Ontario Blue Jays INF Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) lone Canadian selected for the Perfect Game All-American Classic

July 31, 2023

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

The old saying does not ring true about Canadians and the top Florida four-year powerhouse programs. This year.

It used to go something like this:

“Florida State and Florida don’t really need Canadians because their programs can recruit enough talent from the state of Florida.”

Well, the Florida Gators have given INF Brendan Lawson a scholarship. Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) is a member of the Ontario Blue Jays, after graduating from the Leaside program.

The schools have spoken and No. 2 ranked Florida (54-17) last spring, behind only the national champion LSU Tigers, wants Lawson. And Lawson wants Florida.

Now, pro teams will make a decision on Lawson, who was eligible for the 2023 draft, but re-classified. And he’s off to an outstanding start for next July’s draft. He is the only Canadian invited to the Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic set for Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. on Aug. 20

The Perfect Game All-American Classic features 60 of the top high school-aged players competing for East and West, with Lawson in an East uniform. A total of 27 states and one Canadian province (Ontario ... Lawson) are represented. California and Florida lead the way with nine players each.

Perfect Game ranks Lawson as the No. 1 prospect in Ontario and tops in Canada with 11 months until next year’s draft.

Besides the Perfect Game All-American Classic this year he made the All Tournament Team for 2024 Grads or 17U National championship in Marietta, Ga., earned a berth on the 2023 Preseason Underclass All American All-Region team for Canada/Puerto Rico and was clocked in 6.96 seconds 60 last month.

In 2022, he was invited to the PG Underclass All-American Games, earned All-Tournament honors with the Ontario Blue Jays at the 2024 Grads or 16U National championship in Marietta, the 16U BCS National championship at Fort Myers and the 16U PG Independence Showdown -- an event the Ontario Blue Jays won -- in Sanford, Fla.

The All-American Classic is one of premier amateur games of the summer, attracts pro scouts and collegiate recruiters from around the country.

More than 275 past Perfect Game All-American Classic players have gone on to play in the majors.

With Team East is INF Akhil Nimmala of Strawberry Crest High in Valrico, Fla, brother of first round draft choice SS Arjun Nimmala (20th overall of the Toronto Blue Jays). Jamie Lehman (Brampton, Ont.) was the cross checker on Nimmala.

In 2022, the West defeated the East in 10 innings, 5-2, and holds a 13-7 All-American Classic series lead.

The 2023 Perfect Game All-American players will make a special visit to Valencia Newcomer School Aug. 18. The All-American Classic will be broadcast live on PerfectGame.TV at 8 p.m.