Canadian-born Dante Nori was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft on Sunday, with the Philadelphia Phillies scooping up the outfielder with their 27th overall pick.
Nori is the son of former Toronto Raptors assistant coach Micah Nori, who is now an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves after previous spells with the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets and Raptors for four seasons.
The 19-year-old has spent most of his life living in Michigan and entered Sunday’s draft as the highest-ranked Canadian-born player in the field on MLB Pipeline’s final rankings.
His 65-run rate is by far one of the highest showings out of the high school crop, with Nori already drawing MLB comparables to the likes of current speedy outfielder Alek Thomas.
The Mississippi State commit has displayed top-of-the-scale 60-yard dash times throughout high school and is easily the oldest high schooler in MLB Pipeline’s rankings.
Nori is the first Canadian-born player to be selected in this year’s draft and joins a list of recent draftees in Oakland’s Myles Naylor, drafted 39th overall in 2023, and Chicago Cubs’ Owen Caissie, selected 45th overall by the San Diego Padres in 2020.
Dante Nori, the son of former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nori, has made headlines recently after being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies from Canada. The 21-year-old outfielder was selected in the 7th round of the MLB draft, making him the first Canadian player to be drafted by the Phillies in over a decade.
Nori’s journey to professional baseball has been a unique one. Growing up in Toronto, he was surrounded by sports from a young age thanks to his father’s career in basketball. However, Nori found his passion in baseball and quickly excelled in the sport. He played for various club teams in Canada before catching the attention of scouts during his time at a local high school.
After impressing scouts with his speed, power, and defensive skills, Nori was recruited to play college baseball in the United States. He spent three years playing for a Division I program, where he continued to hone his skills and improve his game. His hard work paid off when he was drafted by the Phillies, fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing professional baseball.
Nori’s selection by the Phillies has been met with excitement and anticipation from fans and analysts alike. His combination of speed and power make him a promising prospect for the team, and many believe he has the potential to make a significant impact at the major league level in the future.
For Nori, being drafted by the Phillies is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting career in baseball. With his talent, work ethic, and determination, he has all the tools to succeed at the highest level of the sport. As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, fans can look forward to watching him develop into a star player for the Phillies and continue to make his mark on the world of baseball.