Prep Baseball Report

2023 Alberta New Year Open: Quick Hits


Cam Black-Araujo
Lead Scout, PBR Canada

We would like to thank all who participated in PBR Alberta's 2023 New Year Open. The event was our third of the week in Alberta and served as our first open showcase in the province this year. Open events give our staff a chance to see players from various organization's and classes while serving as identifiers for our PBR Canada Selects teams that take part in national PBR events such as the Future and Jr. Future Games (Atlanta), West Coast Games (Las Vegas), as well as our Best of the West team.

The 2023 New Year Open gave our staff a look at 66 players from the 2023 - 2028 classes with many strong showings and performances which we'll begin highlighting below.

Below, we continue our post-event coverage with a look at the top TrackMan pitching data and metrics from the event.

Interested in attending a PBR Alberta's event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

Complete Statistics

To view the Trackman Analytics, Click Here.
To view Position Stats, Click Here.
To view Event Results, Click Here.
To view TrackMan Hitting Leaderboard, Click Here.
To view TrackMan Pitching Leaderboard, Click Here.

alberta new year open quick hits

Owen Pote RHP / RHP / Archbishop Jordan, AB / 2024

Pote was no doubt one of the top arms at the event with an impressive combination of size and command of all his pitches. 6-foot-6, 195-pound right-hander out of AHP who’s fastball sat 84-86 from a minimal effort delivery. Coupled it with a breaking ball at 73-74 with tight, downward action and also threw a changeup at 79-81mph with good horizontal break (16.3in. avg) and fade.

Has the ability to spot up with all pitches and there’s body control on the mound. Intriguing unsigned 2024 in Alberta with plenty more in the tank and should have plenty of interest from college coaches over the next year.

Cam Bergstrom RHP / 3B / Ecole Secondaire St. Albert Catholic, AB / 2024

Bergstrom is another arm out of AHP that jumped out at the New Year Open. Present strength on the mound at 6-foot-2, 210-pounds and the fastball sat 87-89mph with life and armside run. Works with a firm breaking ball at 81mph that has late, sharp downward action. Also flashed a changeup at 77-79mph.

Looks to be more upside on the mound right now but he also swung the bat well from the right-side. Found the barrel 62% of the time with a top exit velocity of 93.1mph and top distance of 332ft. Another 2024 prospect that should garner attention from college coaches going forward.

Nathan Flewelling C / OF / St. Joseph High School, AB / 2025

Flewelling (Gonzaga commit) was one of the main attractions on the positional side of the event and had all of his tools on display. Proportionate frame with some strength at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds and started his day by running a respectable 7.05 60-yard dash. Was the top defensive catcher at the event with quick actions behind the dish and impressive pop-times ranging from 1.78-1.94.

While it wasn’t the most consistent round of BP we’ve seen from Flewelling, he no doubt flashed what he’s capable of. Left-handed hitter and the ball jumps off the bat when he finds the barrel and is timed up. Top exit velocity of 94.5mph and top distance 359ft. Flashed some athleticism on the Swift EZE Jump, as well, with a 32.8in. vertical. Maturity throughout his game and one of the top 2025 catchers in the country.

Dominik Morgan C / RHP / ABJ, AB / 2025

Morgan flashed his strength in all areas of the showcase last weekend starting with his work on the mound, sitting 85-87mph with the fastball. 6-foot, 210-pound right-hander who works with pace and the ball jumps out of his hand. There’s feel for the strike zone and the only offspeed offering right now is a changeup at 78-80mph. Lots of upside on the mound as he continues to develop and adds a breaking ball to his arsenal.

Morgan impressed behind the dish with pop-times ranging from 1.84-1.93 and throws up to 85mph. He put together one of the better rounds at the dish with the top average exit velocity at the event (89.2mph, 93.4 max) and a max distance of 367ft.

Emry Cairns SS / RHP / St. Francis Xavier, AB / 2023

Cairns caught the attention of the building during his round of BP as he elevated baseballs from the left-side throughout the entirety. Thin frame with tons of room to fill out at 6-foot-2, 165-pounds and he uses the lower-half well to generate torque and leverage.

Found the barrel at a clip of 71% and posted the top exit velocity at the event (94.8mph) with an impressive avg. distance of 297ft. (346ft. max). Quality showing from the unsigned senior with power potential as he matures and adds strength.

Antonio Juarez Ponce LHP / 1B / Camrose Composite Highschool, AB / 2025

Juarez Ponce was another top performing 2025 at the event and it’s a wiry, athletic look at 5-foot-11, 156-pounds. Left-handed pitcher that sat 80-82mph during his bullpen and creates good extension for his size. Showed feel for the breaking ball with downward action and depth at 65-69mph. Intriguing underclass arm as he continues to develop and figure himself out on the mound.

Juarez Ponce flashed his potential at the dish with a couple loud swings from the left-side, generating a top exit velocity of 89.0mph and top distance of 300ft. Upside looks to be higher on the mound right now but he had a quality showing on both sides.

Nate mountjoy 2B / RHP / St. Joseph, AB / 2023

Mountjoy had the best performance on the mound among seniors at the event but had a quality outing in all areas. 5-foot-11, 150-pound right-handed pitcher and middle infielder with athletic movements in his game and the fastball sat 81-83mph on the mound. Up-tempo delivery with short arm-action and feel for a trio of secondary offerings with a good slider, along with a curveball and changeup.

The hands and feet work on the infield and the athleticism allows him to make plays to both sides with ease. Has a gap-to-gap approach from the right-side and found the barrel throughout his round with a top exit velocity of 85.8mph and top distance of 313ft. Lacks some strength right now but the overall actions standout in all areas of his game.

Spencer Gordon 3B / RHP / Okotoks , BC / 2026

Gordon was a Jr. Future Gamer this past summer and has recently made the move to the Okotoks Dawgs program. One of the more physically imposing 2026s we’ve seen to date at 6-foot-2, 190-pounds. Wide stance from the right-side with a toe-tap into his load and the swing is short and geared towards the pullside.

More of a line-drive approach at the moment but flashed the ability to elevate and lift the ball, as well. Posted a top exit velocity of 87.8mph and top distance of 328ft. The swing and overall game has made major strides since we last saw Gordon in Georgia.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
2023 PBR Canada Spring Training Showcase AB 03/11 Launchpad Sports Complex
2023 Alberta Preseason Uncommitted AB 03/23 Absolute Human Performance 3.0
2023 Alberta Future Games Trials AB 03/24 Absolute Human Performance 3.0
2023 Lethbridge Spring Open ID AB 04/27 Prairie Baseball Academy
2023 Best of the West (PBR Canada Selects) AB 05/03 Norbrock Stadium (Kamloops, BC)
2023 Calgary Blues Scout Day AB 05/12 Optimist Athletic Park (Calgary)
2023 Calgary Summer Open AB 07/12 Webber Academy Athletic Park

 

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