By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

The inaugural Ontario ProCase featured the top 2016 draft prospects from across Canada on May 4. While 28 pro scouts undoubtedly showed up to Dan Lang Field in Scarborough to see the big name draft-eligible prospects such as C Andy Yerzy and RHPs Austin Shields and Jordan Balazovic, to name a few, they likely left the event with several high-follow draft prospects for the coming years.

From top to bottom, the overall talent at the Ontario ProCase was impressive, proving once again that baseball is alive and thriving in Ontario. On the pro side, the top Canadian prospects don’t fly under the radar. Last year alone, five Canadians were drafted in the first four rounds, including two first-rounders in 1B Josh Naylor (12th overall) and RHP Mike Soroka (28th overall).

College recruiters, however, seem a bit slower on the uptake. Certainly a handful of schools have taken advantage, but not to the extent which it should be. Any college coach with a passport and an ambition to fish outside its backyard, I would strongly recommend making the trip up north. It’s a no-brainer.

I digress …

Later I will write about the top seniors at the event. First, let us take a look at some of the high-interest (and largely uncommitted) underclass prospects who stood out at the Ontario ProCase:

2017

Landon Leach, RHP, Pickering HS, 2017
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 3 in Ontario, No. 40 in overall 2017 class. 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame, highly projectable build, long and athletic with plenty of room for continued physical development. High-ceiling prospect, has potential to be one of the top pitching prospects North America. Fastball sat 90-91 mph, easy, athletic arm action, high-3/4 slot; looks to be only scratching surface of his potential. Works downhill, fastball action mostly straight with occasional arm-side life, threw high-volume of strikes down in the zone. Works exclusively out of the stretch. Slider sat 77-78, erratic action but flashed a few with sharp late bite. Overall, should become one of the most highly coveted uncommitted 2017 prospects and a high-draft follow ...