Early Signing Period - Division 1 Recruiting Class Breakdown

Owen Diodati C / A.N. Myer, ON / 2019

Background: Diodati had one of the better summers of anyone in the country as the bat never seemed to cool off and the power stroke of Diodati was present whenever he stepped in the box. The Alabama commit has seen time behind the dish, at first base and in the outfield defensively this year but if the bat continue to stay where it is, it will not be hard to find a position for Diodati.

Outlook: Diodati has turned himself into one of the more focused on pro prospects in the country with his last couple months and may have some decisions to make if it’s more of the same in 2019. That said, his left-handed power bat will be a welcome addition in Alabama if he ends up on campus.

Keegan Pulford-Thorpe LHP / OF / Newmarket , ON / 2019

Background: Thorpe has been on of the more followed arms in the country as he saw himself on the national stage a fair amount this past summer. He overcame some command issues early on and with the actions and stuff we’ve seen from him, it’s easy to see why Central Florida jumped on him and got Thorpe to commit earlier this summer. He works mid to high 80’s with his fastball but the big separator with Thorpe is his ability to spin his curveball.

Outlook: Sky is the limit for Thorpe as he could easily step in and be a contributor on the mound as a freshman. If there is fastball command and he is getting his breaking ball over, he fits the profile as a talented lefty that should be able to work his way into the rotation at some point.

Eric Martin OF / RHP / St. Mary's, ON / 2019

Background: Martin was one of the earliest commits from Ontario’s 2019 class as he found a fit early on with Indiana State and the rest is history. Long, lean and athletic outfielder with a smooth stroke from the left side, there is plenty of upside still yet to come with Martin and more strength to add to his 6-foot-5 frame.

Outlook: Will not be the first Great Lake Canadian to attend State, Martin should fit in nicely and we would not be surprised to see him really get into his power stroke while playing a strong outfield and being a presence in the lineup with tools and some surprising speed that could sneak up on competition.

Jaden Brown SS / 2B / St. Marcellinus, ON / 2019

Background: Brown has been an intriguing prospect since the first day we saw him and he continues to keep that high ceiling tag while the tools and game play have continued to get better every time he takes the field. The strength, bat speed, athleticism Brown portrays makes it easy to get locked in on him the second he gets off the bus. Not to many HS kids are built like Brown and when he is confident and stays in rhythm and is synced up, he is one of the top players in the country.

Outlook: There is still some growing pains that come with Brown and it really is important for him to get as many reps and at-bats as he can. He’ll need to make an impression early on at Kentucky while there will still continue to be a following from the pro side of the things to leading up to the draft in June. Expect for another big winter from Brown and scouts, along with Kentucky will be paying close attention early on in 2019.

Ryan Leitch C / 1B / Sinclair, ON / 2019

Background: Leitch is a right-handed hitting catcher with power and the ability to leave any ballpark. The bat is the biggest tool while the catch and throw play well behind the dish. He does not get cheated at the plate and its a leg kick load, generating bat speed through the zone and can go the other way with some juice.

Outlook: The bat will give Leitch a chance to get in the lineup early on at Marshall and if he continues to become more agile and improve his footwork and agility, he’ll have the opportunity stay behind the plate as there is present arm strength and he can catch the ball.

Brian Zapp SS / 2B / Sir John A Macdonald, ON / 2019

Background: Infielder and Miami of Ohio commit Brian Zapp is an overall consistent player who should provide value at the next level. The left-handed hitter has a contact-oriented approach at the plate; he shows the ability to take what’s given to him and spray the ball around the field. Zapp shows some range with correct movements in the infield, but because of a lack of arm strength, he is restricted to second-base. Could also see him move to the outfield as speed is a big part of his game while his athleticism would allow him to make the move if need be.

Outlook: Zapp will do all the little things to help a club win, he’s not overly toolsy, but he’s a nice little player. The bat is at this point his biggest strength as he displays fine bat to ball skills. At 6-foot-1, 160-pounds, Zapp should add some strength to a slender frame and advance his game to the next level.

Udhay Bal SS / 3B / Heart Lake, ON / 2019

Background: Bal is a big 6-foot-4, 215-pound infielder for the Great Lake Canadians who recently committed to Mount St. Marys. At the plate, he starts with his hands fairly low and relaxed coming forward with a controlled short swing with a one hand finish. He pushes off his back leg and transfers his weight efficiently keeping the rest of his body aligned. Overall there’s some bat whip and strength which will allow Bal to hit for some power, and because of the simplicity of his swing, it doesn’t come with a lot of swing and miss. From third base, he has decent movements and shows the ability to throw from multiple angles with a clean arm action.

Outlook: Bal’s doesn’t have a lot of physical development to be unlocked and not a whole lot of mechanical tweaks to be made as he’s almost a finished product. At the next level, he profiles as a bat-first third-baseman. Bal is a nice find and a potential contributor for Mount St. Marys.

Zachary Cameron RHP / 3B / Bishop Ryan, ON / 2019

Background: Cameron has continued to improve on the mound over the last two years and was arguably the ace of the staff for his Fieldhouse Pirates club team this year. It’s a loose arm and he has the confidence and ability to throw three pitches for strikes. The velocity has trended up and sits in the 85-88 range. Cameron competes well with a bulldog demeanor and committed not long after our TPG’s at Niagara university.

Outlook: Cameron will look to step on campus and provide stability in the freshman pitching class for the Purple Eagles. He does play a big role offensively with his club team and can play an adequate third base. He may get some looks early on as a two-way guy but his biggest impact will be felt on the mound.

Matthew Ward C / 3B / Our Lady of Mount Carmel, ON / 2020

Background: Ward, a 6-foot, 175-pound catcher/third baseman out of the Ontario Terriers organization is a physical presence behind the dish. He’s a defensive first catcher with some arm strength and a quick glove-hand transfer. His athleticism allows him to react well to pitches thrown all over the zone and still get rid of it in a hurry. At the plate, it’s a compact swing that will work gap-to-gap with ability to drive the ball and could see an increased power stroke as he matures and gets stronger. Ward puts together consistent at-bats and has an approach with feel in the box.

Outlook: Ward’s going to provide consistency behind the plate for Niagara. Ward’s current catch and throw abilities, along with his consistent mechanics allow for him to locate online. The bat has a chance to play up with his fundamentals and in-game IQ. Ward is one of the top catchers in Ontario’s class and because of his athleticism, he should continue to take big strides before heading off to Niagara.

Matthew Nolin LHP / Cawthra Park, ON / 2019

Background: Nolin is a big and imposing left-handed arm that stands 6-foot-4, 195-pounds with a clean arm and big upside. He has shown he can spin his curveball while the fastball has been up to 86 mph with more in the tank. He attacks and gets after hitters early, and when he has command of two pitches, Nolin is one of the toughest pitchers to face in the province.

Outlook: Nolin has some work to do with his lower half and clean up some mechanical flaws, but with no red flags and an arm that works, there is a bright future ahead for the lefty at Oakland. A big winter this year will get him on track to be impactful and contribute early on as a freshman, don’t be surprised to see Nolin keep trending upwards and be a key component at school.

Kyle Lev RHP / St. Martin, ON / 2019

Background: A tall, lean right-handed pitcher, Kyle Lev is a commanding presence on the bump. The 6-foot-7, 200-pound Lev will throw a changeup, fastball, and curveball, with the latter two being his more effective pitches. Lev’s fastball has been up to 89 and he gets some arm-side run while he works more in the mid 80’s range. The curveball flashes 11/5 break out of the same 3/4 arm slot and he has shown the ability to compliment both together.

Outlook: Siena is getting a really interesting tall right-handed pitcher who should add velocity. He will need to improve his secondary offerings, but the body and fastball in itself make Lev a guy to keep an eye on as when he is synced up, it has the chance to be a real interesting and intriguing arm.

Lukas Barry RHP / OF / St Aloysius Gonzaga, ON / 2019

Background: Another impressive season in the books, Barry continues to dominate and overpower opposing hitters. Barry features an explosive fastball that sits comfortably at 86-88 mph, but has touched 89 mph throughout the summer. He works quickly, shows great maturity and pitchability on the mound, and mixes in his breaking ball and changeup well to consistently keep opposing hitters’ timing off. Clean mechanics on the mound and the ability to throw for strikes with all three pitches, Barry has a quick arm and gets great extension out front. Barry has all the tools to become one of the top arms in the 2019 class in the entire country.

Outlook: Showing glimpses of what is to come in the future, Barry performed well on the bump against his committed school on the Ontario Blue Jays fall trip. While the tools and makeup are there, there is still plenty of physical maturing left for Barry who will be a great addition to the Billikens pitching staff. As he continues to put in the work in the weight room, Barry will have the opportunity to be an exceptional pitcher on the next level.

Dasan Brown OF / SS / Abbey Park, ON / 2019

Background: Brown has continued to improve with the bat and the speed, defense, and athleticism has always been there and is something you can count on to show up day in and day out. At the plate, the swing has less moving parts and Brown has been more consistent, putting the ball in play and starting to drive the ball in the gaps. There is quickness in his hands, he’s one of the strongest pound for pound guys in the country and there is quite a lot of things to like with Dasan, which is why he has become our top ranked prospect in the 2019 class.

Outlook: With the speed and athleticism alone, Brown is going to get a lot of pro looks in 2019 and the bat could really depend on how high a team is willing to go come June. If he ends up on campus, A&M are getting an exciting and dynamic player who can create on both sides of the ball, on the base paths, and work his way to a top of the order impact player.

Austin Gomm SS / 2B / Port Credit, ON / 2020

Background: Gomm had a coming out party in 2018 that consisted of a strong league performance, named MVP of the Canada Cup in Moncton and was selected to the fall camp for the Canadian National Team. The shortstop seems to find the barrel and makes consistent hard contact while showing range and feel defensively at short. He moves well, controls his body and the ceiling is very high.