Demi Orimoloye

Demi Orimoloye
Milwaukee Brewers
Outfielder
Born: (1997-01-06) January 6, 1997
Nigeria
Bats: Right Throws: Right

Oluwademilade Oluwadamilola "Demi" Orimoloye (born January 6, 1997) is a Canadian professional baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers' organization. He attended St. Matthew Catholic High School in Ottawa, and was considered a top prospect in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. The Brewers selected Orimoloye in the fourth round.

Early life

Orimoloye was born to Adenike and Segun Orimoloye in Nigeria.[1][2] His father, Segun, is an architect, and both of his parents worked for the Nigerian government.[3] They moved to Canada when Demi was eighteen months old, and live in Orleans, Ontario. Demi has a younger brother, Temi.[3]

Baseball career

Orimoloye began playing Little League Baseball at the age of 10. He attends St. Matthew Catholic High School in Ottawa.[4] He joined for the Canadian junior national baseball team when he was 15 years old.[1][2] In 2014, he traveled with the national baseball team to Orlando, Florida, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. He appeared in the Under Armour All-America Game, which is held for the 40 best high school baseball prospects.[5] In February 2015, Orimoloye was named a High School All-American by Baseball America.[6][7] He was also named the Most Valuable Player at the 2015 Area Code Games.[1]

Orimoloye committed to attend the University of Oregon to play college baseball for the Oregon Ducks baseball team.[6] He was eligible to be selected in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft, and has been ranked among the 50 best prospects available in the draft by Baseball America[8] and Perfect Game.[4] The Milwaukee Brewers selected Orimoloye in the fourth round, with the 121st overall selection, of the draft.[9][10] He signed with the Brewers, reportedly receiving a $450,000 signing bonus, and reported to the Arizona Brewers of the Rookie-level Arizona League to make his professional debut.[11]

Playing style

Orimoloye is 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall and weighs 225 pounds (102 kg).[1] Greg Hamilton, coach of the Canadian junior team, has called Orimoloye a "special athlete",[12] who "looks like a kid who’d normally be going to the University of Texas to play tight end".[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bradley, Jeff. "Canadian prospect Demi Orimoloye bidding to make baseball history". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Orimoloye looking ahead to 2015 draft". Canadian Baseball Network. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Scanlan, Wayne. "Scanlan: Orléans teen a top prospect". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Scott Harrigan. "Orimoloye no longer OF of untapped potential". The Independent Sports News. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  5. Warren, Ken. "Big league attention for Ottawa’s big league prospect – Ottawa Citizen". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Baseball Canada – Naylor, Orimoloye named High School All-Americans". baseball.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  7. "Canada's baseball future on display". Toronto Sun. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  8. Rogers Digital Media. "Top Canadian prospect Orimoloye eyes majors". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  9. "Demi Orimoloye of Ottawa drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 4th Round: Orimoloye, 18, was born in Nigeria but raised in Ottawa suburb of Orleans". CBC News. June 9, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  10. "Demi Orimoloye drafted to MLB". orleansstar.ca. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  11. "Orleans outfielder inks pro contract with Brewers". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  12. "Naylor, Orimoloye impressing at Tournament 12". Toronto Blue Jays. Retrieved May 8, 2015.

External links

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