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2015 Team Preview: Toronto Mets 17u

February 10, 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: Toronto Mets 17u

Team Name: Toronto Mets 17u
Coaches Names: Chris Kemlo, Justin Picard, Glen Jackson, Mark Dainty
2014 Record: 38-14-1
League: Premier Baseball League of Ontario (PBLO)
League Record: 18-5
League Finish: 2nd in 18u Division of PBLO

Season Accomplishments:

  • Won 17u NABF World Series in Knoxville, Tennessee
  • Won Toronto Mets Tournament
  • Tied Semi-Final in New Era Tournament, lost on tiebreaker

Key Players Lost From 2014:

  • Brand new team

Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers:

  • All new players

Strengths of Team:

  • Pitching
  • Team Depth
  • Chemistry
  • Left-handed Power

Weaknesses of Team:

  • Prone to strikeouts
  • Lack of contact at times
  • Need to stay healthy

Top Prospects in Class of 2015:

  • Ryley Davenport, C, 6-foot-1, 175-pounds - Right-handed hitter with quick twitch actions. Will split time with Bernardi and look to be one of the on-field leaders.
  • Ryan Bothwell, 3B, 6-foot-2, 220-pounds - Raw power with plenty of strength and size. One of the better players in the fall. Looks to keep that going this summer. Swing and infield actions have improved. Good looking prospect who fits the profile as a corner guy.
  • Brian Wowk, INF/OF, 5-foot-10, 150-pounds - Athletic player who will be asked to bring 3 different gloves with him to the park. Soft hands in the infield, has speed to track balls down in the outfield. Strength gains will determine how much Wowk will hit. Should be valuable piece to team success.

Top Prospects in Class of 2016:

  • Nick Virdo, RHP, 6-foot-4, 185-pounds - Big tall righty with projectable frame. Can improve strength and frame. Had coming out party in 2014, will look to be one of the go to guys on the mound. Will be with Team Canada in March, looks to be a top recruit out of the 2016 class.
  • Niall Windeler, LHP, 6-foot-3, 195-pounds - Another big body on the mound. Fills the zone up with strikes, was the leader on the 16u Mets staff. Looks to continue same path with the 17’s this year. Good actions with some small rhythm and timing issues, chance to take off and have breakout year.
  • Luke Turino, 2B/OF, 5-foot-10, 165-pounds - Will play second base and outfield this year. Profiles well as a 2nd baseman with left-handed swing with pop. Takes absolute death hacks at the plate. Strong, quiet gamer who will hit at top of lineup. Hard nose approach, D1 prospect.
  • Brad Aldred, OF/3B, 6-foot-2, 190-pounds - Maybe most talent on the team. Ability to hit the ball 450 feet. Big time pop from the left-side. Plus arm with carry and accuracy. May see some action at third base. Approach will be everything for Aldred. Could be a special player.

Notable College/MLB Alumni:

  • JD Osborne (Tampa University)
  • Gareth Morgan (Seattle Mariners)
  • Connor Panas (Canisius)
  • Johnny Caputo (Stony Brook)
  • Maxx Tissenbaum (Tampa Bay Rays)
  • Sammie Starr (Baltimore Orioles)
  • Michael Foster (Northeastern University)

General Notes:

The 17u Mets look to carry off last year’s success in their inaugural season as a 17u club. The physicality of this year’s team (nine players 6-foot-2 or better), along with their pitching depth and power, the Mets will look to be one of the top teams in the PBLO loop and go deep into tournaments this summer. As the old story goes, pitching and defence will determine how much success this team will have in 2015.

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