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Signing Period - Division 1 Recruiting Class Breakdown

The NCAA signing period is slated to start on November 13th. With the start of the signing period upon us, we look to break down each individual Division I commitment from in-province prospects, where they are headed and what tools they will bring with them.

***** Below we talk in-depth about each in-state prospect headed to play D1 outside the province

BALL STATE

Tyler Hinrikus 3B / SS / Resurrection Catholic, ON / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 12 / POS: 2 Report: Hinrikus has turned himself into one of the most feared hitters in the 2020 class here in Ontario. The physicality and strength coming from the 6-foot-2, 200-pound third-baseman is one key attribute to his offensive game, as well as the bat speed he possesses and hard contact that comes off the right-handed bat of Hinrikus. He’s continued to grow defensively, with the ability to play both corner infield positions, and with the pop, arm strength, and ability to run, can also see him making a move to corner outfield if he continues to grow and gain strength. A member of the 2018 Canadian Future Games team, Hinrikus will be a nice offensive player who has a chance to contribute early at Ball State if he hits and can do so with power.

CAMPBELL

Bryce Arnold SS / 2B / Blessed Trinity, ON / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 5 / POS: 1 Report: You can make the argument that Arnold is one of, if not the top shortstop in the country at the moment. The Campbell commit has performed on all the big stages, runs well and fields his position with slick actions, and is a top of the order bat that will spray the ball all over the field with a smooth and fluid stroke. There is gap power and as he matures and adds strength, can see him leaving the yard more than you think, especially with tin in his hands. There is tools and skill to work with, and can see Arnold early on at second-base and having a chance to get in the lineup early on as a freshman. Arnold was a member of the 2018 Future Games team.

CANISIUS

Mathew Duffy 3B / RHP / Assumption, ON / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 11 / POS: 1 Report: Duffy, one of the more recent D1 signs from Ontario really made strides on the mound this summer as he was fully healthy and the performance and numbers backed that up. The right-hander utilizes three pitches he can throw for strikes from a loose and easy ¾ slot. His fastball has been up to 89 mph while the curveball has downer action with 11/5 shape that acts as a putout pitch for Duffy. Also can swing it from the left-side, there is athleticism to work with and can see Duffy fitting in nicely with the Golden Griffs. Duffy was a member of our 2017 Future Games Team.

GONZAGA

Russell Young C / OF / Langley, BC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 9 / POS: 2 Report: Young is an energetic right-handed hitter that carries a hit tool with bat speed from the right side to go along with the ability to defend behind the plate with arm strength while moving well in his lower half. He’s athletic and versatile as he can also move to the infield or outfield in a pinch with ability to do so and be an above average defender. Ran a 6.80 at T-12 this September and seemed to always find barrell and produce loud and hard contact. Recently named to the Canadian Junior National Team for its upcoming fall trip, Young is an athlete who can contribute in many different ways on the ball field.

LSU

Theo Millas RHP / Alpha Secondary, BC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 131 / POS: 41 Report: Known on the National circuit for some time now, Millas will be a heavy focus for pro scouts heading into 2020 as the LSU commit will likely have a decision on his hands to make come June. He’s a three pitch guy with clean actions, moves well down the mound and fills it up with a fastball that works in the 88-91 range. Millas projects to add more velocity and profiles as workhorse with his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame. Lots of eyes will be on Millas this spring as he has been the top ranked player in BC and the country for quite some time now.

MICHIGAN

Connor O'Halloran LHP / OF / St. Martin, ON / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 396 / POS: 40 Report: O’Halloran is one of the most trusted pitchers in the country and you seem to know you will get a quality start from him every time he toes the rubber. A no-hitter at the Canada Cup versus Manitoba, the Michigan commit is the definition of pitchability but the stuff plays up as well. O’halloran works quick, pounds the zone from the left side and works in the 85-88 range with his fastball while featuring a curveball and changeup that he’ll throw at any time. There is deceptiveness to his delivery and hitters do not get off their A swings against him and he seems to produce weak contact more often than not. There is intelligence to his craft and we expect the velocity to add a few ticks as there is room for him to add strength to his 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame and possibly even a growth spurt. A member of the 2018 Canadian Future Games team, expect for O’halloran to continue to dominate during his senior year of high school with his club team and the National Team.

MISSOURI

Caden Griffin LHP / OF / John McCrae, ON / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 9 / POS: 2 Report: Griffin is a bulldog on the mound, working from the left-side with a quick arm from a clean and true ¾ slot. Fastball sits in the 86-88 range with command down in the zone and ability to move it side to side. The secondary stuff continues to improve and Griffin and his compete level and ability to throw quality strikes and attack hitters makes him a very intriguing get for Missouri. The Ottawa native has National team experience and is a big game pitcher for his club team the Ontario Blue Jays. Griffin was a member of our 2018 Canadian Future Games team.

OREGON STATE

Justin Thorsteinson LHP / 1B / Langley, BC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 415 / POS: 43 Report: Thorsteinson has been committed to powerhouse ORegon State for sometime now as the left-hander has been a name known to the baseball world for a while now. There is a lot to like from the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Langley Blaze product, the actions and athleticism he shows on the mound, mixed with his fastball that has been up to 90 mph and secondary stuff that has made strides over the last year all point towards Thorsteinson honing his craft on the mound. A two-way player in his league in BC, Thorsteinson has big upside, especially once he devotes all his time to the mound and gets into a program that has a history of turning out big time arms.

SACRAMENTO STATE

Noah Takacs RHP / OF / Oak Bay, BC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 4 Report: Takacs has had a steady pace of improving, both his stuff and velocity have all continued to climb. The delivery is effortless and repeatable, and the fastball command sets everything up as he works and moves it all over the zone and backs it up with a 12/6 curveball with depth and tight rotation. Takacs recently was named to the Canadian Junior National Team for their upcoming trip in March, and for good reason after his outings at the Canada Cup and Tournament 12. ALways seems to be in control, Takacs will look to have a big winter of adding strength and continue to leave his imprint early on in 2020. Nice get for Sac State, something we are becoming accustomed to with impact players out of British Columbia.

Gio Mezzomo OF / LHP / Centennial, BC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 1 Report: Mezzomo has always been a very interesting player for his legit two-way capabilities from the left on left Coquitlam product. There is a presence in the box with bat speed and balance, and on the mound the lefty was very impressive at the Rogers Centre in September, working 86-88 with a breaking ball that had late bite and swing and miss action from a 12/6 shape. There is wiry strength and Mezzomo has a lot more potential on both sides of the ball to come. Another Team Canada addition for 2020 spring training, Mezzomo will be a guy to watch and see the gains made over the winter, look for a big 2020.

St. JOHN’S

Benjamin Adams LHP / OF / Vauxhall Academy of Baseball, AB / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 2 Report: Adams made the move from Ontario to Alberta and into the Vauxhall program after his sophomore year and is a senior to watch headed into 2020 to see how the development continues. A wiry and athletic left-handed arm, we’ve seen Adams work in the 84-86 range with pitchability and idea on how to attack hitters with his three pitch mix. He’s lowered his arm slot and that has added more run on his heater and moved the breaking ball into more of a slurve that could lead into a slider. He has shown well at the Canada Cup, making quick work of hitters and showing he can go deep into games while keeping his pitch count low. A member of the 2018 Canadian Future Games team, Adams has lots of room to add strength to his frame and in doing so, expect to see the velocity rise.

Zach Laurie OF / RHP / Crestwood, ON / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 18 / POS: 4 Report: Laurie was arguably one of the best players overall at the 2018 Future Games and the left-handed hitter presently has strength and quickness in the bat at the plate. There is a looseness and twitchy acttons, and we’ve seen him leave one of the biggest parks in the province with a wood bat. Questions on where he fits defensively as he can go behind the dish or see time in the outfield. The bat is the carrying tool and Laurie will look to carry and build on what he’s accomplished into his last year of high school ball in Ontario.

TCU

Raphael Pelletier C / SS / Edouard-Montpetit, QC / 2020 Rankings  OverallRank: 413 / POS: 38 Report: Pelletier stands out immediately for his abilities behind the dish. He moves extremely well side to side, the hands work and he keeps everything in front. The arm works and the quickness in his transfers allows him to control the running game. Still lacking strength, this plays into his offensive game where it’s more of a contact based approach as he looks to be a line drive type of hitter. A member of our 2018 Canadian Future Games Team, Pelletier was also a selection of the Texas Rangers last June and will be heavily followed during the 2020 season.

UConn

Calvin Ziegler RHP / OF / St. Marys, ON / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 340 / POS: 110 Report: Ziegler is a loose and easy right-hander with a repeatable delivery and one of the hardest throwers in the country, with a fastball that has been up to 94 mph. The arm works clean from a ¾ slot with life out the hand and as he’s been predominantly fastball usage in his outings this summer, we have seen him break off his curveball with 11/5 shape that has swing and miss action to it. As he continues to develop his changeup and fine tune his arsenal, Ziegler will be an arm to pay attention for pro scouts as we wouldn’t be surprised to see him work in the low to mid 90’s after a winter in the weight room. The curveball will be the separator for him and if it becomes a consistent weapon, look for him to make a jump in the eyes of many.

VCU

Campbell Ellis LHP / 1B / Christ the King, ON / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 13 / POS: 3 Report: Ellis is a strong 6-foot-4, 200-pound left-hander out of the Terriers organization who pitches with energy and intensity every time he takes the mound. Ellis pounds the zone with his fastball and works with three pitches he shows comfort in. The velocity should spike once he gets to school as Ellis is usually in the 82-85 range with his heater. The curveball has become more of a weapon with more downward action and comes out the hand clean while he can backup his changeup that works well off his fastball and induce weak contact and swing and miss with that. He holds runners well and the compete level is some of the best around you’ll find. We always like when we get to a game and see Ellis on the mound and can envision him having a successful career at VCU.

Justin Humenay RHP / OF / Taft School, QC / 2020 Report: Humenay is an athlete who has been up to 88 mph from the right-side and also shows fundamentals and feel in the box with a compact, balanced swing. On the mound is where Humenay really stands out as the arm is loose and clean, working from a near low-¾ slot with life and run on his fastball. The slider has tilt and depth with the ability to turn into a swing and miss pitch with velocity in the 78-81 range and can also turn over a changeup that has action and he shows feel and comfort with.

WAYNE STATE

CJ Maury SS / 2B / Mayfield, ON / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 21 / POS: 3 Report: Maury is a middle infielder who does a lot of the little things well to help his team win. Versatile in the infield but profiles as a second-baseman at the next level, he can run and be a weapon on the bases with his knowledge and IQ, moves well with confident glove actions and the bat has taken a leap with the added muscle he has added over the last 8 months. Gap to gap juice at the moment, once he starts really looking to drive the ball, the offensive production will jump and he has a chance to be a solid all-around player who can impact the game in numerous ways.