Jaws dropped back in 2009 when Bryce Harper walloped a 502-foot home run at the Power Showcase at Tropicana Field in Florida, an annual gathering of baseball prospects from across the globe.
Harper went on to become the first overall selection of the Washington Nationals in 2010 after earning the Baseball America high school player of the year honours.
This year, Victoria's Mackenzie Catto will have an opportunity to compete in the 2012 Power Showcase, taking the mound for Team World vs. the United States on Dec. 30 at Marlins Park in Miami, suiting up alongside the likes of Manny Ramirez Jr. of the Dominican Republic.
"I'm excited for this and for it to happen right after signing [his commitment to UBC] is great news," said the six-foot-nine, 220-pound right-handed pitcher who is playing with the Victoria Mariners after suiting up for the Victoria Eagles the past two years.
"This [event] is where Bryce Harper hit his 502-foot bomb," added Catto, who will be under the microscope with hundreds of scouts watching.
"Yeah, they'll hold the key to plenty of futures. I'll have to just deal with it and do my best," he said of the opportunity.
The 17-year-old Grade 12 student at St. Michaels University School will leave Boxing Day and spend three days at the seventh annual event.
"It's a huge showcase and to have someone from Canada go is huge," said Mariners coach Mike Chewpoy. "It's the same one where Bryce Harper went and put the whole showcase on the map, hitting that 500-foot bomb [a world record].
"It attracts all the best guys around and as I always say to my guys, all it takes is just one scout to like you," added Chewpoy. "It's exciting for Mac. He's going to get to throw a couple of innings and it'll only boost his chances of getting drafted."
This is the first time that Chewpoy has ever had a player attend the Power Showcase.
"It's tough because it's the U.S. versus the World and the World consists of a lot of places. It's not uncommon for Dominicans to attend or Puerto Ricans or even guys from Europe," said Chewpoy.
Catto will be one of four Canadians attending, including Tyler O'Neill of Langley.
"He has a lot of power," Chewpoy said of O'Neill. "In fact, I haven't seen power hitting of his capabilities since [Mike] Saunders or [Justin] Morneau."
In fact, Chewpoy believes O'Neill could be a high pick, possibly in the first or second round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.
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