Pare Top Uncommitted 2023 Prospect In Ontario

LASALLE, Ontario - While most high school Canadians are anxiously awaiting nicer weather to get outside to play baseball, Matteo Pare has been down in Florida training and playing at TNXL Academy near Orlando.

“I’ll be down there until May, deciding who to play on in the summer,” related the third-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in Ontario, who is taking online classes from St. Thomas of Villanova while down south.

Admittedly, development is easier in Florida than in Canada.

“It’s tough with the cold weather and that you can’t throw in the back yard right now,” Pare noted about his homeland. “With Covid it made it tougher. I was in the garage throwing at walls. You just have to try to persevere until that ends.”

The sixth-ranked junior in Ontario made a statement at the Future Games to help gain notice.

“That’s when I started to pick up recruitment,” Pare related. “I talked to a few major D-I’s after that and now I’m back into the loop of recruiting. It was hard to be seen in Canada with the lockdown the month of January.”

Cam Black-Araujo, PBR Canada’s lead scout, has a high opinion of the hard-throwing righty.

“Pare is the top uncommitted 2023 in the province and really jumped onto the scene this past year where he joined Team Canada at the Future Games,” Black-Araujo said. “At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, he moves well on the mound for his size and has the ability to repeat his delivery with relative ease.”

Pare enjoyed his time at the PBR event in Georgia.

“I knew that was a big tournament with a lot of recruiters there and it turned out well,” Pare said. “I pitched 21/3 innings and did well. I showed all the stuff I have.

“I really had next to nothing as far as interest before the Future Games. It was a great experience with great baseball all week. It’s fun to have people interested in you.”

Still, at this point in time Pare has not taken a college visit.

“There’ve been no visits, but it’s always fun to get calls from coaches, talking to them and getting myself out there,” Pare explained. “Those I’ve talked with like my delivery and that I have more speed. I’m gifted with an athletic build so that always helps.”

More size has also benefited the cause.

“I’ve improved by putting on 20 to 25 pounds in the offseason,” Pare said. “Now I’m 6-4 208.”:

There’s more that Pare has been doing to get better.

“I’ve been working on my breaking ball and my change is working well,” Pare noted. “I’m engaging my lower half more to get power in my delivery.”

Development is continuing as he works in Florida toward his future goals.

“While I’m down here I’m doing offspeed training so I’m game ready in March,” Pare said. “I hope to have some good outings and show the scouts what I have.”

The 16-year-old is confident about what he can do for a college program.

“I look at myself as very coachable and I work 100 percent,” Pare explained. “I take feedback from others well and try to build off of that. I want to take in as much as I can off of their expertise.”

A 3.6 student unsure about what to major in at college, Pare does have an idea about what he wants when it comes to a future home.

“Being from Canada, I want to play baseball where it’s warm but all options are open,” Pare explained. “But the goal is to play somewhere warm.”

The chance to go on visits is an enticing feeling.

“Whenever that opportunity comes up I’d love to go,” Pare said. “I’d love to see the latest technologies and see all of the great facilities at these schools. That would be cool.”

Black-Araujo sees a bright future ahead for Pare.

“His fastball consistently sat 85-88 throughout the summer and into the fall with good spin rates,” the PBR Canada lead scout said.  “As Pare heads to Florida to play for TNXL, it will be interesting to see where that number is this spring as he'll get plenty of looks from college coaches down south. Don't be surprised if Ontario's next big commitment is from the Windsor native.”