Shushkewich: Lascelles creating a Storm in Lake Elsinore
Toronto Mets and Leaside grad Elliot Lascelles (Toronto, Ont) was drafted in July and has already been promoted. Photo: San Diego Padres
August 25, 2026
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
Elliot Lascelles is taking the world by storm — pun intended.
The Toronto Mets product was the second Canadian-born and fourth affiliated Canuck selected in the draft in July, with the Junior National Team (JNT) infielder landing with the San Diego Padres in the second round (60th overall).
And now he has been promoted to the class-A Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League.
Coming into the summer, Lascelles was ranked No. 158 on the MLB Pipeline Draft tracker and found himself jumping almost 100 spots thanks to a strong showing over the past year.
Lascelles (Toronto, Ont.) shined with the JNT on their recent trips, especially in their final foray into the Draft League, where he posted a .394/.523/.545 slash line with one double, two triples and seven RBIs while also walking 10 times for a 1.068 OPS.
Facing older and more experienced competition, he stood out to those in the industry. His 13 hits in 33 at bats, while walking at an impressive clip and stealing eight bases, helped him jump to the Padres in the second round.
With an impressive spring in his back pocket and at just 18 years old, many expected Lascelles to make his pro debut sometime in 2027.
It’s not unusual for organizations to hold on to high schoolers through the fall and let them play squad games while working under the guidance of the staff at their respective training complexes. The move from prep ball to pro is a rather large jump, so giving players more time to adjust has been the norm.
With Lascelles, the Padres disagreed with that approach. They thought the Leaside grad was ready for some late-season action.
Lascelles, who learned from the likes of coaches Rich Leitch, Ryan McBride, Niall Windeler, Casey Walsh, Peter Nash and John Watt — with the Toronto Mets and Leaside — wasn’t waiting around in Arizona to find out.
The Padres moved Lascelles to the Lake Elsinore Storm. The move was made on Aug. 18, and the infielder made his pro debut later that night.
And what a debut it was.
Facing the San Jose Giants, Lascelles was slotted in at shortstop and fifth in the lineup. In his first at-bat, he turned on an outside pitch, sending it the opposite way to left field for a single.
He then promptly stole second base — another first. Lascelles added another single in the fourth. He went the extra mile in the sixth, driving a triple to the opposite field for his first extra-base hit in the Padres’ system.
He then scored on a wild pitch, giving the Storm their first run of the day.
An impressive showing for Lascelles, and the left-handed bat was just getting started. The following game, Lascelles added a double, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
On August 20, he had another multi-hit day, going 2-for-3 with a run, an RBI and two walks.
Lascelles was given a day off Aug. 21 but found himself back in the lineup for Saturday’s game, where he continued his impressive stretch. He went 1-for-3 against the Giants, adding two more walks to his total, which stood at five during his first week as a pro.
On Sunday, Lascelles proved that he was human, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Defensively, Lascelles has held his own. He’s made two appearances at shortstop and one at second, converting all nine chances that came his way. He also has five assists and one double play to his credit.
Through five games and 17 at bats, he owns a .412/.545/.588 slash line with one double, one triple and one RBI while walking five times compared to three strikeouts. He also owns a 1.133 OPS and has recorded a hit in four of his first five games.
The sample size is small, but those who follow the Padres’ system are already talking about what Lascelles has accomplished out of the gate.
A trip through the Storm’s social media channels reveals numerous highlights on display, including his debut triple and numerous hits to the left side of the diamond. Fans of the game are commenting on his keen eye at the plate and his ability to control the zone.
Lascelles ranks No. 5 on the Padres’ top prospect board, and his early showings with the Storm are showcasing why. The Padres have been leaning on Canadian talent in recent years — thanks to scout Chris Kemlo (Oshawa, Ont.) — and swung for the fences by taking Lascelles, going more than $1.2 million over slot to sway him from heading to Yale.
The likelihood of Lascelles finishing the year in class-A is high, considering the season is winding down, but he’s making a strong case for a move toward the next level when — and if — the 2027 season comes into focus.
Lascelles has turned years of work with the Mets and on the JNT squad — under coach Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.) — into a pro opportunity and the early results are showcasing exactly why.