Hometown: Kingston, Ont.

Born: Fredericton, N.B,

Height/Weight: 6’ 8” 245 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R-R.

Teams: Capital Reds.

Coaches: Robert Fatal.

Previous Teams: “I started playing in the Kingston Baseball Association house league. When I was nine, I joined the local rep team, the Kingston Colts and at 14, I joined the Kingston Jr. Ponies.”

Previous Coaches: “I had a few coaches before joining my current team. My first one was Steve Vallier. He is well known in the Kingston community and played a huge role in my career. As I got older, I played for Jim Hunt and Tim Murphy.”

Rankings: Listed as 94th best high school RHP in North America ... No. 1 HS RHP in Canada ... Ranked 286th on Perfect Game’s top 500.

Committed: University of North Florida Ospreys.

2006 season with Canada Reds _ Zero earned runs facing PRO5 Academy - Premier.

2005 season with Canada Reds _ Won Perfect Game BCS National Championship at Fort Myers ... Eight strikeouts against FBA ... At Canadian Futures Showcase: Pitched three innings, allowing one run on one hit and two walks, while striking out four … Started bronze medal game International Baseball Academies Tournament in Puerto Rico, and he threw three scoreless innings in a 4-3 win over Germany.

2024 season with Canada Reds _ Won 16U Perfect Game Super25 New England Regional in Schenectady, NY ... Worked 5 2/3 innings against Showtime Select.

Good genes: “My mom, Petra Kopka, was a competitive swimmer and played competitive basketball. She also was on the Canadian National dragon boat team. My dad, Matthew McDowell, played various sports as a kid but never ended up pursuing them at a high level. My aunt on my mom’s side played volleyball at Michigan State.”

The most influential people in my baseball life: “The most influential people in my career are Steve Vallier and Robert Fatal. Steve was my coach when I was 11. He was the first coach to take interest in me and helped me fall in love with the sport. He was also the first coach that let me pitch. I still vividly remember the season that he was my coach. Robert is an influential person because he is the coach that took a chance on me and propelled me to the next level of my career. I came into his program throwing 68 . . and now, after four years with him I’m at 95. And obviously none of my athletic accomplishments would’ve been possible without the support of my parents. Since the age I was three, they supported my baseball dreams.”

Words of wisdom: “I gave up eight runs in the first two innings in Nepean and never wanted to pitch again. (Coach) Vallier sent the young pitcher out for a third inning. McDowell retired the side on just three pitches and afterward Valliier took him aside and said, “Don’t give this up, kid.”

Best day on the ball field: “Last summer at the BCS tournament in Fort Myers. We made it out of the round robin and everyone was exhausted. But with every inning we saw the finish line get bigger. We had three games in one day in the hot Florida heat. Finally it was the final. After pitching in the first game of the day, I was sent in to close the last two innings. We got the last guy out and I remember standing there with my hands in the air as my team doggy piled me. That was such a great feeling that every time I step on the field my goal is to try and recreate that.”

Favourite player when you discovered the game: “Josh Donaldson.”

Favourite player now: “Trey Yesavage.”

Interested teams: “The Athletics, Guardians, Braves, Cubs, Giants, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Reds, Nationals, Twins, Yankees, Tigers, Rangers, Pirates, Marlins. Some teams have reached out to me personally, some have reached out to my Prospect Link.”.

First pitch: “I first started playing in New Maryland, N.B. when I was three and three years later, we moved to Kingston.”

Growing and adjusting: ““I was just under six feet in grade 8 . . . When I started grade 9, I was 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-7 by the end of grade 9. It was an awkward, clumsy time for me. I was constantly growing, and it was hard to gain any weight and muscle. And from a pitching standpoint, I was always having to adjust my mechanics.”

Honours: 2026 season with Canada Reds _ Rawkings/Perfect Game Preseason Underclassmen All American First team _ 2025 season with Canada Redss _ Made all-tournament team at Perfect Game 18U Florida Champion’s Cup in Sanford, Fla. ... Named to 18U Perfect Game East MLK Championship in Fort Myers ... Earned a spot on 18U PG East MLK championship ... Gained all-tourney honours in Perfect Game Florida Fall Nationals at Auburndale, Fla. ...Named to all-tournament team at BCS National Championship at Fort Myers ... Preseason Underclass All America for Canada/Puerto Rico - All Region 1st Team Rawlings/Perfect Game Preseason Underclassmen All American First team ... With 5 Star Mafia 18U earned Perfect Game all-tournament team at WWBA World Championshipin Hupiter, Fla. ... 2024 with Canada Reds _ Made all-tournament team at WWBA Florida Qualifier in Sanford, Fla. ... Gained all-tourney team honours at WWBA Florida Qualifier ... Rawlings/PG Preseason Underclassmen All American Honorable Mention.

Scouting Report

Baseball America

“A towering 6-foot-8, 245-pound righthander and native of Canada, McDowell looked every bit the part of a workhorse starter thanks to his broad shoulders and powerful lower half. His size alone turned heads, but it was the combination of athleticism and stuff that made his outing one of the more memorable performances among the unheralded prospects in Jupiter. Over three scoreless innings, he struck out three without issuing a walk while showing poise and command.

McDowell attacked from a long, whippy low three-quarters slot that created difficult angles and deception. His fastball sat 91-93 mph and touched 95 with carry through the zone and late life that helped it miss five bats. He paired it with a low-80s sweeping slider and a high-70s curve ball that featured two-plane depth—both capable of missing barrels when executed. A developing change up rounded out his four-pitch mix.

At 18, few pitchers combine this kind of physicality, arm speed and athletic operation. McDowell’s blend of size and raw stuff gives him a rare ceiling, and continued refinement could make him one of the more fascinating Canadian arms in the 2026 class.”

Perfect Game

At 6-foot-8-245-pound extra-large frame, he athletic with long levers. Three-quarters. Fastball with sink and DH action. Flashed low-80s chane with fade. The RHP showcaed electric stuff. Gets down mound well with good hip shoulder separation throwing from high three-quarters arm slot. Consistent, repeatable delivery with good feel for fastball and secondary. Heavy qith ability to miss barrels up in zone complimented with gyro slider. Good velo separation. McDowell is a 2026 RHP with a 6-8 245 lb. frame who attends Northern Pre-University. Extra large frame with long limbs and controls body very well for size. Primary right-handed pitcher who only pitched during the event. Keeps delivery fairly simple with a full arm swing and a high three-quarters arm slot. Good sinking action on the fastball. Slider got a handful of whiffs early and also landed the pitch for strikes. Flashed a change up to a left-handed hitter at 85 with straight action. Great student. Verbal commitment to North Florida.”

10. RHP Lukas McDowell