March 19, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Of the 177 Canadians suiting up in Division 1 Baseball this season, approximately 24% are entering the twilight of their post-secondary careers as seniors with their associated programs.

Some have bounced around from program to program trying to find the right fit while others have called one program home for the entirety of their playing career.

This group of players was dealt a tough hand, as many of them had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting their playing time. Some were high school seniors looking to put on a showcase for interested schools to further their careers while others were looking to get their freshman campaigns in the books before college programs shut down their respective seasons.

Some of these players will continue their playing careers once school is over later this spring, whether it be at the professional level or overseas/independent ball, while some may be playing their last season on the diamond before switching career paths.

Let’s take a look at three senior Canadian college players who should be worth keeping an eye on this season and should be on the radar of teams across Major League Baseball at this summer’s draft.

Micah McDowell – OF

Oregon State University

A product of Kentville, N.S., outfielder Micah McDowell was among the numerous players impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. His freshman campaign was limited to just 12 games with Oregon State before the season was shut down and the following two seasons saw him find limited time on the field due to a crowded outfield full of senior players.

In 2023, McDowell saw a significant jump in playing time, suiting up in 56 contests and putting forth a .342 batting average with seven home runs, 47 RBIs, and a .509 slugging percentage (SLG) en route to a .937 OPS. McDowell also added 15 stolen bases while patrolling the outfield, adding one outfield assist while fielding a clean sheet for the Beavers as they advanced to Regionals.

McDowell went undrafted as a Junior and returned to Oregon State for his senior campaign. He is the oldest position player on a roster that boasts potential No. 1 pick in this year’s draft Travis Bazzana.

The left-handed batter has put together an impressive campaign so far this year, authoring a .460 batting average with six doubles, three home runs, and 16 RBIs through 17 games. He has nine walks compared to eight strikeouts and owns a .523 OBP, .760 SLG, and a 1.283 OPS, trailing only Bazzana on the Beavers squad. The Okotoks Dawgs alum has spent all season in centre field and has 19 putouts and an error-free fielding percentage. His .460 batting average currently ranks 13th in all of Division 1 Baseball.

The Nova Scotia product is ranked sixth on the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2024 Projected Draft List and could see his name called on day two towards the seventh to 10th-round mark when seniors are normally selected. Make no mistake, it is not a matter of if McDowell will be drafted this summer, it is when.

Daniel Gernon – OF

University of South Carolina Upstate

After spending parts of three seasons at Lower Columbia Community College in Longview, Wash., outfielder Daniel Gernon (Cloverdale, B.C.) made the trek out east to continue his playing career last season and hasn’t looked back since turning into a D1 player.

As a junior last year for the University of South Carolina Upstate Spartans, Gernon found himself in 58 games and put forward a solid campaign at the plate.

The right-handed batter authored a .283/.418/.492 slash line to the tune of a .910 OPS while adding eight doubles, two triples, and nine home runs through 187 plate appearances. He walked 30 times and added 15 stolen bases while patrolling all three outfield positions.

This year, Gernon is continuing to put the ball in play at a high level, starting off the campaign with a .346/.490/.551 slash line through 78 at-bats. He has more walks than strikeouts (14 vs. 13) and already has eight stolen bases this season without getting caught. Gernon leads the team in triples (three) and also has two home runs and 18 RBIs, helping the Spartans start the year with a 14-7 record in the Big South Conference.

Antoine Jean – LHP

University of Houston

Originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 17th round as a high school senior in 2019, Montreal, Que. product Antoine Jean decided not to sign with the club and instead took his talents down south to join the University of Alabama to play post-secondary baseball.

Over the next four years (including four starts during the shortened COVID year), the Canadian southpaw would make 22 appearances for the Crimson Tide, starting 16 of those contests.

Through 77 innings, Jean put forth a 3.51 ERA with 61 strikeouts and held opponents to a .242 batting average while racking up a 10-2 record. Injuries limited Jean during his time at Alabama and he did not pitch last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2022. When he wasn’t pitching for the Tide, Jean was playing summer ball for the Falmouth Commodores in the prestigious Cape Cod League, where he recorded a 4.45 ERA in 31 1/3 innings across three summers.

After obtaining his undergraduate degree last year, Jean transferred from Alabama to the University of Houston for the 2024 season, joining the Cougars in the Big 12 Conference.

With his new program, the 2020 Second Team All-Canadian has bounced back nicely from Tommy John surgery. The southpaw has made five starts for the Cougars and owns a 1.66 ERA through 21 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old has struck out 27 batters to an 11.2 K/9 rate and has seen a better command of his pitches, dropping his BB/9 down to 3.7 through the start of the year. He has not allowed more than two earned runs in each of his five starts this year and has held his own against some tough opposing teams, including 3 2/3 innings against Vanderbilt with just one earned run allowed and a masterful performance against Baylor where he struck out 11 batters through 5 1/3 and held them off the scoresheet.

When healthy, the Quebec product has shown he is a capable starter on the mound. If he can continue to rack up innings and stay on the mound this year for the University of Houston, he should have no trouble securing a professional opportunity once his post-secondary playing days are over.