Ontario Insider: Class of 2019 Player Rankings (December)
December 13, 2016
By Chris Kemlo and PBR Staff
Ontario Scouting Director
Ontario Insider: Class of 2019 Player Rankings (December)
The 2019 rankings have been updated to close out the year of 2016. The next major haul of rankings will happen in March, once we make our rounds during the winter to facilities and team practices, and kicking off with our first indoor event of 2017, the Preseason College Prospect Showcase, at the beautiful FieldHouse Athletics in Burlington, Ontario.
AT THE TOP
Infielder Jaden Brown (St. Marcellinus HS) is still our no. 1 prospect in the class, as his quick twitch and bat speed at the plate is hard to overlook. A new no. 2 has risen in the form of Windsor right-hander Hayden Pilmer. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder fastball has been as high as 86 mph, while working with an easy, clean arm. Pilmer projects to only add more velocity as he develops and repeats his delivery.
Additions to the top 10 are two, 6-foot-3 right-handers in Evan Elliott (Michael Power St. Joseph HS) and Eric Martin (St. Mary’s HS) . Both are big strong athletes, with lots of upside on the mound.
Two lefties in Keegan Pullford-Thorpe and Justin Bradt (Pearson HS) , along with outfielder Dasan Brown (Abbey Park), catcher Ryan Leitch (Sinclair SS), and infielders Tyrell Schofield (North PArk HS) and Robert Calisti (Father John Redmond HS)round out the top ten.
NEWCOMERS
With expanding our rankings to the top 40, there is plenty of new talent made live in the 2019 class. Catcher Owen Diodati (A.N. Meyer Secondary) from the Niagara region makes his debut at no.14 as a physical 6-foot-2, 190-pound left-handed hitter. Left-handed pitchers Caden Griffin (John McRae SS) and Jake Roberts (Sir Oliver Mowat HS) also make their debuts. Griffin shows polish on the mound with an ability to throw strikes and pound the zone while the upside of Roberts is something to keep an eye on.
Two left-handed hitters also make a case for themselves with infielders Zach Gardiner (OTHS) and Noah Hull (Sir Oliver Mowat HS) coming in the top 30. Both physical players with strong foundation and swings at the plate. Sametime right-handed hitters Robert Mannella (Notre Dame HS) and Josh Blanchard (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) find their way into the top 30 as well. Both are athletic players as Blanchard moves well in the outfield and shows quick hands with bat speed while Mannella, a strong and athletic 6-foot shortstop with pop in his bat, is also a talented basketball player as well, showing his skill set and versatility.
IN ADDITION
Some more players to make their way into our top 40 are right-handed arms in Austin Gomm (Port Credit Secondary), Alex Hache (Sacred Heart HS), and Matthew Duffy (Assumption SS). Shortstop Jason Chiu (Albert Campbell HS) had a strong day at the Fall Finale in October, showcasing his tools that included soft hands and speed down the line. Middle infielder Ashton Feijo (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) is grouped right in with Chiu as the 2019 class is limited in the top 40 with middle infielders.
The 2019 class looks to be heavy on arms, corner guys and outfielders as of right now, but the thing about Ontario, and for that matter Canadian players, is that there is so much change in these players over the next 12 months. Whether it be from a development side, physical maturity, or just getting into a more serious focus about baseball and how they approach their workouts. This group is talented, athletic, and uncommitted. We know that there is future D1 commits, Canadian Junior National Team Members, and MLB draft picks waiting to come out of this class.
For those schools looking to add to their 2019 class, the Ontario Top 40 rankings is a good place to start hunting.
PBR Ontario Class of 2019 Top 40
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos |
| 1 | Jaden Brown | ON | St. Marcellinus | 2019 | SS |
| 2 | Hayden Pilmer | ON | N/A | 2019 | RHP |
| 3 | Dasan Brown | ON | Abbey Park | 2019 | OF |
| 4 | Justin Bradt | ON | Pearson | 2019 | LHP |
| 5 | Keegan Pullford-Thorpe | ON | N/A | 2019 | LHP |
| 6 | Evan Elliott | ON | Michael Power St. Joseph | 2019 | RHP |
| 7 | Ryan Leitch | ON | Sinclair | 2019 | C |
| 8 | Tyrell Schofield-Sam | ON | North Park | 2019 | 3B |
| 9 | Robert Calisti | ON | Father John Redmond | 2019 | SS |
| 10 | Eric Martin | ON | St. Mary's HS | 2019 | RHP |
***** To view the entire top 40, please click here.