Elliott: Anderson, Jacob excel under Hoover's lights

RHP Calum Anderson (Calgary, Alta.) put up zeros at the East Coast Pro Showcase.

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

As soon as one draft ends, the search for next year’s top picks begins.

On the last day of last month, players, coaches and a ton of radar-toting scouts gathered for the annual East Coast Pro Showcase tournament in Hoover, Ala.

INF Jalen Jacob of the Ontario Blue Jays, Canadian Premier and Junior National Team and RHP Calum Anderson of the Vauxhall Academy Jets and Junior National Team were the two Canucks represented.

Jacob (Maple, Ont.) singled as the ECP Yankees scored a 9-6 win over the ECP Cardinals.

And he also doubled in a 9-3 loss to the ECP Twins. In the four games series, Jacob was 2-for-10 (.200).

Anderson (Calgary, Alta.) took over with a 2-0 lead in the third, worked two scoreless and pitched the Cardinals to a 4-2 win over the ECP Rangers. Anderson allowed one hit, walked none and struck out three.

In the other game, the ECP Phillies tied the Cardinals 3-3.

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INF Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) of the Ontario Blue Jays doubled and singled.

Both made Baseball America’s top 57 prospects:

Jalen Jacob, 1B-3B, Cardinals

Maple, Ont.

Committed: Uncommitted

HS Draft Rank: NR

Baseball America scouting report: Jacob is an extra-large corner infielder with a 6-foot-3, 250-pound frame that provides lots of strength and raw power. He has a long, level swing, and on the final day of the event, he put a charge into a handful of balls. He doubled against an 85 mph change up on a ball he crushed to the center field warning track at 102 mph, then in his next at-bat, he smashed a deep fly ball to center at 93 mph that went for a long out.

Calum Andersen, RHP, Cardinals

Calgary, Alta.

Committed: Oklahoma

HS Draft Rank: 44

Baseball America scouting report: Andersen is a 6-foot-5, 195-pound righthander from Canada who worked a pair of quick innings and showed solid control of a three-pitch mix. He struck out three of the six batters he faced and did a nice job landing his fastball to both sides of the plate.

Andersen threw his fastball in the 93-95 mph range and showed flashes of a plus slider at 81-82 with big spin and impressive late-biting action. He also mixed an 86-87 mph changeup.