As anyone who’s played the game knows, baseball can be very unpredictable. Like a team from Canada with one commit (to NAIA St. Francis, IN) knocking off a Florida Academy with 12 D1 commits on their roster on our opening day of PBR Spring Training. That being the 18U Nationals knocking off TNXL Academy, albeit it was a lot of the younger players but still impressive nonetheless. One of the stars to emerge from that game was an uncommitted 2019 infielder from the Nationals and he carried the momentum from that game throughout the rest of his Spring Training.

He may not have been on everyone’s radar heading into the week but Jake Douglas is a name our staff will not soon forget. He was the lone Canadian to go deep at Boombah Sports Complex and the extra-base power didn’t stop there as he added four doubles and a triple. His Day Two homerun was loud and after a good showing on Day One as well, the name quickly spread around the complex.

“Right away when I hit the ball I knew it was going to go and it felt good just to get off to a good start to the year and it really sets the tempo for myself as well as our team and I think it really just kind of fired everybody up,” said Douglas, thinking back on his first home run of the year.

Once again, not lying.

Already with a ? in the game, 2019 Jake Douglas of the @NatsOnt rips a loud double to LCF. #PBRSpringTraining?? pic.twitter.com/1DKc9M9dsU

— PBR Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) March 11, 2019

After his 8-for-15 performance throughout the week, adding three walks as well, it was evident what Douglas had focused on during his offseason.

“Lots of hitting. I’ve always been a big fan of getting in the cages a lot and taking some swings and consistently working out a lot as well. I feel like strength is a big part of my game and I wanted to build on that and continue to get better,” added Douglas, a 2019 grad.

Digging in on the right-side of the box, Douglas has a quiet approach and showed the ability to hit for power to all fields throughout the week. He was very disciplined at the plate and seemed to find loud, barreled contact on any pitch thrown over the plate.

Douglas is still an uncommitted senior and after really making a statement in Sanford, his organization is proud he was able to show off his talent, noting that it came at the perfect time as well.

“He has developed into a mature player, and it showed,” said Jeremy Jayaweera, Nationals’ Director of Baseball Operations. “Being his graduating year, we couldn’t have asked for anything more during this trip. We cannot wait for what comes next for Jake.”

Uncommitted 2019 Jake Douglas of @NatsOnt shoots that gap again with a two-RBI double. #PBRSpringTraining ?? pic.twitter.com/KHLrfg3sy3

— PBR Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) March 14, 2019

With Douglas definitely on our radar heading into the summer, he will look to carry his power approach at the plate into the CPBL season and help his club improve on a 12-17 campaign this past season. His team as a whole showed well throughout the week going 3-3, including a two-game split with TNXL Academy from Florida.

After their good start to 2019 at Spring Training, Douglas knows this whole eight-day experience spent alongside his teammates will pay dividends throughout the year as it has brought the team closer together.

“The bus was great because most of us are from different areas so it’s always good to get time away from the field with the guys and it’s not super hard to do obviously, but you can learn a lot about each other and the new guys.”

Congrats again to Jake Douglas of the Ontario Nationals on being named our first ever Spring Training MVP.

“I’ve been to Dodgertown three times and then to Cartersville, Georgia twice but this one was by far the best set-up for where the diamonds were. The hotel was unbelievable. You guys and your coverage and getting names out as top performers was awesome and I really couldn’t have asked for anything better.”