2019 Future Games Preview - Team Canada

Griffin Almond RHP / 1B / Georgian Bay Community, ON / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Almond: I started my spring off great with a trip to Florida for the PBR spring training. I played for the 18U team down in Florida and it was a great experience and a good start to my 2019 season. In May our school baseball team went to the CWOSSA final but lost a tough game 4-3 ending our school baseball season. This summer I play for the Ontario Nationals 16U team and  we are the second best team in our league. We just got back from the national championship tournament in Louisville, Ky. where we finished 16th out of 105 teams. Our team has been very successful this season and we hope to finish the season off on a high note.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Almond: I have always wished to play baseball for my country and represent my country on a high platform. I’m excited to play with all the talented ball players across the country and just have fun at the hotel and on the field with the guys. I’m excited to get to know the guys on our team a little better and just talk baseball with them. I can’t wait to throw on my jersey and have Canada across my chest and just represent my country with pride. I’m just thankful to be given the opportunity and am very excited to play for my country against the top uncommitted players across the U.S.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Almond: I expect to go there and just have fun with the guys and win baseball games. I know that PBR is going to put on another great event and the Lakepoint Complex is not going to disappoint. I expect the teams are going to be good and we are going to see some great players from across North America.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Almond:  I have only participated in one PBR showcase when I was in 14U and I went to the PBR spring training. Other than that, just the Future Games tryout.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Almond: I have not been in contact with any college teams so far.

Tanner Almond OF / 1B / Georgian Bay Community, ON / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Almond: Spring was a successful start to the baseball season. My high school team went 12-1 during season play and did well during playoffs. My highlight of spring baseball was the trip down to Sanford, Fla. to the PBR Canadian Spring Training on March break. It was a great event and you were able to show off your hard work over the off season. Summer ball so far is going well, being on a very competitive team in the league is great. We just got back from Louisville from the National Championship which was a blast. It was great to play against some very good players, and teams south of the border. After a tournament in Michigan it’s the trip down to Atlanta to the PBR Future Games.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Almond: My thoughts on being part of Team Canada at the Future Games is that I am very honoured and excited and can’t wait to get there. I have worked very hard over the past year to get to this event and showcase my talent. Being able to wear Canada across my chest could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Almond: My expectations are to enjoy every moment and take it all in. Play the game hard and have fun and show what I have and see what happens. Lastly, I want Team Canada to go 3-0 for a second year in a row.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Almond: I have participated in the PBR Canadian Spring Training during March break this spring. I also attended the PBR Future Games Trials in April at Playball Academy.

Mitch Bratt LHP / OF / Newmarket, ON / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Bratt: I play with the Toronto Mets U17 Reid as a LHP and OF. Our season runs from May to July. In June we attended the Cincy Flames tournament, and in July we played in a national tournament. Later in July we played in the Sabre Cat Wood Bat tourney in Cincinnati and a tourney held at Notre Dame. I am also a member of the Canadian Junior National Team. In March and April the JNT attended Spring Training and Extended Spring training in Florida.  Then in May, our team played a 13-game schedule in the Dominican Republic against MLB Summer League affiliates. I also was selected to play for Ontario in the Canada Cup, a 17U National Championship held in Regina, Sask this August.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Bratt: I am excited to take part in PBR’s Future Games, representing Team Canada. I have heard great things from past participants and look forward to competing against the best in my grad year.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Bratt: My expectations for this event are to compete and have fun. I understand the exposure may be greater this year as the tournament has moved from Indy to Georgia. I look forward to showcasing my ability to those who have not yet seen me pitch.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Bratt: My previous PBR events include - Scout Day: Brampton Royals, April of 2018; and the Ontario ProCase 2019 (invite only) held in May.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Bratt: I will not be a Junior in High School until September of 2019, therefore I have not heard from any colleges yet. I want to play college ball at a high level in a program that will develop me and allow me a chance to compete for a starting job as a freshman in 2021.

Micah Bucknam RHP / 3B / M.E.I, BC / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Bucknam: I play for the Fraser Valley Cardinals in the senior PBL in British Columbia. I continued to gain velocity throughout the year eventually sitting at 86-88 mph, topping at 89. I continue to help my team succeed and help them as a sophomore playing on a varsity team becoming a key player in our starting rotation. I will be attending the Canada Cup from August 7-11 and will be competing there this summer as well as playing at T-12 in Toronto, hosted by the Blue Jays.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Bucknam: It’s pretty crazy to be invited to play on a team that represents 36 million people. it’s not every day that you get this opportunity and I am pumped to be able to join a bunch of elite players and play a game we all love.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Bucknam: I’m thinking it’s going to be a great place to be able to experience pitching in front of a lot of scouts and being able to fight through the nerves in order to perform at my best. It’s going to be cool to see everybody from other states and I am super excited for everything that this event has to offer.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Bucknam: I have never participated in any PBR events in the past so this will be the first time for me.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Bucknam: I am talking to Illinois State, Seattle University and Tennessee Tech.

David Calabrese OF / St. Elizabeth CHS, ON / 2021

Mason Dobie SS / 2B / Georgian Bay Community, ON / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Dobie: This spring and summer has been a lot of fun. I’ve had a lot of personal success and our team is just starting to play really well as a team. Our team has been fighting injuries all season long and we are now almost completely healthy. As a team we finished top 8 in our previous tournament in Indianapolis and we are now 2-0 in our current tournament.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Dobie: Being a part of Team Canada for the Future Games this year is such an honour. It’s a team I’ve been looking to make for a couple years now. Having the chance to wear Canada across my chest is going to be so much fun and I can’t wait for July 31.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Dobie: I’m expecting this years Future Games to be some of the toughest competition I’ve faced in my baseball career. I think it’s going to be a great experience and a lot of fun facing great competition.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Dobie: I’ve been to a total of four PBR events in my career. 1) Ontario Nationals Scout Day 2) Top Prospect Games 3) Fieldhouse Pirates Scout Day and 4) Future Games Trials.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Dobie: I’ve heard from a number of schools including UC Irvine and Dayton. As of right now, I’m keeping all my options open for what school I want to attend.

Owen Ellis OF / SS / TA Blakelock, ON / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Ellis: This spring my summer team attended the PBR spring training in Florida. It was an amazing experience and was very well organized. It was a great start to our first ever spring baseball.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Ellis: Being on Team Canada for the Future Games is a huge honor and I am very excited and proud to have been selected and can't wait to go.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Ellis: I expect this event to be just like every PBR I have attended, very good exposure, well organized and great competition.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Ellis: Prior to the Future Games I attended PBR spring training as well as a few showcases hosted by my team Field house and the Future Game Trials.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Ellis: Currently I am not in direct contact with any schools I would immediately like to attend, however my hope is that after this event I will have a few that I am considering attending.

Emilien Pitre SS / 2B / Academie Baseball Canada, QC / 2020

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Emilien: At the moment I did four tournaments. I played shortstop every tournament and pitched very rarely. I played well at shortstop and at the plate I did my job at putting the ball in play.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Emilien: I’m very excited to be part of the team. It's probably one of the biggest accomplishments in my baseball career.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
 Emilien: I expect to see a higher level of baseball and a bunch of very good baseball player.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Emilien: I didn't participate in any PBR event until recently in Atlanta.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Emilien: At the moment I haven’t thought about any college I would like to play for but I know that a Division 1 university is my goal to achieve.

Tyson Gomm C / OF / Port Credit, ON / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Gomm: So far this season my team has finished first in league play in the PBLO and we have played in three tournaments so far in the U.S. (Indiana, Columbus, Cincinnati) and have won one and finished second in the other two.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Gomm: I feel like it’s a really cool experience being able to represent Canada and being able to play with the best talent of 2021s in the country.

PBR: What was the experience like as a participant last year at the Future Games?
Gomm: The experience last year was great from day one when I first saw how many scouts and coaches were really there watching you. It was also great being able to play against top talents from other states which made you play against the best competition.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Gomm: My expectations are just to play my hardest to get people’s attention so I can go to school in the U.S.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Gomm: I’ve participated in the Future Games Trials 2018, Pro Case 2018, Future Games 2018, Top Prospect Games 2018, Future Game Trials 2019, Pro Case 2019 and The Future Games Frenzy 2019.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Gomm: I have heard from one D1 and one Juco

Alexis Gravel LHP / 1B / Academie Baseball Canada, QC / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Gravel: We have participated in four tournaments in the United States, winning a tournament in Boston. I have done very well as an outfielder.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Gravel: I am really happy and very proud to be part of Team Canada for the Future Games.This will be a very beautiful experience for me and also a very good opportunity to see me.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Gravel: My expectations of this event are that the level of games will be much better

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Gravel: I have not done any PBRs yet .

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Gravel: At thé moment I haven’t thought about any college but I know that I would like to go play for a Division 1 university.

Elijha Hammill SS / 2B / Holy Trinity, ON / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Hammill: So far this spring/summer I have traveled with Team Canada to Florida and the Dominican Republic to play professional teams and players from the area. I have been able to see the facilities the different teams practice/work in and I have also been able to learn how they are as a team. With my travel team the 18U Ontario Terriers, we have finished our regular season and now since July has come we are starting our traveling to places such as Indiana, Nashville and Cleveland.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Hammill: Last year’s Futures Games was a great experience for me and was one of the most memorable moments/events of my summer. It was great for exposure and it helped me become more comfortable and confident when playing in front of a large group of people. It was nice to play with players I wasn’t familiar with before. I have become better friends and even teammates with many of them.

PBR: What was the experience like as a participant last year at the Future Games?
Hammill: Playing with Team Canada has helped me develop my skills and has helped me become a better individual. Traveling with the team introduced me to many new things and has helped me mature as I grow older. I enjoy the atmosphere and positive energy the coaches and players give and I feel very lucky to have an opportunity like this at a young age.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Hammill: My expectations for this event are to gain more exposure and to become a better player with other players that I do not know so well. At last year’s Future Games I was introduced to an atmosphere that I wasn’t aware of in my previous years of playing. With scouts everywhere I started to become a bit nervous, but at the same time I became more dialed in to the games and what I was doing. As I get another opportunity this year, I expect to be on top of my game and to put my name out there for many people.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Hammill: I have participated in a few PBR events such as the Procase in May and last year’s Future Games.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Hammill: I have heard from schools such as Illinois University, St. John’s University and the University of Texas. I haven’t yet considered where I want to attend because I still want to keep options open and until I know 100 percent where I want to go I want to keep exploring colleges/universities to see what suits me best.

Justin Jang C / 3B / Abbey Park, ON / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Jang: This season I mainly caught and played third base for the Field house Pirates 16U team. In the spring I went to the PBR spring tournament in Florida where I was selected to the All-tourney team. For most of the season I hit fourth in the order. This summer my team and I have participated in tournaments in Maryland, Louisville, Indiana and North Carolina.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Jang: I am excited to be a part of the Future Games and I’m looking forward to playing against some of the best players In North America.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Jang: My expectation of the Future Games event is that it will give me an opportunity to play with and against great competition.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Jang: I have participated in various Future Games showcases. I went to the Future Games Trails in 2018 and also was in an event during the PBR Florida tournament in the spring.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Jang: I haven’t contacted any collages.

Louis Philippe Langevin RHP / 1B / Ecole secondaire de la Seigneurie, QC / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Langevin: This spring I am playing with the ABC 16U. We have played four tournaments and I am only pitching.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Langevin: I am really excited at being select and I wish to be able to show who I am as a baseball player.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Langevin: Again, I am hoping to be able to show who I am as a baseball player.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Langevin: I have participated in a PBR tournament in Florida at Sarasota.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Langevin: At the time that I am writing this, I have not talked to any colleges but I know a lot of them because I watch a lot of games.

Anson McGorman RHP / SS / Ballenas, BC / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
McGorman: This spring I have been playing Senior PBL Royals as a 15-year-old in B.C. I’m primarily a pitcher and middle infielder. I hit lead off with an average of .320 and I’m currently fourth in the league with the most strikeouts as a pitcher. My fastball has topped at 89 sitting 86-87, my curve 73 and change 72. I was named to the PBL All-Star game.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
McGorman: I’m excited and grateful to be a part of the Future Games and looking forward to being a part of the Canadian Team.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
McGorman: My expectations for the event are to be apart of something special at a high-quality event and to hopefully showcase some of my skills and represent our team and myself.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
McGorman: I did my videos and profile after the Canada Cup tryouts and I’m looking forward to see my profile up and ranked on the PBR sites.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
McGorman: I’m currently in grade 10 and 15-years-old and have had quite a few academies and programs reach out to me. I have just committed to the Vauxhall program for grade 11. I have had some Universities reach out as well, a Division I and some others.

Quinton McRae C / Eastdale, ON / 2021

Jack Mount RHP / OF / Vauxhall Academy Of Baseball, AB / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Mount: The season has been going well. Our team has had great opportunities playing down in the United States facing good competition and competing. Personally I have been playing well on the mound pounding the zone and attacking batters.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Mount: I am very excited and humbled to be participating in the PBR Future Games. I know it will be the best opportunity for me and others to get looks in front of top schools in America.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Mount: My expectations for this even are to play my best ball and receive feedback from highly-respected college coaches. This event is a huge opportunity to learn and improve on my game.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Mount: I participated in the Spring Training event in Florida. I went down with the George Halim and the Fieldhouse Pirates. I also did two events in Ottawa, Ontario.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Mount: I have played in front of Creighton University at two Play-To-Win events and attended a camp on their campus.

Nathaniel Ochoa SS / OF / Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School, ON / 2022

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Ochos: In Canada, our season starts later than many in the US. After a long winter indoor training season, I was really excited to get out on the diamond in late May. We had a very rainy spring, but I was blessed to be able to play as many of our CPBL League games as weather would allow with my FH Pirates 16U team; and was also given the opportunity to play a significant number of games with the FH Pirates 17U team. I love being out on the diamond and would happily play baseball any chance I get. Between league play and tournaments, my batting average is hovering around .500 and my OBP is around .650. My primary position is SS, but I play CF and pitch also. I have pitched three times this season, all three being complete-game wins, with an ERA of 1.33. So far this summer for tournament play I have traveled with my 16U team to Maryland, Louisville and Indianapolis before concluding in Chapel Hill, N.C.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Ochos: Being invited to play in the Future Games is such an honour. This is a goal I set for myself the last two years. I am so excited for the opportunity to showcase my baseball skills at such an awesome event.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Ochos: I am going to work hard and play to the best of my ability. I am hopeful that playing the game I love most, in front of so many college scouts, will set me on a path to play for the Canadian Junior National Team, as well as on a road to NCAA Division 1 Baseball.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Ochos: I have participated in many PBR Showcases. My first was at age 12. I used that as a learning opportunity for future showcases. In 2019, I went to Florida to play in the PBR Spring Training Tournament. I was also invited this year to participate in the PBR Ontario ProCase Day  with top Canadian potential draft and/or US college talent.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Ochos: I had very positive feedback from the coach at Kansas State after the PBR Florida Spring Training Tournament.

Luis Pimentel Guerrero OF / SS / Corpus Christi, ON / 2022

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Pimentel-Guerrero: My baseball season has been pretty good so far. I’m hitting very well, playing good defense, and have been getting good reads on the base paths. We’ve been to many great tournaments in places like Maryland, Louisville, Indiana and North Carolina. The Fieldhouse Pirates’ coaching staff has been great all year and helped me all throughout the year and made me the player I am today.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Pimentel-Guerrero: Being part of Team Canada is truly a blessing for me and a great opportunity for me to get noticed in front of scouts that are part of big schools and maybe even big-league scouts. I have trained all year for this Future Games event.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Pimentel-Guerrero: My expectation for the event is to go out and show what I’ve got to everyone watching and play how I play with good intensity and passion for the game.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Pimentel-Guerrero: I’ve participated in a few New Year Opens at Fieldhouse Athletics, Top Prospect Games, Future Games Frenzy, Fieldhouse Scout Day, and a few Future Game Trials.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Pimentel-Guerrero: I currently have had no offers from any schools. I don’t have a specific school that I want to attend but the big goal is to get an offer to a Top 50 D1 school that my family can afford and I can fit in.

Caden Shapiro OF / LHP / Upper Canada College, ON / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Shapiro: I was a dual guy and started and played OF for my school team. I let the team in on-base and hits and have started on varsity since eighth grade. We have played in some big tournaments this summer with our squad trying to take advantage of the coaches who come out to watch us play. It’s a good testament where we are at as a team and individuals.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Shapiro: I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to represent team Canada at the Future Games. It’s cool to see the growth of the game in Canada and how it has evolved.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Shapiro: Ultimately, I’m excited for a chance to compete against and with some of the top players in both countries.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Shapiro: The tryout for the showcase.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Shapiro: I’ve heard from a few different schools so far. The opportunity to talk to coaches is cool and interesting to find out more about each respective school. A nervous yet exciting process, it’s a process. For now I’m trusting the process and the work which I put in the classroom and field, hoping it will translate for an opportunity to play at the next level.

Turner Spoljaric RHP / National High School, ON / 2021

PBR: Give a short report on your spring baseball season and what you have done this summer.
Spoljaric: We didn’t do a spring trip this year, we focused on arm and  strength conditioning in preparation for this season, which has worked well for me. I have grown a lot and gained even more strength  We have traveled a lot recently playing in a lot of tournaments like the Cincinnati Flames tourney. Our season has had its ups and downs, but we are starting to play really well lately. Our pitching has been solid all year, our defense is constantly improving and our offense has really come around. We are finally over .500 now and it feels good to be the winning club we thought we were able to be.

PBR: What are your thoughts about being part of Team Canada for the Future Games?
Spoljaric: Being part of Team Canada Future Games is exciting. There were a lot of pitchers trying out and fortunately for me, I pitched well when it counted and I feel like I showed well for the coaches which clearly aided in me being chosen to participate in such a high-caliber tournament which I hope leads to me being added to the junior national team. Being part of that program is one of my many goals. I look forward to competing against the best Canada has to offer. I can’t wait to pitch, I’m very excited.

PBR: What are your expectations for the event?
Spoljaric: I have very high expectations for the Future Games. I love to compete against the best, it’s always good to face good hitters and show what I’m made of. I think our team is going to be very good again this year and hopefully we can go undefeated like Team Canada did last year.

PBR: What PBR events have you participated in prior to the Future Games?
Spoljaric: I have only participated in the PBR Procase but I look forward to the PBR Future Games because of the great opportunity it will provide for so many college coaches to have a first-hand look at me while on the mound. It’s not very often you get the chance to be involved is such a great showcase.

PBR: What colleges have you heard from and considering attending?
Spoljaric: I have spoken with a few colleges/universities. It feels great to be sought after for both my baseball skills and my future education.