Prospect Pulse (ON): Next Wave - 2028 Standouts
December 9, 2025
‘Prospect Pulse’ is a series that provides insight into Canada's amateur baseball scene, with vital intel on prospects in each of our big three provinces... Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Each 'Prospect Pulse' article will cover different and timely topics from different classes as we look to bring you the best coverage within Canada on the amateur prospect within it.
This week’s topic: This week, Eastern Canada's Lead Scout, Joe Presutti, covers five players within Ontario's 2028 class who are part of the next wave of talent coming out of the province.
To view Holiday Hitters Showcases (December), click here.
To view 2026 Preseason Showcases (February), click here.
To view Ontario's Commitment Board, click here.
To view last week's Prospect Pulse (Breakout Brigade - 2027s), click here.
PROSPECT PULSE (ON): NEXT WAVE - 2028 STANDOUTS
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Westin Merritt RHP / C / Bill Crothers Secondary School, ON / 2028Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 2
The former Prep Baseball Junior Future Gamer and recent Best of the West alum has continued to impress under the brightest lights. Standing 6-foot, 185 pounds, he can impact the game on both sides of the ball. On the mound, he operates cleanly with a four pitch mix: fastball sitting 85-86 mph, slider 70-72 mph, curveball 68-70 mph, and changeup 72-76 mph, showing feel and shape for each offering. At the plate, he syncs well from the right side, with the barrel consistently working through the zone. Generated a peak exit velocity of 95 mph and a max distance of 326 feet. Merritt has cemented himself as a top name in the 2028 class. Currently ranked 4th, he has lived up to the hype throughout the ’25 summer circuit and remains a player to follow closely in the coming years.
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Jalen Gutierrez C / RHP / Neil McNeil High School, ON / 2028Rankings StateRank: 7 / POS: 1
First observed at our February event, Gutierrez immediately projects as a top-tier catching prospect. Listed at 5-foot-10,170-pounds, he has a compact frame with room to add strength while already showing advanced defensive instincts. Clean footwork and a quick transfer, producing consistent pop-times of 1.97–2.09 seconds and an arm velocity of 76 mph. A true backbone behind the plate. Offensively, Gutierrez works from a simple, balanced setup with a short, compact stroke that allows him to stay on plane and drive the baseball with authority. Peak exit velocity hit 92 mph with a max distance of 302 feet, signaling some gap-to-gap power. His tools profile for impact both offensively and defensively, and he’s on a clear developmental trajectory that could see him become a high-leverage contributor at the next level. It is a profile to keep close tabs on as we move ahead into the ‘26 campaign.
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Callum Reid Oldridge LHP / 1B / Clarkson Secondary School, ON / 2028Rankings StateRank: 15 / POS: 2
Immediately stood out with his first look coming back in October. The long limbed 6-foot-4, 195-pound southpaw with long and loose levers looks like he is just scratching the surface. Offers a three pitch mix that can run the heater in the 81-84 mph range (2210+), change up 70-72 mph, and with a breaker sitting 70-74 (2250+) with bite that can keep hitters off balance. There’s a ton of runway remaining here with the velocity likely to tick up next spring, and with added strength and polish, Oldridge has the makings of a true front of the rotation arm. A high-ceiling, high-upside name, he’s one to watch closely in the 2028 class and could quickly become a bona fide impact arm.
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Nathan De Palma SS / 2B / Robert F. Hall, ON / 2028Rankings StateRank: 14 / POS: 2
The talented infielder is seated at number two by position and fourteenth overall in the 2028 rankings. Our last look at De Palma came back at our April event, and the left-handed stick made a strong impression in front of our staff. It is a high-waisted 5-foot-11, 145-pound frame with a fluid, leveraged stroke. Produced an 87 mph max EV with a peak distance of 280 feet, showing consistent barrel feel and a 53% sweet spot rate throughout his rounds. Defensively, toed the turf with confidence, creating natural angles with quality glove presentation. An intriguing follow out of the Pirates’ system, with plenty of room to stack strength onto the frame. As the body matures, expect the metrics to climb and the overall profile to continue trending upward.
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Hunter Bartha SS / RHP / West Niagara Secondary School, ON / 2028Rankings StateRank: 5 / POS: 1
Noticeably more filled out since our last look at the fifth ranked prospect in Ontario and the top player at his position. Bartha continues to trend toward one of the premier power bats in his class north of the border. October was not his sharpest showing, but prior looks have produced a peak exit velocity of 95 mph and plenty of loud contact. It is an advanced, mature presence in the box for his age, and he pairs it with firm defensive actions on the turf with quality arm strength across registering an infield velocity of 84 mph. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame carries real strength and still has room to climb. A name that should be drawing significant college attention as he moves through the next stages of his development.
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