Shushkewich: Lightfoot striving for strong performance at Canadian Showcase

Mississauga Tigers OF Quinn Lightfoot (Caledon, Ont.) is striving for a strong performance in the Canadian Futures Showcase that is set to begin on September 16 at Rogers Centre.

September 1, 2025

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Quinn Lightfoot is always looking ahead to the next opportunity.

Standing at 6-foot-5, it makes sense as to why the 18-year-old is always looking to what’s next (because he can see further than many of us), but the past 12 months have been exciting for the Caledon, Ont., product.

Lightfoot is a member of the Mississauga Tigers High Performance Program and spent the year playing at numerous tournaments, including the Tigers' annual trip south of the border to Oklahoma and Texas.

“Playing with the Tigers is always a fun time,” said Lightfoot. “When we head down south to play in these tournaments, they are always exciting tournaments. We circle these events on the calendar and look forward to them all year long; it’s what we train for. You play in front of packed stands full of fans, scouts, coaches, and everyone in between, and you not only want to help your team win but also make an impact when the lights are brightest.

“We had a really great run, especially at the FiveTool Texas Houston Classic, where we won the tournament. We carried that over into the Don Mattingly World Series event as well, where we were the only Canadian squad at the event. We won four games in a row, and that fifth game we lost was unfortunately a knockout, but it was a close loss too (9-8 to Offspeed 2026). Even so, we played well, and that was a great tournament and a great team to play with.”

Under the FiveTool schedule between the two tournaments, the Tigers went 8-1-1. They posted a +63 run differential, averaging 10.2 runs scored across the 10 total games. They hit double digits on three occasions and beat the HJBA Scout 2026 squad 19-1 on their way to winning their first event.

Lightfoot had many memorable moments during both events, driving the ball from foul pole to foul pole. During the Don Mattingly World Series event, he earned hitter of the game honours against TBT Texas 17U National on July 10, when he went 2-for-3 with two doubles. He also earned a notable mention against Dallas Tigers Cecil 17U, where he went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

He also took part in the Future Star Series National Combine.

“I was really firing on all cylinders that tournament; everything was just clicking for me,” said Lightfoot. “I really wanted to showcase what I could do against these talented opponents, and I think I walked away leaving a positive impression. I am incredibly happy with how I performed.

“Playing at the Ford Z-Plex is always a treat, and to be able to hit the ball well and play solid, fundamental baseball was key for me.”

The teenager was also part of Team Ontario at the 18U National Championships in Fort McMurray, Alta., earlier this month. Lightfoot and his Tigers squad won the Ontario Baseball Association championship to represent Ontario at the National tournament. The club went 5-1 in the tournament and faced British Columbia in the finals, going to extra innings before eventually falling 2-1 to finish second.

“That was a really tough loss, but I was incredibly proud of how our team played against some of the toughest teams from coast to coast.”

With an exciting summer in the rearview mirror, Lightfoot is now turning his attention to what lies ahead in September.

He was recently named to the Canadian Futures Showcase roster, his second time at the annual tournament hosted by the Toronto Blue Jays Academy and will also be attending the FSS Main Event in Arlington, Texas, an invite-only event, this October.

“Last year, it was a new experience and really nerve-racking, just playing at the Rogers Centre against some top talent,” said Lightfoot, discussing the Canadian Futures Showcase. “This time around, this is my last kick at the can. I age out after this tournament. And this time around, there’s no excuse. I know that this is my opportunity to shine and be able to show what I can do on the field when the lights shine the brightest.

“I am going to be on the older side this time around, but I know what to expect now. I know what it feels like to play in this type of environment. I want to enjoy the moment but showcase what I can do.”

This all plays into Lightfoot’s near future, as the 18-year-old is not committed to a post-secondary program, as he takes a gap year following graduation from high school.

He is classified as a 2026 grad in the eyes of the baseball world, and he is going to take the upcoming time without schoolwork to focus on his craft while getting his body ready for what lies ahead.

“Without school in the picture, I am really going to get the routine down,” said Lightfoot. “I am really working on my mobility, training, and nutrition, as well as my work on the field and in the batting cages, to really fine-tune everything.

“I have some interested programs ranging from JUCO to D1 for next fall, but I am in no rush at the moment. I have some tournaments coming up that I think can really help showcase what I can do, and then I can sit down with my family and the people in my corner to make the right decision for myself moving forward. I have some big weeks coming up on the field.”

When Lightfoot isn’t on the diamond, you can find him using his height on the volleyball court, where he uses that frame as left-side/right-side to drive the ball on unsuspecting opponents.

The next few weeks may be big for Lightfoot, but he is taking everything one step at a time.

For someone who finds himself in the spotlight with regularity, he’s unfazed, trusting his abilities on the field while managing the stresses with aged maturity, one that you would not expect at such a young age.