Ontario Scout Blog - June 13/14
June 15, 2022
Our staff has been all over the GTA again these past several days as we continue to lock in on players across the province ahead of our U.S. Invitational Events.
On Monday night we got a look at several big-time 2024 arms from Team Ontario and the Ontario Blue Jays and followed it up with the Toronto Blue Jays Academy Showcase Tryouts in Oakville. The event gave us a look at 130+ players including some intriguing underclass players.
We provide some quick-hit style notes below on those who impressed.
2023 1B/RHP Alex Kean (Ontario Nationals) - Kean was the biggest winner on the day with the loudest round of BP and working up to 88mph on the mound. The left-handed hitter has size at 6-foot-4, 220-pounds and put several balls out to the pullside, working middle to pull. Really impressive showing from the uncommitted two-way out of the Ontario Nationals program who leads the CPBL 17U in HRs.
UC 2023 Alex Kean (@alex_kean10)
— PBR Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) June 14, 2022
Loud round of BP, lots of barrel, can run it up there on the mound as well.@NatsOnt || @BlueJaysAcademy pic.twitter.com/zuisxDFn8O
2025 C Benji Kautto (Ontario Blue Jays) - Kautto jumped out to our staff several weeks ago with his catching and left-handed swing. 5-foot-11, 175-pounds with a level swing that works gap-to-gap. Still very young with plenty of room for development. Early on, Kautto looks to be one of the better 2025 catchers in Ontario.
UC ‘25 C Benji Kautto (@benjikautto)
— PBR Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) June 15, 2022
5-11, 175lb physical left-handed hitter w/ feel for the barrel. Swings plays in BP and in-game.
Also looks the part behind the dish as a good receiver with agile actions.
One of ON’s top 2025 catchers.@OntarioBlueJays || #BeSeen?? pic.twitter.com/anT7aeSVrW
2023 C Joshren Magnaye (Toronto Cubs) - Magnaye was another catcher to standout on Tuesday and may have been the best of the bunch. It’s the catching skills and overall look that jump out first, with a quick catch-and-throw leading to consistent 1.90 pop-times. 5-foot-10, 175-pound switch-hitter with bat speed, especially from the left side. Good overall showing from Magnaye who we look forward to seeing in-game.
UC 2023 Joshren Magnaye (@JoshMagz23)
— PBR Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) June 14, 2022
One of the standouts from Day 1 of tryouts in Oakville. Switch-hitter with some barrel control, was one of the better defensive catchers.@BullettBaseball || @BlueJaysAcademy pic.twitter.com/K3fEiJMVrx
2024 RHP Owen Slater (Team Ontario) - We got our first league play look at Slater on Monday night and worked five innings against OBJ White, flashing a three-pitch mix. The fastball sat 82-84 and induced the most swing/miss with the armside run. His best secondary pitch was the changeup at 75-77 and there wasn’t any hard contact in the outing. Our staff continues to like what we see from Slater and the velocity jump will be what takes him to the next level.
UC ‘24 RHP Owen Slater (@slatsy19)
— PBR Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) June 14, 2022
3-pitch mix w/ arm side run on the FB that generates swing/miss. Threw several good CHs that he’s able to sell well.
6-3, 165lbs. Moves well & throws strikes.
FB 82-84
CH 75-77
SL 67-68@TeamONBaseball || #BeSeen??@PBR_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/Aae7F6OQ4z
2024 RHP Makaio Cisneros (Ontario Blue Jays) - We’ve seen plenty of Cisneros so far this year and he’s impressed each time, so there’s not much more we can write here. Sat comfortably 85-87 with the FB along with several 88s. Cisneros continues to dominate against his own age and show well against older competition. One of the headliners of OBJ’s loaded 16U program.
UC ‘24 @Makaio111 has certified himself as one of the best arms in his class.
— Cam Black-Araujo (@CamAraujoBB) June 14, 2022
Worked up to 88mph last night and continues to elevate his game above his peers. One to watch over the next two years.
FB 85-87 T88
SL 75-76
CB 68@OntarioBlueJays || @prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/eikKrRVg6g
2024 SS Evan Arnold (Thunderwolves) - Arnold’s footwork, actions and overall look at shortstop continue to impress most. 5-foot-10 left-handed hitter with room to fill out. Added strength will be huge for both sides of his game but Arnold continues to show he’s one of the better infielders in Ontario’s 2024 class.
Impressive showing from UC ‘24 Evan Arnold (@evanarnold1).
— ?????? ????? (@GeorgeHalim_) June 12, 2022
A silky defender who makes the plays & floats around the infield, Arnold touched up pitching all day with hard contact to his pull side. Ex-Junior Future Games.@TWolvesScout || @PBR_Ontario ?? pic.twitter.com/ZxxwlEKQwd
2024 RHP Matthew Brown (Ontario Blue Jays) - Brown possesses an electric arm and has quickly gone from an unfamiliar name to one of the most sought after starts in the province. His best bullet on the night was 89mph and was eventually 85-87, but there’s not many knocks on the mound for Brown right now. Looks the part when he steps on the mound at 6-foot-5, 185-pounds. One of the top uncommitted 2024s in the country.
UC ‘24 Matt Brown (@matthewbrown_7) has been as advertised this year.
— ?????? ????? (@GeorgeHalim_) June 14, 2022
6-5/185lbs, athletic, limbs for days & a live arm. Flashed 89 while living 85-88 with ASR. Uncomfortable to hit against when his FB moves like this ⬇️@OntarioBlueJays || @prepbaseball ?? pic.twitter.com/XyAoI033Zw
2025 OF John Hughes (Ontario Blue Jays) - Hughes is another OBJ product who stands out every time we see him and all his tools are above average for his age. Lean/athletic frame, can stick in CF and there’s bat speed from the right side. 5-foot-10, 170-pounds and he looks to do damage at the plate. Well-rounded game from Hughes whose name should be a mainstay over the next several years.
‘25 OF John Hughes is one of the most intriguing outfielders in the 2025 class.
— PBR Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) June 14, 2022
Athlete who can man CF and has bat speed from the right side, always looking to do damage.@OntarioBlueJays || @PBR_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/6RGEc6tCsZ
2025 C Anderson Fenwick (HPP Tigers) - Fenwick was another young catcher to jump out on Tuesday with a well-rounded game and left-handed swing. 5-foot-9, 175-pounds prospect from the HPP Tigers who was hitting balls hard to all fields and stood out at the dish among the catching group.
UC 2025 Anderson Fenwick (@Hoss3993)
— PBR Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) June 14, 2022
Good looking swing, sprays the ball to all fields, hard contact.@HppTigers || @BlueJaysAcademy pic.twitter.com/majHwwDBF1
2024 OF Jorge Valdes (Ontario Blue Jays) - Valdez comes with an exciting toolset and a frame that has plenty of room to add strength without hindering his speed. 5-foot-10, 160-pound outfielder who’s a quality defender with a left-handed bat that shows up in-game and consistently hits the ball hard. A 2024 for college coaches to keep tabs on as the summer continues to roll on.
UC 2024 Jorge Valdes (@jorge_valdes51)
— PBR Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) June 14, 2022
Twitchy OF who flies. Catches hard barrel to all fields, one of the better OF’s in Canada’s ‘24 class.@OntarioBlueJays || @BlueJaysAcademy pic.twitter.com/57pHxz3zaH
UPCOMING EVENTS
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
2022 Future Games Frenzy | ON | 06/29 | Dan Lang Field (U of T, Scarborough) |
PBR Junior Future Games | NATIONAL | 07/26 | LakePoint |
2022 PBR Future Games (PBR Canada Selects Invite) | ON | 07/27 | LakePoint Sports |
2022 West Coast Games (PBR Canada Selects Invite) | ON | 08/12 | UNLV |
Improve My Profile with Game Video (Ontario) | ON | 08/29 | Ontario |