September 23, 2023

By Yannis Economopoulos

Centennial Sports Journalism

TORONTO – William Polanco solo home run helped lift Team Blue to a 5-2 victory against Team Jays in the all-star Prospects Game at Rogers Centre on Saturday afternoon to wrap up the 2023 Canadian Futures Showcase.

With one out in the bottom of the second, Polanco (Laval, Que.) drilled his second home run of the five-day showcase with a deep drive to right field off Anthony Unga (Oakville, Ont.), which put Blue ahead 1-0.

After his second home run in as many days, Polanco believes he finished the week on a high note.

“It helped my confidence because I started bad,” the ABC right fielder said after the game. “I came back, I’m a confident guy, and I’m going to stay confident.”

In the third frame, Blue would take the lead for good.

Quinn Carson (Oakville, Ont.), who entered the game for Simon Baker (Cochrane, Alta.), after he was hit by a pitch in the ribs, doubled to right-centre field and later scored on a Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) RBI single to left.

First baseman Keenan Parker (St. Albert, Alta.), who was named player of the game in the opening match of the tournament on Wednesday morning, drove in Lawson with a base hit to centre, to give Blue a 3-1 lead.

Team Jays would get one back in the fourth as Dante Smith (Ajax, Ont.) scored on a ground out after ripping a double down the first base line and advancing to third on two walks given up by Jacob Wallace (Pincourt, Que.). The inning ended with two outs because of the 30-pitch limit rule.

Although Smith was on the losing side to finish the week, he didn’t take this experience for granted.

“Playing at the Rogers Centre at such a young age (17) is a dream for every kid that plays baseball,” said the Toronto Mets centre fielder. “It’s awesome being able to play here in front of big league scouts – hopefully, I can make it here in the future.”

Later in the seventh, Blue went up 4-1. Polanco walked, stole second, then scored his second run of the game on an Anthony Clavet (Quebec, Que.) RBI double to deep left.

Team Jays would add a run in the eighth to make it a 4-2 game. Smith scored his second run after Owen Fernandes (Vauxhall, Alta.) threw wildly to first base trying to pick off Jorge Valdes (Milton, Ont.).

Lucas Alberti (Toronto, Ont.) hit an RBI double to left centre that drove in Maxime Boies (Levis, Que.) to put Blue up 5-2.

Left-hander Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) earned the start for Team Jays after his six-strikeout performance in three innings for Team Navy earlier in the week. Tate Carey (Windsor, Ont.) was on the mound for Blue.

Both pitched well, only allowing a hit each.

Over 175 of the best young prospects from around Canada came to the annual tournament, played in front of pro and college baseball scouts.