Team Canada JNT - Headlines Going Into Spring Trip
March 6, 2020
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Team Canada JNT - Headlines Going Into Spring Trip
Big Arms Out West
Theo Millas, the No. 133 overall ranked prospect from the 2020 class will be handed the ball on the opening day when the team takes on the Blue Jays in St. Petersburg.
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Theo Millas RHP / Alpha Secondary, BC / 2020The last time we saw Millas was at T12 and he lived up to the hype, striking out four over two innings. His fastball was sat 88-90, topping out at 91 with feel for the strike zone. The LSU commit has his second start of the trip also comes against the Blue Jays, this time around at the newly renovated TD Ballpark with most likely, some Jays’ regulars in the lineup.
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Jack Seward RHP / Charles Best, BC / 2020Seward is another draft eligible arm in B.C. that has gained some traction heading into the 2020 season. The 6-foot-3 right-hander of the Coquitlam Reds sat 88-91 in September at T12 and was up to 92 in the fall, along with a slider in the low 80s. The Oregon commit has proven the ability to get swings and misses but has also shown some difficulty finding the zone at times. It will be an important spring on the mound with Team Canada for Seward and he will take the hill in Dunedin as well as three innings in the intrasquad game. |
CPBL Outfield Duo
David Calabrese and Owen Caissie have both emerged as the top two draft eligible position players in Canada and will share the outfield in Florida. It will be the first trip with the Junior National Team for both players and how they handle pro pitching could play a big part come time for June’s draft.
.@owen_caissie with a loud second round of BP.
— PBR Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) February 2, 2020
Exit velo➡️ 105 mph #Super60 ?? pic.twitter.com/xpkdibtaNh
Calabrese was on our 2019 Future Games and eventually committed to Arkansas while Caissie was on our 2018 team and is committed to Michigan. Both have been up to 92 from the outfield this winter and Calabrese ran 6.28 at the OBJ Showcase while Caissie put on a show at the T12 Home Run Derby. The storylines are there and it will be exciting to watch these two game changers in the red and white.
The B.C Left-handers
Giordano Mezzomo and Justin Thorsteinson both hail from B.C., pitch from the left-side and can swing it as well.
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Gio Mezzomo OF / LHP / Centennial, BC / 2020Rankings StateRank: 7 / POS: 1
Mezzomo really stood out on both sides of the ball at T12, showing some pop from the left side in the home run derby but he really impressed on the mound. Fastball had life at 86-88 and showed the ability to spin the curve as well, getting several swings and misses. Mezzomo will pitch three innings against the Fort Lauderdale Stars followed by an appearance against the Yankees on the 13th.
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Justin Thorsteinson LHP / 1B / Langley, BC / 2020Thorsteinson’s strength stands out on both sides of his game at 6-foot-4, 221-pounds. It’s the Oregon State commit’s second year with the national team and was used solely in a pitchers role at the 18U World Cup this past summer. It’s a clean delivery and he sat 86-87 in September with minimal effort. Thorsteinson will be relied upon as a veteran on the club and will take the mound in the game against the big club in Dunedin as well as three innings earlier in the week against the Jays in St. Petes. |
The Ontario Left-Handers
2020 Connor O’Halloran and 2021 Mitch Bratt have established themselves as the top left-handers in the province and arguably the top two pitchers overall.
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Connor O'Halloran LHP / OF / St. Martin, ON / 2020O’Halloran has sat atop the pitching rankings in his class for well over a year and his ability to command three pitches has given hitters trouble at several levels. The Michigan commit threw six scoreless innings this summer against the Netherlands at the World Cup and a 14-strikeout no-hitter against Saskatchewan at the Canada Cup. O’Halloran is another veteran on the team who will make both of his appearances against the Blue Jays.
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Mitch Bratt LHP / OF / Newmarket, ON / 2021Mitch Bratt was one of the youngest players on the national team last year and will try to continue to elevate his game on the big stage after a strong showing in the summer at the Future Games, World Cup and T12. The Florida State commit recently ran his fastball up to 93 during an indoor bullpen and has long stood out on the mound with an easy, loose and repeatable delivery. Bratt will get the ball on the first day of the trip in an intrasquad game followed by three innings against the Phillies.
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