Tag: Cooper Davis

Noah Naylor selected in the first round of the 2018 draft

Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft began on Monday night and with the 29th pick of the first round, the Cleveland Indians made Ontario Blue Jays catcher and infielder Noah Naylor the highest Canadian Premier Baseball League player taken in the selection process in its three-year history. 

Ranking among the best high school players eligible for the draft throughout the months leading up to the event – also committed to the Texas A & M Aggies – the native of Mississauga and Team Canada mainstay was also the first player from the entire country taken in the 2018 process, and the only Canadian selected on the opening night of the draft.

“He’s really ready,” Baseball Canada’s director of national teams Greg Hamilton said of Naylor. “He plays the game with an ease to it, he doesn’t get too high and he doesn’t get too low…He plays very consistent and very determined and very level. There is a fire in there…

“He’s got everything that you’re looking for – he slows the game down offensively and defensively, he’s a special hitter, he’s a different hitter than his brother, but he’s going to be a really good hitter and a really good player.” 

Naylor’s first-round selection follows the 2015 draft, when the Miami Marlins took his older brother Josh – also a graduate of the Ontario Blue Jays and Canadian Junior National Team programs – in the first round with the 12th pick. 

“I have been gifted with some amazing coaches and amazing players as teammates to play with, so I’m definitely going to miss that, whichever way I go,” the younger Naylor said during the off-season. “I’m going to take the time I have with them and make the most of it and play every day like it’s my last with these guys.”

***

In the second season of the CPBL last year, Toronto Mets right-hander and native of Pickering, Ont., Landon Leach was the first Canuck off the board, selected with the first pick of the second round by the Minnesota Twins, 37th overall. The righty signed for $1,400,000 and is currently at extended spring training in Fort Myers, Florida. 

Great Lake Canadians shortstop Adam Hall quickly followed Leach in the draft, when the Baltimore Orioles chose the Bermuda-born Londoner with the 60th overall pick, also in the second round. Hall is also currently at extended spring training, in Sarasota, after signing for $1,300,000.   

Ontario Blue Jays outfielder and Mississauga’s own Cooper Davis was chosen by his hometown Toronto Blue Jays in the 25th round and was the 15th Canuck chosen, 759th overall. In the fall, Davis fulfilled his commitment to Vanderbilt University in Nashville and is currently headed to the super regional round of the College World Series with his team. 

Dondrae Bremner, a Toronto native and shortstop in the Mets program, was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 31st round of the draft, 917th overall, as the 17th player from north of the border whose name was called. Bremner fulfilled his commitment to Cincinnati, where he just finished his freshman season. 

***

The four CPBL players selected last year follows the inaugural season of the league, in which 12 Canadian high schoolers were chosen in the draft, and all six hailing from Ontario coming from the CPBL. Toronto Mets catcher Andrew Yerzy was the first one off the board in 2016, selected by the Diamondbacks in the second round, 52nd overall, and eventually signing for $1,214,100. 

Ontario Blue Jays righty Jordan Balazovic was taken in the fifth round two years ago, 153rd overall, by Minnesota, eventually signing for $515,000. OBJ catcher Luke Van Rycheghem was chosen by Arizona in the 23rd round and signed for $100,000. Mets southpaw Matt Jones was taken by the Twins in the 28th round and signed for $70,000. 

Great Lake right-hander Austin Shields was selected by the Pirates organization in the 33rd round of the 2016 draft and signed for $205,000 just before the deadline. His Canadians teammate and outfielder Jake Wilson was taken in the 39th round by the Red Sox, and opted to fulfill his commitment to Bowling Green State University, where he has already earned a number of accolades through his freshman and sophomore seasons. 

Four CPBL players selected in MLB’s first-year player draft

In the midst of the second Canadian Premier Baseball League season, the circuit found success on Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft board in yet another year.

In total, 20 players were chosen in the 2017 selection process from north of the border, including nine out of Canadian high schools, with four hailing from Ontario and every one of them representing a CPBL program.

Toronto Mets right-hander and native of Pickering, Landon Leach was the first Canuck off the board this year, the Texas commit selected with the first pick of the second round by the Minnesota Twins, 37th overall.

“The draft is exciting, but all spring I’ve been doing my best to go one trip at a time, not really thinking too much about the future,” Leach said. “I just wanted to do my best in every game that I pitched, and it’s definitely exciting.

“My whole family is excited about the future. It’s not a big family, but they’re all happy for me and they’re going to support me through anything…They’re happy for me and everything I’ve done already.”

Great Lake Canadians shortstop Adam Hall quickly followed Leach in the draft, when the Baltimore Orioles chose the Bermuda-born Londoner and Texas A&M commit with the 60th overall pick, also in the second round.

“I can bring a little bit of everything, whether that’s speed, defence, my arm, batting, power,” Hall said. “When I bring all of that to a game, that’s what impresses people. It’s not just one thing in particular that I’m going to impress someone with.”

Ontario Blue Jays outfielder and Mississauga’s own Cooper Davis was chosen by his hometown Toronto Blue Jays in the 25th round of this year’s draft. The 15th Canuck chosen during the selection process, taken 759th overall, Davis is committed to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Dondrae Bremner, a Cincinnati commit from Toronto and shortstop in the Mets program, was selected by the Reds in the 31st round of the draft, 917th overall, as the 17th player from north of the border whose name was called.

***

The four CPBL players selected this year follows the inaugural season of the league, in which 12 Canadian high schoolers were chosen in the draft, with all six hailing from Ontario coming from the CPBL. Toronto Mets catcher Andrew Yerzy was the first one off the board in 2016, selected by the Diamondbacks in the second round, 52nd overall, and eventually signing for $1,214,100 before heading off to spend his season between the Arizona League and the Pioneer League.

“I’ve talked a lot with Andrew Yerzy, he’s one of my good buddies,” Leach said. “I worked out with him in the off-season as well, and I talked to him about how pro ball is and what it’s been like for him. He told me everything about it and what he liked about it. He said it’s obviously a grind, but he’s enjoying it at the same time, because he loves to play…

“He said it’s a big transition obviously because our trips are [to play pros] for two weeks, and you’re over there for eight months, so it’s definitely a big change in time, but honestly I feel like I’m ready. I know I’m ready for that.”

Ontario Blue Jays righty Jordan Balazovic was taken in the fifth round last year, 153rd overall, by Minnesota, eventually signing for $515,000 and spending his first professional season with the Gulf Coast League Twins, posting a 1.97 ERA over eight games and 32 innings before turning 18 years old.

OBJ catcher Luke Van Rycheghem was chosen by Arizona in the 23rd round and spent his first pro season in the AZL after signing for $100,000. Mets southpaw Matt Jones was taken by the Twins, and the 28th-round selection shared his rookie season with Balazovic in the GCL after he signed for $70,000.

Great Lake right-hander Austin Shields was selected by the Pirates organization in the 33rd round and got in just over six innings of work in the GCL after signing for $205,000 just before the deadline. His Canadians teammate and outfielder Jake Wilson was taken in the 39th round by the Red Sox, and opted to fulfill his commitment to Bowling Green State University.

***

Several graduates of current CPBL programs were also taken in the 40 rounds of the draft from Monday to Wednesday. Former Ontario Blue Jays right-hander Zach Pop was selected in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The University of Kentucky flamethrower and native of Brampton was the third Canadian chosen, 220th overall.

Pop was followed by Daniel Procopio of Niagara University on the second day of the draft, taken in the 10th round with the 295th pick by the Los Angeles Angels. The Toronto-born right-handed pitcher spent some of his high school playing days with the Toronto Mets program. Fellow Mets grad and Toronto native Eric Senior was chosen in the 13th round – 403rd overall – by the Washington Nationals out of Midland College. J.D. Osborne, another former Mets player and a catcher from Whitby, was chosen out of the University of Tampa in the 22nd round, as the 659th pick in the draft.

Other high school players hailing from the Great White North chosen through the 40 rounds of the draft include Clayton Keyes, an outfielder from Calgary, Alberta, taken by the Diamondbacks in the 15th round; Abbotsford, BC’s Cade Smith, a right-hander chosen by the Twins in the 16th round; Jason Willow, a Victoria, BC native and shortstop, taken in the 24th round by the Orioles; Quebec City second baseman Edouard Julien, taken by the Phillies in the 37th round; and the Tigers 40th-round selection, second baseman Rhys Cratty from Langley, BC. All nine Canuck high schoolers chosen are members of the Canadian Junior National Team.

Canadian college players chosen throughout this year’s process include Jonathan Lacroix, a right fielder from Seminole State and native of Montreal, Quebec, selected by the Astros in the 12th round; Prince George, BC’s Jared Young, a second baseman at Old Dominion taken in the 15th round by the Cubs; left fielder Raphael Gladu of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec and Louisiana Tech, taken by the Mets in the 16th round; Sherwood Park, Alberta’s Tanner Kirwer of Niagara University, the centre fielder taken by the Blue Jays in the 20th round; Louis Boyd from North Vancouver, an Arizona shortstop, selected by the Mariners in the 24th round; Northwestern Ohio righty Kyle Thomas, a Mississauga native, chosen by the Tigers in the 30th round; and Jake Lumley, a product of Canisius College from Windsor, the second baseman taken by the Athletics in the 33rd round.

In addition, two players who were born in Canada but grew up elsewhere were selected in the draft. Right-hander Christian Lindsay-Young from Hamburg, New York was chosen by the Reds in the 21st round out of Niagara County Community College; and righty Jordan Scheftz from Irvine, California was taken in the 23rd round by the Indians out of Central Florida.

Ontario Blue Jays seek second successful CPBL season

Excited about what they’ve already been able to accomplish in the first year of the Canadian Premier Baseball League – winning the circuit championships at the two highest levels – the Ontario Blue Jays are looking forward to much more of the same success they found, and are hoping to improve as they move into their second year with the loop.

“We’re looking forward to having a little more balance in the schedule and creating some rivalries,” said Sean Travers, the director of player development for the OBJ program. “And the playoff tournament was outstanding. That was really cool, to come back after being on the road [playing games in the States], to play in that and finish up with that. That was definitely a plus. And after our latest league meeting, I like the direction of the league moving forward. Everybody’s on the same page, and we’re all just looking for good baseball.”

Travers and his teams enjoyed many advantages of being a part of the new league, and especially liked to see the organization throughout the loop, allowing for an increased number of evaluators to be present at more games, and getting more looks at Ontario’s talent right on home soil.

“There’s a lot more scout presence because they come in to see the players,” Travers said. “When we’re playing the Great Lake Canadians [for example], they can plan around that weekend and know who’s pitching, because the information we’re getting out is a lot better.

“It helps the borderline players who nobody is coming to see as well, because they can all of a sudden come up with a big weekend in front of a new set of eyes, and then they’re on the map. The league creates really good matchups, and scouts can plan their schedules a little bit better and see players against quality players.”

As they prepare to head into the second CPBL season, the Blue Jays have intensified their winter workouts, with emphasis in different areas than they’ve focused on previously. Travers believes that their new training methods will help them gain an added edge on the field as they move forward.

“This is by far our best off-season we’ve ever had,” he said. “Mike [Steed, OBJ director of college placement and pitching] has really stepped up the whole pitching program. Mike and Joe [Ellison, OBJ recruiting coordinator] have done a phenomenal job of adding new drills and concentrating on different areas like velocity and team strength training.

“We’ve also added a new strength trainer, Reid Hall, who seems to be doing a great job. The guys are doing a lot of extra work too. For speed training, we have Courtney Brown, Jaden’s father, who went to San Jacinto College in Texas and then to the University of Illinois on a track scholarship, has taken over the program and a lot of players are taking advantage of that and having him has been a huge bonus.

“Our practices have just been a lot more intense. The coaches are maybe a little bit more demanding than they were in the past and the kids have really bought in and they’re sticking with us. And the work they’re doing on their own, you can see that they’re working on what we were doing in practice. So the intensity has been outstanding, and we’re just growing into our building and figuring out how to best utilize all the space we have now after moving in last winter.

“This year, we’ve also gotten involved with Program 15 [run by Jeremy Booth and based out of Texas], and that was a unique way to kick start our training [with a development camp run by the P15 instructors in December]. It got the guys not only physically ready to go, but the mental training got the guys locked in a little bit more.”

Four of the OBJ squads will get their first opportunity to put into practice what they’ve done all off-season when they head to the sunshine state for a week of spring training games, with everyone else starting when the CPBL kicks off its second year.

“We’re going to do our regular trip to Vero Beach, Florida for spring training,” Travers said. “We’re taking down four teams – two younger teams, and the 17 and 18-year-old teams – and we’ll play high schools and colleges in Vero. We’ll also have a scout day on Monday, March 13 when we’re there, for the pro scouts and college coaches.”

With an increased interest in players from American colleges of late, Travers is excited about what more is to come. With every success story coming from the program, there is more opportunity for the next generation of Blue Jays players to follow in their footsteps.

“We’re getting a lot more interest from schools about kids at an earlier age than we have in the past,” Travers said. “It’s a testament to the players who have been there before them and who have gone on and had success. When they have success, the coaches are then looking forward to who the next guys are. Even when they get recruited by schools and maybe don’t end up there, it builds that relationship and opens the doors for other kids.”

With opportunities to continue their baseball careers while pursuing post-secondary education, the Ontario Blue Jays have 12 players committed to college for the 2017 season, with Noah Naylor committed to Texas A&M for the following season.

Cooper Davis is heading off to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennesee, Alex Jones to Niagara University in New York, Harley Gollert to Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennesee, Andrew Leggo to Arkansas State University, Owen Jansen to Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, Jakob Newton to Florida Tech University in Melbourne, Ryan Kula to Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri, Garrett Takamatsu to Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City, Rashad Collymore to Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida, Andrew Wilkinson to St. Petersburg College in Florida, Devin Green to Paris Junior College in Texas, and Reece Reading to Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, Connecticut.

Before those players graduate from the CPBL and the OBJ program, they will be taking the field right at home this summer. Travers is hoping for another strong season from his players, and especially those who are looking to leave a lasting legacy before they depart.

“The league will be even stronger than it was last year,” the OBJ director of player development said. “At the 16-year-old age group, we have about as talented a group as we’ve ever had. Our job is to get that to come together on the field, but the talent is incredible. And we’re doing things a little bit differently this year. Guys like [Canada’s top 2018 draft prospect] Noah Naylor would have never played on our 17U team before, he would have gone right to the 18U, but we’re keeping the teams age appropriate so our 17-year-old team will look a little bit different than it usually does, with guys like Noah.

“Our 18U team will be a veteran team with guys who have been here for three and four years in our program. Hopefully they’ll come together and want to go off and do something special before they leave the program.”

Blue Jays post-season run exciting for CPBL players

With the Blue Jays in the midst of a playoff run, and the Canadian Premier Baseball League programs winding down for the fall and heading into winter workouts, it is fitting that at least some of the attention of the circuit’s players is on Canada’s team and its presence in the postseason.

In Orlando with the Canadian Junior National Team, players from the Great Lake Canadians, Ontario Blue Jays and Toronto Mets programs offered their insights into what makes the Toronto Blue Jays so exciting as they head into the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Indians, what they need to do to keep going, and who impresses them most.

The biggest impact the only team north of the border has seemed to have on the young players is in the amount of excitement its winning ways over the last two seasons has brought to the entire country, making baseball more popular and hopefully getting even more kids into the game.

“I’ve been a Jays fan my whole life and to finally see them make playoffs is really exciting for me personally,” said Adam Hall, a 17-year-old Great Lake shortstop from London. “It’s also great to see the country come together and the attendance numbers for Jays games skyrocket. I’m sure that their success is inspiring kids around the country to play baseball and become more involved, which is great for Canadian baseball.”

Added Cooper Davis, 17, an outfielder with the Ontario Blue Jays and Mississauga native: “It’s been most exciting to see the fans, the city, and the country getting so crazy for this team and making baseball so popular again.”

Said Landon Leach, a right-handed Toronto Mets hurler from Pickering, also 17: “The most exciting playoff moments from the last two years are the Blue Jays players really coming together to play as a team with good chemistry. It’s really showing with the big-run games and all the perfect-moment home runs they’ve had. Another thing is the passion that the Jays have brought to the city of Toronto, and the amount of people now following the playoffs.”

Of course, the teenaged players haven’t lost sight of the big-game moments, enjoying the excitement when Jose Bautista hit his seventh-inning, bat-flipping, go-ahead home run last year in the American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers, or when Edwin Encarnacion walked off the Baltimore Orioles in this season’s Wild Card game.

“The most exciting moments in the last two years are both the Bautista and [Edwin] Encarnacion home runs,” said Noah Naylor, 16-year-old catcher and infielder with the OBJ program, also from Mississauga. “Both were very exciting moments because they were altogether clutch, and both brought the crowds to their feet.”

Said Dondrae Bremner, a 17-year-old Mets middle infielder and Toronto native: “The most exciting moment to watch the Jays in playoffs over the past two years had to have been when Bautista hit that three-run home run to take the lead in Game 5 of the ALDS. Not only was it one of my favourite playoff moments, it has to be my most exciting MLB memory that I have ever witnessed.”

“The most exciting thing to watch with the Blue Jays is how clutch they are in big moments and how they can really rise up to the occasion,” added Lucas Parente, a GLC outfielder from Burlington, also 17.

While each of the Team Canada players has been impressed by what the Blue Jays have been able to do, they’ve been exceptionally motivated by a few members of the squad in particular, with a slight bias from each youngster according to the position they play.

“This may be obvious, but the player who most impresses me on the Blue Jays would have to be Josh Donaldson,” Bremner said. “Donaldson doesn’t only positively affect the team by bringing his stellar bat and his defence, but he also brings an intensity that most other players can’t. Donaldson has been a big part of the Blue Jays offence during this year, and would cause the Blue Jays to have a big hole in their offence if he wasn’t there.”

“Two players who impress me the most on the Blue Jays are [Russell] Martin and Donaldson,” added Naylor, who committed to the Texas A&M Aggies during his time in Orlando. “They both play with a lot of intensity and heart in each and every game.”

Hall shared a similar sentiment: “Josh Donaldson, because he is always so competitive and intense with what he does, and is always 100 per cent focused on whatever he is doing, no matter the situation. And Marco Estrada, because of how good he is with only two pitches, one of those being an 88 to 90 mile-per-hour fastball. He was never expected to make the big leagues but he kept working on his stuff and is now an all-star calibre player.”

Added Davis: “Kevin Pillar most impresses me because No. 1, he plays centre field like me, and No. 2, he impacts the game defensively and comes up with some huge hits at key times. Ezequiel Carrera too, another fielder who uses his speed to create offence and like Pillar, has impacted the outcome of some critical games.”

“The player who impresses me most is Ezequiel Carrera,” Parente echoed. “Because of how underrated he is, being on team with all these big-name players. He knows his role and does not try to be a superstar on that team.”

Said Leach: “Marcus Stroman, because of his passion for the game as well as his intensity during the game. He’s a very good role model for many kids and adults with his ‘Height Doesn’t Measure Heart’ trademark, that he represents well.”

And with the Championship Series set to begin at Progressive Field on Friday night, the young Canadian players believe they know what the Blue Jays need to do in order to continue their run at winning it all.

Said Bremner: “The Jays have been consistently swinging the bats well, and that’s what they need to do in order to get deeper into the post-season. With their dominant starting pitching so far and keeping their strong offense, they could have a really good chance at making it to the World Series.”

“What the Jays need to do to go further in the playoffs is keep putting up runs early in games,” Leach said. “They also need the bullpen to come in during tough situations and shut the door on the other teams to switch the momentum.”

Davis put it simply: “To make it further, they need a blessing from the baseball gods, and some more consistent offence.”

“The Jays need to hit,” added Hall. “They’re a team built around their offence, and although their starting pitching has been amazing this season, if they want a chance to make it all the way, they’ve got to swing the bats like everybody knows they can.”

Said Parente: “The Blue Jays need to stay simple with their game and not try to hit home runs every at-bat, like they did in the 10-1 win in Game 1 where they only had two home runs and all the other runs were produced by hitting line drives all over the field.”

Naylor added: “What they need to do to success in this post-season is trust in their ability and play with each other together, because the game becomes a lot easier and a lot more fun when a team plays together as a family rather then by themselves.”

T12 experience comes to an end for several CPBL players

After three days of games at Tournament 12, only one squad from Ontario remains, with 17 players and two coaches from the Canadian Premier Baseball League’s Great Lake Canadians, Ontario Blue Jays, Ontario Nationals and Toronto Mets programs left to fight for a spot in the championship.

Ontario Black made it into the semi-final round with big wins against Ontario Green, Alberta Red, and Quebec Blue, handed their only loss on a walkoff wild pitch against the tournament-leading BC Orange squad. Black will take on the team from Quebec once again Monday afternoon, with the winner heading into the final.

Against the Blue squad the first time around in Sunday’s first matchup of the day, Ontario Black held Quebec to just two hits in a 10-3 victory, using a six-run seventh inning to keep them alive in the fourth-annual tournament hosted by the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Great Lake Canadians outfielder Tyrell Hebert led the hitters, going 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base, and two RBI, while his Black teammates Antonio Cruz and first baseman Kyle Bryan each drove in two runs of their own.

Toronto Mets right-hander Hayden Malenfant got the start for Ontario and allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He was relieved by fellow right-hander Cameron Dyck, who shut Quebec out for three frames, walking two and fanning four.

“Our team is an exciting team to watch,” said Black and Great Lake Canadians coach Adam Stern. “It’s a very athletic team, a very dynamic team, guys can really run. It changes how you pitch to our guys because you know they’re looking to play an aggressive game, base stealing, our defence is very agile, and it’s a fun thing.

“Guys are throwing it over the plate for our team, and that stuff really can combine for having success in a tournament like this.”

Both the Futures Navy squad and the Ontario Green team saw their tournament runs come to an end on Sunday, Navy notching only three hits in a 5-2 loss to Atlantic Maroon and Green with an 8-1 win over BC Orange that wasn’t enough to keep the squad alive.

Three different players recorded knocks for the Futures team, all a part of CPBL programs. Heading into the Ontario Blue Jays program from the Mississauga North Tigers, 15-year-old infielder Tyrell Schofield-Sam singled in the second, before 16-year-old GLC infielder Cameron Sanderson added a single of his own in the fourth. Great Lake catcher Ian Jordan doubled and scored in the seventh.

15-year-old Canadians hurler Ryan Douglas took the mound in the fourth and allowed one unearned run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts before the event came to an end for the squad in the second-last matchup of the day.

Sunday’s final game saw Ontario Green find the offence it needed just a little too late in the tournament, with four-time Tournament 12 participant Cooper Davis providing a spark from the top of the lineup that wasn’t enough.

“Every day he brings energy, excitement, and if he swings the bat like he did [Sunday], definitely plus offensive tools,” said Mike Steed, coaching Davis with both Ontario Green and the OBJ program. “He has a ton of energy at the top of the lineup and for me personally, that’s what every guy is looking for. Then he does what he does in centre field and he makes it easy on the pitchers when he can go run down balls left and right.”

On Sunday, Davis led his team in the contest with a single, a double, a walk, two stolen bases, two runs scored, and he drove in a run. He also showed game-changing speed in centre field, chasing down balls that looked like definite extra bases for the opposition. Green designated hitter and GLC outfielder Jameson Hart went 2-for-2 with two RBI in the win for Ontario, and the squad used five CPBL pitchers to keep BC’s offence at bay.

“It’s been amazing,” Davis said of the T12 experience. “It’s crazy looking back and thinking that I was 14 years old when I was first here. Everything [tournament commissioner] Robbie Alomar has done for me and everybody at Tournament 12 has been amazing.

“For a guy to come back and give to a community like that, and set up an event that really gives us Canadian players a…head start is special. I got to see it when I was 14, before anybody else could. So for me and Adam [Hall, the second of just two four-year participants], it was huge for us, as we were getting into the scouting world.”

Currently one of Canada’s top high school prospects heading into next year’s draft, and with plenty of showcase experience, and lots of eyes on him with the OBJ program and Canadian Junior National Team, the Vanderbilt University commit couldn’t be more grateful for what Tournament 12 offers to all of its participants.

“It’s different than playing in a big showcase or a world tournament,” Davis said. “The worlds were amazing, but then you get to come here and say, Mike Trout played centre field here, or David Ortiz stood in that same box a week ago. It’s so cool to be able to play in the exact same spot as major leaguers do.”

Cooper Davis electric in his fourth Tournament 12 appearance

TORONTO – Cooper Davis knows better than almost anyone just what the Tournament 12 experience can provide.

Back for his fourth year in the showcase’s fourth year of existence, the 17-year-old Ontario Blue Jays outfielder finished his final T12 run on Sunday with the Ontario Green team, and he couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities he’s had at Rogers Centre.

“It’s been amazing,” he said. “It’s crazy looking back and thinking that I was 14 years old when I was first here. Everything [tournament commissioner and Hall of Fame second baseman] Robbie Alomar has done for me and everybody at Tournament 12 has been amazing.

“For a guy to come back and give to a community like that, and set up an event that really gives us Canadian players a jump at what Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report are doing [on the showcase circuit] is special. It really gives us a head start, because we get to see what it’s about.

“I got to see it when I was 14, before anybody else could. So for me and Adam [Hall, the second of only two four-year participants], it was huge for us, as we were getting into the scouting world.”

Now graduated from Tournament 12, Davis ranks his playing time at Rogers Centre right up at the top of his list of great baseball experiences, alongside his trip to showcase his skills at the home of the Boston Red Sox.

“I got to play at Fenway Park too and that was pretty cool,” he said. “When I was playing at Fenway, they had tours going on and when I was in the outfield, I could hear from the mics they were using, so I know everything about Fenway now. Basically, if baseball doesn’t work out I’m going to be running tours at Fenway.

“So those two experiences have been the best. It’s different than playing in a big showcase or a world tournament. The worlds were amazing, but then you get to come here and say, Mike Trout played centre field here, or David Ortiz stood in that same box a week ago. It’s so cool to be able to play in the exact same spot as major leaguers do.”

Finally entering his draft year after multiple seasons of showcases, tours with the Ontario Blue Jays and trips with the Canadian Junior National team, the Vanderbilt University commit is excited for what the future has in store, and knows that he can use the same tools that have provided excitement throughout his high school years as he forges forward.

“I try to bring as much electricity as I can,” Davis said. “That’s what I’ve really learned, working with guys like [former Blue Jays outfielders] Lloyd Moseby and Devon White here at T12, asking them how they do it every day.

“When you’re Canadian and up here you play twice a week, it’s easy to come out every single day with tons of energy because you’re only playing twice a week, but to learn how to do it for 162 games a year, I’ve definitely been picking their brain about that, but the biggest thing I need to bring is my electricity.”

In his squad’s final game of the tournament on Sunday, Davis led his team in the contest with a single, a double, a walk, two stolen bases, two runs scored, and he drove in a run. He also showed game-changing speed in centre field, chasing down balls that looked like definite extra bases for the opposition.

“Every day he brings energy, excitement, and if he swings the bat like he did [Sunday], definitely plus offensive tools,” said Mike Steed, coaching Davis with both Ontario Green and the OBJ program. “He has a ton of energy at the top of the lineup and for me personally, that’s what every guy is looking for. Then he does what he does in centre field and he makes it easy on the pitchers when he can go run down balls left and right.”

Steed has seen firsthand just how much progress Davis has made since his first venture at the inaugural Tournament 12, taking the field at just 14 years old with players four years older than he was, and the coach is looking forward to watching more of the same as his player continues his career.

“He’s grown tremendously,” Steed said. “He’s grown more so as a person, maturity-wise he’s just grown up. The game has always been there for him athletically, but now that he’s maturing and figuring out the mental part of it, he understands it. And his preparation, you can see him, he slows the game down. Everybody says to do that but if you watch him, he actually does it.”

Great Lake Canadians and Ontario Blue Jays impress at T12

TORONTO – The fourth-annual Tournament 12 featured some impressive familiar faces, and three combined no-hitters on the second day of games on Saturday, two of them thrown by Ontario squads and using all Canadian Premier Baseball League hurlers.

In the second contest of the day, Ontario Green used three CPBL arms to no-hit Alberta Red, finishing the game in a scoreless tie. The first hit of the game was a two-out infield single in the bottom of the fourth, from Great Lake Canadians infielder Tye Imeson, who had two of the team’s three total hits.

“It was a combined no-no and the pitch counts were really low, so they did a great job,” said Mike Steed, a coach with both Green and the Ontario Blue Jays program. “In 1-1 counts, all you’ve got to do is throw that first-pitch strike and you’re in control. The other team absolutely pitched well, there wasn’t a whole lot of offence on both sides. They kept the hitters off balance and changed eye levels. Good pitching.”

OBJ southpaw Harley Gollert got the start and in three innings of work he walked one and struck out six. GLC right-hander Jake English followed out of the bullpen with two perfect frames and three strikeouts, before OBJ righty Nathan Holmes finished it off with two walks, fanning two in his two innings.

“They were excited in the dugout, the guys who threw,” Steed said. “Harley and then Jake, as soon as they got the last out in the top of the seventh, Harley looked at me and said, ‘Hey, combined no-no,’ so they know what’s going on and it’s exciting for them.”

Ontario Black followed suit in the final matchup of the day with a combined no-no of their own, using three more CPBL pitchers to get the job done and take down Alberta Red 4-0 to head into Sunday.

Griffin Hassall, a 16-year-old right-hander from the GLC program, took the mound to start the game and battled through an early blister for three innings, walking two and fanning five. Fellow Great Lake hurler Mitchell Stemerdink walked three and added two strikeouts in two frames. OBJ southpaw Alex Jones completed the no-hitter, striking out six in his two innings.

“It’s pretty great for the kids,” said Chris Robinson, a coach for both Black and the GLC program. “That was an impressive, well-pitched game. All those guys threw really well. I know Hassel was battling over a little blister there, and he went out for the second inning and he didn’t care, he pitched right through it. It was good.”

The hurlers got some help from 16-year-old Blue Jays catcher Noah Naylor, who threw out three attempted base stealers, set the tone behind the plate, and helped his squad to face just three batters over the minimum in the matchup.

“I told them to trust their stuff,” Naylor said of the pitchers. “The fastball was live today, and I just told them to be confident in it, and obviously that’s going to help them have a good game…I just try to be my best behind the plate, give them that insurance that they can trust me back there. I know when they’re throwing, they’re comfortable throwing to me, they can trust me with runners on the basepaths, and also with just doing my job.”

Added Robinson, a former big-league catcher: “He’s separated himself. It’s pretty exciting to watch. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a transfer that quick at this level, he gets rid of the ball so quickly. He’s got a great arm too but that was impressive.”

The Canadian Junior National Team catcher continues to improve with time, and has been nothing short of electric behind the plate at his second Tournament 12.

“He just keeps getting better every time I see him, especially behind the plate,” Robinson said. “It’s impressive. In my mind, there’s no doubt that he can catch at the next level, even now, and he’s still got a couple years to go. He’s a really exciting player.

“I know he’s going to draw comparisons to his brother [Josh, last year’s 12th-overall pick in the draft] forever, but that’s not fair because they’re two different players. But he’s got to be one of the more exciting catching prospects we’ve ever had in this country.”

Between the two CPBL-dominant no-hitters, Black lost an early contest against BC Orange 4-3, walked off on a wild pitch after battling through the fourth affair on Saturday.

Great Lake shortstop Adam Hall notched three of his team’s five total hits – one to keep the squad alive in the top of the seventh – and drove in two of Black’s three runs, adding two stolen bases and stellar defence. In three days of Tourament 12, the 17-year-old has made it clear why he is at the top of next year’s draft class.

“He brings a level of intensity every day to the field,” said Adam Stern, his coach with both Ontario Green and the GLC program. “He hates to lose, that’s the biggest thing you have to understand about Adam…That was a good game right there because you get to see when the game’s on the line what happens, who rises to the occasion, and he’s come up with big hits for us, he came up with big hits out here, and when the game’s on the line, you want him up there.”

Futures Navy ran short on pitching in the fifth game of the day, matching up against a tough Ontario Green squad and leaving the field after six innings because of the tournament’s mercy rule, taking the 12-1 loss in a game prominently featuring players from the GLC program.

Green used three Canadians arms to get through the game, with right-hander Corben Peters taking the hill to start and allowing one run on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Fellow righty Garner Spoljaric followed with two perfect frames, and Dallas Hunter retired the side in order to secure the win for Ontario.

“It was a well-pitched game,” said Ontario Green coach Rick Johnston. “We swung the bats, the kids played really well. It was nice for them to go out and do what they did. Obviously there were some walks in there, but that’s going to happen, and we put the ball in play.”

Ontario first baseman Jameson Hart, an outfielder in the Great Lake program, paced the offence, going 2-for-2 with two walks and driving in three runs. 16-year-old GLC catcher Ian Jordan drove in the only run for the Navy squad, singling and walking in the game.

CPBL players lead the way on Tournament 12’s opening day

TORONTO – With four teams shut out of their respective matchups and plenty of early success on the mound, the first day of games at the fourth-annual Tournament 12 was highlighted by the arms featured on Friday at Rogers Centre, with multiple Canadian Premier Baseball League hurlers at the forefront.

“Pitching right now is ahead of these hitters,” said former Blue Jay Duane Ward, an alumni coach at every T12 event. “A lot of these hitters haven’t seen somebody like [Ontario Green’s] Landon Leach or [Ontario Black’s] Ben Abram, or some of these other kids who are throwing upper 80s and low 90s.

“Once they get to see them, the hitters will start turning up the notch a little bit to catch up to them. And I’ve seen a lot of great plays out here behind the pitchers. When you have a bunch of kids who have a lot of talent, on the same team, they’re going to make some good plays. That’s what a pitcher loves, being able to have those guys behind them.”

Leach pitched in Friday’s fourth matchup, the Toronto Mets and Team Canada hurler notching the highest velocity of the opening day of games with a 92 mile-an-hour fastball, striking out six in four innings of work. While he was certainly one of the showcase’s main attractions on the mound at the beginning of games, the teams have plenty left in the tank as the tournament continues.

“I’m looking forward to seeing more of these pitchers,” Ward said. “I know there are probably five or six more pitchers that I definitely want to see who haven’t thrown yet. They’ll probably throw [Saturday], so I’m looking forward to that. I’m please with what we’ve seen right now…I want to see these guys light up that radar gun a little bit, but also throw strikes.”

Leach matched up against Ontario Blue Jays hurler Noah Skirrow in what was the most anticipated contest of the first day, with Ontario Black hosting Ontario Green, a game that saw Skirrow’s Black squad come away with a 4-1 victory. The 18-year-old OBJ righty threw four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, walking three and striking out seven to keep his team in the matchup.

Great Lake Canadians middle infielder and Ontario Blue Jays outfielder Cooper Davis saw their first game action in the same affair, on opposing teams for the first time as the only players to participate in all four years of Tournament 12. For Black, Hall singled, was hit by a pitch, drove in a run, scored a run and stole three bases for his squad on Friday, while Davis notched the only hit his Green team got off of Skirrow.

“The guys played great,” said former big leaguer and OBJ infielder Pete Orr, coaching on the Black staff. “I thought [16-year-old OBJ catcher Noah] Naylor behind the plate had a great day catching, blocking balls, and making some throws. Obviously the way the guys ran the bases was nice to see, and of course a couple guys stand out but there’s a lot more opportunity for other guys to show the people here what they can do.”

Never having had opportunities like the current players are experiencing at Tournament 12, Orr signing as a free agent in 1999 with the Braves organization and playing pro ball for 16 seasons before taking on this coaching opportunity, the native of Newmarket, Ont., is excited about what it means for young Canadians, and how it can help continue the progression of the game north of the border.

“This is great,” Orr said. “Any time a player at any level gets an opportunity to make an impression on people who make important decisions, it’s a great thing. If you’re in high school and you get to play in Rogers Centre, that would be pretty neat on its own. I hope the guys appreciate that, the players.

“At the same time you’re playing in front of all these scouts, college recruiters, and it’s just an opportunity. If you’re not on the radar already, put yourself on the radar. If you are, just either confirm the positive things they say or change their minds if someone has seen you in the summer and you didn’t have a great game. You have an opportunity here to change people’s minds.”

The Futures Navy squad led by a majority of CPBL players had two games on the first day of action, the first a pitching duel and the second with an offensive outburst, both finishing without a winner. Against the defending champion Prairies Purple team, they ended in a scoreless tie after seven innings and a game-changing injury.

The Futures team, featuring players who will be eligible for the draft in 2018 and 2019, looked as though it would take a lead in the top of the sixth when, with a runner on first, 16-year-old GLC catcher Ryan Faragher sent a two-out hit to the wall in left field for extra bases.

“I’m watching the ball thinking [the runner] is going to score,” said Nigel Wilson, former big-league outfielder and coach on the Navy squad. “I’m watching the runner telling him to go ahead, and then I’m trying to pick up the guy who hit the ball at second base. I’m looking and looking and I thought he fell in between and I thought, where is he? I look at home plate and he’s rolling around and I thought, oh no.”

Faragher went down almost immediately after making contact, having trouble with his knee and eventually limping off the field and heading to the hospital. The runner came around on the play, but his run was disqualified when the out was made before the injured native of London, Ont., could reach base.

“I don’t think he rotated on his back foot,” Wilson said. “It was his back side, and I don’t know 100 per cent but I think his upper body rotated and his lower half didn’t. So it was his knee and he’s heading to the hospital and I hope he’s fine. He walked out of here, which was a good sign.”

Futures pitchers Eric Cerantola, Carter Seabrooke and Noah Paterson combined for the shutout on the Navy side, with Carson Campbell, Tanner Bercier and Brody Frerichs no-hitting the younger team through 6 1/3 innings, eventually allowing just one base knock.

“The pitching was good,” Wilson said. “Our starter [Cerantola] was good. He did well. The younger guys, and it’s not only them, but they’ve got to get used to the 1-1 counts [that every player begins their plate appearance with]. These are going up thinking no balls, no strikes, and they’ve got to be more aggressive at the plate. It just takes a little bit to get used to…

“We are underdogs, and I thought we played well. We played good defence…Guys just need to be a little more aggressive at the plate. You want to try to show what you’ve got, so at least swing.”

The final game of the day between Navy and Quebec Blue ended with an 8-8 finish after their seven innings of play.

Quebec took an early lead, scoring once in each of the first and third frames, before its younger counterpart put up an eight-spot in the fourth inning, thanks to five hits, four walks, and two wild pitches. Chipping away for two runs in the fifth, the Blue squad added four in the sixth to knot the game.

The event hosted by the Blue Jays features more than 160 of the country’s top draft and college-eligible players, competing on the major league field for more professional scouts and college coaches than at any showcase in the nation. Tournament 12 is named for its commissioner, Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar, who is joined by fellow alumni coaches Ward, his father Sandy, Mario Diaz, Lloyd Moseby, Tanyon Sturtze, Devon White, George Bell, and Carlos Delgado, all supporting the development of Canadian baseball.

Tournament 12 kicks off with strong CPBL presence

Tournament 12 got underway at Rogers Centre on Thursday, and the Canadian Premier Baseball League is incredibly well-represented at the fourth-annual Toronto Blue Jays-hosted event, with 52 players and four coaches from around the circuit participating at the tournament.

In its fourth year, the showcase has brought together more than 160 of Canada’s top draft and college-eligible players from across the country, with almost a third of them coming from CPBL programs including the Great Lake Canadians, Ontario Blue Jays, Ontario Nationals and Toronto Mets.

“It’s a great sign to what our league has accomplished in such a short time,” said Kyle Fillier, 16U field manager for the Toronto Mets program. “We are confident that we have the best players, coaches, and teams in the province. This is a testament to the league, and we will continue to showcase the best players to the most scouts and colleges.”

The showcase began Thursday with a combine day for upwards of 60 professional scouts and college coaches at the big-league stadium. Players from each of the eight teams participating took turns running, throwing, and getting in some batting practice before games are set to begin on Friday morning, with the first players from Ontario seeing the field in the afternoon.

“We’ve gotten a lot better over the four years,” said Jamie Lehman, the Blue Jays area scout for Canada and New York. “That relates to player selection, and our footprint across the country, we’re seeing who we need to see now, and that’s led to a higher calibre of player in the tournament. Then at the same time, that’s been reflected in the colleges and pro teams that have come.

“Our tournament’s the best it’s been this year. The [T12] alumni and what they’re doing in professional baseball and college baseball are helping us prove that worth, and it’s only getting better.”

Named for and commissioned by Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar, the event is something that he is extremely proud to be a part of, and he believes the results have and will continue to speak for themselves.

“T12 is an opportunity for the young guys here in Canada to be seen by the scouts, from college and professional baseball, and hopefully we can make their dreams come true,” Alomar said. “This is our fourth year doing Tournament 12 and over 50 guys have been signed, going to play professionally and going to college, and I’m so glad that we have touched on this great opportunity.”

Alongside the 12-time All-Star are several other former major league players, who work as alumni coaches at the event. Returning to the showcase this year are Alomar’s father Sandy, former big-league infielder Mario Diaz, and fellow former Blue Jays George Bell, Lloyd Moseby, Duane Ward, Tanyon Sturtze and Devon White. Carlos Delgado joined the staff for the first time on Thursday, and was impressed by what the tournament provides.

“This is a great opportunity,” Delgado said. “Sometimes kids don’t get the exposure they need, and bringing them to Toronto and having all the scouts in the stands, it’s great. And the competition itself, playing against the best amateur players in the country, it would be a great experience. It’s a nice treat for the kids to come out and play here at Rogers Centre, and with some of the alumni. Robbie’s done a fantastic job to give these kids an opportunity.”

Only two players have participated in each of the four years of the event, GLC middle infielder Adam Hall and OBJ outfielder Cooper Davis. Back for their final turn at the tournament, Alomar is excited to see what they can bring to the showcase this year, and they’re just happy to return once again to Canada’s only major league field.

“This is their year,” Alomar said. “Now it’s time for them to show their skills. I know Cooper really well, and I like Cooper and Adam a lot. I’ve worked with them with the [Canadian Junior National] Team, so I know what they can bring to the table. It’s up to them now to showcase their skills here, in front of the scouts…they’re getting better, they’re getting stronger, they’re getting smarter.”

Said Hall: “It’s like graduating Tournament 12 now. The actual tournament itself hasn’t changed too much but my mindset on it has changed. Obviously the first year I was kind of just going there and not really knowing what to expect, not really knowing what exactly Canadian baseball was. But now, having the experiences that I’ve had there, I understand and I get what it’s going to be.”

Among the tournament’s coaching staffs are CPBL coaches Adam Stern and Chris Robinson, from the GLC program, John Marriotti of the Mets, and OBJ coach Mike Steed.

CPBL players dominate Ontario rosters for Tournament 12

The Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Academy announced the majority of players named to Tournament 12 rosters on Tuesday, gearing up for the event hosted by the major league organization at Rogers Centre from September 14 to 19, and the names released for both Ontario teams had a distinct Canadian Premier Baseball League feel.

Of the 21 players already named to the Ontario Black and Ontario Green rosters – with more to be announced after next week’s second tryout for local players taking place at the Ajax Sportsplex on Wednesday and Thursday – there are 19 young men hailing from across the seven programs who joined the CPBL in its inaugural season this year.

Adam Hall and Cooper Davis, currently the country’s top high school draft prospects, will look to lead the way at Tournament 12. Both are coming off of strong appearances at the Area Code Games in California, and are heading into the fourth year of the Blue Jays event having participated in each one. Hall, a shortstop with the Great Lake Canadians program, will suit up for Ontario Black this year, with Davis, an Ontario Blue Jays outfielder, playing for Ontario Green. Both players are also members of the Canadian Junior National Team.

Invitations for players called back to the second tryout in Ajax will be sent out this week by the Blue Jays Baseball Academy, and coaching staffs are set to be named next week.

The tournament, named for its commissioner and Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar, is an amateur event providing a showcase opportunity for 160 players from across the nation. It aims to centralize the best Canadian baseball players with the intention of exposing them to as many professional scouts and college recruiters as possible, and has found much success in its first three years.

Tournament 12 rosters can be found here.