Van Rycheghem Top Prospect For 2016 MLB Draft
Luke Van Rycheghem catching with the Ontario Blue Jays – Photo by Larry Shred
According to the Canadian Baseball Network, Van Rycheghem, who played last summer for the Ontario Blue Jays, is the 4th ranked Canadian for the 2016 MLB draft. Van Rycheghem transitioned to the catcher position this summer with the Blue Jays.
Standing six-foot-three, the grade 11 student at UCC in Chatham, was also the top ranked Ontario player by the Prep Baseball Report for the 2016 draft.
Having twice attended the Tournament 12 Showcase for Canada’s top baseball prospects, hosted by the Toronto Blue Jays, Van Rycheghem will soon be making decisions related to his NCAA baseball future.
“Luke is a big physical left handed hitter with the ability to drive the ball to all fields,” describes Sean Travers, Ontario Blue Jays Director of Player Development and Head Coach of the 16U Blue Jays White team in a previous interview with CKSN.
In 2014, 17 Canadians were selected in the MLB draft, following 22 players being selected in 2013.
The most recent local player drafted was Chatham’s Larry Balkwill, who went in the 41st round to the Detroit Tigers in the 2009 draft.