February 10, 2021

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Ten Canadians rank in the top 30 prospects of their respective major league organizations, according to Baseball America’s recently released lists.

Here’s a rundown:

Baltimore Orioles: Adam Hall (15)

This 21-year-old infielder from London, Ont., was a standout with the Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team before being selected in the second round (60th overall) in the 2017 MLB draft by fellow Canuck Chris Reitsma (Calgary, Alta.) and the Baltimore Orioles. He has played parts of three seasons in the Orioles’ organization and he rocketed up the club’s prospect ranks after he posted a .385 on-base percentage and swiped 33 bases for the O’s class-A Delmarva Shorebirds in 2019. For his efforts, he was named a South Atlantic League All-Star.

“His speed, versatility and makeup keep him on track for a major league future either as an everyday infielder or utilityman,” reads the last sentence of Hall’s Baseball America scouting report.

Chicago Cubs: Owen Caissie (21), Jordan Nwogu (24)

After honing his skills with the Fieldhouse Pirates and Junior National Team and winning the home run contest at Tournament 12 in 2019, the 6-foot-4, left-handed hitting Caissie was selected in the second round (45th overall) by Chris Kemlo and the San Diego Padres in the 2020 MLB draft. The Canuck outfielder received a $1,200,004 signing bonus from the Pads and spent time at their alternate training site. In December, the Padres reluctantly included him in a package of prospects to acquire right-hander Yu Darvish from the Cubs.

“Caissie has the power for 30-plus home runs if he can make enough contact,” reads a sentence in his Baseball America scouting report.

Born in Ottawa, Ont., Nwogu, a 21-year-old power-hitting outfielder starred for the University of Michigan before he was chosen by the Cubs in the third round of the 2020 MLB draft. Raised in Ann Arbour, Mich. Nwogu put up strong numbers in his freshman and sophomore seasons with the Wolverines. In his abbreviated 2020 season with the Wolverines, he batted .353 and had 24 hits - including two home runs - in 15 games.

“Nwogu received Division I football scholarship offers in high school and is still built like a linebacker at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds,” reads part of Baseball America’s scouting report on him. “That strength and size yields plus-plus raw power to go with plus speed on the bases.”

Cleveland Indians: Bo Naylor (5)

Selected in the first round (29th overall) by Cleveland in the 2018 MLB draft, this soon-to-be 21-year-old, who honed his skills with the Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team, has been invited to the Indians’ big league camp this spring. The Canuck catcher, whose older brother, Josh, is an outfielder/first baseman with the Indians, has spent parts of two seasons in their organization. He batted .243 with 11 home runs and 65 RBIs in 107 games with the class-A Lake County Captains in 2019 before spending 2020 at the club’s alternate site.

“Naylor had perhaps the best offensive performance of any prospect at the alternate site,” reads part of his Baseball America scouting report. “He has an advanced hit tool thanks to his smooth swing, pitch recognition and approach.”

Detroit Tigers: Trei Cruz (16)

This 22-year-old shortstop, who is the son of former Toronto Blue Jays’ 30-30 man Jose Cruz Jr, was selected in the third round (73rd overall) in the 2020 MLB draft. A switch-hitting 6-foot-2, 200-pound infielder, the younger Cruz was born in Toronto and had been drafted twice previously, by the Houston Astros (35th round, 2017) and the Washington Nationals (37th round, 2019). He played his college ball at Rice University. In 2019, he batted .305 with nine home runs in 58 games and was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team. In his abbreviated 2020 collegiate campaign, he batted .328 and had 19 hits - including a home run - in 16 games for Rice. Last summer, he competed in the independent Constellation Energy League prior to heading to instructional league.

“Cruz has work to do to access his power and solidify a defensive position,” reads a portion of his Baseball America Scouting Report. “His hitting ability gives him a solid foundation to work from as he begins his pro career in 2021.”

Los Angeles Angels: David Calabrese (24)

After dazzling scouts with his speed at Tournament 12 at the Rogers Centre in September 2019, this left-handed hitting outfielder, who honed his skills with the Ontario Blue Jays and the Junior National Team, was chosen in the third round of the 2020 MLB draft by the Angels. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 5-foot-9 Maple, Ont., native was unable to join a minor league squad in the Angels’ organization, but he did train remotely in Toronto, using a program designed by his big league club. Baseball America lauds Calabrese’s “simple, efficient swing from the left side” as well as his defensive prowess.

“Calabrese shows good instincts on both sides of the ball and has the potential to be a plus defender with his plus-plus closing speed and ability to cover a lot of ground in center field,” reads a sentence in the scouting report.

Minnesota Twins: Jordan Balazovic (6)

This Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum enjoyed a breakout season in 2019, posting a combined 8-5 record and a 2.69 ERA, while striking out 129 batters in 93 2/3 innings in 19 games between class-A and class-A Advanced in the Minnesota Twins organization. For his efforts, the Mississauga, Ont.,native was named the Canadian Baseball Network’s minor league pitcher of the year. Selected by Twins veteran scout Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, B.C.) in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB draft, Balazovic has pitched parts of four seasons in the Twins’ organization and spent part of 2020 at the club’s alternate site.

“With a strong, 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame and a long history of good strikeout and walk rates, it would be a surprise to not see Balazovic impact the Twins’ rotation at some point. His upside will depend on how much he can get out of his secondaries,” reads part of his Baseball America scouting report.

Toronto Blue Jays: Otto Lopez (12), Dasan Brown (25)

The 22-year-old Lopez, who played his first organized baseball in Montreal, Que., participated in three spring training games for the big league Blue Jays in 2020 and recorded a pair of doubles in six at-bats. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed batter spent 2019 with the Blue Jays’ class-A Lansing Lugnuts and finished with a .324/.371/.425 slash line and stole 20 bases in 108 games. Since signing with the Blue Jays as an international free agent in 2016, the Dominican infielder boasts a .310 batting average with 61 extra-base hits over three minor league seasons.He was added to the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster this off-season.

“Lopez's future may involve playing multiple positions. He has a chance to be an everyday player if he's able to hit for more power in games,” reads a section of Baseball America’s scouting report about him.

Baseball America considers Brown, a former Ontario Blue Jay and Junior National Team star, to be the fastest base runner, the best athlete and the best defensive outfielder in the Blue Jays’ system. The Oakville, Ont., was chosen in the third round of the 2019 MLB draft by scout Kory Lafreniere (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.). In his first taste of professional action, Brown posted a .444 on-base percentage and stole six bases in 14 games with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays in 2019. In 2020, he worked out with former coach Sean Travers, now of the Mississauga North Tigers, before heading to Dunedin.

“Brown is the best athlete in the Blue Jays' system and one of the fastest players in professional baseball. He's an explosive runner with a light, gliding gait and 80-grade speed on the 20-to-80 scouting scale,” reads a sentence in his Baseball America scouting report.

Seattle Mariners: Adam Macko (13)

Selected in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft, this left-hander from the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball saw his stock rise considerably after a stellar performance in the Mariners’ instructional league in 2020. The Stony Plain, Alta., native made his pro debut at the Rookie Level Arizona League in 2019 and posted a 3.38 ERA in eight appearances. Armed with a fastball that can touch 94 mph and strong command of four pitches, the 20-year-old Macko has pitched himself on to the radar of the Mariners’ big league brass.

“Macko stands out for his pitchability, athleticism and above-average command of four pitches. He took a big step forward in 2020, and while he doesn't have any bat-missing pitches, he has the finesse to get batters out,” reads a sentence in his Baseball America Scouting Report.