Prep Baseball Report

Canadian Preview Of The MLB Draft


Jesse Levine
PBR Ontario Scout

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Canadian Preview Of The MLB Draft

One of the most exciting days on the MLB schedule is now only a few days away, and as the anticipation builds, we take a look at three high schoolers that could hear their names called during the MLB Draft. The crop of high school Canadians who could be selected include outfielders Owen Caissie and David Calabrese along with right-hander Calvin Ziegler.

The trio will each enter the draft at 17-years of age, all possessing intriguing upsides. Caissie is a left-handed hitter who's strike-zone awareness and power potential, along with peripheral tools, all of which will be at least average, make him a good bet of being the first name off the board.

Calabrese is a spray, bat-to-ball oriented hitter with a fluid stroke. His offensive ability is amplified due to his near-elite speed which also increases his upside defensively.

Ziegler, an athletic right-hander with a very sound delivery sat comfortably in the low-90's late last season and recently touched 97 in a bullpen. His fastball's pitch characteristics flashed above-average results in terms of spin rates and movement while his secondary stuff has continued to progress with both his curveball and his changeup displaying the makings of being useful offerings.

Owen Caissie OF / Notre Dame, ON / 2020

We didn't see much of Caissie this spring, but before things shut down, Caissie ended the Canadian Junior National Team's Spring Training Trip with a bang, depositing a ball over the centerfield fence. For a high-school position player, Caissie's risk is contained due to both his power potential and plate discipline which will allow him to get on base at a strong clip, as opposed to relying solely on his hit tool for offensive production. He fits the mold of a right-fielder with an arm that plays at the position, and for a player with his offensive profile, he runs considerably well.

Caissie's batted ball data is impressive, having produced exit velocities up to 105 with a bat bath that will allow him to tap into his power potential as he displayed an on-plane efficiency of 93 at the Super 60 this winter. Being a left-handed hitter who possesses these offensive characteristics ups his value as well, and factoring in his age, and work ethic, there is a lot of reason to believe he'll provide impact offensively at the MLB level.

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