High School Crosscheck: Week 5
March 19, 2018
Spring in Canada isn’t exactly conducive to playing baseball, but that doesn’t stop the country’s prospects from being seen. Every year, the Canadian Junior National Team heads to warmer climates and just began a 10-day trip to Florida. Even better than the weather, scouts get to see Team Canada take on tough competition, as they face professional teams in spring training. At the top of follow lists are C Noah Naylor (St. Joan of Arc HS, ON), OF Denzel Clarke (Everest Academy, ON) and RHP Eric Cerantola (St. Trinite HS, ON).
Naylor has been impressive this past week with the bat, handling professional pitching and standing out with his barrel control and easy swing that has produced multiple extra-base hits. He's been under control with his bat speed and shown the ability to work gap to gap with discipline and patience, resulting in four walks in three games. Typically playing the front half of the game behind the plate and then making the switch to third, he had a 1.85 in-game pop time with good carry and he has shown smooth hands and footwork at third.