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By Alexis Brudnicki
PBR Ontario Lead Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. – Hard work pays off.

Miles Gordon has found the old adage to be especially true after putting an increased amount of time and effort into his game and seeing that work pay dividends over the last several months.

After growing up in the Oakville Royals program, the 16-year-old outfielder moved to London’s Great Lake Canadians before the beginning of this season. Gordon upped his number of hours in the gym and at the team’s facility, working with his coaches and teammates, and has become more comfortable and confident out on the diamond because of it.

“I’m so much more relaxed out there on the field,” Gordon said. “[Coaches Adam Stern and Chris Robinson] make it easier for me and my teammates, all the guys are good and it’s easy to play around them. Adam has been helping me a lot with my swings. I’ve come a long way from last year to be honest, even just staying inside the ball.”

The biggest area of improvement for the native of Oakville of late is at the plate, and he’s seen his time in the batting cages show in a big way, making the Canadian Junior National Team roster for the squad’s fall trip to Orlando to match up against instructional league competition. But Gordon knows he still has plenty of room to grow.

“My hitting has improved the most,” Gordon said. “Last year I struggled a lot. My fielding is my strength and my hitting I’ve been working on for a while. So just to see the improvements and to see all the work that I’ve been putting in finally paying off, it feels good…but hitting is still what I need to work on most.

“It’s come a long way but obviously there’s a lot of room for improvement. Seeing these [professional] guys and the velocity they can get up to, I need to stay more consistent with the bat. Seeing it more and getting more experience should help me out.”

While Gordon has already come a long way, he knows that more of what he’s already been doing will help him continue his progression.

“My work ethic will take me the rest of the way,” he said. “I like to put in the work and see what I get out of it and obviously it makes me feel good. You don’t want to go 0-for-4 every game, you obviously want to do the best you can, so it’s nice to get results.

“Then even in the outfield, I’ll keep working with Adam on my routes and everything…I’ve already learned a lot. I’m working behind the ball, and even working on my arm slot. We’ve changed that up too and then we’re working on tracking the ball.”

Stern and Robinson both joined Gordon in Florida as Team Canada coaches, with Stern’s focus on working with the squad’s outfielders. The former senior national team outfielder and big leaguer is excited about the young player and his potential.

“Miles is a very mature kid and player,” Stern said. “He’s been absolutely great to have. He’s one of those guys who possesses a lot of a tools – he’s a speed guy, he’s a leadoff-type guy, he plays really good defence, the bat is coming around – he’s a guy you want on your team.

“He’s a very confident player and just one of those guys who maybe doesn’t realize his talents yet. He’s going to start to, and he’s one of those guys who is going to be fun to watch.”

Gordon is enjoying himself, especially after making the Canadian roster for the first time.

“Obviously it’s every kid’s dream playing baseball for Team Canada,” Gordon said. “To represent your country is surreal. You look at all the names on the roster and it feels good to compare yourself to those names and it’s all pretty awesome…It was good to put on the jersey the first time, and they look pretty nice too.”

Before the Toronto Blue Jays hosted Tournament 12 in September, a showcase for the top college-eligible talent from across the country, Gordon called the event the biggest week of his life. Things have changed in the slightest, with every moment now just getting increasingly bigger as he moves forward.

“I try to keep modest and humble, because you can go out and have a good day and you can go out and have a bad game,” Gordon said. “Obviously this is one goal that I’ve accomplished but I’ve got a couple more goals. Once I make something like this, I just keep setting small goals to keep improving.”

The 6-foot, 165-pound left-hitting outfielder credits his mom and dad for helping him to accomplish everything he’s achieved so far, and is grateful for the help they’ve given. 

“To be honest, my parents [Tammy and Colin] have probably helped me the most to get here,” Gordon said. They’re always pushing me to do my best. My parents have sacrificed to drive me to London [to play with the Canadians], to get to Centrefield Sports and to do all of this.”

Beyond his time with Team Canada in Orlando, Gordon is hoping to stay on the roster during the squad’s tour next summer, and is excited about what life after high school might hold for him within the next year.

“I hope to hear my name getting called in the draft,” Gordon said. “I’m thinking about [post-secondary] schools and talking to some of them. I definitely want to stay on this team and keep getting better.”

Photography also courtesy of the author. Follow Alexis Brudnicki on Twitter @baseballexis.