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OF Dante Nori, 1st round (27th) – Philadelphia Phillies — Signed $2.5 million

Name: OF Dante Nori

Scout: Derrick Ross 

Hometown: Northville, Mich.

Born: Toronto, Ont.

Height/Weight: 5’10” 190 lbs.

Bats/Throws: L-L

Slot Money: $3,228,300

Teams: Northville HS Mustangs/Hit Dogs Midwest/Canes National.

Coaches: Jeff Petty (Canes National), Dan Cimini (Northville).

Committed: Mississippi State.

Previous Teams: Canes National, USA Prime/3n2 Warriors.

Previous Coaches: John Kostrzewa, Brian Huck and Ryan Duman.

Rankings: Ranked 47th on Perfect Game’s top 500 combined list … Listed 47th on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 ... Ranked Baseball America’s 80th on top 500 combined list of high schoolers and collegians ... ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel writes he will go to the Yankees (53rd over-all … on July 19) … Listed 60th by ESPN (May 8) top 154 list … Previously 75th on BA list .. 27th on BA’s top 100 high schoolers in July of 2023 rankings ... Listed eighth on Perfect Game’s top HS list and second best in Michigan.

Attended: 2024 MLB Draft Combine, June 18-23 at Chase Field, home of Arizona Diamondbacks, one of 319 prospects invited, 193 collegiate players and 126 high schoolers.

Good genes I: His father Micah is an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Micah was with the Raptors from 1998 to 2013. Micah’s first year was Vince Carter’s first year. The day Dante was born, in 2004 Micah was at Raptors’ training camp at Brock University in St. Catharines when he got the call to make the dash to Mount Sinai on University Ave. Butch Carter hired Micah. Both are Middletown, Ohio natives. He scouted for Raptors coaches Carter, Lenny Wilkens, Kevin O’Neill, Sam Mitchell, and Jay Triano, then was an assistant coach under Triano and Dwane Casey.

A former middle infielder with Indiana from 1994 to 1997. Micah was with the 1996 team that won the Big Ten, advancing to the NCAA Midwest Regional, batting .340. He closed his career with a .305 average, 20 home runs, 127 RBIs, 116 runs, 35 doubles and 18 stolen bases. His name is still scattered throughout the IU record book, sitting among the top 20 in home runs, RBIs, doubles, hits (180), slugging percentage (.483) and extra base hits (60). In 1997, Micah led the team with a .365 batting average, 66 hits, 12 home runs, 59 RBIs, two triples and a .635 slugging percentage. He also earned the Jake Gimbel award for outstanding mental attitude.

Micah Nori explains the rules to an NBA official.

Good genes II: Grandpa Fred Nori was an infielder for the Indiana Hoosiers from 1963 to 1965, compiling a .284 career batting average with five home runs and 55 RBIs before turning pro. He played two seasons in the minors, one in the Chicago Cubs system (class-A Duluth-Superior) and the other in New York Mets organization (rookie-class Marion and class-A Winter Haven). He was 25-for-31 stealing bases in 176 games.

The most influential person in my baseball life: “My grandpa (Fred), now 80. My grandfather is the reason why I wanted to play and the reason I swing the way I do.”

Young Dante and young Joey Votto of the Reds

The most influential person in my baseball career, besides my family: “Joey Votto. I have known him since I was eight years old and has been a great mentor and friend to me.” During the 2009 WBC which at the Rogers Centre, Votto went 4-for-5 including a homer in a 5-4 loss to Team USA. Hoops fan Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) phoned Micah Nori to see if he could workout at the Raptors facility. Two or three years later, the Nori family was at Great American Park and Dante had his picture taken with Votto. Votto art still hangs in Dante’s room.

Best day on the ball field: “Winning a regional championship, we won 9-4 against Brighton, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.”

2024 season: Hitting .452 for Northville Mustangs with 14 doubles, seven triples, two home runs and 21 RBIs. He was 20-for-25 stealing and had a 1.323 OPS in 39 games … Singled in 2-1 win over Brother Rice ... Hit two-run homer against Bay City ... Singled facing Okemos ... Was 2-for-2 with a triple and a double against Churchill ... Singled against Novi ... Was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base in 3-2 win against Catholic Central ... Was 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a steal facing Bay City Western ... Was 2-for-3 with a double, triple and a steal against Flint Powers ... Was 1-for-1 with a triple and three walks against Davison ... Two RBIs and a steal against Lake Fenton ... Was 3-for-4 with a double facing Churchill ... Singled against Belleville ... Was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles against Brother Rice ... Singled and stole a bag facing Plymouth ... Was 2-for-2 with a double and a steal against Plymouth ... Singled against Grand Ledge ... Went 3-for-4 with a double and triple facing Franklin ... Had a perfect 3-for-3 day with two steals against Walled Lake Central ... Singled and stole a base against Canton ... Doubled, tripled and swiped a base facing Canton ... Doubled against Hartland ... Doubled, singled and knocked in a pair of runs against Howell ... Went 3-for-4 with a triple an three RBIs against Woodhaven ... Singled and stole a base against Woodhaven ... Singled and swiped a base facing TBD ... Singled against Brighton ... Was 2-for-2 with a triple, three RBIs and a stolen base against Brighton ... Was 4-for-5 with five RBIs thanks to two doubles and a homer while stealing two bases against Salem ... Doubled and singled against Salem.

Player comps: Corbin Carroll and Alek Thomas of the Arizona Diamondbacks, plus former New York Yankee Brett Gardner.

Interested teams: Blue Jays, Yankees, Tigers, A’s, Rangers, Dodgers, Phillies, Pirates, Mets, Royals, Padres, Red Sox, Rays and Cardinals. He has heard from all 30 teams.

Honours … 2024 season_ Pre-season Rawlings/Perfect Game All American All Region Central First Team and All-Region Teams ... Earned all-tournament team at 18U PG East MLK championship in Fort Myers Fla. … 2023 season _ Showcase Top Prospect Team ... National Showcase, Phoenix ... Dream Team All-State in Michigan HS (best players from all divisions) ... With Hit Dogs Midwest _ Named to All Tournament team at PG East MLK Championship (Underclass) at Fort Myers, Fla. ... Earned Tournament MVP PG East MLK Championship (Underclass) ... With Canes National 17u/NY Mets Scout Team _ Made All Tournament Team in West Palm Beach ... All Tournament Team WWBA 2024 Grads or 17U National Championship ... Ranked Tournament Elite Batting … 2022 season _ Showcase Top Prospect Team at WWBA Workout Showcase at Marietta (Ran 3.6 60) ... Showcase Top Prospect List WWBA Workout at Marietta ... First State, All-State in Michigan HS ... With Canes Prospects _ Named All Tournament Team at WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. ... With Canes National _ All Tournament Team WWBA 2024 Grads or 16U National Championship in Marietta, Ga. … 2021 season _ Showcase Top Prospect Team at WWBA Workout Showcase at Marietta ... With Scottsdale Dirtbags _ Named to All Tournament Team at 15U WWBA West National Championship at Surprise, Az. … 2020 season with USA Prime Mountain National _ Named Tournament Elite Batting at WWBA 2024 Grads or 14U National Championship in Hoover, Ala. ... Named to All Tournament Team at WWBA Freshman World Championship at Sarasota ... Gained berth on All Tournament Team at PG West MLK championship (Underclass) at Phoenix ... Selected All Tournament at PG 14U Summer Shootout in Atlanta ... Again All Tournament Team at WWBA 2024 Grads or 14U National Championship at Hoover, Ala. … 2019 season with Motor City Hit Dogs _ Named All Tournament Team at PG 14U Invitational (Major) at Marietta ... With 3n2 Warriors _ All Tournament Team at WWBA 14U West National Championship at Surprise, Az. … 2018 season with 3n2 Warriors _ All Tournament Team at PG Super25 14U or 2023 Grad Southwest Super Qualifier at Goodyear, Az. ... Tournament MVP PG Super25 14U or 2023 Grad Southwest Super Qualifier ... All Tournament Team PG Super25 14U or 2023 Grads Las Vegas Super Qualifier at Henderson, Nev. ... All Tournament Team (8-for-17, .471, three RBIs, one stolen base, .915) 13U Super25 National Championship at Sanford, Fla.

2023 season _ Batted .309 (8-for-21) combined at the East Coast Pro Showcase (4-for-10) and the Area Codes (4-for-11) with a double, four RBIs and nine stolen bases ... Clocked at 6.24 at East Coast Pro in Hoover, Ala. ... Laser-timed at 6.15 at Area Code Games at the University of San Diego ... Beaten in final of Home Run Derby losing to Cade Arrambide 12-11 at the Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic at Chase Field in Phoenix, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Had eight homers in the first round and 14 in the semi final, so 33 in all. … Was 4-for-13, double, two triples, six stolen bases, 1.341 OPS at PG East MLK Championship (Underclass) at Fort Myers, Fla. … Was 3-for-11 (.273) with a double, three stolen bases, .919 OPS in West Palm Beach … Had 14 hits, three doubles, three triples, five RBIs, six stolen bases at WWBA 2024 Grads or in Marietta, Ga.

2022 season _ Was 6-for-13 (.462) with two doubles, a triple, three RBIs and three stolen bases, 1.332 OPS at WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. ... Went 9-for-15 (.533), one double, a homer, three RBIs, two stolen bases, 1.411 OPS at WWBA 2024 Grads or 16U National Championship in Marietta, Ga.

2021 season _ Was 6-for-9 (.667), three doubles, a triple, three RBIs, three stolen bases, 1.972 OPS at 15U WWBA West National Championship at Surprise, Az. … Had 12 hits, two doubles, three triples, eight RBIs, three stolen bases at WWBA 2024 Grads or 14U National Championship in Hoover, Ala. …

2020 season _ Was 5-for-16, (.313) with two RBIs, two stolen bases, .813 OPS at WWBA Freshman World Championship at Sarasota … Was 2-for-5 (.400) with a double, three RBIs, one stolen base, 1.171 at PG West MLK championship (Underclass) at Phoenix … Hit 4-for-13 (.308) with a double, triple, three RBIs, one stolen base and a 1.012 at PG 14U Summer Shootout in Atlanta ... Batted 12-for-32 (.375), two doubles, three triples, eight RBIs, with three stolen bases and 1.054 OPS at WWBA 2024 Grads or 14U National Championship at Hoover, Ala. …

2019 season _ Went 3-for-6 (.500) with a double, three RBIs, 1.095 at PG 14U Invitational (Major) at Marietta … Batted 13-for-21 (619) with a double, 12 RBIs, two stolen bases and a 1.345 OPS WWBA 14U West National Championship at Surprise, Az. …

2018 season _ Was 6-for-9 (.667) with a ,double, four RBIs, one stolen base 1.505 at PG Super25 14U or 2023 Grad Southwest Super Qualifier at Goodyear, Az. … Batted 3-for-9, (.333), one double, one RBI and a .844 OPS at PG Super25 14U or 2023 Grads Las Vegas Super Qualifier at Henderson, Nev. … Was 8-for-17 (.471) three RBIs, one stolen base, .915 at 13U Super25 National Championship at Sanford, Fla. …

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Scouting report

Baseball America

School: Northville (Mich.) HS

Age At Draft: 19.8

Nori is a 5-foot-11, 188-pound outfielder who is already 19 and will turn 20 in October after the draft, which makes him one of the oldest prep players in the 2024 class. However, he happens to be one of the best athletes, one of the fastest runners and one of the most advanced hitters in the class as well. Nori was a consistent producer in games and employs a compact and direct swing from a wide base with limited pre-pitch movements and above-average bat-to-ball skills and pitch recognition. He makes impressive two-strike adjustments and utilizes the entire field with line drives in games, though he will flash solid-average raw power in batting practice and has a muscular and filled out frame. Nori is a consistent plus-plus runner who turned in the best 60-yard dash at Perfect Game’s National showcase and uses his speed effectively on the bases and in center field, where he should stick and be a solid defender. Nori’s age will surely hurt him for model-heavy teams who might prefer him to get to campus at Mississippi State, but it’s hard to find pure hitters and Nori does that while profiling at a premium position.

MLB Pipeline

AGE: 19 B/T: L-L HT/WT: 5’ 10” 190

COMMITTED: Mississippi State

TWITTER @DanteNori1

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 65 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 50

Teams that weigh age heavily won’t be interested in Nori, who’ll turn 20 three months after the 2024 Draft and is easily the oldest high school player in MLB Pipeline’s rankings. There also are evaluators who believe his all-around tools are comparable to Alek Thomas’ at the same stage and think he’s a better bet to hit than fellow Michigan prepster Caleb Bonemer. His grandfather, Fred Nori, recruited Kyle Schwarber to Indiana as an assistant coach, and his father Micah is a longtime NBA assistant coach currently with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Nori has a mature approach at the plate, controlling the strike zone and looking to make consistent contact to all fields. He has a quick, direct left-handed swing and will shorten his stroke with two strikes. While he’s strong and shows average power during batting practice, he focuses on producing line drives rather than launching balls during games.

Nori posts top-of-the-scale 60-yard dash times and is a well above-average runner who’s aggressive on the bases. A Mississippi State commit, he chases down balls from gap to gap as a no-doubt center fielder and his solid arm strength is another asset. He’s physically maxed out and offers no projection, but he has plenty of talent and scouts love his makeup as well.