Best of the West: Notes on the Ontario's standouts
May 7, 2022
Our scouting staff has been in Kamloops the past four days watching the Best of the West tournament. Some of the best 2022s, 2023s and 2024s on the Western side of Canada all in one complex, with a nationwide feel to the event with ABC on hand from Quebec, as well as the Ontario Blue Jays.
Our staff saw nearly every player in the Blue Jays organization last month at the OBJ Scout Day and now we got a chance to see them in-game. Not only did we get to see them in-game, but in a competitive atmosphere against some top-level talent.
We took in three of their games throughout the week and our staff breaks down the standouts below.
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Cole Patrick OF / 3B / Markham District HS, ON / 20222022 OF Cole Patrick (Florida Tech commit) was one of the best bats we saw this week in Kamloops. Not only was it the hit tool that jumped out but also the in-game power. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound outfielder launched a home run to left-centre under the stadium lights and picked up five extra-base hits in three games. He shattered his bat and still muscled the ball into the gap and still got himself on second base for a double. No doubt he would be on the short list for tournament MVP.
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Sam White C / 3B / Aurora, ON / 2022After a quiet game one, 2022 Sam White (West Virginia commit) came alive in his final two games. He one hopped the centre field fence Thursday night and then did the same thing to right field the following day. Four hits in the final two games and there’s lots to like in the left-handed swing. White continues to be one of the top bats every time we see him as he continues to flash the extra-base power. Also of note, White manned third base during the week and didn’t step behind the dish.
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Makaio Cisneros RHP / OF / All Saints Catholic secondary school, ON / 2024Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 3
We’ve had several looks at Cisneros early on in 2022 and he’s been a standout every single time. Recently ranked at No. 6 in our 2024 class, the right-hander has sat 85-87 all three times we’ve seen him and this past week is the first time we’ve been able to see how that fastball works against hitters. He was able to locate down low for ground balls and called strikes, as well as upstairs for swings and misses. He looked to throw a pair of offspeed pitches, a curveball with depth at 72-73 and an interesting slider at 76-77. Although he wasn’t to establish it, he threw a couple good sliders with sharp, late bite. Cisneros will be a must to follow this summer.
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Kansai Sugimoto RHP / Blyth academy, ON / 2022Our staff has been eager to watch 2022 Kansai Sugimoto (Yavapai commit) take the mound in a live game and he showed feel for all of his pitches on Thursday night. He works with a clean, easy and repeatable delivery and seemed to be playing with hitters timing using his delivery at times. The fastball sat 85-88 T89 throughout his first several innings. Sugimoto always garners attention when steps on the mound and although it wasn’t a lights out performance on Thursday, overall it was a good showing for the right-hander. Curveball 74-75, changeup 83.
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Jesse Dale C / 3B / Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, ON / 2024Rankings StateRank: 30 / POS: 4
2024 Jesse Dale (Uncommitted) swings the bat with authority and it usually ends well for him. He hit a pair of pitches on Thursday, both off them off the barrel to dead centre for doubles. Dale was one of the best bats we saw during our early 2022 indoor showcases and he proved this week that the right-handed bat translates in-game. 6-foot, 180-pound utility player who won’t be uncommitted for much longer if he keeps swinging the bat this way. Another intriguing follow from this OBJ squad.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| 2022 East Coast Trials | ON | 05/29 | Lakeburn Field |
| 2022 Newfoundland Trials | ON | 06/09 | Premier Sports Academy |
| PBR Junior Future Games | NATIONAL | 07/26 | LakePoint |
| 2022 West Coast Games (Team PBR Canada Selects) | ON | 08/12 | UNLV |
| Improve My Profile with Game Video (Ontario) | ON | 08/29 | Ontario |