A Brief Look at a Few Top Canadian Prospects
A guest post from Sean Murphy highlighting standout prospects from Canada 🍁
It’s that time of the year when updates to team Top 30 prospect lists and overall Top 100s or Top 250s are revised. Baseball America is no different of course and have updated their Top 100. Let’s use this as an opportunity to check in on those prospects from north of the 49th parallel who have landed on their updated Top 100. We’ll also look at a Canadian that could/should be in the Top 100 plus a couple of younger Canucks to keep an eye on for the future.
*** All stats are up to Sep. 4 ***
Hosers In the B.A. Top Hundred
#44 C Bo Naylor, Guardians
Bo has joined brother Josh with the Big Club and stepped into the Guardians' primary catcher role. After initially making his debut in 2022, Bo has stayed in the Majors since his recall on June 17. His profile is rather unique for a catcher insofar as he’s an above-average athlete with a “combination of power, speed, and a disciplined plate approach” per Baseball America. There’s a lot to like here now and definitely in the future.
His offense at the MLB level has been on the disappointing side with a 0.315 wOBA, but trending in a good direction from a xwOBA perspective, and 101 wRC+ over 173 PA. However, there are no worries about the bat at the moment and there is plenty of confidence that Naylor will figure it out as he continues to accrue at-bats. His K% is in a bit of an uncomfortable place (25.4%) but Bo is walking at an excellent rate, 11%, and with what he brings to the table on the defensive side of the ball (above-average Pop Time and framing per his Statcast page) let’s not get too concerned with an elevated strike-out rate at this time from the 23-year-old.
A fabulous combination of tools for a catcher who may be a multiple-time All-Star if everything continues on course and can stay injury-free, etc.
#91 CF Denzel Clarke, Midland RockHounds (A’s, Double-A)
*** Currently on the 60-day IL (left shoulder strain), last played July 21, likely out for the remainder of 2023 ***
Bloodlines. Extremely athletic bloodlines. We’ll start there. His mother Donna represented Canada at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in the Heptathlon. His uncle Kevin Smellie played pro football in the CFL as a running back with the Toronto Argonauts, winning a Grey Cup in 1991. Denzel’s cousin Gavin Smellie participated in the 2012 London Olympic Games in the 4x100m relay. Let’s top it off with that he’s cousins with the Naylor’s (Bo, Josh, Myles….are they the First Family of Canadian baseball….hmm). Family sports over the holidays are on a whole different level when these families are getting together.
Denzel is a highly athletic prospect with a tall, lean, and muscular build (6-5, 220lbs). It’s a frame and level of athleticism where you can dream on the projection. Baseball America evaluators have put not only Clarke’s speed at 70 but his fielding is also graded at Double-Plus. Add some Plus power to his profile and you can see why Denzel’s upside is enormous.
Inside the Park HRs in back-to-back games:
Denzel does strike out a worrisome amount. At the time of his injury, he was striking out at a 29.7% rate. Even though that is higher than you’d like, Clarke does walk at an excellent 12.9% of the time showing a solid understanding of the strike zone and willingness to take walks.
We’ll have to see how serious his left shoulder strain is. Initially, he was on the 7-day IL but was moved to the 60-day on Aug. 23 essentially calling time on the rest of the season. Hopefully, this is not a lingering or long-term issue.
Assuming the best and Denzel comes back at 100%, he’s one of the most exciting athletes in the game. There will be swing-and-miss in his game offensively and how he improves on that will determine how far he can push his ceiling.
#92 2B Tyler Black, Nashville Sounds (Brewers, Triple-A)
*** promoted to Triple-A Aug.6 from Double-A Biloxi Shuckers ***
Black has steadily been working through the Brewers system since being selected with the 33rd overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Wright State. Son of Canadian sportscaster Rod Black, Tyler is physically filled out and looks very much like his listed 204 lbs while carrying an above average-to-plus hit tool grade from evaluators.
While you don’t typically think of power in his game, Tyler does have 16 HRs on the season so far, which is a career-high. It has become more involved and is a presence in his profile. Adding the improving in-game power to his ability to get on base at an over 40% rate for his entire MILB career (.403 career OBP) with a disciplined approach, you have yourself a tough at-bat every time if you’re an opposing pitcher.
Where Black will find his home playing on the defensive side of the ball is an ongoing question still to be answered. This season he has spent time at 1B/2B/3B/DH with some time in CF in 2022. Evaluators have displayed some concern with his arm putting 40-45 grades on it. He’ll likely end up at the Keystone and spend most of his time at second base. Tyler’s floor is as an everyday regular (OFP 50) with the top end ultimately being determined by how much more power he can display in-game.
One That Could/Should Be In The Top 100
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