Yahiro, Scott have top PG numbers, Buckle, Millas, Pilmer, Valero impress

By Bob Ellliott

Canadian Baseball Network

No less than 70 Canadians competed in Perfect Game’s 20th annual WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla.

LHP Taisei Yahiro (Abbotsford, BC) and RHP Ryan Scott (Quispamsis, NB) of the DBacks Langley Blaze both ranked amongst the statistical leaders.

Meanwhile, Theo Millas’ (2020, Aldergrove, BC), Windsor Selects’ Hayden Pilmer (2019, Learnington, Ont.) and Scott of the Blaze all received special notice from the Perfect Game scouting staff.

And the same goes for Okotoks Dawgs’ INF Cesar Valero (Calgary, Alta.) and Ontario Blue Jays’ C Blake Buckle (2019, Milton, Ont.) .

Strikeouts

Rk. Player Team SO

1 Taisei Yahiro DBacks Langley Blaze 15

Innings Pitched

Rk. Player Team IP

1 Ricky Tibbett San Diego Show 10

4 Taisei Yahiro DBacks Langley Blaze 9

10 Ryan Scott DBacks Langley Blaze 7.2

WHIP (walks + hits allowed per 7 innings/minimum 5 innings)

Rk. Player Team WHIP

1 Alex Munroe Blackhawks National 0.00

6 Taisei Yahiro DBacks Langley Blaze .333

Windsor Selects Hayden Pilmer (2019, Leamington, Ont.) hit 91mph for the DBacks Langley Blaze in Jupiter, Fla.

Day 1

By David Rawnsley

Perfect Game

The DBacks Langley Blaze ran out two interesting uncommitted and unranked 2019 right handers during the same exhibition game, both of whom topped out at 91 mph. Hayden Pilmer (2019, Leamington, Ont.) is an extra big and strong 6-foot-5, 235-pound athlete who throws from a mid three-quarters arm slot and a cross-body delivery that creates bat breaking running life on his fastball. Pilmer also threw a sharp upper-70s slider, although he did tend to over rotate in his delivery occasionally and pull the ball off to his glove side.

Pilmer’s teammate, Ryan Scott (2019, Surrey, BC) is an athletic 6-foot-2, 190-pounds with a simple turn-and-throw delivery and a quick arm. Aside from topping out at 91 mph, Scott threw both a 74 mph curveball with good spin and a fading 78 mph changeup and looks like a future starter.

Day 3

By Vinnie Cervino

Perfect Game

One of the youngest players in the class, Cesar Valero (Calgary, Alta.) is currently still 16 years old but is also one of the more talented position prospects in the class, offering a combination of size, projection, and present power as well. The Oregon State commit stands at 6-foot-2, 186-pounds and looks more athletic while also retaining that physicality. The size will likely eye him as a third base prospect at the next level, however the bat is what’s going to carry Valero. He notched two hits on the day, including a double, and shows a very smooth, balanced stroke from the right side. The swing is very easy and is geared towards producing some power not only to the pull side but the oppo gap as well. Valero is certainly a prospect to keep an eye on and looks to be one of the top from our neighbors to the north in this year’s draft cycle.

One of the largest attended outings of the day was that of Theo Millas’ (2020, Aldergrove, BC) start as the Canada native was attending his first PG event and was very impressive. The first two innings were very quick and efficient and although the wheels slightly fell off in his final frame, there are a lot of positives to the young prospect.

Millas stands at an accurately listed 6-foot-4, 200-pounds with a strong lower half and lots of room to project on the frame. The release is very easy with only a slight amount of effort and he gets good extension toward the mound upon release. The fastball sat in the 89-91 mph range for the first two innings before dropping to 85-88, but there is good sink on the pitch and works well to induce ground balls. Everything with the delivery is mostly clean and he showed a breaking ball in the mid- to upper-70s, a pitch that shows good shape and projection though will need to be tightened up a bit. Millas is certainly an attractive uncommitted arm and after his performance on Sunday I wouldn’t expect that to be the case for long.

By David Rawnsley

Perfect Game

Ontario Blue Jays catcher Blake Buckle (2019, Milton, Ont.) is a versatile 6-foot-1, 195-pound athlete who played left field for the Canadian National Junior Team and who also plays first base. His relatively modest arm strength behind the plate paints him as a future utility player whose best tool is his lefthanded bat. Buckle has a quick and short swing with plenty of bat speed and power behind it with a pull- to mid-field approach. He has hit with power in past Perfect Game tournaments and squared the ball up hard twice Saturday for singles while also drawing a walk. Buckle does not have a college commitment yet according to the PG database.