MLB Draft League - Ontario Preview
May 7, 2021
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MLB Draft League - Ontario Preview
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The 2020 MLB Draft was like none other, lasting just five rounds and 2021’s draft will be similar in the fashion that it will be like none other. The draft will of course be significantly longer this time around but it will be pushed back from early June to mid-July.
With the new timing of the draft and the creation of the MLB Draft League, it allows college players the chance to boost their draft stock following the completion of their season and allows some of the sleepers a chance to establish themselves in front of pro scouts.
While the MLB Draft League will be made up of predominantly college talent, there will be high school players sprinkled in as well. Ontario will have two high schoolers joining the inaugural Draft League; Mitch Bratt of the Toronto Mets and Elijha Hammill of the Ontario Terriers.
The two college representatives from Ontario are a pair of 5th-year seniors at Division I programs; Zac Fascia of Purdue and Max Wright of Indiana State.
With the Draft League set to begin in just over two weeks, we give you an in-depth look at all four of the previously mentioned players who join the league by way of Ontario.
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Max Wright C / 1B / Lawrence Park Collegiate Insitute, ON / 2016Report: Max Wright is a strong and physical 6-foot-3, 215-pound catcher/outfielder who has really broken out offensively in 2021. The 5th year senior has hit ten home runs through 32 games and is slashing .297/.455/.631, all four of which are career-highs. The upside is in the bat for the left-handed hitter and with an OPS of 1.086 right now, it will be interesting to see if he can continue putting up those numbers leading into the draft. Wright, a GLC grad, attended the Super 60 back in 2016 when he was the second-ranked catcher in Ontario and 380th overall in North America.
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Zachary Fascia C / RHP / Turner Fenton Secondary School, ON / 2016Report: Zac Fascia is a senior catcher at Purdue and the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder potentially would have heard his name called in 2020 if the draft had been longer than five rounds. An Indians Hills CC transfer, Fascia is a defense first catcher with a strong arm and quick, accurate throws. Although he’ll make his money behind the dish, the left-handed-hitting catcher is batting .320 and slugging .443 through 26 games, both of which would be career highs. Fascia will be one of the oldest players in the MLB Draft League and it wouldn’t surprise me if that experience plays to his advantage over the next couple months.
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Mitch Bratt LHP / OF / Newmarket, ON / 2021Report: Mitch Bratt emerged several years ago as a name in Ontario to watch in the 2021 Draft and that’s finally coming to fruition for the 6-foot-1, 190-pound left-hander. The stuff isn’t overpowering from Bratt but he has control of a three-pitch mix and the fastball typically sits in the 88-90 mph range. Along with the three-pitch mix, it’s the strike throwing ability that makes the Toronto Mets product intriguing on the mound. Bratt has pitched on the big-stage against premiere talent before and that’s usually when you’ll see him at his best. Something to watch from the FSU commit will be his fastball as it’s continued to tick upwards each summer. Bratt is Ontario’s second-ranked prospect and one of Canada’s top high school prospects. This is an arm you’ll definitely want to follow throughout the summer.
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Elijha Hammill SS / 2B / Holy Trinity , ON / 2021Report: Elijha Hammill, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound shortstop was the youngest player on the 2019 JNT spring trip and the tools immediately stood out. At 15-years-old he had no trouble with pro pitching and was making all sorts of hard contact. The switch-hitter started the extended spring trip going 3-for-8 with a home run and double. Hammill’s speed and ability to move on the bases can’t be overlooked either. The Ontario Terriers infielder showed his hit tool in a game against the Blue Jays last spring with a single up the middle off Jordan Romano and followed it up with a stolen base off Riley Adams who was recently called up to the big leagues. As someone who may not draw as much attention as the top two names in Ontario’s 2021 high school class, Hammill is someone who could really benefit from the MLB Draft League and drive up his draft stock with a good showing.
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