2025 MLB Draft: The 19 Canadians Who Got Picked, Why It’s Rare, and What It Really Takes
By Curtis Pelletier | July 15, 2025
When people see Canadian players getting drafted in Major League Baseball, there’s a common line:
"That’s awesome — Canada’s growing in baseball!"
But what most don’t get is how rare it actually is. This year, 19 Canadians were drafted in the 2025 MLB Draft’s 20-round format.
That’s out of 600 total draft picks.
Let that sink in:
3.1% of the draft came from a country that has snow on the ground five months a year in most places. (kinda)
Why That’s Harder Than It Looks
Baseball in Canada isn’t like hockey. Rinks are everywhere; baseball facilities aren’t.
Training is indoors half the year or more. That means expensive private facilities, small turf spaces, lots of travel just to face live pitching.
There’s no walk down the street to find a batting cage or throw pens outside mid-February.
Travel across the U.S. becomes routine by 14 years old — and not cheap. Families sacrifice a lot.
That’s why it’s impressive. That’s why it matters.
The Complete List of Canadian Draftees
1. Tyler Bremner
Drafted: 1st Round, 2nd Overall by Los Angeles Angels
Position: RHP
Born: San Diego, CA (Canadian parents)
School: UC Santa Barbara
Why: 98+ mph fastball, elite changeup, mental edge, Canadian Junior National Team ties
2. Slater de Brun
Drafted: 2nd Round, 37th Overall by Baltimore Orioles
Position: OF
Born: Los Angeles, CA (Canadian citizenship via mother)
School: Summit High School (Oregon)
Why: Speed, contact hitter, mental preparation maturity
3. Charles Davalan
Drafted: 2nd Round, 41st Overall by Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: OF
Hometown: Waterloo, ON
School: University of Arkansas
Why: High OBP, gap power, game IQ, focused plate approach
4. Cam Leiter
Drafted: 3rd Round, 65th Overall by Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: RHP
Born: Tampa Bay, FL (raised in BC)
School: Florida State University
Why: Mid-to-high 90s velocity, multiple-pitch mix, strong Canadian baseball background
5. Will Hynes
Drafted: 3rd Round, 70th Overall by Cleveland Guardians
Position: RHP
Hometown: Toronto, ON
School: Lorne Park Secondary School / Canadian Junior National Team
Why: High-spin fastball, Junior National Team experience, poise under pressure
6. Micah Bucknam
Drafted: 4th Round, 112th Overall by Toronto Blue Jays
Position: RHP
Hometown: Calgary, AB
School: Dallas Baptist University
Why: Four-pitch arsenal, strike-throwing ability, mental toughness
7. Tim Piasentin
Drafted: 5th Round, 143rd Overall by Toronto Blue Jays
Position: 3B
Hometown: Coquitlam, BC
School: Foothills Composite High School (AB)
Why: Raw power, 110 mph exit velocity, Junior National Team and Dawgs Academy product
8. Riley Nelson
Drafted: 5th Round, 162nd Overall by Cleveland Guardians
Position: 1B
Hometown: Toronto, ON
School: Vanderbilt University
Why: Advanced strike-zone feel, SEC performance, consistent hitting approach
9. Core Jackson
Drafted: 5th Round, 164th Overall by New York Yankees
Position: SS
Hometown: Wyoming, ON
School: University of Utah
Why: Power, defensive versatility, off-season development obsession
10. Antoine Jean
Drafted: 6th Round, 197th Overall by Colorado Rockies
Position: LHP
Hometown: Montreal, QC
School: University of Houston
Why: Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, post-injury resilience, high pitchability
11. Blake Gillespie
Drafted: 8th Round, 284th Overall by New York Yankees
Position: RHP
Born: Kalamazoo, MI (raised in Canada)
School: UNC Charlotte
Why: Slider-first approach, no-hitter performance, mental resilience
12. Ty Doucette
Drafted: 8th Round, 294th Overall by Cincinnati Reds
Position: 1B
Hometown: Halifax, NS
School: Rutgers University
Why: Power bat, MLB family background, Canadian Junior National habits
13. Carson Latimer
Drafted: 9th Round by Cincinnati Reds
Position: RHP
Hometown: Delta, BC
School: Sacramento State University
Why: Starter-to-reliever adaptability, tournament experience
14. Tyson Moran
Drafted: 10th Round by Kansas City Royals
Position: SS
Hometown: Stratford, ON
School: F.E. Madill High School
Why: Speed, quick-twitch defense
15. Connor Hamilton
Drafted: 11th Round by Pittsburgh Pirates
Position: RHP
Hometown: Calgary, AB
School: Montgomery Bell Academy (Tennessee)
Why: Velocity, off-speed development, mental preparation focus
16. Tyrelle Chadwick
Drafted: 14th Round by Colorado Rockies
Position: RHP
Hometown: Burnaby, BC
School: Illinois State University
Why: College endurance, Dawgs Academy roots, consistent mechanics
17. Hayden Cuthbertson
Drafted: 14th Round by Miami Marlins
Position: LHP
Hometown: Ladner, BC
School: Miami University (Ohio)
Why: Strikeout tendencies, left-handed arm, winter development commitment
18. Ryan Heppner
Drafted: 17th Round by Atlanta Braves
Position: RHP
Hometown: Point Roberts, WA (Canadian ties)
School: University of British Columbia
Why: UBC-developed arm, balancing academics and elite baseball
19. Shane Brinham
Drafted: 20th Round, 615th Overall by Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: LHP
Hometown: North Vancouver, BC
School: Handsworth Secondary School
Why: Junior National Team, southpaw velocity, youth potential
The Mental, Physical & Habitual Backbone, Why It Matters More Than Talent Alone
These players weren’t drafted just for arm strength or bat speed—they earned it through systematic obsession, and it’s why only 3.1% made the cut:
5+ hours daily:
On-field reps (bullpens, BP)
Strength/mobility sessions
Mental performance drills (visualization, breathing exercises)
Recovery (stretching, ice baths, sleep tracking)
Nutrition planning around school schedules
School + Training: Most completed high school or were in college. They treated baseball like a job—physically and mentally preparing around academics.
Year-Round Programmed Exposure:
Competing in Canadian Junior Nat’l Team and U.S. showcases
Training through winter indoors, summer barn sessions
Family sacrifices: driving to venues, financing travel, staying nimble
Resilience Through Adversity:
Overcoming Tommy John surgeries (Jean), transfers (Bucknam), or balancing starter/reliever roles (Latimer, Hamilton)
Mental accountability: keeping routine through rehab or adversity
Why Canadians Punch Above Their Weight
Canada's population (~38M) is only 11% of the U.S., yet represents 3.1% of MLB picks — an outsized result.
Less accessible facilities mean those who rise must incorporate full-scale training and mental preparation in ways many American peers don’t need to.
Obsession = Competitive Edge
Data-driven film analysis: These players logged every session—and dissected them.
Mental rehearsals: Embed game reps into sleep cycles, using breathing to reinforce mechanics.
Nutrition & recovery discipline: Food, hydration, sleep—all scheduled and tracked with precision, even during long tournament weekends.
Micro-goals & habit tracking: Not just “get better,” but “hit 100 bullpens,” “ice baths thrice weekly,” “20-minute nightly visualizations.”
Final Take
When draft picks dropped to 600, every choice sharpened the bar. Canadian players brought more to the table: elite skills plus unwavering habits and mental strength.
This year’s 19 Canadian draftees exemplify that mixture. They aren't just talented, they're methodical, obsessed, and mentally tough from a young age. And that’s why, in a shortened draft, they stood out. They always stood out.. on and off the field.
If you're serious about turning potential into pro-level results—whether it’s for yourself, your kid, or your team, it’s not about chasing a lucky break. It’s about building the habits, the mindset, and the structure behind it.
The draft is just the reward. The obsession is the work. If you want help setting that system up, reach out.
That’s what I do.— Curtis
