Shushkewich: Who will be the top Canadians in the 2027 MLB draft?
Some are projecting that Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum and Florida Gators standout Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) could go first overall in the 2027 MLB draft. Photo: Florida Gators
Aug. 1, 2026
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
The 2026 MLB draft is in the rearview mirror, and Major League teams are now focused on the trade deadline.
Some clubs are looking to add to their rosters for a postseason push, while others are focused on restocking the prospect cupboard after a disappointing season.
While the 2027 MLB draft is more than a year away (if there even is one with the pending lockout), it's never too early to look at some Canadians who could hear their names called early next summer.
Brendan Lawson – INF
Florida Gators
No player is generating more buzz on the 2027 MLB draft circuit than Toronto, Ontario's Brendan Lawson—and that's not just among Canadians.
Lawson is a prominent name on 2027 draft boards across numerous publications, and for good reason. After deciding to attend college following a rough senior season, during which an illness kept him on the sidelines, Lawson honoured his commitment to the University of Florida and has taken the college circuit by storm.
As a freshman, he appeared in 60 games and posted a .939 OPS with 10 home runs before capping off his summer with an impressive stint in the Cape Cod League, where he slashed .333/.398/.519 in one of the toughest summer leagues in baseball.
He then returned to campus and anchored the Gators' infield at shortstop. At the plate, he posted video game-like numbers, slashing .312/.511/.699 with a 1.210 OPS, 11 doubles, 19 home runs and 48 RBIs while drawing 53 walks compared to just 46 strikeouts.
The 2026 Baseball America Second-Team All-American shortstop is poised for an even bigger junior season with the Gators, and there's a chance he could surpass Adam Loewen (Surrey, B.C.) as the highest-drafted Canadian next summer.
Jalen Jacob – INF
Ontario Blue Jays
Turning our attention to the prep ranks, infielder Jalen Jacob has been a consistent presence on the Canadian baseball scene.
Jacob has attended the Canadian Futures Showcase in multiple years and was named to the Junior National Team this past season. As one of the younger players on the roster, Jacob faced an uphill battle against older, more experienced competition, but the left-handed hitting first baseman held his own.
In MLB Draft League play, he posted a .751 OPS with one double and one home run across six games. During the club's Dominican Republic Pro Trip this past spring, he slashed .214/.410/.214 with a .625 OPS against some tough professional arms.
Power is Jacob's calling card, and he uses his 6-foot-2 frame to his advantage at the plate. That power should only continue to develop as he matures.
Calum Andersen – RHP
Vauxhall Jets
Calum Andersen exploded onto the scene in 2026.
The Calgary, Alta., product stood out at the 2025 Canadian Futures Showcase before capping off the year by earning the Most Outstanding Pitcher Award at the Future Stars Series Underclass Elite Showcase in Texas.
His performance at that event caught the attention of the Junior National Team coaching staff, and with Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) now in the Yankees organization, Andersen is expected to anchor the JNT rotation over the next year. During the team's Spring Training trip in Florida, Andersen allowed just one earned run across six innings (1.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) before following that with another strong showing during the Dominican Republic trip, where he posted a 2.21 ERA while striking out eight batters.
Already sitting in the low 90s with his fastball, Andersen has a strong chance to become the first Canadian prep pitcher selected in next year's draft.
Josh Mills – LHP
Okotoks Dawgs
Joining Andersen on the list of names to watch is left-hander Josh Mills.
A product of the Okotoks Dawgs program, the Leduc, Alta., native is one of the newer faces on the Junior National Team, having joined the club for its Dominican Republic Fall Trip in 2025. However, he's already showing scouts why head coach Greg Hamilton has trusted him with a rotation spot despite being one of the younger players on the team.
Mills is a strikeout machine. During the JNT's recent trips—Spring Training, the Dominican Republic Spring Trip and the MLB Draft League—he led the team in strikeouts during one showcase while finishing second in another. He recorded nine strikeouts during the Florida trip and added another nine in the Dominican Republic, both against professional competition.
Ironically, he didn't pile up strikeouts in the MLB Draft League, recording just three over five innings. However, he more than made up for it by allowing just two hits, issuing four walks, and surrendering no earned runs, making him the only Canadian pitcher to finish with a 0.00 ERA.
There are still some areas to refine in his game—primarily command and limiting walks, which is typical for prep pitchers—but he mixes a fastball, slider/sweeper and splitter effectively. By next spring, he should be sitting comfortably in the low 90s with his fastball on a consistent basis.