Ontario Scout Blog: Ontario Youth Team Tryouts (Oshawa)

Alex Uher RHP / USS, ON / 2025

Uher was just as impressive this time out as he was earlier this month at the Future Game Trials. Mound presence pounding the zone throughout his pen finishing with 5 K’s in the 6 batters he faced, with the FB being his main weapon with easy life out of the hand and high spin (2477) sitting 87-89. There’s shape and sharp bite to the CB that was down and on the edges of the plate that compliments a diving change-up when thrown down in the zone. Our first look from one of the top ‘25 arms in the province against live hitters and he did not disappoint.

Brock Grainger C / 1B / L.C.V.I, ON / 2024

Grainger was one of the better catchers at the Ontario Youth Team tryouts last weekend both behind the dish and in the box. A physical 6-foot-2, 215-pound left handed hitting catcher, Grainger projects well at the next level. During live AB’s, Grainger looked the part at the dish, collecting 3 hard hit barrels up the middle and to his pull-side. He finished his batting practice portion of the event with a 88.8 mph EV. Behind the dish, he showed soft hands and the ability to move side-to-side well in the dirt. Good overall showing from Grainger on both sides of the ball.

Philip Cheong SS / 2B / Bill Crothers , ON / 2026

Cheong continues to trend upwards coming into the 2023 season with another strong showing at the dish with a twitchy swing from the right-side. Took one of the better rounds on the weekend scorching balls to the big part of the park with a max exit velocity of 98.2 with a wood bat. During the live AB portion of the event, he was patient at the plate, staying within his approach with 2 BB, before barreling up a single to LF. The 2x Junior Future Gamer is one of the top 2026’s in the province and showed why once again.

Jackson Kornylo RHP / 1B / Donald A. Wilson, ON / 2025

We got our second look at Kornylo on the mound and in the box this weekend and he continues to show electric tools on both sides of the ball. Looks the part on the mound standing 6-foot-5, 190-pounds, he filled up the strike zone with all 4 of his pitches. The FB sat 86-88 that jumps out of the hand and gets on hitters in a hurry. The CT sat 80-81 and has late, sharp action to it that was difficult to pick up and a SPL that falls off the table and showed the ability to spin the CB in the zone for swing-and-miss.

In the box, there's tons of bat speed and power to his pull-side, finishing with the top exit velocity during the batting practice portion of the event at 102.4 and a max distance of 331 ft. Kornylo has some of the more projectable tools in Canada’s 2025 class and will be a close follow this summer.

Ethan Swaby 3B / RHP / Monarch Park, ON / 2024

Swaby was one of the more interesting arms in Oshawa over the weekend with a live arm coming from an unorthodox delivery moving with intent down the mound. He used his high-spin FB (2679) almost exclusively that sat 84-86 T86.9 that was effectively wild, creating uncomfortable AB’s for hitters. When he did mix in his 74 mph SL, it was a swing-and-miss with high spin (2866) and -20.1 HB striking out 2 of the 4 batters he faced. Swaby is a good looking uncommitted arm still left in the 2024 class.

Ethan Morris LHP / 1B / St Charles College, ON / 2024

Morris was an under-the-radar name at the Ontario Youth Team Tryouts in Oshawa last weekend and he was one of the standouts on the mound. It's a mid 80’s from the left-side topping out at 87.2 mph that got on hitters in a hurry with a tight SL and a fading CH. We last saw Morris at the Northern Games last summer, and his game has made a big jump. Look for Morris to make some noise on the mound during the 2023 season.

Liam Kirsh C / 3B / Tanenbaum Chat, ON / 2025

Kirsh was another catcher that stood out behind the dish with his defensive ability. Soft hands receiving the ball with agile actions in the dirt with good anticipation and leadership calling good sequences throughout the live AB’s. At the dish, Kirsh has been swinging a hot bat during pre game action, as well as  this past weekend in Oshawa with gap-to-gap pop right now and bat-to-ball skills working up to 91.6 max EV with wood. Another good outing from Kirsh as the 2023 season starts to ramp up.

Ozzie Fitzpatrick SS / 2B / Sinclair, ON / 2024

Ozzie continued his strong start to the year after being named PBR Spring Training MVP with another good showing at the plate during live AB’s. He went 2-for-3 with a hard single down the RF line, before he elevated to the RCF gap. The swing has really developed since the fall with quiet-to-violent movements in his load and a better understanding of his approach. Look for Ozzie to make some noise this summer at the dish.