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2024 Best of the West: Eastern Canada Scouting Notes

May 10, 2024
Cam Black-Araujo
Assistant Director, Prep Baseball Canada

Another Best of the West Tournament in Kamloops, British Columbia is behind us which means the baseball season is in full swing across the country. Each year, the tournament includes top club programs from Alberta and British Columbia, as well as a couple programs beyond the West Coast such as the HPP Tigers (Ontario) and Prep Baseball Canada's 18U National Team.

The tournament provides some of the most exciting games and action you'll see throughout the year, outside of national championship events. The Okotoks Dawgs took home the championship this year as they brought a loaded roster to Kamloops and didn't surrender a single loss, taking down the Langley Blaze in the final game.

With the tournament now completed, our staff will begin breaking down some of the top performers from the event. Below, we'll start our Best of the West Standout Series with a look at the talent out of British Columbia.

To view British Columbia Scouting Notes, click here.
To view Alberta Scouting Notes, click here.
To view 15U Scouting Notes, click here.

2024 INF Cam Gravelle (Toledo): Gravelle was one of the offensive leaders on Prep Baseball’s 18U National and was the only player on the team who went deep during the week. The left-handed hitter has a mature approach with bat-to-ball skills and has the ability to hit to all fields, while also driving the pullside when he has the chance. Profiles as a third baseman at the next level but it’s the ability to hit from the left-side that immediately jumps out. The Ontario Royals product proved this week he can shine while on the field with some of the best players in the country.

2024 RHP Owen Slater (Missouri State): RHP Owen Slater was the premiere arm on Prep Baseball’s 18U National team and was one of the more anticipated arms to take the mound in the tournament. The Missouri State commit lived up to the hype as he dominated the Okanagan A’s, not surrendering a hit until the 5th inning. The right-hander filled up the zone all game and was consistently getting ahead in counts which allowed him to utilize all his pitches at any time. Slater’s stuff works east/west and the secondary pitches compliment the fastball well. The fastball sat 88-90mph through the first several innings, along with the slider at 80-83mph and changeup at 79-80mph. Slater will now look ahead to the Appalachian League where his summer season begin in early June as he ramps up ahead of the MLB Draft.

2026 OF Trentin Kooy (Uncommitted): Kooy was one of just two 2026s on Prep Baseball’s 18U National Team but his hit tool stood out as one of the best on the team. The right-handed hitter was hot from the jump as he picked up a double and triple in the opener against Okanagan. Kooy moves well in all areas of his game which allows him to extend singles into extra-bases at times. This was our first time seeing Kooy on a national stage and he didn’t disappoint, proving he belongs on the field with the best in the country. The Saskatchewan native will be a fun watch over the next two summers as we expect to see plenty more from him.

2025 RHP Luke Hatcher (Uncommitted): Hatcher had a great offseason of development following an injury and brought that to Kamloops as he pounded the zone and flashed an uptick in velocity since the fall. Hatcher was efficient during his two scoreless innings out of the bullpen against the ISB Selects and was impressive with his ability to locate the fastball/curveball wherever he wanted. The fastball sat 84-85mph, paired with a curveball at 66-70mph and changeup at 74mph. This was the best we’ve seen Hatcher and he’ll be worth a look this summer from college coaches.

2024 RHP Josiah Romeo (Florida State): Romeo showed why he is one of the most electric arms in the country. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound RHP utilizes a free and easy delivery to fill the zone with his 3-pitch mix. The fastball sat 88-90 and ran it up to 92 mph. His two off-speed pitches, a slider and a changeup, generated both  in-zone swing & miss and chase out of the zone. The slider has two-plane break and profiles as an effective strikeout pitch going forward. The Florida State commit has been one of the main attractions in Canada since he participated in the Future Games last July, and he will look to continue to shine as the summer season gets underway.

2024 SS Tommy Hanger ('25 Texas Tech): Tommy Hanger is one player in the country who has blown up over the past year as he earned his first invite to the Canadian Junior National Team last month following his commitment to Texas Tech in mid-December. The left-handed hitter from the HPP Tigers continues to stand out with his ability to put the ball in play and moves himself around the bases. Hanger is a major contributor each time we see the Tigers and although he didn’t find extra-bases much in Kamloops, he still had no issues coming around to score with great skills on the bases. On the JNT Spring Trip in April, Hanger was tied for the team-lead in runs scored against pro arms as he crossed the plate four times in just 14 plate appearances.

2024/25 OF Nathan Belle (Uncommitted): 2024/25 Nathan Belle is an uncommitted product out of HPP who caught our staff’s attention this past week with his size and athleticism, as well as his three-hit game to start the week. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound outfielder was putting balls in play all week long and was working to all fields. On a loaded HPP roster in a tournament full of talent, Belle is a name that gained some steam throughout the week and got looks from evaluators in attendance. Will be a name to circle this summer when getting a look at the Tigers.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
2024 Spring Future Games Trials III ON 05/20 Connorvale Park
2024 New England Academic Games (Invite Only) ON 07/09 Yale
Future Games (Class of 2026/27) NATIONAL 07/24 LakePoint Sports
Junior Future Games (Class of 2028/29) NATIONAL 07/24 LakePoint Sports
Senior Future Games (Class of 2025) NATIONAL 07/24 LakePoint Sports
2024 Toronto Summer Open ON 07/30 Dan Lang Field
2024 Midwest Super Sophomore Games (Invite Only) ON 08/02 Indiana University - Bart Kaufman Field
2024 Fergie League Showcase ON 08/24 Welland Stadium

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