Prep Baseball Report

Class of 2028 Watch-List Breakdown


Cam Black-Araujo
Assistant Director, Canada

Earlier today, our staff released it's first look at Ontario's 2028 class with our 'Ontario 2028 Class Watch-List.' The Watch-List provides readers with a look at 12 players within the class to follow going forward and will lead into our inaugural 2028 Class Rankings which will drop in the spring as we continue to get more familiar with the class.

With the Watch-List now released, below we'll take a quick look at each of the 12 players who appeared on the list, as well as some video on select players. The Watch-List includes seven players who participated in the Junior Future Games this past summer and the event continues to be our gateway into the freshman class. With the Junior Future Games now in the rearview mirror for the class, they are now eligible for the Future Games with the 2026 Future Games being the coming out party as our Canadian team will be filled with the top 2028 players in the country.

To request an invite to the Ontario Preseason Invitational (Feb. 17), click here.
To request an invite to the Ottawa/Gatineau New Year Open (Feb. 19), click here.
To request an invite to the Toronto New Year Open (Feb. 22), click here.

2028 CLASS WATCH-LIST BREAKDOWN

INF/OF Jake Andersen (Ontario Blue Jays): Andersen was one of the more impactful positional players on our Junior Future Games team with his well-rounded game. The right-handed hitter has the ability to hit to all fields and then move himself around the bases with speed and good instincts. Andersen also handles himself well on the infield with a confident glove and athletic movements. An intriguing prospect as he continues to mature and is following in his older brother’s footsteps who’s committed to Dartmouth.


C/SS Jacob Ault (Great Lake Canadians): Ault is another prospect who’s really jumped onto our radar as a positional player in the 2028 class. The overall profile immediately catches your eye as a left-handed hitting catcher with bloodlines at the position with his older brother, Mason, who caught for the Canadian Junior National Team and will head to East Tennessee State next fall. Ault went back up the middle against an 88mph fastball at the Jr. Future Games and already stands out as one of the better defensive players in the class with a chance to stick on the dirt or behind the dish.


SS Hunter Bartha (Fieldhouse Pirates): Bartha was the most intriguing infielder to participate on our Jr. Future Games team and his game projects well, especially up the middle where he has the range, actions and glovework to continue excelling at the shortstop position. Also makes an impact with the right-handed bat where he has bat-to-ball skills and does a good job staying inside the ball. Overall, there’s plenty to like here and Bartha should be a name you hear in this class a ton as his high school career progresses.


C/RHP Austin Burton (Fieldhouse Pirates): Burton is one of the stronger players in the class right now and still has room to continue filling out at 6-foot-1, 165-pounds. There’s some bat speed from the left-side with power potential going forward, already generating exit velo’s in the 90s with distances at 300+. A Catcher to follow in the class going forward with a personal best pop-time of 2.07s and throws at 69mph.


OF/RHP Kole Dunnett (Toronto Mets): Dunnett is a prospect out of the Toronto Mets program who flashed some two-way potential over the past year. Showed bat-to-ball skills from the right-side and the ability to find the gaps for extra-bases. Dunnett also showed well on the mound as a right-hander pitcher where he sat in the mid-70s and worked up to 79mph. One of several 2028s in the Mets program to keep tabs on.


RHP/INF Nathan Hamel (Ontario Nationals): Our staff got its first look at Hamel in the Fall of 2023 and has developed really well since that time. It’s really taken off on the mound where he’s gained 6+mph and moves well with a three-pitch mix that allows him to excel against his own age-group. The fastball was up to 78mph throughout the summer with early signs of spin, along with a changeup. Also possesses upside on the positional side as a right-handed hitter and infielder.


RHP/INF Nate Hill (Toronto Mets): Hill is an arm who really stood out over the summer and the right-hander stands out with his 6-foot-1, 177-pound frame. There’s velocity to project as he begins to add some strength and the fastball already sits in the 76-78mph range. The body also stands out on the offensive side where he swings it from the left-side and does a good job utilizing the entire field to collect hits. Intriguing on both sides of the ball and will be a fun one to follow as he continues to mature.


INF Mattias Jimenez (Great Lake Canadians): Jimenez is one of the most intriguing prospects in this class and the impact in the right-handed bat is the carrying tool at the moment. There’s present strength and bat-to-ball skills that allow him to be a difference maker every time he steps on the field. Was consistently the best player on the field when we saw him this summer and is a must-watch underclassman over the next year.


RHP/OF Lucien Kovalcik (Fieldhouse Pirates): Kovalcik is one of the most intriguing arms to appear on this list and checks all the boxes right now for a premiere arm in the class. Currently stands at 6-foot-1, 155-pounds with an athletic delivery from a low-¾ arm-slot that creates some deception. The fastball sits in the low-80s with plenty more to come and pairs it with some quality secondary stuff in a slider and changeup. High-ceiling arm and will be interesting to see where he’s at come spring time.


LHP/1B Jake Lamb (Fieldhouse Pirates): Lamb is the other big-time arm to appear on this list with present stuff for his age and a high-ceiling moving forward. The profile immediately grabs your attention with a 6-foot-3, 184-pound frame, hurling from the left-side. The fastball sat 77-81mph at the Jr. Future Games in late July, along with a curveball at 63-64 with late downward action. Also featured a changeup at 74mph. Lamb generated swing/miss and was tough to barrel up. One of the top arms in this class and it’s easy to see why.


RHP/C Westin Merritt (Whitby Canadians): Merritt was the 2023 OBA Player of the Year and our staff quickly found out why as he impressed at the 15U Best of the West Tournament competing up an age group. The body/strength stands out at 6-foot-1, 175-pounds, as well as his arm strength that allow him to excel on the mound and behind the dish. The Whitby Canadians product worked up to 82mph and 73mph behind the dish. It’ll be interesting to see which side of his game takes the first big jump, but Meritt’s tools continue to shine each time we see him.


LHP/OF Nicholas Perez Scott (Team Ontario Astros): Perez-Scott was an easy standout for us throughout the course of 2024 with his left/left profile and the way he moves in all areas of his game. Smooth, simple stroke from the left-side with the ability to find the barrel and offensive game has a chance to take off as he begins to mature and add strength. Highly intriguing on the mound, as well, as the left-hander pitcher has worked up to 78mph with good direction and strike-throwing abilities. Plenty to like here already and much more to come throughout his high school career.


OF/RHP Elijah Smith (Barrie Baycats): Smith captivated our staff at the Toronto Fall ID with his arm strength and projection as he posted some of the top numbers at the event as a 14-year-old. Started on the mound where he sat 81-83 T83.9, some of the best velocity we’ve seen in the class. It’s a clean, loose right-handed arm with life on the fastball and feel for his secondary stuff, including a quality changeup with late, diving action. Also ran a 7.27 60-yard dash with a peak exit velocity of 82mph and outfield velocity of 80mph. The 6-foot, 150-pound two-way talent has plenty to work with and we’ll be keeping tabs on his development over the next year.


Upcoming Events

Showcase State Date Location
2024 Holiday Hitters Series - Durham Region ON 12/17 The Competitive Edge
2024 Holiday Hitters Series - Toronto ON 12/18 Pro Teach Baseball
2025 Canadian College & University Showcase ON 02/08 The Yard Athletic Centre
2025 Ontario Preseason Invitational ON 02/17 Athlete's Turf Inc.
2025 Ottawa/Gatineau New Year Open ON 02/19 Bell Sensplex
2025 Toronto New Year Open ON 02/22 The Yard Athletic Centre
2025 18U Best of the West ON 04/30 Norbrock Stadium (Kamloops, BC)
2025 13U Best of the West ON 05/01 Norbrock Stadium (Kamloops, BC)
2025 15U Best of the West ON 05/01 Norbrock Stadium (Kamloops, BC)

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