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2015 Team Preview: Ontario Blue Jays 18u white

March 25, 2015

By Chris Kemlo
PBR Ontario Director of Scouting

From now until the start of the 2015 season, Prep Baseball Report Ontario will bring you in-depth team previews throughout the entire state. If your coach has not filled out the survey please have him do so through this link.

Along with the team previews, the 2015 Team Rankings will be releasing sometime late February and we hope to bring a Q&A session to discuss the rankings.

Also, we will be releasing the preseason All Ontario Teams sometime in early March.

Interested in attending a PBR Ontario event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

2015 Team Preview: Ontario Blue Jays 18u white

Team Name: Ontario Blue Jays 18u white
Coaches Name/Record: Dan Bleiwas
League: PBLO

Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 3/4

2014 Accomplishments

  • Repeated winners of PBLO
  • Repeated last year as B.E.S.T. National Champions in Pensacola, Florida

Strengths of Team:

  • Lots of power throughout the lineup
  • Deep pitching staff with power arms at the front
  • Strong defensively at the catcher position
  • Will be able to play clean baseball on the defensive side of the field
  • Lots of athletes, have a history of winning

Top Prospects in Class of 2015:

  • Josh Naylor, 1B, 6-foot, 225-pounds. Big time prospect, some scouts say most power for a high school player in all of 2015 draft class. Lots of bat speed from the left side, everything he hits is hard off the bat. Chance to be top Canadian drafted this June
  • Darren Shred, C/RHP, 6-foot-3, 200-pounds. Electric arm behind the plate, shuts down the running game. Shows signs of power bat. Will close on the mound from time to time. Arm strength is there as he is high 80s with fastball. Committed to Chipola in Florida
  • Royce Ando, SS, 5-foot-10, 180-pounds. Athletic body with nice hands in the field. Arm plays from the left side, good carry across the diamond. Understands role offensively, line drive guy who can run. Is committed to Michigan State University.
  • RJ Freure, RHP, 6-foot-1, 205-pounds. Will be looked upon to be the be horse of staff. Plenty of strikes, three average pitches to work from. Fastball anywhere between 86-90 mph. Good feel for off-speed, potentially could play closer role for National Team. Currently uncommitted.
  • Isaac Anesty, LHP, 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. Chance to be really good. Spins breaking ball well, fastball has been 91 mph. Ability to repeat and command fastball is biggest test. Arm is clean and ball jumps out of his hand.
  • JD Williams, 2B/OF, 5-foot-9, 195-pounds. Uncommitted 2015, strong and athletic. Bat speed is there. Leadoff double against Brady Aiken last week. Great instincts, plus runner. Can play second or centre. Will be real good college player.

Commitments:

  • Royce Ando - Michigan St.
  • Josh Naylor - Texas Tech
  • Nathan Arruda - Odessa College
  • Riley Hoover - Tabor College
  • Darren Shred - Chipola College
  • Billy Brand - Cleveland State CC
  • Troy Daring - New Mexico Junior College

Alumni:

  • Jacob Robson (Mississippi State University)
  • Joey Hawkins (Missouri State University)
  • Daniel Pinero (University of Virginia)
  • Phil Diedrick (Western Kentucky University)
  • Gareth Morgan (Seattle Mariners)
  • Malik Collymore (St.Louis Cardinals)
  • Eric Wood (Pittsburgh Pirates)
  • George Kottaras (Cleveland Indians)

General Notes:

One of the top 18u teams in the Country, the Ontario Blue Jays have a rich history of producing talent to go along with winning prestigious championships.

The 18u white team will be fully loaded this year with pitching, defence, and offensive production from a team full of depth with plenty of talent to go around. The favorites to repeat again as PBLO 18u champions, coach Dan Bleiwas will enjoy writing his lineup out everyday with the number of quality bats at his fingertips.

With the players above already mentioned, we didn’t even begin on the power and speed combination of Nick Howie. How Tony Hrynkiw is possibly the best defensive catcher in the province. Cole White is a proven, 6-foot-4 winner on the mound who was up to 87 mph this past week in Florida. Ryan Rijo will back up Josh Naylor and is another left-handed bat that can leave the ballpark. Nathan Arruda is a consistent reliable arm with a quality breaking ball. Ethan Cummins, Conner Morro will play big roles up the middle of the diamond. The list can go on and  on, everyday it can be a new hero for the 18u team.

Look for them to get off to an early start atop the PBLO standings this May and for a strong surplus of pro scouts to keep an eye on top prospects Naylor and Anesty as they lead up to June.

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