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By Chris Kemlo
Director of Scouting

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Ontario Draft Insider: D-Day - Draft Day is here

With the 2016 MLB draft just over 30 hours away from the first selection, we take a look at what if and what could be over the next few days for high school ball players in Ontario. Personally, baseball is the hardest draft to predict in all of the major sports. You see mock drafts for the NBA, NHL, NFL, and a lot of the time the experts covering their sport have a real good idea what club will select what player. In baseball, you have a small idea early on in the first round, maybe. Now with the pool money for teams allocated for the first 10 rounds, pre-draft deals and senior signs, it is nearly impossible to actually know what is going to happen.

I’ve seen players who have had contact with 25 teams before the draft and get selected by the team they never had any discussion with. Players who are dead set on attending college, only to be selected late and sign once their team couldn’t sign their top early picks.

One thing is for certain, for those lucky enough to hear their name called by a Major League Baseball team, it will be a moment that will stay with them forever. Who they were with, the location, the time, the temperature, what they were wearing, the song on the radio, they will remember it all. For a kid from Ontario, Canada to achieve a moment like this is already defying the odds. We are suppose to be hockey players right?

Below is a summary of draft happenings that have lead up tomorrow nights first 77 picks of the 2016 MLB draft. It is unpredictable, but very easily one of the best 3 days of the year, every year.

Good luck to all players nationwide, and especially those hockey players who turned themselves into ball players and dirtbags.

Day 1:

77 picks. That is what we are working with on the first night of the MLB draft. 200 players think they have a chance of going on the first night, only 77 get to live the dream. Ontario has two players in Jordan Balazovic (pictured right) and Andy Yerzy who have been linked to possibly hearing their names called on Thursday. Balazovic has performed well on his pre-draft camps at Wrigley and the Ballpark in Arlington. Yerzy was in Arizona at Chase Field and his power was on display as he went into the swimming pool in right-centre. If not on Day 1, it’s likely that these players will be early picks on Friday, but with strong commitments to Auburn for Balazovic and Notre Dame for Yerzy, there are still plenty of factors that come into play.

Day 2:

Maybe the biggest climb over the winter has been 6-foot-6 right-hander Austin Shields. The hard throwing righty was up to 94 mph this spring, and has turned his body into what a pro player looks like. Was recently out on the west coast for pre-draft workouts with the Dodgers and Padres at their respective parks. He has had some command issues at times, but with the limited innings he has had on the mound, the potential for a wipeout slider, and fastball that will continue to gain velocity, Shields has put himself in a great spot heading into this years draft. Nick Howie (pictured right) was off to Houston earlier this week for a pre-draft workout and proceeded to show off his power by peppering balls into the seats. The body and strength is evident, as Howie has multiple tools in his game. Luke Van Rycheghem opened some eyes at the ProCase here in Scarborough where he was one of the best players on the field, hitting an opposite field home run in front of 20 plus MLB teams. RJ Freure is right-handed arm that runs his fastballs into the low-90s. Freure has been nothing short of dominant this spring, using his fastball/curveball combination to make hitters look silly and clueless. The victory lap Freure took has helped him get into the right shape, and his pitchability factor and command have all improved.

Don’t Sleep On:

Matt Brash: The young right-hander has come into play with his loose and quick arm action, working in the high-80s and up to 90 mph to go along with a curveball that has depth and action to it. A product of Kingston, scouts haven’t had the number of chances to see Brash as they have with some others but there is a good chance someone likes what he has to offer.

Jake Wilson: The left-handed hitting outfielder is yet to fill out physically, but the Bowling Green commit has had a great spring and was another standout at the ProCase showcasing his above average arm from right field.

Matt Jones: 6-foot-4, 195-pound left-hander who competes and looks the part of a professional pitcher. Has been up to 90 mph this spring. Hasn’t shown the curveball he has in the past but glimpses of it still being there and ability to spin it are still there. Will be three pitch guy who can still mature physically, when all said and done could 6-foot-4 lefty who sits low-90s with three average pitches.

Brad Aldred: Toolsy player with all kinds of pop from the left side. At times can look like a top 10 round pick and then goes into a spell for a week. Consistency is something he lacks but the potential and upside is something to dream on.

Elliott Curtis: Lots to like with the physical ability and the bat from the left side. Not sure he profiles as a shortstop right now at the pro level but a jump to second base turns him into an offensive second baseman who can range to both sides with arm strength.

Sam Turcotte: Big strong right-hander who has pitched well with the Junior National Team this spring. Sits in the high-80s and lots of room for potential to come. Great makeup and competes well, has done it on the biggest stages around.