Diligent in Canada

[Mass Haas]

As you read this, local Wisconsinites can review their own opportunities to try out for the Brewers -- tryout camp information

 

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Brewers beating the bushes in Chatham

By Mark Malone, Chatham Daily News

 

While baseball's brightest stars gathered Tuesday in Kansas City, Jay Lapp was busy in Chatham, Ontario looking for a diamond shining in the rough.

 

The Milwaukee Brewers' Canadian scouting supervisor was holding the team's annual open tryout for more than 60 players at Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park.

 

“I deliberately go off the beaten path when I have these camps (to) find players I wouldn't normally see,” Lapp said. “We've got some repeat players. You can see the progress over a couple years, which is really encouraging.”

 

Most were from southwestern Ontario, but a few came from Michigan and Toronto. One player in his early 20s even flew in from West Virginia.

 

“Some of that's the Axford fallout,” Lapp said about the West Virginian. “It seemed after I signed John, every 23-year-old had me on speed dial.”

 

John Axford was signed by Lapp after enduring Tommy John surgery, losing his college scholarship and bouncing around the minors. He was working as a cell phone salesman and nearing his 25th birthday.

 

The Port Dover native is now the Brewers' closer and led the National League in saves last season.

 

“It was like one of those things out of the movies,” Lapp said. “It shouldn't happen. ... I still have a hard time believing it happened.”

 

Lapp was invited to watch Axford pitch during an indoor workout in March 2008 in Mississauga. Other teams were also asked to come, but only Lapp showed up to see Axford throw 93 m.p.h. with great control.

 

“He called and said, 'Can you see me throw?'” said Lapp, who lives in London. “I said, 'We're starting spring training in five days. We're not signing guys, we're releasing guys.'

 

“But I was not doing anything at the time, so I went down. It was a fluke.”

 

The tryout Tuesday was open to players up to 23 years old.

 

“There were some really good, young players,” Lapp said. “There was a really good mix of older and young players. Overall, it was probably the best talent we've had here.”

 

Austin Oulds, 14, of Chatham attended for the first time. He came with four teammates from the Bantam Diamonds.

 

He fielded balls at third base and took some swings.

 

“It's another opportunity,” he said. “It's in Chatham – you might as well go.”

 

Bantam Diamonds pitcher Luke Van Rycheghem, 14, of Kent Bridge was back after being the youngest player at last year's tryout.

 

“I was really nervous (being) a young guy,” he said. “This year I felt more comfortable because there were some guys from my team going.”

 

Van Rycheghem hit 78 m.p.h. on the radar gun after throwing 74 a year ago. He also has better command of his offspeed pitches after being a little wild at last year's tryout.

 

“I've improved my pitching a lot since last year,” he said. “My mechanics have gotten better, definitely. And I've been working out, so I've added some miles per hour to my fastball.”

 

Austin Oulds of Chatham takes a swing at the Milwaukee Brewers tryout Tuesday at Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park. (Photo by Diana Martin/The Daily News)

 

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