DUNEDIN, Fla. — Meeting the expectations that come with being a first-round pick has been difficult thus far for Kevin Ahrens. The 22-year old third baseman is cognizant of this fact and believes this year will be a standout season for him.
DUNEDIN, Fla. – You won’t come across a baseball diamond at St. Michael’s College. But you might come across one of their baseball players, including Marcus Knecht, who has made the journey from relative high-school obscurity to the bright lights of pro ball. Knecht, the 21-year-old North York native, was selected 113th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010.
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Daniel Norris continues to use the lessons his father taught him, even now as he attends his first Blue Jays training camp. It was Norris’ father, Dave, who instilled a calm demeanor in the young pitcher, a trait that remains one of the most important characteristics in the hurler’s makeup.
Bryan Saucedo is embarking upon the most important year of his young baseball career but one wouldn’t know it after speaking to him for a couple of minutes. The 18-year-old first baseman from Toronto is making his third appearance for the Canadian National Junior team, and while the impending Major League Baseball entry draft looms large, it doesn’t affect his approach to the game.
In the world of young baseball players there are those who are committed and then there’s Clayton Isherwood. The native of Van Anda, B.C., a small town of around 300 on the coast of scenic Texada Island, is a pitcher currently plying his trade in St. Petersburg, Fl., with the Canadian National Junior Baseball team.
St. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Every ball player experiences highs and lows. For Owen Spiwak, one such low has come about just before the start of spring training in Florida. One of Mississauga’s most accomplished baseball players Spiwak, a catcher for the Ontario Blue Jays, was selected for the first time to join the National Canadian Junior Baseball team.
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Shane Opitz is all about family and baseball. The 20-year-old shortstop is lucky to have his family members help him get to where he is now. He was faced with a very tough decision right after high school deciding whether to attend the University of Nebraska on a baseball scholarship or head straight to Blue jays camps.
Justin Nicolino is a prospect with promise. The talented 20 year-old southpaw pitcher from Orlando, Fla., is a prime example of the talent that the Toronto Blue Jays have acquired through their strong farm system.
DUNEDIN, Fla. — It’s not often many 17-year-olds have the chance to be selected by a major league baseball team. But it is even rarer for someone to own a Cadillac as a teenager. Dalton Pompey rewarded himself with a shiny new white Caddy after being taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2010 MLB draft.
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Eric Brown is one of the rare athletes given an opportunity to pursue his dream with his favourite team. Brown is currently at the Toronto Blue Jays minor league spring training camp, trying to ascend through the ranks from A ball in Lansing, Mich., to the big club. He grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he only had eyes for one club.