Checking In on 2023 Canadian Draft Picks - PART 1
Let's get an update on our latest Canuck selections
How’s it going eh? September is rapidly approaching, prospect lists have been getting updated, and some 2023 MLB Draft selections have started making noise already (Dylan Crews & Paul Skenes for a couple of examples), I thought it would be a good opportunity to review our 9 Canadian draft picks and see what has been going on very early in their careers.
We’re going to break it down into 2 parts. Today we’ll go with the latest 5 picks in the draft and part two will be the top four selections.
It’s been a long time, felt like it anyway, so let’s get straight into it…
CDN #9: LHP JEREMY PILON (Salaberry-De-Valleyfield, QC), RD 18, PICK 543 by the Rays out of Ecole Secondaire Du Chene-Bleu
Signed: $172,500.
With no slot value after round 10 and the last slot value of that round being $164,400, you can say this was rather generous from Tampa in the 18th round. It was enough for Jeremy to go with the Rays and forgo his commitment to the University of Alabama. Baseball America has said the following about Pilon’s arsenal:
“…mostly pitches in the upper 80s, touching 90-91 mph here and there with a high-spin, mid-70s curveball that looks like a future plus offering and feel for a changeup around 80 mph.” 1
Let’s see what the Rays pitching development sorcery comes up with for the 6-foot/200-lb lefty. He’s extremely young, only 17 at draft time, so we’re not likely to see much soon but keep this name around for the future.
CDN #8: C BRADY CERKOWNYK (Toronto, ON), RD 15, PICK 400 by the Tigers out of Connors State
Signed: $397,500
Joined the FCL Tigers on Aug. 4.
2023 STATS (as of Aug.28): 6 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 4 RBI, .453 OPS
Some comments on his selection from Connors State:
“…in 55 games, finishing second in the nation in batting average (.470), second in home runs (27), and first in RBIs (107). He narrowly missed winning the NJCAA Triple Crown, while also leading the nation with a .985 slugging percentage.”2
A catching prospect with a bat who was in contention for a Triple Crown….call me interested. Yes, it was in JUCO but the Connors State program is legitimate and has had plenty of MLB draft selections over the years. The first thing you immediately question is if they stay behind the plate long-term especially if the bat is advanced/ing in comparison with their backstop skills. Time will tell.
CDN #7: OF PIER-OLIVIER BOUCHER (Levis, QC), RD 10, PICK 309 by the Braves out of Southern Illinois
Signed: $1K
Assigned to FCL Braves on July 31. Promoted to Single-A Augusta GreenJackets on August 8th.
Smurfy Aside…..Augusta GreenJackets has to easily be in the Top 5 of MILB team names right? What others are on the list?
2023 STATS (as of Aug.28):
CPX: 20 PA, .315 wOBA, 15.0 K%, 15.0 BB%, 2 SB
SINGLE-A: 60 PA, .236 wOBA, 45 K%, 10 BB%, 3 SB
Evaluators from BA say:
“… 6-foot-3, 190-pound outfielder Boucher is a career .328/.417/.580 hitter with Southern Illinois…”
“…has solid contact ability and swing decisions and also showed all-fields power this spring, with a strong 93-mph average exit velocity in an admittedly small sample…”3
CDN #6: LHP MATT WILKINSON (White Rock, BC), RD 10, PICK 308 by the Guardians out of Central Arizona
Signed: $110,000
Assigned to ACL Guardians on August 14th.
2023 STAS (as of Aug.28): 1.0 IP, 3 K (27 K/9 haha)
Let’s let BA take over with a quick scouting report on the Big Man From White Rock:
“An extra-large lefthander with a 6-foot-1, 270-pound frame, Wilkinson was one of the top pitchers for Central Arizona JC this spring. He started 14 games and posted a 1.07 ERA over 84 innings, with 136 strikeouts and just 19 walks…
…fastball in the upper 80s, but does an excellent job throwing it for strikes and moving it around the zone. He has a good feel for a low-80s changeup and will also mix in a slurvy breaking ball in the upper 70s…”4
I’m very intrigued by how Wilkinson develops in the Guardians organization, especially after a good run of pitching prospects now in the majors (Williams, Bibee, Allen).
CDN #5: OF Avery Owusu-Asiedu, RD 9, PICK 283 by the Phillies out of Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville
Born in Saskatoon, SK, Avery’s hometown is Waukesha, WI.
Assigned to FCL Phillies on July 27th.
Signed: $147,500
2023 STATS (as of Aug.28): 13 G, 46 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 10 K, 7 BB, .675 OPS
What did BA say about Avery?:
“…strong and physical, 6-foot-4, 210-pound outfielder who has been a consistent run producer for Southern Illinois…
…career .266/.336/.486 hitter with 104 RBI and 27 home runs, and he also added 30 stolen bases…”5
This is an intriguing profile as well. A physical specimen and a bit of a tool shed. Obviously a small sample size at the plate but the early results show promising K and BB rates and we’ll have to see how this goes as Avery accrues ABs and appearances against more advanced pitching.
A group of interesting Canadian Dirtbags. Pilon and Wilkinson with TB & CLE respectively based on the organizations they are with. A catching prospect in Cerkownyk who has big bat potential. Boucher is an all-field power prospect with contact ability and Avery is potentially the most physically impressive of the group.
We are going to wrap it up here for now. Be on the lookout for Part 2 later this week. Thank you for checking today and I’ll be talking with you again in a while. Until then…KEEP IT 80 GRADE.