OTTAWA-For the first time since 2011, two Canadians will play in the prestigious Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory at Wrigley Field in Chicago as Junior National Team outfielder Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, ON) will join teammate Josh Naylor (Mississauga, ON) on August 16th for the game that features the top rising high school senior eligible for the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
In 2011, JNT grads Gareth Morgan (Toronto, ON), then a 15 year-old, and Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, ON), who just finished his sophomore season at Arizona State, both played in the contest at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs.
Since the game’s inception in 2008, 185 of the 208 draft eligible players from the Under Armour All-America Game were selected in the MLB Amateur Draft, including 51 first round picks.
One of those first round picks was Canadian Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) in 2010 (Texas Rangers), and Naylor and Orimoloye hope to add their names to that list.
Naylor was selected to compete in the game in late July, while Orimoloye found out just last week when competing at the Area Code Games in Long Beach, California.
“I was pretty excited when I got the news,” said Orimoloye while on his way back to Ottawa where he’ll spend a couple days before heading to Chicago. “I can’t wait to get down there (Chicago) and show what I can do against some of the best high school players in North America.”
Orimoloye has had a busy summer since returning from Cuba with the Junior National Team in early July. Two weeks ago he participated in the East Coast Pro Showcase in Syracuse, NY before travelling to Long Beach for the Area Code Games where he had a breakout performance. In four games he hit .642 (9-for-14) with a triple, home run, seven RBI and six stolen bases surely catching the attention of the scouting community who are busy preparing for next June’s draft.
“I felt really good (at the Area Codes) and was really comfortable being my second year there,” added Orimoloye. “I’m hoping to carry my performance into the Under Armour Game and with Team Canada at the end of the month.”
Both Naylor and Orimoloye will travel to Houston on August 26th for the Junior National Team’s final selection camp prior to the COPABE 18U Pan American Championships in La Paz/Los Cabos, Mexico from September 5th to 14th. The top four finishers at the event will qualify for the 2015 IBAF 18U World Cup scheduled for Koshien, Japan.
Naylor has also had a busy schedule since returning from Cuba. First, he was a finalist in the MLB Junior Select Home Run Derby held during All-Star week festivities at Target Field in Minneapolis. He also attended the Area Code Games last week in Long Beach and just yesterday participated in the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park in San Diego.
For the first time, the Under Armour All-America Game will take place under the lights at Wrigley Field in Chicago with the first pitch slated for 7pm ET on Saturday, August 16th. The game will air nationally on Sunday, August 17 at 8pm ET on MLB Network.
For more information on the Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory, please visit: baseballfactory.com/allamerica/2014
