Team Ontario/Toronto Mets Workout Notes (Feb. 16)
February 26, 2024
As teams continue to prepare and ramp up for their respective Spring Training events in just a couple weeks, our staff has been travelling around to different facilities over the past couple weeks to get an up-close look at players before they head outdoors into the Southern sun. We began at the HPP Tigers facility and followed it up the next weekend with visits to the Team Ontario Astros and Toronto Mets.
We saw plenty of intriguing upperclass talent from the Mets and Astros, both committed and uncommitted, as well as several of their top underclass prospects. Below, we break down some of the noteable and standouts performers from both organizations workout earlier this month.
To view upcoming event schedule, click here.
TEAM ONTARIO ASTROS
‘25 RHP/INF Alex Tassopoulos (Uncommitted): Tassopoulos was the big winner at Team Ontario’s Pro Day last weekend as he took the mound and flashed a ton of upside with the arm and overall look. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound two-way talent worked downhill and sat 86-88mph with a long, loose arm and kept the pitch in/around the zone. Both the slider and changeup are still developing as he’s never focused much on the pitching side. Still raw and there’s plenty to work with, which has our staff eager to track his progress on the mound going forward. Also possesses potential on the positional side as an infielder and left-handed hitter. One of the top uncommitted prospects in Team Ontario’s program.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RHP/INF Alex Tassopoulos<br>2025, <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamONBaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TeamONBaseball</a><a href="https://twitter.com/PBR_Uncommitted?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PBR_Uncommitted</a><br><br>6-foot-4, 195-pounds.<br><br>Still raw on the mound as he’s previously focused on positional side but tons of upside here.<br><br>FB sat 86-88mph w/ clean arm-action. An arm to follow this spring.<a href="https://twitter.com/Alex_Tazz_07?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alex_Tazz_07</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/PBR_Ontario?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PBR_Ontario</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ykw2sLgfCT">pic.twitter.com/Ykw2sLgfCT</a></p>— Cam Black-Araujo (@CamAraujoBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CamAraujoBB/status/1758907470255194235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
‘24/25 RHP Nathan Kirouac (Uncommitted): Kirouac was one of the more polished arms to take the mound at Team Ontario’s Pro Day last Friday. 6-foot-2, 180-pound right-hander who moves well on the mound and filled up the zone with several pitches. The fastball sat comfortably at 84-85mph and showed feel for a short, tight slider at 75-77mph. Also featured a changeup at 78mph. Another good looking uncommitted arm from Team Ontario’s program who’s trended upwards over the past year and should no doubt be a main contributor to the team's success this season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RHP Nathan Kirouac<br>2024/25, <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamONBaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TeamONBaseball</a><a href="https://twitter.com/PBR_Uncommitted?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PBR_Uncommitted</a><br><br>6-foot-2, 180-pounds.<br><br>Moves well on the mound and filled up the zone with several pitches. Changeup showed flashes and sells it well w/ arm speed.<br><br>FB 84-85<br>SL 75-77 | tight & short<br>CH 78<a href="https://twitter.com/NathanKirouac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NathanKirouac</a> || <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeSeen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeSeen</a> <a href="https://t.co/2ajN6zd3BG">pic.twitter.com/2ajN6zd3BG</a></p>— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) <a href="https://twitter.com/PBR_Ontario/status/1758919330132078750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
‘27 LHP/OF Nicholas Emons (Uncommitted): Emons was one of the youngest players in attendance last week and his two-way, left/left abilities have him pegged as a Top 10 prospect in Ontario’s 2027 class. 5-foot-10, 170-pounds and is a clean mover on the mound, working from a low-¾ arm-slot and sitting 78-79 T80 with the fastball. Should begin really trending upwards on the mound as he adds strength and becomes more explosive. Also catches your eye on the positional side where he mans centrefield and works with a smooth left-handed swing.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LHP/OF Nicholas Emons<br>2027, <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamONBaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TeamONBaseball</a><br><br>5-foot-10, 170-pounds.<br><br>As we begin to lock in and see more of the 2027 class, Emons will be one to follow.<br><br>Plenty to like in the left-handed swing and the left-handed arm also plays on the mound.<a href="https://twitter.com/nicho136068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nicho136068</a> || <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeSeen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeSeen</a> <a href="https://t.co/Bh4D2DsqO7">pic.twitter.com/Bh4D2DsqO7</a></p>— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) <a href="https://twitter.com/PBR_Ontario/status/1759311579512709270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
TORONTO METS
‘24 LHP Ryan Press (West Virginia): Our staff got its first look at 2024 LHP Ryan Press (West Virginia) this past weekend and the arm is looking healthy, sitting 90-91 T92 with the fastball. Has added a couple bounds but the body is looking relatively similar, now 6-foot-1, 178-pounds and continues to spin the breaking ball well with 12-6 shape and ability to land it for strikes. Also flashed a slider and changeup during the bullpen. One of Canada’s top true 2024 arms and has already thrown for several pro scouts early on this year.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LHP Ryan Press (<a href="https://twitter.com/RyanPress12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RyanPress12</a>)<br>2024, <a href="https://twitter.com/TorontoMets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TorontoMets</a><a href="https://twitter.com/WVUBaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WVUBaseball</a> commit<br><br>6-foot-1, 170-pounds.<br><br>Our staff got an early look at Press last weekend and the arm is looking fresh, sitting 90-91 T92.<br><br>Continues to spin the CB well with vertical shape. One of ??‘s top true 2024 arms.… <a href="https://t.co/MitlvkZxTQ">pic.twitter.com/MitlvkZxTQ</a></p>— Prep Baseball Ontario (@PBR_Ontario) <a href="https://twitter.com/PBR_Ontario/status/1760396654346158149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
‘24 RHP Ethan Swaby (North Dakota St.): Swaby was another big arm who caught our eye at the Toronto Mets facility last weekend. The 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander was throwing more strikes than we’ve previously seen while his fastball sat in the upper-80s and touched low-90s. The most interesting part of the bullpen was the hard slider with sweeping-action and there’s feel for the pitch. Will be interesting to get a look at Swaby in-game this spring and see if his adjustments translate.
‘25 RHP/INF Jack McCaulley (Uncommitted): 2025 RHP Jack McCaulley was a name who caught our staff’s attention at last year’s Ontario Youth Team Tryouts and has developed well on the mound in the 10 months since then. Stands out with an XL frame at 6-foot-4, 270-pounds and it’s a heavy fastball that has ticked up a couple notches, sitting 87-88mph. An arm our staff is eager to get outdoors and see in live-game action this spring/summer.
‘24 C Gianluca Montanaro (Bossier Parish CC): Montanaro put together one of the best years among 2024 catchers in the country and the right-handed bat continues to show well each time out. Strong, physical frame at 6-foot-3, 218-pounds and made his first appearance with the Canadian Junior National Team this past October in the Dominican Republic. Puts together mature rounds of BP with the ability to hit the ball hard to all fields, as well as lift to the pullside for some power. Looks to be primed for another strong summer season before heading off to Louisiana to begin his collegiate career.
UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| 2024 Ottawa/Gatineau Preseason ID | ON | 03/01 | Bell Sensplex |
| 2024 Titans Scout Day | ON | 03/23 | True North Fieldhouse |
| 2024 Spring Future Games Trials | ON | 03/29 | The Athlete Matrix |
| 2024 Pitcher Only Future Games Trials | ON | 03/29 | NRS Institute |
| 2024 Pitcher Only Future Games Trials II | ON | 04/01 | NRS Institute |
| 2024 Junior Future Games Trials | ON | 04/01 | The Athlete Matrix |
| 2024 Spring Future Games Trials II | ON | 04/06 | Campus Fieldhouse |
| 2024 Unsigned Senior Showcase | ON | 04/07 | Campus Fieldhouse |
| 2024 Junior Future Games Trials II | ON | 04/13 | Campus Fieldhouse |
| 2024 Ontario Blue Jays Scout Day | ON | 04/18 | The Athlete Matrix |
| 2024 Terriers Scout Day | ON | 04/24 | King's Christian Collegiate |
| 2024 18U Best of the West | ON | 05/01 | Norbrock Stadium (Kamloops, BC) |
| 2024 15U Best of the West | ON | 05/01 | Norbrock Stadium (Kamloops, BC) |
| Improve My Profile with Game Video (Ontario) | ON | 08/29 | Ontario |