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Coast II Coast - Canada Prospect Watch

December 4, 2020
PBR Canada Staff

Canada Insider: Coast II Coast Prospect Watch 

Wrapping up the 2020 year and we felt it is time to take a look at some of the top players across the country from all the HS classes and provide updates on what we saw, what you can expect, and of course offer our readers the inside information on the top uncommitted players in Canada. 

No better place to start than behind the dish and two of the top uncommitted players in the country come from the 2022 class in BC native Ayden Hadley and with top ranked player in Ontario’s 2022 class Cameron Gurney. 

LHH Catchers for Sale

Hadley and Gurney both profile well with strong and sturdy frames right now as Hadley comes in at 5-foot-11 225-pound and Gurney at 6-foot, 185-pounds. 

Both left-handed hitters, Hadley moves and receives well with strong hands and ability to be quiet and get to both sides of the plate. There is enough arm for right now and the mechanics and actions he portrays, should only be able to add arm strength moving forward. The swing is short, direct, and he does a good job of staying inside the ball and working the middle of field. There is some power right now with a chance to evolve as he matures in the box.

Gurney is somewhat opposite with the tools as the arm strength is the best part of his defensive game right now. It is easy carry and the big question with him is will he be able to handle the high-end elite arms as the position is new and the off-season will be key for him. Offensively there is a feel to hit, he’s shown in-game power with discipline and ability to recognize and swing at quality pitches to hit. The body and mobility that comes with the position will be key for Gurney as the winter progresses.

Alberta Watch

In Alberta there will be some arms to get looks at this coming year as we have top ranked 2021 right-hander Simon Lusignan coming off a down year in 2020 where he was unable to get on the mound with some injuries. He’s healthy now and looking forward to adding strength and size and being the presence we saw early in 2020 indoors and with the National Team. 

Matt Wilinkinson has really taken care of the body and there might not be anyone in the country with more polish and command in their stuff than him. He’s a Central Arizona JC commit and you can envision him winning a lot of ball games there. 

Other arms to keep tabs on is 2022 Matthew Grabmann, 2021 Anson McGorman and another righty in Boston Warkentin. All are off to big time schools in Oregon, Sacramento State and Washington respectively, and they all have similar stuff where command and their secondary will be the separators for them.

If you’re looking for unsigned talent in AB, make sure you check out another left-handed hitting catcher in Luke Wilson of the 2022 class. 

THE FUTURE

With the 23’ dropping in Ontario, make sure you are aware of the following across the country, In BC you have a potential two-way player in Jacob Zibin, the already Kentucky commit who swings it from the left side and is a now presence on the mound, he looks to be the real deal and will be at the forefront here for the next few years. You can see some Theo Millas in him while the bat may have Justin Thorsteinson in it also. Two guys we really liked and all from the Blaze organization. 

Mix in some Sam Shaw from the island in BC with his left-handed bat and Nick Frers out of North Shore and there is three players on the west who should get you excited.

In Ontario, Asafa Jones has a ton of upside being left on left centre-fielder with looseness, quickness and strength in his swing right now and right-handed hitting catchers in Jesse Dale and Andrew Johnston have bat speed for days and should be players who really take a step forward in 2021. 

Kyle Yip, a switch hitting catcher who also sees time in the infield out of Vauxhall in Alberta is a name to add to the group as well. The actions, IQ, and just his presence for being such a  young player in the academy right now are all things that our PBR staff in Alberta really liked. 

THE NOW

Turner Spoljaric out of Ontario, listed as the top 2022 arm is still uncommitted and we are not sure why. The stuff was really good near the end of the summer and the bloodlines are there to really dream on. 

Alexis Gravel, the Chipola commit out of Quebec really made noise when we saw him this year with the bat and seems to be one of the top outfield prospects in the country. Adding to the outfield prospects, Cameron Chee-Aloy has worked himself into the now. There is twitch and present strength, arguably has the best outfield arm in the country and maybe most importantly, he performed this summer and carried it right into the fall against top competition. 

This is just a touch of what is going on in the country and make sure you keep a close eye this month as we drop all kinds of inside info and get the top players and uncommitted sleepers right in the palm of your hands. 

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