Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

2015 Team Preview: Brampton Royals 17u

February 19, 2015

By Chris Kemlo
PBR Ontario Director of Scouting

From now until the start of the 2015 season, Prep Baseball Report Ontario will bring you in-depth team previews throughout the entire state. If your coach has not filled out the survey please have him do so through this link.

Along with the team previews, the 2015 Team Rankings will be releasing sometime late February and we hope to bring a Q&A session to discuss the rankings.

Also, we will be releasing the preseason All Ontario Teams sometime in early March.

Interested in attending a PBR Ontario event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

2015 Team Preview: Brampton Royals 17u

Team Name: Brampton Royals 17u
Coaches Name/Record: Mike Krstulovich
2014 Record: 41-23-5
League: Midget Elite League (MEL)
League Finish: Inaugural year of MEL

Brampton Accomplishments:

  • 2014 Peewee National Champions
  • 2012 Bantam National Champions
  • Won Vaughn Tournament in 2014
  • Record of 13-9-2 in the U.S. last year
  • Finalists in the Motor City Pride Tournament in Michigan, 2014

Key Players Lost From 2014:

  • Zach Fascia
  • Nick Virdo

Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/9

Strengths of Team:

  • 15 out of 18 players can perform and will see time on the mound
  • Team can run and take advantage of extra bases
  • Ability to play quality team defence
  • Two left-handers in the rotation

Weaknesses of Team:

  • Eight new players on roster
  • Ability to hit the long ball
  • At times can strike out too much, looking for more contact.

Top Prospects in Class of 2016:

  • Chris Procopio, C/3B/RHP, 6-foot, 200-pounds. Strong and athletic with some pop.
  • Daniel Cirillo, LHP, 5-foot-9, 165-pounds. Works in the high-70s with his fastball, good shape to his curveball, controls the running game.
  • Aaron Arbic-Cohen, SS/P, 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Good hands, quick feet, smooth release, good speed, contact hitter to all fields.
  • Josh Krstulovich, 1B/OF/RHP, 6-foot-2,190-pounds. Will be looked upon to add power to the Royals lineup.
  • Rory Pollard, RHP, 6-foot-4, 185-pounds. Will be one of the horses counted upon this year.
  • Jereme Kanhai, LHP, 5-foot-10, 140-pounds. Inning eater for the Royals. Uses his movement and deception to generate outs.
  • Jeremiah Tadeo, RHP/2B, 5-foot-10, 140-pounds. Great baseball IQ, will see time on the mound and at second base this year.
  • Emerson Faruki, Utility, 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Left-handed stick that will be counted on to provide some offence for the Royals squad.

Notable College/MLB Alumni:

  • Frank Fascia (St.Bonaventure University)
  • Shane McFadden (Warner University)
  • Kerwin Bell (Florida Atlantic University)
  • David Patterson (Winthrop University)
  • Joe Ferreira Jr (Mayville State University)
  • John Darlington (University of Tennessee)

General Notes:

The Brampton Royals 17u and coach Mike Krstulovich look to be a competitive squad in the MEL this year. As the only 17u team in the major midget division, Brampton is looked at like more of an underdog when you consider them playing all 18u teams in their loop.

With a team loaded with pitching depth, they will look to Cirillo and Pollard to be two guys who can handle the brunt of the work. Offensively, team speed and the ability to put the ball in play is how the Royals will generate a lot their runs. Guys like Krstulovich, Procopio, Cohen, and Faruki will be asked to step up and contribute with arguably their top offensive players graduated to the 18u team.

Will be a building year for the young squad, but should find themselves in the middle of the pack when the dog days of summer come around.

Top Ontario Headlines