The 2025 season kicked off for all teams last week, with everyone having played five or six games at the time of this writing. Triple-A ball got started shortly after, leaving the rest of the minor leagues set to begin their seasons this upcoming weekend. There&#8217;s been a flurry of Opening Day roster announcements around minor league baseball in the last 48 hours, with several interesting assignments for notable prospects.
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Let&#8217;s take a look at some of the top Canadian players selected in the 2024 MLB Draft and where they&#8217;ll begin their campaigns.
Dante Nori | Philadelphia Phillies | Outfielder | 1st round (27th overall)
Starting assignment: Single-A Clearwater
Nori was the highest drafted player in the 2024 draft, becoming the first Canadian first-round pick since Bo Naylor was selected 29th overall in 2018. The five-foot-ten outfielder has a compact stroke from the left side, generating surprising pop for his size. He failed to hit a home run across 14 games with Clearwater in 2024, but he did manage to walk more than he struck out (16:14), leading to a .424 on-base percentage.
Nori will be 20 years old for the duration of the 2025 season, so the Phillies will surely take it slow with him. If all goes well, he should get a chance to get his feet wet at the high-A level at some point in the second half if things go according to plan.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Phillies first rounder Dante Nori drives a 94 mph fastball to the left field corner and turns it into a triple for his first pro extra base hit <a href="https://t.co/W73KPuo9P0">pic.twitter.com/W73KPuo9P0</a>
&mdash; Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mitch_Rupert/status/1823886481787621791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Emilien Pitre | Tampa Bay Rays | Second Base | 2nd round 
Starting assignment: High-A Bowling Green
After being selected out of the University of Kentucky, Pitre&#8217;s advanced approach allows him to rise quickly through the Rays&#8217; system.
He played in 20 games at the single-A level after the draft, where he slashed .299/.402/.403 with seven stolen bases. Like Nori, he walked more than he struck out, showing a glimpse of the top-of-the-lineup potential he possesses. The Quebec native is a solid defender at second base, but his below-average arm strength likely prevents him from playing much shortstop or third base in pro baseball. The bat appears to be his carrying tool, as the 22-year-old will look to hit his way up to double-A by season&#8217;s end.
Nathan Flewelling | Tampa Bay Rays | Catcher | 3rd round
Starting assignment: Single-A Charleston
Drafted out of St. Joseph High School in Alberta, Flewelling offers a raw but tantalizing skillset that will likely take a few years to develop.
Named the Canadian <a href="https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/AB/prep-baseball-canada-player-of-the-year--c-nathan-flewelling">Prep Player of the Year</a> last year, the six-foot-two catcher was taken in the third round of the draft by the Rays to pull him from his commitment to the University of Gonzaga. The 18-year-old didn&#8217;t play in any affiliated games after the draft, meaning his professional debut will come this weekend in Charleston. There will likely be an adjustment period and some growing pains, as the catching position comes with its own set of hurdles, but the tools are there for him to develop into a major leaguer down the road.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rays</a> select Nathan Flewelling, a catcher from St. Joseph in Alberta for pick 94 of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLBDraft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLBDraft</a>. <a href="https://t.co/SWmq4VoqqN">pic.twitter.com/SWmq4VoqqN</a>
&mdash; Rays MiLB Updates ⚾️ (@RaysMiLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaysMiLB/status/1812916836411011391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Sean Heppner | Cleveland Guardians | Pitcher | 12th round 
Starting assignment: Single-A Lynchburg
Heppner was one of two UBC Thunderbirds pitchers selected in the 2024 draft, alongside Padres&#8217; draftee Vicarte Domingo (19th round). The six-foot-three right-hander produced eye-popping strikeout numbers in college (13.5 K/9) while continuing to pitch well leading up to the draft in the Northwoods League (1.83 ERA, 13.3 K/9).
He pitched in six games with Lynchburg after the draft, struggling with walks in a small sample size (11 in 11.2 IP). It will take a couple of years for him to work his way up the minor league ladder, but the 22-year-old will try to eventually join Jeff Francis as the only Thunderbird to reach the major leagues.
Eric Hartman | Atlanta Braves | Outfielder | 
Starting assignment: Single-A Augusta
Hartman was one of the more intriguing Canadians selected in the 2024 draft, with the Atlanta Braves selecting him in the 20th round and giving him a well-above slot $337.50k signing bonus to turn pro.
The left-handed hitting outfielder won&#8217;t turn 19 until June, which will make him one of the youngest players in single-A to start the year. Even if he performs well, his age likely means that a call-up to high-A is unlikely this season, especially since he is bypassing rookie ball. The former Okotoks Dawgs product is understandably raw, but the sizeable signing bonus indicates that the Braves coveted his services, making him a key player to watch this season.
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The 2025 season kicked off for all teams last week, with everyone having played five or six games at the time of this writing. Triple-A ball got started shortly after, leaving the rest of the minor leagues set to begin their seasons this upcoming weekend. There's been a flurry of Opening Day roster announcements around minor league baseball in the last 48 hours, with several interesting assignments for notable prospects.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
Let's take a look at some of the top Canadian players selected in the 2024 MLB Draft and where they'll begin their campaigns.

Dante Nori | Philadelphia Phillies | Outfielder | 1st round (27th overall)

Starting assignment: Single-A Clearwater

Nori was the highest drafted player in the 2024 draft, becoming the first Canadian first-round pick since Bo Naylor was selected 29th overall in 2018. The five-foot-ten outfielder has a compact stroke from the left side, generating surprising pop for his size. He failed to hit a home run across 14 games with Clearwater in 2024, but he did manage to walk more than he struck out (16:14), leading to a .424 on-base percentage.

Nori will be 20 years old for the duration of the 2025 season, so the Phillies will surely take it slow with him. If all goes well, he should get a chance to get his feet wet at the high-A level at some point in the second half if things go according to plan.

https://twitter.com/Mitch_Rupert/status/1823886481787621791

Emilien Pitre | Tampa Bay Rays | Second Base | 2nd round 

Starting assignment: High-A Bowling Green

After being selected out of the University of Kentucky, Pitre's advanced approach allows him to rise quickly through the Rays' system.

He played in 20 games at the single-A level after the draft, where he slashed .299/.402/.403 with seven stolen bases. Like Nori, he walked more than he struck out, showing a glimpse of the top-of-the-lineup potential he possesses. The Quebec native is a solid defender at second base, but his below-average arm strength likely prevents him from playing much shortstop or third base in pro baseball. The bat appears to be his carrying tool, as the 22-year-old will look to hit his way up to double-A by season's end.

Nathan Flewelling | Tampa Bay Rays | Catcher | 3rd round

Starting assignment: Single-A Charleston

Drafted out of St. Joseph High School in Alberta, Flewelling offers a raw but tantalizing skillset that will likely take a few years to develop.

Named the Canadian <a href="https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/AB/prep-baseball-canada-player-of-the-year--c-nathan-flewelling">Prep Player of the Year</a> last year, the six-foot-two catcher was taken in the third round of the draft by the Rays to pull him from his commitment to the University of Gonzaga. The 18-year-old didn't play in any affiliated games after the draft, meaning his professional debut will come this weekend in Charleston. There will likely be an adjustment period and some growing pains, as the catching position comes with its own set of hurdles, but the tools are there for him to develop into a major leaguer down the road.

https://twitter.com/RaysMiLB/status/1812916836411011391

Sean Heppner | Cleveland Guardians | Pitcher | 12th round 

Starting assignment: Single-A Lynchburg

Heppner was one of two UBC Thunderbirds pitchers selected in the 2024 draft, alongside Padres' draftee Vicarte Domingo (19th round). The six-foot-three right-hander produced eye-popping strikeout numbers in college (13.5 K/9) while continuing to pitch well leading up to the draft in the Northwoods League (1.83 ERA, 13.3 K/9).

He pitched in six games with Lynchburg after the draft, struggling with walks in a small sample size (11 in 11.2 IP). It will take a couple of years for him to work his way up the minor league ladder, but the 22-year-old will try to eventually join Jeff Francis as the only Thunderbird to reach the major leagues.

Eric Hartman | Atlanta Braves | Outfielder | 

Starting assignment: Single-A Augusta

Hartman was one of the more intriguing Canadians selected in the 2024 draft, with the Atlanta Braves selecting him in the 20th round and giving him a well-above slot $337.50k signing bonus to turn pro.

The left-handed hitting outfielder won't turn 19 until June, which will make him one of the youngest players in single-A to start the year. Even if he performs well, his age likely means that a call-up to high-A is unlikely this season, especially since he is bypassing rookie ball. The former Okotoks Dawgs product is understandably raw, but the sizeable signing bonus indicates that the Braves coveted his services, making him a key player to watch this season.

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