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Canadian Junior National Team Selection Camp - Inside Look at Ontario

November 13, 2018
Chris Kemlo
PBR Ontario Director of Scouting

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ONTARIO INSIDER: Look at jnt selection camp roster invites from ontario

The Junior National Team gets together this week for their selection camp as they prepare for their upcoming qualifier in Panama for the World Championships in 2019.

They kick things off for a week in Ft. Lauderdale as they bring down a roster of 28 and must get to 20 before they leave to Panama. It’s a special time of year as this Junior National Team has a unique look with present professional players and current freshman get the hall pass for a chance to represent the motherland another time together.

Current players from Ontario that will be starting their American Thanksgiving a little early will be RHP Ben Abram, on release from the Oklahoma Sooners while high school teammates Denzel Clarke and Daniel Carinci will be back as they get early breaks from CSUN and Alabama.

From the professional ranks, Cleveland Indians first rounder Noah Naylor will be on loan with the JNT and he will obviously be a key member in Panama and a middle of the order presence. It will be interesting to see where Naylor ends up defensively as in 33 games with the Indians this year, 19 were behind the dish, 5 he played at the hot corner in 3B and the other 9 games he was penciled in as the DH.

Seven players from Ontario who are currently still in high school will makeup the 11 total ON players on the roster with on two of the players being uncommitted in Blake Buckle and Mitchell Bratt.

Buckle is the top uncommitted ranked player in the 19’ class with an easy, smooth, swing from the left side. It’s an athletic and strong frame at 6-foot-2, 195-pounds that should add more strength and inturn add power.

While Mitch Bratt, a young, up and coming LHP and the youngest player on this roster is another uncommitted arm that has been up to 87 mph this fall, something very encouraging from Bratt who features an athletic and whippy arm with good life out the hand and ability to spin his curveball with 1/7 shape and tight rotation.

The other Ontario members that round out the roster:

Dasan Brown OF / SS / Abbey Park, ON / 2019

Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 110 / POS: 19

Report: Speedy and athletic OF, Brown can do many things on the ball field and be a versatile defender who can play all three positions and create havoc on the basepaths with his speed. 

Keegan Pulford-Thorpe LHP / OF / Newmarket, ON / 2019

Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 474 / POS: 61

Report: Thorpe has the stuff and moxy to handle pressure situations and deal with tough environments on the mound. The Central Florida commit can be used in many different situations and features a curveball that has swing and miss potential. 

Owen Diodati C / A.N. Myer, ON / 2019

Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 294 / POS: 31

Report: The Alabama commit has arguably been the hottest hitter in the country over the last two months. Power from the left side of the plate will be a welcoming attribute for the National Team where in tournament format, one big swing can change the outcome and outlook very quickly. 

Tyrell (TJ) Schofield-Sam 3B / OF / North Park, ON / 2019

Rankings  StateRank: 5 / POS: 1

Report: We’ve said it over and over, he’s a gamer. Handles velocity as well as anyone and seems to have that clutch gene. Calm and collective, Schofield can be a big bat and make things happen offensively.

Connor O'Halloran LHP / 1B / St. Martins, ON / 2020

Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1

Report: The recent Michigan commit is polished beyond his years as a 2020 grad and knows how to attack and work hitters while throwing three pitches for strikes. The ability to work from the left side, hold runners and throw his secondary stuff in any situation gives O’Halloran a real chance to make this roster and could be that type of arm who you see on multiple occasions out the pen.

The Junior National Team is on field tomorrow, Nov.14th as they get started with a team workout before games everyday until the depart for Panama on the 20th of November. To see the full schedule click HERE .