Elliott: Leach, Balazovic best 1-2 Canadian punch in same system?

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Each year MLB.Pipeline ranks the top 30 prospects in each organization -- as well as the top 100 prospects in thee minors.

And after chat rooms another feature is listing each organization’s No. 31 prospect. The guys who just missed the top 30.

The top high school pitcher drafted in Canada was RHP Landon Leach in the 2017 draft.

The Minnesota Twins and scout Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) selected Leach (Pickering, Ont.) in the second round from the Toronto Mets and coach Chris Kemlo. The Twins gave the 6-foot-4, 205 pounder a $1.4 Million US signing bonus.

Last summer with the Rookie-Class Gulf Twins, Leach was 0-1 with a 2.18 ERA. He walked 10 and struck out 16 in 20 2/3 innings, making seven appearances, six of them starts.

Who did Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Mike Rosenbaum slot in as No. 31, the just miss guy for the Twins top 30. None other than Leach.

Landon Leach, RHP, Twins

The Twins might have the best 1-2 Canadian punch in the minors with Jordan Balazovic, their 2016 fifth-round pick, and Leach, who went in the second round in 2017. Leach had some shoulder issues slow him in 2018, but he’s added strength to his 6-foot-4 frame and has the chance to have three average or better pitches.

Former Ontario Blue Jays RHP Jordan Balazovic is ranked 19th on the Twins top 30 -- and third on ESPN’s Keith Law’s top list of Twins prospects. Burrows also drafted Balazovic proving once again his scouting ability.

For years Burrows headed up the Canadian arm of the Major League Scouting Bureau. Then, he was suggesting to the 30 years the good points and bad points of a player. Now, he is signing them. The best.

Balazovic went 7-3 with a 3.94 ERA in 12 games, making 11 starts for the class-A Cedar Rapids Kernels in his second full pro season.

Jordan Balazovic | Rank: 19 (Preseason: 19)

Team: Cedar Rapids Kernels (A) ETA: 2021

Position: RHP Age: 20 DOB: 09/17/1998

Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6’ 4” Weight: 175 lb.

Drafted: 2016, 5th (153) - MIN

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

As the 2016 Draft approached, Balazovic traveled to Florida with his fellow Canadian high school standouts. The right-hander separated himself with his performance and projectability and the Twins took him in the fifth round that June, going above slot to sign him away from his Auburn commitment. After two summers in the Gulf Coast League, he took a nice step forward while pitching full-season ball for the first time.

Balazovic made very good strides during extended Spring Training and that carried over into his 2018 Midwest League debut. The big right-hander had plenty left in the tank at the end of the year, living in the 92-94 mph range and consistently up to 95 mph with his fastball. He throws it with good sinking action to get ground ball outs. His changeup has improved quite a bit and while he can still throw it a bit too hard, in the 85-86 mph range, it has more movement and because of his uptick in velocity, there’s more separation between the two pitches. The slider is still his go-to breaking ball and it flashes plus at times.

There could still be more in the tank as Balazovic continues to fill out his 6-foot-4 frame, giving him considerable ceiling. He’s moving in the right direction with a big up arrow next to his name.