Class of 2028 Watch-List Breakdown
December 18, 2024
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.
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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.
SS Jake Andersen
— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PrepBaseballON) July 28, 2024
2028, @OntarioBlueJays
Andersen collects the first hit of the game for Canada with a line drive back up the middle.@JAndersen2028 || #PBJFG24 pic.twitter.com/x2pf0lLmcm
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.
C Jacob Ault
— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PrepBaseballON) July 25, 2024
2028, Ancaster Diamondbacks
Ault sends an 88mph FB back up the middle for a single.
The young backstop collects Canada’s first hit at the Junior Future Games.@JacobAult_ || #PBJFG24 pic.twitter.com/926tjrnbUe
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.
SS Hunter Bartha
— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PrepBaseballON) July 26, 2024
2028, @FHPirates
Bartha rips this high FB back up the middle for a single.
Young SS to keep tabs on as he matures.@HunterBartha || #PBJFG24 pic.twitter.com/AkFqMBmMqA
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.
C Austin Burton
— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PrepBaseballON) July 28, 2024
2028, @NatsOnt
6-1, 165Ibs
Burton collects the first hit for Canada with a single to left. @AustinBurton_CA || #PBJFG24 pic.twitter.com/U3kNgMwRrH
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.
2028 OF Kole Dunnett@TorontoMets
— Prep Baseball Ohio Scouting Coverage (@PrepBaseOHScout) July 12, 2024
RBI double to left center#cabascpb #pbr27 #pbr108 pic.twitter.com/LmKyisLCpb
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.
‘28 3B/RHP Nathan Hamel@NatsOnt
— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PrepBaseballON) September 16, 2023
Another young arm out of the Nats organization. 5-foot-7, 125-pound righty with plenty of room to fill, showed feel for the zone with his FB/CB mix.@PBR_Uncommitted || #NatsScoutDay pic.twitter.com/IezUKwvYVS
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.
2028 RHP/INF Nate Hill @TorontoMets
— Prep Baseball Ohio Scouting Coverage (@PrepBaseOHScout) July 13, 2024
FB: 75-77
CB: 66-67
CH: 69-70 #cabascpb #pbr34 pic.twitter.com/6uqc0h9yL5
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.
3B/SS Mattias Jimenez
— Michael Stavraky (@StavrakyBB) July 12, 2024
2028, @GLCanadians
A few knocks from Jimenez today who continues to impress at just 14 years old.
Mature approach w/ feel for the barrel & possesses the ability to drive the ball to fields.
2028 to keep tabs on⬇️@PrepBaseballON || #BeSeen🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/bYXmYUKYvD
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.
RHP/OF Lucien Kovalcik
— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PrepBaseballON) April 1, 2024
2028, @FHPirates #JFGTrials24🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/WkBxPQLXVN
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.
1B/LHP Jake Lamb
— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PrepBaseballON) July 26, 2024
2028, @FHPirates
Highly intriguing stuff here from Lamb with size at 6-3/185lbs and a quick left-handed arm.
Worked a pair of scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Another one of Ontario’s top ‘28 arms.
FB 77-81
CB 63-64
CH 74#PBJFG24 pic.twitter.com/ObDWLQDyYz
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.
RHP/C Westin Merritt
— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PrepBaseballON) July 26, 2024
2028, @baseballwhitby
6-0/165lbs
One of the better ‘28 arms our staff has seen in Ontario and is looking the part today.
Allowed just one run over three innings of work against Kansas.
FB 77-80
CB 60-64
CH 72-73@W_Merritt58 | #PBJFG24 pic.twitter.com/70gizK2ceH
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.
LHP/OF Nicholas Perez-Scott
— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PrepBaseballON) July 24, 2024
2028, @VaughanOfficial
5-8/150lbs
Put together a good showing from the left-side, finding consistent barrels to his pullside.@Nick06150285 | #PBJFG24 pic.twitter.com/Svpiwtltdi
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.
RHP/OF Elijah Smith
— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PrepBaseballON) October 1, 2024
2028, @barriebaseball
6-foot 150-pounds
Attacks from a 3/4 slot with ASR.
An intriguing arm in the 2028 class. #BeSeen🇨🇦 || #TOFallID pic.twitter.com/DpWor1usDf
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