Canadian Futures Showcase Recap: Three big bats who stood out

The Toronto Blue Jays and the talents of Canadian amateur baseball wrapped up the Canadian Futures Showcase at the Rogers Center on Saturday. After a scout day to kick it off, the tournament unfolded with various games leading into the weekend where the finale included a prospect game and a home run derby. 

This year’s version of the showcase brought a diverse group of players who impressed in numbers, metrics and performance. The big timers showed out in front of various major league scouts and college recruiters. Various names stood out and are worth noting for the 2024 Major League Baseball Amateur draft. 

Top Hitting Talent from the 2023 Canadian Futures Showcase 

Brendan Lawson (Team Royal), 2024 

Probably the most anticipated player in the showcase; this infielder plays shortstop and third base for the Ontario Blue Jays in the Canadian Pacific Baseball League (CPBL).  Lawson currently attends Lawrence Park High School and is a University of Florida commit. 

The Toronto-born infielder is a 10-graded Perfect Game player and a top Canadian Draft prospect for 2024. He is 6’3”, 195lbs with an athletic-slim build, swinging from the left and throwing from the right. Lawson took swings on scout day, showing his consistent mechanics with high hands, guiding his barrel through the zone with good hip and lower half rotation. His finish is strong, with exiting velocity sitting around 94-96mph on average. Lawson displays a strong presence at the dish with pure hard contact. 

Esteban Dessureault (Team Grey), 2025 

A huge show out from Dessureault with the bat this year! It’s easy to attend a ballpark and pick out Esteban Dessureault. In 2022, the shaggers during batting practice faced the other way due to balls flying out of the stadium. The energy and intensity were a match in 2023 at the Rogers Center. 

Dessureault is a corner infielder out of Quebec, Canada, playing for the ABC Academy. He’s another big-lefty bat that throws from the right side. He is a huge physical presence in the batter’s box, hitting the ball hard and far. His upright-athletic stance translates into a calculated swing that’s primarily pull-side. In his batting practice round, Dessureault hovered around 99.3mph on his exit velocity readings with a 20.26 launch angle, and a max of 362 feet long-shot off the wall. 

He displayed his bat in fashion on the last day of the showcase. Facing off in the home run derby, Dessureault belted 13 long balls, the most of all of the participants in the derby. Esteban is uncommitted, and still looking for a collegiate home and or a draft position in 2025. 

Nathan Flewelling, (Team New Blue), 2025 

Nathan Flewelling was also an anticipated prospect, stemming from Red Deer, Alberta. The 2025 graduate plays for the Red Deer Braves AA U18 team; he hits from the left side and throws from the right. The catcher is committed to Gonzaga University. 

Flewelling is 6’1” 190lbs with a 7.231s 60-yard time, and a 1.94 POP time. He has a 76 wingspan, 123 vertical jump max, and a 98-99mph exit velocity average.  He has a calculated swing, staying inside the ball and using a line-drive approach, working up the middle and finding gaps. He displays good plate IQ and attacks counts early. Flewelling emerged beyond past Dessureault to win the 2023 Canadian Futures Showcase homerun derby, belting six in the final four round, totalling 11 shots total. The 16-year-old has made a mark, and with time on his side, he definitely has drawn draft attention.