OTTAWA-Who says you need to be American to be named an All-American?
Junior National Team players Josh Naylor (Mississauga, ON) and Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, ON) were both named High School All-Americans earlier today as respected baseball publication Baseball America announced their 2015 preseason teams. Naylor, a first baseman, was named to the first team, while Orimoloye, an outfielder, was named to the second team.
They are the only two non-American players that appear on any of the three teams announced as both are heading into their senior seasons, and are eligible for the 2015 MLB Draft in June.
In 2014, Naylor and Orimoloye helped the Junior National Team to a bronze medal at the COPABE 18U Pan American Championship in La Paz, Mexico that in turn qualified Canada for the 2015 WBSC U18 World Cup in Japan. Last summer also saw both players compete in the prestigious Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago and play in the Area Code Games in Long Beach, CA. Naylor also played in the Perfect Game All-America Game at Petco Park in San Diego.
The two longest serving members of the current version of the Junior National Team, Naylor joined the program as a 15 year-old in 2012 for the IBAF 18U World Cup, while Orimoloye made his debut with the program two months later at the Fall Instructional League Camp, also as a 15 year-old.
Naylor is committed to Texas Tech University for 2015/16, while Orimoloye has a committment to the University of Oregon.
To view Baseball America’s Preseason High School All-America Teams, please click here.
