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RHP Eric Cerantola, 30th round (900th overall) - Tampa Bay Rays

With their 30th round (900th overall) pick, the Tampa Bay Rays have selected RHP Eric Cerantola

Hometown: Oakville, Ont.

Born: Montreal, Que.

Bats/Throws: R-R

Height/Weight: 6’ 3” 180 lbs.

College Commitment: Mississippi State

Teams: Great Lake Canadians, Canadian Junior National Team, Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team

Coaches: Brock Kjeldgaard, Greg Hamilton and Matt O’Brien

Previous Teams: Ontario DiamondBacks, Oakville A’s

Previous Coaches: Tom Arnold, Shane Davis, DJ Bernard, Tyler Moe, Richard Gamble

Most influential people in his baseball life: Great Lake Canadians pitching coordinator Adam Arnold and Greg Hamilton

Hockey: Drafted by OHL's Owen Sound Attack in the eighth round in 2016.

Twitter Handle: @Eric_Cerantola4

Scouting Report

Perfect Game

Cerantola is a tall and lanky Canadian righthander with outstanding physical projection and a limited background in baseball due to being a primary hockey player while growing up, including being drafted in a minor league professional hockey draft. His mechanics are understandably raw due to the lack of repetitions, but have improved significantly since last summer. Cerantola has worked in the 88-91 mph range this spring while pitching for the Canadian National 18u team and has been as high as 93 mph. His curveball has also improved noticeably as he got his delivery much more in line with the plate. Scouts feel he may have issues in competing in professional baseball with his present skills but he represents a potential high ceiling talent if he continues to improve at the same pace at Mississippi State.

2018 season: Dominican Summer League Trip with Junior National Team (JNT): One inning against DSL Cubs allowing one unearned run, experienced blister problems ... Extended Spring with Junior National Team (JNT): .Three scoreless against first- and second-year Astros pros, allowing one hit and three walks, while striking out a pair ...  Spring with JNT: Three innings, one run allowed vs. Blue Jays first and second-year pros walking two and striking out a pair ... Allowed an unearned run in two hitless innings of work, walked five, hit a man and struck out one (Brandon Grudzielanek) ... Walked seven, struck out three in five innings.

2017 season: Selection camp with JNT vs. Australia: Nine walks, nine strikeouts, two walks, 10 whiffs in 7 2/3 innings, 1.17 ERA ... Dominican Summer trip with JNT: Gave up back-to-back singles, a fly ball and a double in a win over the Mariners ... Worked 7 2/3 innings walking seven and striking out eight in two games ... Spring with JNT: Pitched five innings, allowing three hits, six walks, while fanning seven, 2.16

Honours

2017 Honours: Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All American Honorable Mention Underclassmen All American Teams.

Cerantola battles command but shows promise against the Jays


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