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Ontario Insider: Class of 2019 Player Rankings (November)

With the 2017 fall season ending, we revamp our 2019 rankings, expanding to 150 players.

We understand that the recruiting cycle is much different here north of the border than our friends in the states, that said, the talent in the 2019 class and the upside and athleticism a lot of these players have, cannot be overlooked.

With the off-season getting underway here in Ontario, the 2019 rankings have been updated and there is a long list of uncommitted talent in this class. From left-handed power bats to defensive standouts up the middle, and arms from both sides of the hill, the 2019 Ontario class is something evaluators need to know about as the province keeps producing talent and it only looks to keep getting better.

A lot of new faces are in the class with some prospects from the 2018 class have re-classified into 2019’s. This class is very position player heavy with a lot of left-handed bats that have a chance to be impact players in the lineup as they move on to the next level. What also speaks volumes is that there was no Team Canada Junior National Team members this summer, but their final fall trip to Florida saw 7 players from Ontario’s 19 class added to the roster, with all of them being in our Top 10.

Below we take a look at "The Top 10“, who to "Keep Eye On" and prospect you "Don't Want To Sleep On" as well as the top uncommitted prospects and sleepers to keep up with.

To view the entire list please click here.

The Top 10

Staying at the top since the 2019 rankings have been unveiled, the recent Kentucky commit and shortstop Jaden Brown is still your number 1 ranked player in the class. The SEC commit has tools that are above his age, and although the performance and stats may not be there just of yet, Brown continues to improve all facets of his game with the upside and potential he brings to the field is next level.        

Uncommitted left-hander and recent Team Canada Junior National Team addition Keegan Pulford-Thorpe stays in at number 2. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound prospect finished off the season well with a solid outing for his country. Thorpe is loose and easy with clean actions and can spin his breaking that acts as a separator for him on the mound.

The rest of the Top Ten is all different from our previous list with nobody making a bigger jump that third baseman TJ Schofield. It is tough to find someone who had a better two months to finish the season than Schofield. Impressive stints with the National Team and then in Jupiter with his club team the Blue Jays, the confidence and demeanor he plays with, along with the aggressiveness in all areas of the game have turned him into the number 3 ranked player, and someone that is going to play a big role for his team over the next two years, as well as where he ends up after his high school days.

At four, five, and six are three left-handed bats in catcher, first baseman Blake Buckle, outfielder Eric Martin, and Xavier commit Owen Diodati. Buckle is the more polished of the three hitters with strength in his swing and loud contact with power to his pull side. Diodati has light tower power that was shown in his BP at the Future Games and Martin is a 6-foot-3, 185-pounds outfielder with leverage and looseness to his swing while showing arm strength and athleticism as he runs a 6.93 sixty.

The next two arms in the list are teammates in lefty Caden Griffin and right-hander Lukas Barry. Both show pitchability and knowledge for attacking hitters while the work currently in the mid 80’s with their fastballs but project to add more velo over time. Griffin is more changeup than curveball at the moment but the arm is quick with hand speed outfront while Barry is a three-pitch guy and can throw all his pitches in any count while filling up the striking zone and small pitch counts seem to be the norm for him. Rounding out the Top Ten are two recent National Team additions in athletic outfielders Dasan Brown and Joel Mcknight. Both are former Future Games participants and are toolsy players that hit from the right side, play above average defence and are elite runners in the 6.5 and 6.6 ranges when the light up the 60’s.

Keep Eye On

A couple players that have made some movement in the standings and we can easily see them continuing this trend is two-way prospect Austin Gomm and right-hander Brandon Deans. We always liked the two and this summer both made jumps in their games and seem on their way to getting to that next level sooner than later.

Austin Gomm RHP / SS / Port Credit Secondary School, ON / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 18 / POS: 4 Gomm, who we’ve always liked on the mound with his effortless delivery and ability to throw his curveball also stepped up this summer while showing potential with the bat and his actions in the infield.

Brandon Deans RHP / OF / Our Lady of Mount Carmel, ON / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 12 / POS: 3 Deans was one of the top arms at T12 and was basically unhittable as he fastball topped out at 87 mph as he showed command but lacked the feel for his off-speed stuff at the moment. Deans comes in at number 12 while Gomm moves into the top 20 as the 18th ranked player in the class.

Don't Sleep On

Dante Wright SS / 3B / N/A, ON / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 26 / POS: 4 This left-handed hitting infielder who profiles more of a third baseman at the next level brings bat speed and feel at the plate and looks to drive the ball everytime he comes to the plate. Does not cheated in the box, Wright sees himself directly implemented in the top 30 and is one that could make a huge jump over the winter and continue to trend upwards in the rankings.

Kieran Gagnon OF / RHP / Westside Secondary, ON / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 28 / POS: 5 This wiry, athletic outfielder uses his speed to track balls in centre field while his ability to play small ball, steal bags, and still work line drives across the diamond make him an intriguing prospect. The swing is level and gets through the baseball with quick actions and a wiry strength that may get overlooked at first glance.

Tyler Hinrikus SS / 2B / Resurrection Catholic Secondary School, ON / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 34 / POS: 6 One of the standouts from the Ontario Nationals scout day. Hinrikus is a strong, right-handed bat that showed feel for the barrel in the box gap power and bat speed that was impressive. He showed range in the field with feel for the glove and arm strength to play third base. Could play multiple positions moving forward but the bat is currently the biggest tool and shows the most projection at the moment.

Top Uncommitted Prospect By Position

We will continue to highlight the new 2019 rankings with articles and notes on the top uncommitted players at each position, and a look at some of the fresh faces that have been included.

Below we look to name the top 3-5 prospects in specific categories for the 2019 class. Beyond the top 3-5, there are numerous prospects that can help a collegiate program in some capacity. Our 2019 class is one of, if not the deepest classes we’ve had. There are number of players still on the board that could help out a college program in some capacity. Here are some of the top uncommitted guys at each position.

 + Top Right-Handed Arms: Lukas Barry, Hayden Pilmer, Brandon Deans

+ Top Left-Handed Arms: Keegan Pullford-Thorpe, Caden Griffin, Carter Seabrooke

+ Top Catching Prospects: Blake Buckle, Ryan Leitch, Dionysius Chialtas

+ Top Corner Infield Prospects: TJ Schofield, Noah Case, Zach Gardiner

+ Top Middle Infield Prospects: Noah Hall, Noah Roberts, Dante Wright

+ Top Outfield Prospects: Eric Martin, Dasan Brown, Joel Mcknight

For those schools looking to add to their 2019 class, the Ontario Top 150 rankings is a good place to start hunting.

PBR Ontario Class of 2019 Top 150

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
1	Jaden Brown	ON	St. Marcellinus	2019	SS	Kentucky
2	Keegan Pulford-Thorpe	ON	Newmarket	2019	LHP
3	Tyrell Schofield-Sam	ON	North Park	2019	3B
4	Blake Buckle	ON	Craig Kielburger	2019	C
5	Eric Martin	ON	St. Mary's HS	2019	OF
6	Owen Diodati	ON	A.N. Myer	2019	C	Xavier
7	Caden Griffin	ON	John McCrae	2019	LHP
8	Dasan Brown	ON	Abbey Park	2019	OF
9	Lukas Barry	ON	St Aloysius Gonzaga	2019	RHP
10	Joel Mcknight	ON	Brooklin	2019	OF

***** To view the entire top 150, please click here.