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Naylor to compete in MLB Junior Select Home Run Derby

OTTAWA-Baseball Canada is pleased to announce that Junior National Team member Josh Naylor (Mississauga, ON) will represent Canada at the Major League Baseball Junior Select Home Run Derby at Target Field during MLB All-Star Week next month in Minneapolis.

Naylor, the lone representative from Canada, will be joined by one player from Puerto Rico and eight players from the United States in the second annual event that was won last year by Jacob Gatewood who earlier this month was selected 41st overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the MLB First-Year Player Draft.

The inaugural event, held at Citi Field in New York in 2013, did not include international players.

“It will be an honour to represent Canada in this prestigious event,” said Naylor, a three-year member of the Junior National Team. “I’m looking forward to putting my skills to the test in Minneapolis against some of the best high school hitters in North America.”

The MLB Junior Select Home Run Derby format will see the preliminary round take place on Sunday, July 13th prior to the MLB Futures Game at Target Field, the home of the Minnesota Twins. The top two home run hitters from the preliminary round will advance to compete on field during the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday, July 14th.

No stranger to home run hitting contests, Naylor won the Power Showcase Underclassman event at Marlins Park in Miami in 2013 and was a participant in the main event at Marlins Park earlier this year.

“I enjoy home run hitting contests,” continued Naylor. “There’s no better feeling than hitting a home run and I look forward to competing next month on a big stage, while representing my country.”

In 2012, Naylor joined the Junior National Team program for the IBAF 18U World Cup in Seoul, South Korea as a 15 year-old where he helped Canada to a silver medal performance.

He was also a member of the JNT that finished seventh at the 2013 IBAF 18U World Cup in Taichung, Taiwan and will travel to Cuba next month with Team Canada to participate in a nine-game exhibition series against the Cuban 18U National Team.

Naylor is eligible for the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft.


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