LHP Jérémy Pilon, 18th round (548th) – Toronto Blue Jays

Hometown: Salaberry-De-Valleyfield Que.

Born: Valleyfield, Que.

Bats/Throws: L-L

Height/Weight: 5’ 11” 175 lbs.

Teams: Academy Baseball Canada/Junior National Team.

Coaches: Jessen Therrien, Greg Hamilton.

Previous Teams: A’s of Lachine, Lac St. Louis.

Previous coaches: Milton Lopez, Eric Pilon.

Most influential person in his baseball life: ‘Sambu Ndungidi. He was my coach when I was in seventh grade. He was really tough with me knowing my potential. He helped me create a good work ethic and be strong mentally. I don't know if you can find him because he quit coaching a long time ago but he played pro ball (two years in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, plus two years of independent ball. Sambu’s older brother, Ntema Ndungidi, was a first-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles (six years in the O’s system and one year of Indy ball). “

Good genes: “My mom (Colette Benjamin) didn’t play sports, my dad (Eric Pilon) was a good baseball and hockey player. He played in the top league in Quebec for years as a goaltender.”

Teams that have shown the most interest: Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland A’s.

2021 with Academy Baseball Canada _ Pitched 5 1/3 scoreless allowing two hits and five walks, while striking out 12 (that’s 12 out of 16 outs recorded) at Perfext Game Coastal Elite Championship at Holly, NC.

Honors:

2022 with Academy Baseball Canada _ Perfect Game/Rawlings Preseason Underclass All American All Region 1st Team for Canada/Puerto Rico … 2021 with Academy Baseball Canada _ All Tournament Team 16U PG Coastal Elite Championship at Holly, NC ... All Tournament Team 16U BCS National Championship at Fort Myers, Fla.

Scouting reports

Perfect Game

Jeremy Pilon (Salaberry-De-Valleyfield, Que.) turned in an impressive outing in his team’s thorough win as he tossed five and two-thirds one-hit innings while striking out eight and only walking a pair. The freshman lefthander stands at an athletic 5-foot-11, 173-pounds and he makes the most of it as he worked up to 88 mph from the left side, showing mostly mid-80s through his outing and proving he could work to both halves of the plate. It’s a slightly deceptive release as he hides it well in the back and works with excellent arm speed through an over-the-top release that allows him to get downhill to the bottom half of the zone. While the fastball is a good one, the breaking ball flashed just as good as he spins it hard and gets a ton of depth to it from the same mimicked release allowing him to sequence those pitches and keep hitters off-time and struggling to get on the barrel against him.

-- Tyler Russo