In the 2019 MLB draft, there were 22 players drafted from all ten provinces of Canada. For this year’s draft, there are currently four listed at the moment, and David Calabrese is one of the four players entered in the draft. The other ones are Owen Caissie, Austin Gomm, and Ralphier Pellitier.
David Calabrese: MLB Draft Profile
Calabrese, 17, is an outfielder from Maple, Ontario, Canada that graduated from St. Elizabeth Catholic High School. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. Calabrese is also 165 pounds. Calabrese ranks as the number one player in Ontario for his position and the 97th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com.
Also, Calabrese was a member of the 2020 Perfect Game Preseason All-American Team and All-Region First Team for the Canada/Puerto Rico Region and an honorable mention on the Perfect Game Underclassmen All-America Team. Calabrese has also competed for the Ontario Blue Jays U16 travel ball team as a member of the 2019 WWBA 16U National Championship All-Tournament Team.
Strengths
At the plate, Calabrese is a gap-to-gap hitter with a spread loose, smooth swing, and a bent knee set up. This can be geared for hard contact and can use the whole field as an advantage. On the diamond, Calabrese has an extended arm circle where his arm strength has recorded an outfield velocity of up to 86 mph with an exit velocity of up to 88 mph.
He has the right timing on the field with smooth, easy actions. That can cover a lot of ground in the outfield. Calabrese also has sound transitioned in his throwing hand and arm strength. It is a weapon with improved accuracy.
His speed is what stands out the most as an outfielder as he projected a 6.88 in the 60-yard dash from the 2018 National Underclass Showcase-Main Event. The average time is between 6.7 and 6.9 seconds. This would make him a probable base-stealing threat as a potential pinch-runner. He also has a 1.71 time on the 10-yard split.
Weaknesses
Calabrese is a good contact hitter that swings hard and can use the whole field, but he does not produce much power in his swing. One of the biggest weaknesses is that he needs to build some muscle and strength to do so to have more effect. Calabrese has a slow react time for his outfield ability and can bound for some improvements on it, mostly with his speed.
MLB Comparison
Calabrese does have a comparison with his batting stance as current left-handed star Anthony Rizzo. However, he doesn’t have the power and takeoff speed that Ronald Acuna Jr does. Rizzo, though taller, does have a loose and comfortable swing similar to Calabrese, but his swing is mainly for power. Acuna Jr. has a good takeoff on the base paths while on base.
Should he not be chosen in the draft, Calabrese is committed to playing college baseball at the University of Arkansas. The Razorbacks finished the 2020 season 11-5 overall before it was cut short. While they have made it to the national tournament on 31 occasions, their highest finish was the national runner-up (1979 and 2018).
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