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Ontario Insider: Canadians Hear Names Called Throughout MLB Draft

June 12, 2015



By Chris Kemlo
PBR Ontario Scouting Director

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Ontario Insider: Canadians Hear Names Called Throughout MLB Draft

This year, Ontario saw 8 high school prospects get selected in the 2015 MLB draft to go along with 30 Canadians total throughout high school and college ranks get picked up by a Major League club. We take a look at the 8 prep school players, where they went and what lies ahead for them in the coming months.

Josh NaylorJosh Naylor, 1B
1st Round, Miami Marlins, 12th Overall
Background: Naylor was projected as a top round pick heading into the draft and saw his stock climb after a fantastic week in the Dominican with the Canadian Junior National Team as he went off for five home runs against professional Dominican Summer League teams. Described by some as to have the most power in the draft, Miami didn’t wait around and took Naylor with the 12th overall selection. A Texas Tech commit, signs point towards Naylor forgoing the college route and starting his path toward the big leagues this summer.

Miles GordonMiles Gordon, OF
4th Round, Cincinnati Reds, 115th Overall
Background: An athletic outfielder who like Naylor, saw his stock rise over the last two months with strong showing with the Junior National Team on their trips to Florida and the Dominican. Gordon is an above average defender with a strong arm and great speed. The left-handed hitter is more of a line drive type player who has good bat to ball skills. Still undersized physically at 6-foot-1, 180-pounds, once Gordon matures and adds strength, he has the chance to be an exciting player who can profile as top of the order hitter and strong defensively at a premium position.

Demi OrimoloyeDemi Orimoloye, OF
4th Round, Milwaukee Brewers, 121st Overall
Background: Demi was an interesting pick. At the end of the summer circuit last year, there was talks that Orimoloye could be slated to go as high as the first round with strong showings at the Area Code Games and Under Armour classic at Wrigley Field. This fall, some early struggles against pro pitching may have turned teams off that perceived first round slot and saw Demi end up in the 4th round to the Milwaukee Brewers. A physical specimen at 6-foot-4, 225-pounds, Orimoloye is still somewhat raw and does not have the polish some high school players currently have. That said, if he can put it all together and get 2000 at-bats, he may just turn out to be the steal of the draft and potentially be a 5-tool player. Power and strength, with the ability to steal bases and be a plus runner with an arm that works from either centre or right field. Like any young player it will take time and at-bats to develop his craft, but with his tool set he will be extremely dangerous if it all comes together. Demi is committed to Oregon.

JD Williams, 2B
17th Round, Cincinnati Reds, 505th Overall
Background: Williams is a very smart and instinctive player who can do numerous things on the ball field. An above average runner who has been clocked at 6.60 in the 60-yard sprint, Williams shows bat speed and strength at the plate with quiet hands that work well to the ball. At 5-foot-9, 195-pounds, Williams doesn't project to get much bigger and should be able to stay at second base. A commitment to State College of Florida, Williams will now need to decide whether he honors that our chooses to go off into the world of professional baseball. Has been one of PBR favorite’s since we became live last fall and it’s no surprise to see Williams selected by a major league baseball team.

Isaac Anesty, LHP
18th Round, Cincinnati Reds, 535th Overall
Background: Anesty is the first Ontario high school pitcher to go off the board in the draft as the 6-foot-1, 185-pound lefty had himself a solid spring. Anesty squared off against IMG Academy and Brady Aiken’s first start of the year with close to 100 scouts in the stands. Anesty kept his velocity this spring as he was typically in the 86-89 mph range while getting up to 91 and 92 mph on some scouts guns. He cleaned up his delivery over the winter and was still able to keep that overhand curveball and showed good depth with the pitch. Anesty has a loose and easy arm action with some arm speed to go along. He currently is not committed to a school right now.

Darren ShredDarren Shred, RHP/C
22nd Round, Cincinnati Reds, 655th Overall
Background: Shred was selected as a right-handed pitcher by the Cincinnati Reds, even though he has spent the majority of his time behind the plate with the Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team. Shred has an electric arm that has seen his fastball touch 90 mph with limited innings and experience on the mound. With clean actions, and a lot more in him off the mound, we can easily see Shred staying on the mound and trying his hand at pitching. He is committed to Chipola junior college for fall 2015.


Eric SeniorEric Senior, OF
23rd round, Oakland Athletics, 698th Overall
Background: All kinds of things to like about the 6-foot-2, 170-pound outfielder who was the MVP at Tournament 12 and a NABF All-star at the 17u World Series in Knoxville last year. Senior is athletic and lean with long legs and arms. A very projectable player who has plenty of room to mature and gain strength, the ball jumps off his bat and he shows signs of power with some loud homeruns this spring. Has done nothing but continue to hit for the last two years, runs well and plays solid defensively in centre with an average arm that has more there. Senior is committed to Midland College in Texas.

Tristan Pompey, OF
31st Round, Minnesota Twins, 920th Overall
Background: An athletic outfielder who is committed to University of Kentucky. Teams may of been scared off by his commitment to the SEC school as Pompey was expected to be a much earlier pick. The switch-hitter who is physically imposing at 6-foot-4, 195-pounds, is a quick runner who plays a solid outfield. At the plate, Pompey has been a switch hitter for almost his whole career so far and seems comfortable from both sides of the plate. Scouts say that he is more advance than his brother Dalton was at this age. Dalton is one of the top prospects in the Blue Jays organization and started the year with the big league club. It looks as though Tristan will be off to Kentucky, and if that is the case, you can expect to hear his name again come this time, 2018.

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