September 18, 2023

Official Toronto Blue Jays News Release

The ninth annual Canadian Futures Showcase presented by Rogers returns to its home at Rogers Centre for the first time since 2019, running from September 19 to 23.

Hosted by the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Academy, the event gathers Canada’s top amateur baseball players with draft and college eligibility and provides them with an opportunity to further their athletic and academic careers by showcasing their skills to Major League Baseball scouts and college recruiters.

“The Blue Jays strongly believe in growing the game of baseball in Canada and supporting the next generation of home-grown talent,” said Mark Shapiro, president & CEO, Toronto Blue Jays. “These young players have demonstrated incredible resilience over the past few years, and we are proud to stage this opportunity for them to showcase their elite skills and dedication to top scouts from across North America.”

The showcase splits 167 players between six teams to compete in a tournament-style format, concluding with a home run derby and prospect game on the final day. Players were selected through a series of open tryouts and in-person evaluations that ran nationally during the spring and summer. The event will be attended by more than 50 MLB scouts and NCAA and junior college recruiters.

Since its debut in 2013, the Canadian Futures Showcase has become a staple in the North American amateur baseball schedule. The tournament has seen 117 participants drafted by MLB organizations, with more than 600 receiving college scholarships. Nine tournament alumni have played in the big leagues to date, including:

Zach Pop, pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays (Brampton, Ont.)

Mike Soroka, pitcher, Atlanta Braves (Calgary, Alta.)

Josh Naylor, first baseman, Cleveland Guardians (Mississauga, Ont.)

Bo Naylor, catcher, Cleveland Guardians (Mississauga, Ont.)

Abraham Toro, third baseman, Milwaukee Brewers (Longueuil, Que.)

Edouard Julien, second baseman, Minnesota Twins (Québec City, Que.)

Jordan Balazovic, pitcher, Minnesota Twins (Mississauga, Ont.)

Charles Leblanc, third baseman, Miami Marlins (Laval, Que.)

Matt Brash, pitcher, Seattle Mariners (Kingston, Ont.)

This year’s prospect roster includes Brendan Lawson, Matthew Brown, and Tate Carey, who are all projected to be selected in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Lawson, a left-handed hitting shortstop out of Toronto, played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic this summer and will be playing for Team Royal during the showcase this week.

Brown is a right-handed pitcher with an imposing presence on the mound. He was a member of the Baseball Canada Junior National Team and will be playing on Team New Blue this week.

Carey is a hard throwing right-handed pitcher that throws a fastball in the low 90s and a slider that sits in the low 80s. He joins Lawson on Team Royal this week.

In addition, coaches in this year’s Canadian Futures Showcase feature 13 former Major League players, including Blue Jays alumni Jeff Francis (pitcher, 2015), Andrew Albers (pitcher, 2015), Scott Richmond (pitcher, 2008-2012), Rob Butler (outfielder, 1993-1994) and Denis Boucher (pitcher, 1991).

Full prospect and coaching rosters can be found here.