Too Early Canadian Draft & College Preview...
...a preliminary look at some Canuck prospects going into the college season
It’s the first week of January and the first college games of the season are upcoming at the end of the month south of the border. A time where cold weather schools make the trip towards some warmer latitudes and get the 2023 season started. Let’s take a trek through a handful of Canadian Dirtbags playing in college that may be drafted, along with a couple from the prep ranks to keep a watch for this season.
The current player getting the love from a Canadian perspective is a name familiar in baseball circles. He is the top ranked Canadian draft prospect, as of this writing anyways, by MLB Pipeline and Prospects Live. This player is Myles Naylor, youngest brother of Josh and Bo and cousin of previously mentioned Canuck prospect Denzel Clarke. Currently Myles, who is a Texas Tech commit, plays on the Canadian Junior National team and the Ontario Blue Jays. If I’m a betting Smurf, I’d bet that he will be the first Hoser drafted in 2023 eh. The more fun question is will be if he is selected higher than Josh (12th overall in 2015) or Bo (29th overall in 2018). Certainly will make for some extra entertaining family dinners during the holidays. I did have the opportunity to watch Naylor during the prospects game at the Canadian Futures Showcase that was held in Ottawa in SEP 2022. The 6ft 2in/195 lbs shortstop looks the part and has displayed some raw power along with good bat speed. Likely ends up at 3B longer term. Current MLB Pipeline Scouting Grades - Hit 50, Power 45, Run 45, Arm 55, Field 55, Overall 50.
Up next, we dive into the the NCAA ranks with a Couple Canucks at Canisius.
From Fredericton, New Brunswick, Max Grant comes off a 2022 where he took home Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Year and an All-MAAC Championship Team selection. The reasons look to be pretty clear. Led the conference, top 15 nationwide, in BA at a .398 clip (triple slash .398/.489/.646) for the season. Max also led the Golden Griffins in HRs and 3rd in stolen bases. To round out 2022 Grant was also named Canisius Male Athlete of the Year. Leading into 2023, he was named to the Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-America Second Team.
The next Canuck on campus in Buffalo is RHP Matt Duffy. Out of Burlington, Ontario, Duffy led the Golden Griffins staff in IP, ERA, strikeouts (school AND conference records) and tied for the lead in wins in 2022. This helped get Matt an All-MAAC first team selection. His success continued in the post-season where he was awarded the MAAC Championship Most Valuable Player. Matt takes care of the diamond and the books where he was chosen for the MAAC All-Academic team.
Here are couple names that have been on my radar for a little while now. Those of you that were with me back on my original, pre-substack ramblings may recognize these names as well. Let me re-introduce and remind you of Owen Diodati and Antoine Jean.
In D1baseball.com’s 2022 Fall Report for the University of Oregon Ducks, they spoke with Ducks HC Mark Wasikowski regarding University of Alabama transfer Owen Diodati, where he spoke highly of his fall. “Owen Diodati probably had our best fall overall, he was really spectacular,” Wasikowski said. “We’ll run him out in right field, and his defense improved tremendously. When we first got him, it didn’t look like he would be a defender, but he really did improve.”1 Let’s see if the former SEC power hitter will make some noise from the left side of the plate in the PNW.
Diodati’s former Crimson Tide teammate Antoine Jean is looking for a good 2023. Antoine was injured for much of 2021, came back in 2022 as the Saturday starter but ended up missing about a month due to injury again. When he was on the mound, the lefty was solid. Started 6 games and made 11 appearances where he had a 5 wins (2nd on team) with a respectable 3.48 ERA over 33.2 IP. I’m looking for Antoine to have an injury free season, leading to his best career season in Tuscaloosa.
Here’s an Ottawa name to keep an eye on. I don’t believe he will be drafted in 2023 but Ty Hamilton is more of a name to keep an eye on over the next couple of seasons. The University of Utah commit played for Watson Elite out of Ottawa and was also a member of the Canadian Junior National Team. If the name Hamilton is sounding familiar, Ty’s dad Greg has been a name around the game and Baseball Canada for years. This year Baseball America awarded Greg the Tony Gwynn Award for his lifetime of contributions to the game. Needless to say baseball runs through the family. Ty is a OF/LHP 2-way player and time will tell if that continues in Salt lake City with the Utes or if one gets focused one longer term. Something to see once they’re on campus. File this name away and remind yourself to look at in the future.
Time to wrap it up for now. There are more Canadian collegiate names that I intend on checking in and sharing with you as the college season approaches and gets started. There is college baseball in 2023 soon and that’s not only fun but keeps the winter cold away with knowing spring isn’t too far away. Thank you for stopping by and I’ll be talking with you in a while. Until then……… Keep It 80 Grade.
https://d1baseball.com/fall-report/2022-oregon/