steven Hospital (Oakville, Ont.), LHP Zac Laird (Langley, BC), LHP Blake MacMillan (Mississauga, Ont.), INF Josh Marchese (Burnaby, BC) LHP Noah Richardson (Windsor, Ont.) RHP Cal Theal (Niagara Falls, Ont.), INF Cole Tucker (Mount Pearl, Nfld.), RHP Nick Veselinovic (LaSalle, Ont.), C Matt Ward (Mississauga, Ont.) and LHP Evan Wilde (Airdrie, Alta.)

Canisius College Golden Griffins

No. of Canadians: 12

The pipeline that former Canisius and current William & Mary head coach, Mike McRae (Niagara Falls, Ont.), spent years building is largely still intact thanks to the work of current head man Matt Mazurek. If they weren't conference and geographical rivals, Mazurek should carpool with McCoy to save on the gas money, stuff ain’t cheap these days.

Canadian pitcher to watch: RHP Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.), 17 appearances, 16 starts, 8-2 record, 3.81 ERA, 124 strikeouts, 104 innings pitched in 2022.

Canadian hitter to watch: INF Max Grant (Fredericton, N.B.), 54 games played, .398 average, 10 home runs, 53 RBIs, 1.135 OPS in 2022.

Keep an eye on: RHP Aaron Duffy (Burlington, Ont.). If the younger of the Duffy brothers can match his older sibling, the Griffs will be in business. Duffy made 11 starts and posted a 6.59 ERA over 40 2/3 inning pitched in his freshman year but flashed moments of promise that Mazurek and his staff will hope to see more of in year two.

Oklahoma State University Cowboys

No. of Canadians: 3

This one is less about the total number and more about the potential impact. Oklahoma State has had a Canadian on their roster every year since 2018, beginning with catcher Max Hewitt (Midhurst, Ont.). They even dipped into the transfer portal for the second offseason in a row to scoop up a Canuck.

Canadian pitcher to watch: RHP Ben Abram (Georgetown, Ont.), 22 appearances, 1-0 record, 9.41 ERA in 2022 with the University of Oklahoma.

Canadian hitter to watch: INF David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.), .276 average, 11 home runs, 45 RBIs, .883 OPS in 2022.

Keep an eye on: RHP Evan O’Toole (Bridgewater, N.S.). He pitched three seasons at junior college powerhouse Iowa Western putting together a 10-2 record with a save and a 3.17 ERA. Made 31 total appearances, 13 of which were starts.

Austin Peay University Governors

No. of Canadians: 2

Head coach Roland Fanning took over as Governors head coach on June 2 after coming from, surprise, surprise, Oklahoma State. He immediately began overhauling the roster and added 22 new players via the transfer portal, two of which are from north of the border.

Canadian pitcher to watch: RHP Jacob Kush (Guelph, Ont.), 12 appearances, one start, 3-0, 8.57 ERA in 2022 with the University of Missouri

Canadian hitter to watch: OF Jaden Brown (Mississauga, Ont.), 36 games played, .236 average in 2022 with the University of Texas Arlington. Brown initially began his college career at the University of Kentucky where Fanning was an assistant coach from 2017-2019.

Keep an eye on: Not there yet, but Fanning convinced Fieldhouse Pirates 2023 catcher Keaton Cottam (Burlington, Ont.) to commit to the school. Keaton is the cousin of former University of Kentucky and current Boston Red Sox catching prospect Kole. Fanning coached Kole with the Wildcats, so as you can see the roots run deep and there’s no reason to believe Fanning is done recruiting north of the border.

University of South Carolina Upstate

No. of Canadians: 4

The Spartans have some serious Canadian upside. Of the four Canucks on their roster, two are sophomores and one is a freshman. They also locked down 2024 INF/RHP Hendrik Vandermeer (Simcoe, Ont.) out of the Great Lake Canadians to ensure the northern recruiting continues.

Canadian pitcher to watch: RHP Julian Parsons (Mississauga, Ont.), nine appearances, two starts as a freshman, 1-0, 5.94 ERA, 16 2/3 innings pitched in 2022.

Canadian hitter to watch: Daniel Gernon (Cloverdale, BC), 2022 at Lower Columbia College, .222 average, 36 RBIs, 39 runs scored in 2022.

Keep an eye on: RHP Ben Roberts (Burlington, Ont.). Roberts got his feet wet in his freshman campaign in 2022 with 12 appearances and 18 1/3 innings pitched.

But wait, there’s more: RHP David James (London, Ont.) enters his freshman season after completing his high school career with the Ontario Nationals of the Canadian Premier Baseball League.