Checking In on 2023 Canadian Draft Picks - PART 2
The Top 4 Canucks selected in the 2023 MLB Draft
š Go to PART 1 to get caught up with those other Hosers who got drafted eh š
CDN #4: 2B/OF SAM SHAW (Victoria, BC), RD 9, PICK 274 by the Blue Jays out of Lambrick Park SS
Signed: $282,500 (slot value $175,900)
Assigned to FCL Blue Jays Aug 1.
2023 STATS: .207/.425/.276, 9 G, 40 PA, 6 K, 10 BB
A name that I had seen but canāt say I was familiar with, the former Xavier University commit, stands in with a 5-10/180lb frame with average run & arm tools. Geoff Pontes of Baseball America wrote this about the 18-year-old Canuck:
āā¦is smaller in stature but has broad shoulders. Thereās not a substantial amount of projection or power present, but Shaw has advanced plate skills. He works deep into counts and doesnāt expand the zone. His bat-to-ball skills were evident and he showed the ability to hit the ball to all fieldsā¦ā1
You see some of those advanced plate abilities with his stats this year walking 25% of the time, a 0.384 wOBA, with a 6.8 SwStr% albeit with a very small sample so far. Sam has shown some defensive versatility in his brief 9-game FCL career splitting time between 2B and CF. This versatility helps raise his profile floor as there may be some challenges without any power playing in-game, at least at this time. A high OBP player who can play up the middle defensively looks like an irresponsibly early possible outcome for Smith.
CDN #3: LHP CONNOR OāHALLORAN (Mississauga, ON), RD 5, PICK 157 by the Blue Jays out of the University of Michigan
Signed: $337,500 (slot value $385K)
Assigned to Single-A Dunedin Aug. 18.
2023 YTD STATS (as of 09/01): 4 G, 3-0, 2.57 ERA, 7.0 IP, TBF 29, 6.43 K/9, 6.43 BB/9, 1.00 WHIP
Letās dive straight into the BA rundown:
āā¦the 6-foot-2, 190-pound lefthander throws from a deceptive and low, three-quarter slot and is able to locate his low-90s fastball well to either side of the plate. He averaged 89-91 mph on the pitch this spring and touched 94, and will need to be able to spot the pitch with precision at the next level to keep hitters off of it consistently. His best offering is a high-spin slider in the low 80s, which boasted a 42% miss rateā¦ā2
His last full season with the Maize & Blue was very good indeed. Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, Academic All-Big Ten, while appearing in 17 games (starting 15). Over 103 IP Connor gave up 90 hits, 54 runs (47 earned), striking out 110 and walking 26. The scouting grades from BA are 50 on the FB, SL & CU with above-average control. With those kinds of grades, youāre projecting a back-end starter and I donāt think the Jays are going to be grumpy if thatās exactly what OāHalloran becomes.
CDN #2: RHP MATT DUFFY (Toronto, ON), RD 4, PICK 115 by the Red Sox out of Canisius College
Signed: $350,000 (slot value $580,200)
Assigned to FCL Red Sox Aug. 5. Promoted to Single-A Salem Aug. 29.
2023 YTD STATS such as they areā¦..: 0-1, 2.1 IP, 2 K, 2 BB
Letās check out the pre-draft report:
āā¦In three seasons at Canisius, Duffy has consistently filled the strike zone. He posted a 4.13 ERA this season in 80.2 innings with 28 walks, and his 119 strikeouts were the most in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Duffy does it with a below-average fastball, topping out at 94 mph and cruising at 88-92 mph. Itās not overpowering and thereās some funk to his arm action as he hooks his wrist, but he gets good extension and pounds the zone with his fastball, throwing it for a strike at a 70% clipā¦ā3
This type of pitching profile always intrigues me in a strange way. A 4-year right-handed collegiate pitcher with stuff that seems underwhelming from a data POV but the arsenal adds up to be greater than the sum of its parts. This profile has to become a āpitcherā quickly as they generally donāt have the raw stuff to overpower batters. Iām anxious to see what Bostonās pitching development can do here with the 6-foot-2, 205 lb Torontonian.
CDN #1: 3B MYLES NAYLOR (Mississauga, ON), RD 1-S, PICK 39 by the Oakland Las Vegasers out of St. Joan Of Arc Catholic SS
Signed: $2,202,500 (slot value $2.2 mil)
Assigned to ACL Athletics July 25. Promoted to Single-A Stockton Ports July 31.
2023 YTD STATS (as of 08/31): 25 G, 92 AB, .185/.257/.315, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 37 K, 8 BB over two levels
Thatās right, ANOTHER Naylor in affiliated ball joining his older brothers Bo & Josh (Cleveland). I was half joking in another project I was working on that the Naylorās are the First Family of Canadian Baseball. Throw in their cousin Denzel Clarke (OAK/LV Double-A Midland) and it may be tough to argue otherwise.
āā¦with both impressive bat speed and raw power, with solid hitting chops to go with it. He showed impressive gap power at the 2022 Area Code Games and has the strength to drive extra-base hits even without flush contact, but could improve his pitch recognition. At times heāll get out in front and pull off on breaking stuff specifically. Naylor is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound infielder who has a chance to stick at third baseā¦ā4
Video from Kyler Peterson
That wraps up our 2023 Canadian Draft Pick Check-In. Thank you for stopping by today and Iāll be talking with you again in a while. Until thenā¦you know what it isā¦Keep It 80 Grade!