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Pitcher-Only Future Games Trials: Quick Hits

April 13, 2025
Cam Black-Araujo
Assistant Director, Canada

On Saturday, April 12th, the Prep Baseball Ontario staff got it's Future Games schedule underway with the first of five Future Games Trials events with the PO Future Games Trials hosted at Pro Teach Baseball, home of the Etobicoke Rangers, in Etobicoke, Ontario.

This Sold-Out event featured roughly 37 arms in the 2026 - 2028 classes for an extended bullpen in front of our staff on our TrackMan unit and it was a strop crop of pitchers that included several of the top within their respective classes. All players at the event were vying for a spot on one of Canada's two Future Games teams heading to LakePoint Sports in late July with our Future Games team (2027 & 2028 classes) and our Senior Future Games team (2026 class).

Earlier this week, our staff began our post-event coverage within our Pitching Data Dive article. Today, we conclude our post-event coverage within this Quick Hits article as we bring you scouting notes and video on ten standouts from the event.

To view complete event results, click here.
To view Class of 2025 Commitment Board, click here.

To register for the GTA Rising Stars ID - 2029/2030 Classes (May 19), click here.
To request an invite to the Eastern Canada ProCase - 2025-2027 Classes (June 5), click here.
To request an invite to the Midwest Super Sophomore Games - 2028 Class (Aug. 1-3), click here.

‘25/26 DJ Mazzaferro (Team Ontario Astros): ‘25/26 RHP DJ Mazzaferro was the clubhouse leader in fastball velocity as he ran his FB up to 89mph, the highest we’ve recorded him to-date. Smaller stature with athletic mould at 5-foot-10, 170-pounds and Mazzaferro possesses a quick-handed arm and has added some strength over the winter. The fastball sat 86-89mph throughout his bullpen and carried three secondary offerings. The Team Ontario product had a sweeper at 69-71mph, slider at 75-76mph and changeup at 81-82mph with good horizontal action to it. Mazzaferro has really developed well on the mound and needs to be on the radar of post-secondary schools.

‘26 Oscar Johnson (Ontario Nationals): Johnson was a Future Games arm last summer and is still one of the top uncommitted 2026 arms in Ontario. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-hander is looking stronger on the mound and it showed as the fastball velocity comfortably in the 87-88mph range throughout his bullpen, while filling up the zone with the pitch. The secondary stuff has trended upwards as well with the slider at 76-79mph (2300+) and changeup at 81-82mph (4.7” IVB/17.6” HM). An uncommitted arm in Ontario that schools need to be on as Johnson looks primed for a strong summer campaign.

‘27 Will Steinman (Ontario Blue Jays): 2027 RHP Will Steinman has asserted himself as one of the top 2027 arms in the province and has really impressed over his two bullpens these past two weeks on the TrackMan. Projection in the frame at 6-foot, 160-pounds and it’s an easy, effortless delivery with a clean arm that had his fastball sitting 87-88mph (up to 89.5mph in late March). The OBJ right-hander spins the breaking ball well at 72-74mph (2695rpm) and also features a changeup at 80-81mph. A must-see arm this summer in Ontario’s 2027 class and should draw significant interest while playing south of the border.

‘26 Caleb Dupuis (Fieldhouse Pirates): 2026 RHP Caleb Dupuis is an arm who’s really jumped onto the scene over the past year as he’s climbed up to No. 30 in the class and continued to trend upwards on the mound. 6-foot, 175-pound right-hander with a loose and quick arm that saw his fastball sit 85-87 T88 and creates good spin on the pitch at 2400rpm. The tight CB with horizontal action is the putaway pitch at 74-77mph (-1.6” IVB/-7.3” HM) and also featured a changeup at 78mph. A name to know in Ontario’s 2026 class and has expressed desire to move back to the 2027 class.

‘26 Max Nantais-Vlahovich (HPP Tigers): 2026 RHP Max Nantais Vlahovich jumped onto our radar this past week as he impressed during the HPP Tigers scrimmage and proved the stuff plays on Saturday at the Pitcher-Only Future Games Trials. Still has some maturation and strength to come, standing at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds and the right-hander has really taken off on the mound since last spring. The fastball sat comfortably in the 86-87mph range and was able to locate the pitch for strikes. Nantais-Vlahovich spins a quality slider at 74-75mph (2780rpm) and works as the putaway pitch, along with a changeup at 78-79mph. Plenty more to come from the HPP arm and will be a name to know this summer as an uncommitted 2026/27.

‘27 Brody Battah (Ontario Blue Jays): ‘27 RHP Brody Battah is a name who’s really jumped onto the map in the 2027 class, now up to No. 12 in the Class Rankings and looked the part on Saturday at the PO Future Games Trials. Some present strength in the frame at 6-foot-1, 175-pounds and works from a low-¾ slot, creating some deception in the delivery. The fastball sat 85-86 T87, while he touched 88mph at the OBJ Scout Day, and was spinning the pitch at 2300+. Battah shows good feel for a tight slider that he was able to land for strikes at 75-78mph, along with a changeup at 79-81mph. An arm to know in Ontario’s 2027 class as the summer tournament schedule approaches.

‘25/26 Alex Jackson (Great Lake Canadians): 2025/26 RHP Alex Jackson was an intriguing unsigned senior (also ‘26 eligible) to take the mound at the Pitcher-Only Future Games Trials and the stuff continues to tick upwards each time we see him. Proportionate frame at 6-foot, 178-pounds with a fastball that sat 85-86mph with 2500+ spin and was able to fill up the zone with the pitch. The secondary stuff includes a slider at 74-76mph and creates good spin on the pitch at 2600+ and changeup at 78mph (14.9” HM/-1.5 IVB). An interesting arm out of the Great Lakes program as he continues to develop over the next 1.5 years.

‘27 Aidan MacLellan (Ontario Blue Jays): 2027 RHP Aidan MacLellan is another intriguing arm in the Ontario Blue Jays 2027 class and flashed some heavy stuff on the mound once again at the PO Future Games Trials. Has some strength and size at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds and works with a three-pitch mix. The fastball sat 83-85 T86 from an easy, effortless delivery. The go-to secondary offering is a sharp slider at 71-72mph with 2600+ spin and -19.3” HM to -2.3 IVB. MacLellan also featured a changeup at 79-81mph. Another uncommitted arm to circle in the Ontario Blue Jays program.

‘26 Mattias Lipka (Team Ontario Astros): 2026 RHP Mattias Lipka in an arm who continues to shine in Ontario’s 2026 class and did so again on Saturday at the Pitcher-Only Future Games Trials. Large, imposing frame at 6-foot-4, 190-pounds uses it well to get down the mound with a fastball that continues to sit in the mid-80s, 85-6mph on Saturday (2300+). The secondary stuff included a curveball at 68-71mph and changeup at 76-77mph. A highly intriguing arm in Ontario’s 2026 class and will be an arm to keep tabs on throughout the summer for the Team Ontario Astros.

‘26 Ethan Reason (Toronto Mets): 2026 LHP Ethan Reason is an uncommitted arm in Ontario’s 2026 class that college coaches need to know as his stock has skyrocketed over the past eight months. Long, lanky frame from the left-side and oozes projection at 6-foot-5, 180-pounds. The fastball has jumped 6mph since last April as the pitch sat 84-86mph on Saturday with good characteristics (18.7” IVB/-5.1” HM) and filled up the zone with it (89% Zone %). The secondary stuff is still developing with a breaking ball at 68-69mph and changeup at 75-78mph. High ceiling arm in Ontario’s 2026 class to follow and is another player who’s expressed interest to become a 2027.

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