Team Canada vs Detroit Tigers
March 17, 2018
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Canada Spring Training Coverage - Florida
For information on any teams or players, please contact Chris Kemlo - [email protected] or George Halim - [email protected]
Team Canada vs Detroit Tigers
Day one saw the Canadian Junior National Team take on a group of minor leaguers from the Detroit Tigers organization at Walter Fuller complex in St. Petersburg. Top 2018 MLB prospects Noah Naylor and Denzel Clarke were in the lineup and uncommitted 2018 right-hander Griffin Hassall got the start for team Canada.
After a scoreless frame by Hassall to open up the first, Team Canada jumped out to a 1-0 lead after 2019 Oregon State commit Cesar Valero reached on an infield error, Noah Naylor took a 91 mph fastball on the outer half to left-centre gap for a double to plate Valero and take a 1-0 lead.
Hassall was able to use all three pitches over his three innings of work and mixed in his off-speed, doing a good job of keeping hitters off balance. He got touched up for three runs in the second inning due to a couple walks and an error, but was able to work through the third inning unscathed and capped off a strong start overall for his first appearance of 2018.
Team Canada hitters were held silent for the next few innings with some good swings and balls hit hard by Valero and 2019 uncommitted left-handed stick Blake Buckle, but didn’t get the results to match.
It wasn’t until the 5th when Naylor was back at it as he laced an 0-2 fastball into right-centre for a standup triple, his second extra base hit of the game. The pitcher tried to quick pitch Naylor and he was still able to keep his hands inside and control the barrel.
That pretty much wrapped up the offensive output for the day. Valero put another good swing together early in the count and this time was rewarded as he ripped a double over the left-fielders head.
Jaden Griffin was a highlight on the mound for the day. The VCU commit struck out the first four hitters he faced, showing good feel for his breaking ball as he worked two scoreless innings.
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