Team Canada - Fresh Faces
October 16, 2021
Fresh faces were all over Dunedin Stadium down in Florida, with 17 players donning the Red and White for the first time.
The first day of workouts was easy, as the players ran through simple drills, 60s, and BP for a short day before two weeks of practices and games. Here, we take a look at things that stood out to us.
O'Rae's Speed
DYLAN O'RAE SS / NORTHERN, ON / 2022Rankings StateRank: 9 / POS: 3
There's no question Dylan O'Rae is the fastest player on Team Canada. The Illinois commit might not be overwhelming in stature, but no one in Dunedin is beating him in a race. O'Rae ran a 6.48, and then ran again to the tune of a 6.44. We've seen him enough this summer to know that his speed translate to the field, and while there's barrel feel in BP, he'll torture pitchers on the bases if he can find ways to get on regularly. |
White Goes Flight Deck
SAM WHITE C / 3B / AURORA, ON / 2023Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 2
It's tough not to notice how polished White is at the plate. Of all the hitters on Day 1, White showed the most composure, feel and rhythm with a bat in his hands. His BP is usually line-drives sprayed across the field, but on one swing he launched a ball well into the Flight Deck in right-centre - a shot that must have been over 420 feet. Going to West Virginia as a '23 grad, White has draft eligibility in 2022, and if he can stick it behind the plate he becomes one of the most interesting prospects in Canada. |
Wheatley's Defense
JACK WHEATLEY SS / VAUXHALL, AB / 2022Rankings StateRank: 3 / POS: 1
There was some hype around Wheatley coming into camp, and so far he hasn't disappointed. The first thing you notice about him is the flair and swagger in his game. There's confidence and comfort there, and he feels at home when he plays shortstop. He typically doesn't give himself many bad hops, the arm works across the diamond, and overall he's a kid that you love to watch play the infield. |
Cyr's Athleticism
CHARLES OLIVIER CYR OF / RHP / ECOLE DE MORTAGNE, QC / 2023We saw Cyr at our first events in Quebec last year, and a year later the first thing that stands out is how he grew to 6-foot-5, 215-pounds. Not only that, but he ran a 6.58, showcasing lots of athleticism, and it looked right. At the plate it's a work in progress, but we had him mid-80s off the mound back then with a smaller frame. So now looking the way he does, there's a lot of curiosity as to what it's going to look like on the mound with his new and improved body |
Shaw's Bat Speed
SAM SHAW SS / OF / LAMBRICK PARK SECONDARY SCHOOL, BC / 2023Another player who doesn't pass the eye test right away is Sam Shaw, but offensively you could make the argument that he's a top-five hitter in the country - and he's a 2023 (Xavier commit). We got a good look at Shaw in Jupiter, and it felt like he averaged a hit per game. The setup is easy to like, it's quiet and violent when he gets going. Pitches that look like they're out of the zone, Shaw finds ways to not only catch barrel, but elevate them as well. Everything comes off his bat hard, and he compliments that with a 6.87 in the 60. |