Prep Baseball Report

Signing Period - Division 1 Recruiting Class Breakdown


PBR Canada Staff

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Signing Period - Out of State Recruiting Class Breakdown

The NCAA signing period is from November 11th-18th. With the start of the signing period upon us, we look to break down a host of Division 1 commitments, where they are headed and what tools they will bring with them.

* Commitments are listed in chronological order based on the Class of 2022 Rankings

PAC 12

OREGON

Matthew Grabmann RHP / SS / Choate Rosemary Hall, CT / 2022

Report: The right-hander is one of the hardest, if not the hardest thrower in the country as Grabmann has run his fastball into the mid 90’s and touched 95 and 96 at the end of fall in Florida. The Nova Scotia native is strapped with a loose, easy arm and mixes of secondary with a hybrid breaking ball that can act as a curveball or slider and developing changeup. The stuff has continued to improve and Grabmann is a nice get for the Ducks. Now the question is if he gets on campus. 

Turner Spoljaric RHP / National High School, ON / 2022

Report: Spoljaric is a name we’ve seen a lot of and have known about for a long time. From Procases early on and Future Games in Georgia, Spoljaric was one of the late commitments from the 22’ class, especially as being ranked number one, even though he hasn’t been short on stuff or projection. Spoljaric has been up to 93 mph and a secondary that possesses a true spike curveball while a changeup that works well off his fastball. Expect to see lots of Spoljaric early on this spring. 


OREGON STATE

Conor Pote RHP / SS / Okotoks Dawgs Academy, AB / 2022

Report: Pote is a right-handed arm out of Okotoks who has battled some injuries over the last 18 months but seems to be healthy and rebuilding arm strength as he was able to make two trips with the National team at the end of summer and into the fall. Pote has a long and athletic frame at 6-foot-4 that is going to expand and be able to carry more size and weight. The velocity hasn’t yer climbed up to where we think he’ll get but he has thrown strikes and been around the zone, showing he can get outs without his best stuff. Will see how the off-season treats Pote.

UTAH

Cameron Gurney C / SS / Pauline Johnson, ON / 2022

Report: Gurney, the left-handed hitting catcher was originally a 2021 grad who was off to Arizona State but Gurney decided otherwise and has committed to what is quickly becoming a mainstay for Canadians in the university of Utah. Gurney is a power first bat that does have some hit tool to mesh with a strong arm behind the plate and a glove that continues to get better. He’s presently strong and physical, having done a real good job of adding strength and muscle to his frame over the past 18 months. Gurney has tools and the work ethic to get playing time early as a freshman and he looks to come out strong in 2022. 

Anson McGorman RHP / SS / Vauxhall Academy of Baseball, AB / 2022

Report: The righty who plays for Vauxhall in Alberta and Parksville BC native is the most recent commit on the list. The 6-foot-3 righty decided to stay back another year after an injury derailed 2020/2021 campaign and it looks to of paid off after appearances with the National team and a strong performance in Florida to end the fall. The right-hander has touched 93 and tends to work in the 90-91 range with his fastball that is heavy with arm side run. He will mix in a slider and changeup with the slider having the ability to play up with shape and action. McGorman has the chance to be a big name and if he is healthy, watch out for him early in the spring of '21. A very nice pickup for Utah here on the mound. 

WASHINGTON

Chase Marshall RHP / 1B / Earl Marriott, BC / 2022

Report: The right-hander out of the White Rock Tritons organization is a big, wide shouldered frame that gives you lots to project on. We’ve seen Marshall up to 90 but worked regularly in the 85-88 range this summer with a curveball that has depth and feel to it when he is synced up and throwing the pitch regularly. Marshall is only going to continue to add size to his frame and look for him to be someone that has an opportunity early on to pitch meaningful innings for the National team in 2022. 

Boston Warkentin RHP / Foothills Composite, AB / 2022

Report: Warkentin made his first appearance with the National Team this summer and was a bright spot for the Canadains in a seven game set vs. the USA team. The Washington commit threw strikes with the fastball that worked in the 88-91 range while using a curveball that has late action and bite to it that kept hittes off balance and showed swing and miss to it. Warkentin screams late inning reliever type that has a chance for two pitches to play up and be a lock down guy out the pen early in his college career. We are not saying he won’t start, but the delivery, stuff and mentality all point towards him being a late inning guy to shut things down.

WASHINGTON STATE

Max Hartman OF / 1B / Foothills Composite, AB / 2022

Report: The Alberta outfielder and left-handed hitter, Hartman is a hit first type player who has played all three outfield spots this season and seen the majority of his time in left-field with the National Team. Hartman is an aggressive type player who uses the whole field offensively and will look to take extra 90’s out the box or when he gets on base. The swing is level and line drive oriented and there is some run tool that allows him to take 90’s when the opportunity presents itself.

SEC

ALABAMA

Nathaniel Ochoa SS / 3B / Notre Dame Catholic, ON / 2022

Report: Ochoa was originally committed to Purdue but a change to Alabama and the SEC took place just within the last three weeks and joined a chain of recent commits to head to Alabama. Ochoa is physically gifted with a strong, athletic 6-foot-5 frame that has easy actions on both sides of the ball. He’s made some adjustments to his swing and setup that look to play in the long run, although the results he wants might not be the exact numbers he wants presently. The upside with Ochoa is the power potential and ability to stay on the left side of the diamond. He has as much potential as anyone in the country and could absolutely go off at Alabama after getting more at-bats and another winter of training under his belt. 

GEORGIA

Blake Gillespie SS / RHP / Medway, GA / 2022

Report: Gillepsie is a very intriguing story as the Ontario native made the move to Georgia and just proceeded to take off and get better and better. Gillespie has a work ethic that would be hard to find someone who is at the cage more, and he really has taken the next step on the mound as he has run his fastball into the low 90’s with a loose, easy, athletic delivery and arm stroke while showing feel for both a curveball and changeup. The university of Georgia took notice and quickly scooped up Gillespie and we were able to see him this fall and he checks off all kinds of boxes. Good chance for big upside and a big arm with Gillespie on the hill. I’m sure we will hear lots of him early in the season from our PBR Georgia boys. 

LSU

Micah Bucknam RHP / 3B / M.E.I, BC / 2022

Report: Another player who decided to re-commit, Bucknam agreed with powerhouse LSU Tigers this September after he was a 16th round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in this past year's draft. Bucknam was a hot commodity going into the spring but a tough year with travel restrictions and covid made it tough to get a regular schedule put into place. Bucknam will be somebody we are anxious to see this year as the arm is quick and he is another player that has upside with the stuff.

BIG 12

WEST VIRGINIA

Sam White C / SS / Aurora, ON / 2023

Report: A left-handed hitting catcher who stood out offensively throughout the summer with the Canadian Junior National Team. He’s continued to develop behind the dish after a move from shortstop but it’s consistently been the hit tool that’s carried him. The power has continued to progress and his ability to consistently hit the gaps has made him a standout everywhere he’s played. It’s a good approach at the plate and he moves well around the bases. White has always been able to hit velocity and high-level pitching so he’ll be a fun one to follow during his tenure in the Big 12.

BIG TEN

ILLINOIS

Dylan O'Rae SS / Northern, ON / 2022

Report: O’Rae is a speed first, left-handed hitter out of the Great Lakes Canadians program who plays up the middle. It’s game-changing speed from O’Rae as we’ve seen him run a 6.44 sixty-yard dash. Although a little undersized at 5-foot-8, 140-pounds, O’Rae is well-rounded with his tools and feel for the game. The actions are quick and the athleticism is evident at short. At the dish he’s able to consistently find barrels to all fields. 

Liam Adamson RHP / Oakridge, ON / 2022

Report: The right-hander Adamason isn’t going to overpower you with size or stuff but Adamson has always done a good job of competing, attacking hitters and throwing strikes whenever we’ve seen him. The arm and delivery work well and the fastball sits in the 87-89 range while there is a chance for a 4 pitch mix. Adamson has some present strength to his frame but will still be able to get stronger and we can see him having a very successful college career while the stuff continues to polish and improve. 

PURDUE

Carter Krawchuk RHP / SS / St. Francis, ON / 2022

Report: Krawchuk is a live wired right-hander who stands out for his ability to spin the baseball. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder has long had some of the best stuff in the province. The fastball typically sits in the upper-80s although PBR Georgia had him up to 91 at the 17U Nationals. It’s a long, quick arm with armside run on the fastball at 87-88. The breaking ball has sharp, downward action with above-average spin rates and easily one of the best offspeed offerings of Ontario’s ‘22s.

RUTGERS

Hugh Pinkney C / OF / Silverthorn CI, ON / 2022

Report: The left-handed hitting catcher was one of the first commitments from the 22’ class and recently proved he still belongs towards the top of that list. His size stands out behind the dish at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds with a quick arm and the maturity is evident throughout his entire game. At the dish he’s balanced and upright with a good approach from the left side. There’s feel for the strike zone and barrel control. An intriguing catcher who’s able to get the job done on both sides of the ball. 

BIG EAST

XAVIER

Luis Pimentel Guerrero SS / OF / Corpus Christi, ON / 2022

Report: The switch hitting Guerrero is working his way back from Tommy John surgery with the hopes of getting into game action early this spring. Pimentel has always had a feel to hit from both sides of the plate and would see time at both 2B and the OF. It is hit first with Pimentel and we are excited to see him healthy and back on the field as soon as possible in 2022.

Jakob Poturnak SS / 3B / International School Manila, BC / 2022

Report: The right-handed hitting infielder packs bat speed and twitch from the right-side and has an interesting story with a lot of his time has been spent in the philippines. He will make the move and play in BC this summer with the North Shore Twins and we expect him to see more time with the National Team in 2022. He’s shown that he can play third base and maybe even more versatility in the future as coaches can be creative to find ways to get his bat in the lineup. There is power in the bat and he has tattooed some balls in BC fall play so this could easily be a guy to watch heading into the 2022 season. Another nice piece by Xavier as someone who can do a lot of damage in the Big East. 

CONFERENCE USA

FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

Dylan Oborne 3B / RHP / Westmount C.I., ON / 2022

Report: Oborne is one of the true players who has legit two-way possibilities on the list. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder impressed in Florida this past spring, running his fastball up to 90 mph to go along with 89 mph across the diamond and 100 mph exit velocity during batting practice. There’s present strength and power at the dish from the right-side where he likes to work the pullside. On the bump, the right-hander will sit 88-89 mph with life out of the hand and a hard slider at 76-78. An exciting package on both sides of the ball from Oborne who’s frame and physicality can’t be overlooked either. 

SUNBELT CONFERENCE

TROY

Zakery Szabo RHP / 3B / Sinclair, ON / 2022

Report: Szabo was a standout at the Senior Games this year and carried that all the way through the end of the fall, pitching in the low 90’s with a slider and looked to be oozing confidence. He performed with Team Canada in Dunedin and has a chance to be an impact arm for them in 2022. Szabo committed to Troy quickly after the Senior Games in PA and the stuff and confidence he has should allow him to get meaningful innings early in his college career. 

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

EAST TENNESSEE STATE

Jordan Woods LHP / St. Ignatius of Loyola, ON / 2022

Report: Woods is a pitchability left-hander who fills the zone with three pitches and has a frame and actions that suggest he is only going to get stronger while the stuff will play up. Woods pitched stateside this past year while still making appearances in the fall with his Terriers team and the National team in September. It’s not overpowering, but Woods mixes his pitches well and shows a feel to pitch that you don’t always get from high school arms. Do not be surprised to see Woods make an impact at school and do so early as he can be very versatile with his stuff and strike throwing abilities. 

MID AMERICAN CONFERENCE

BOWLING GREEN

Carson Lumley RHP / OF / Mother Teresa, ON / 2022

Report: Lumley is recovering from Tommy John and is scheduled to be ready to go by summer 2022 from reports we have heard. Lumley was down in Florida when the injury occured but he has always been an exciting arm who also has two-way abilities. We expect him to be a candidate for the National Team if healthy as Lumley has one of the quickest arms of anyone in the country and can spin the breaking ball with all kinds of compete. We are fired up to see a healthy Lumley on the ball diamond in 2022.

AMERICA EAST

STONY BROOK

Max Lanoue RHP / OF / Oakville Trafalgar High School, ON / 2022

Report: Lanoue is a right-hander with long levers and a smooth arm stroke. There is recent vidoe of him online training and getting up to 90 mph off the mound. We saw Lanoue a few years back and liked what we saw. Excited to see where he is at heading into the 22’ season as Stony Brook was early to pounce on Lanoue and for good reason.

MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE

MISSOURI STATE

Taeg Gollert SS / 3B / Humberside, ON / 2022

Report: Gollert is another play who can get on campus and have two-way aspirations. Gollert has continued to trend up and get better every time we’ve seen him as the bat and hands are quick offensively and will spray balls gap to gap while he has a chance to really tap into some power as he gets older and matures. Gollert can also provide innings on the mound with clean actions and a feel for the strike zone and a curveball. The compete is there and this is someone who is going to get on campus and have a successful career while helping the team win. 

THE SUMMIT LEAGUE

NORTH DAKOTA STATE

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Jonah Tong RHP / OF / Bill Crothers, ON / 2022

Report: Tong has arguably one of the quickest and most electric arms in the class and it was on full display this summer while also representing Canada at the Senior Games in PA. The Toronto Mets right-hander will typically sit 88-90 mph and we saw a ton of swing and miss on the pitch throughout the summer. There’s feel for multiple offspeed pitches, starting with a curveball at 74-77 with 12/6 shape and a changeup that’s continued to develop over the summer. At 6-foot, 165-pounds there’s still plenty of room for growth and maturity.