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Blue Jays Nation’s Top 25 Canadian Baseball Prospects for 2026: #3 Dante Nori
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Photo credit: © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ben Wrixon
Feb 19, 2026, 18:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 18, 2026, 20:24 EST
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Blue Jays Nation’s countdown of the top Canadian prospects entering 2026 is entering the final stages, and a Phillies prospect ranks in the third spot in the final countdown days.

#3 – Dante Nori

Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Organization: Philadelphia Phillies
Draft: 1st round, 2024 (PHI)
Position: OF
Bats/Throws: Left/Left
The Philadelphia Phillies selected Dante Nori straight out of Northville High School in Michigan with the 27th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He ranked 48th on MLB Pipeline’s draft prospect rankings as a 19-year-old at the time.
Most scouts considered Nori’s speed and fielding ability as his best tools. While his shorter size and stature—he measures in at 5-foot-9 while weighing roughly 190 pounds—will likely limit his power potential at the plate, he has demonstrated a consistent ability to hit line drives that could translate into plenty of base hits in the major leagues. 
The Nori family has a rich history in professional sports. Dante’s father, Micah, is currently an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and previously worked for the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, and Denver Nuggets. His grandfather, Fred, was a minor league player in the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets organizations, and he later recruited current Phillies star Kyle Schwarber to Indiana University as a coach.

2025 Season

Nori slashed .262/.363/.381 with 16 doubles and 11 triples across 109 games at Single-A Clearwater in 2025. He also stole 37 bases while being caught just seven times. He demonstrated a patient approach by walking 66 times compared to just 75 strikeouts. 
The 21-year-old continued his solid play at High-A for 11 games by recording a .722 OPS with 13 stolen bases. He managed a .396 on-base percentage with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, but only managed two extra-base hits during his time with them. 
Nori’s strong play culminated in a five-game stint with the Reading Fightin Phils at the Double-A level. He struggled there against the stiffer competition, slashing just .190/.227/.286 with a triple and two stolen bases in 21 at-bats. 
He finished the year ranked as the Phillies’ 6th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Looking ahead to 2026

Nori was born in Canada while his father worked for the Raptors, but he will honour his Italian heritage by playing for Team Italy at the World Baseball Classic this March. He’ll get his first crack at elite professional pitching with his MLB debut still likely years away. 
The Phillies invited Nori to Spring Training this year alongside fellow top position player prospects Aiden Miller and Justin Crawford. He’s unlikely to make the team given his lack of experience in the upper minor leagues, but will nonetheless have a great opportunity to make a strong impression on the coaching staff and front office. 
Nori will most likely open 2026 in Double-A with the Fightin Phils. He’ll be looking to assert himself against more advanced pitching over a much larger sample size, perhaps earning a promotion to Triple-A if he catches fire at the plate.
Previous rankings
#12 – Tyler Black
#14 – Sam Shaw
#15 – Will Hynes
#16 – Myles Naylor
#17 – Dasan Brown
#21 – Jacob Zibin
#22 – Eric Hartman
#24 – Indigo Diaz
#25 – Tim Piasentin

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