LYNN — Just a day before the Division 2 baseball season is scheduled to begin, the North Shore Navigators officially announced the signing of two players who will head north to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League following their collegiate seasons under the Florida sun.
Saint Leo University first baseman James McCallum and Flagler College left-handed pitcher Jett Walsh will join the North Shore ballclub from Sunshine State-based programs in 2020, it was announced by President and General Manager Derek January.
A native of Baulkham Hills, Australia, McCallum will become the first player in Navigators history who hails from outside of North America. He is set to play his redshirt junior year at Saint Leo after transferring from Taft College (Calif.) where he earned the team’s Most Valuable Player, First Team All-Central Valley Conference and Second Team All-NorCal honors in 2019. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder hit .361 with three home runs, 34 RBI and 34 runs scored at Taft.
McCallum previously captained Australia’s U18 team, helping them to a fourth-place finish at the World Cup in Japan. He has played in the Cal Ripken, Kansas Collegiate and Western Canadian Leagues during previous summers.
Scouting Report: strong, left-handed-hitting first baseman with some serious power … loves to hit with runners in scoring position … very good defensively … MLB Comp: Mitch Moreland.
Walsh figures to be an important pitcher for Flagler as he enters junior year with a 9-4 career record in the competitive Peach Belt Conference. The 6-foot-5, 180-pound southpaw from Stuart, Fla., won eight of his 12 starts as the team’s Freshman of the Year in 2018. After pitching in the South Florida League over the summer, he then helped the Saints to a conference championship last season, striking out 15 batters in 22.1 innings. Prior to arriving at Flagler, Walsh helped Martin County High School win two district titles in baseball and another in golf.
Three other players from Flagler have joined the Navs in team history. One of Walsh’s current teammates is outfielder Sean Lawlor, a senior who hit .351 with 40 RBI for North Shore was named the Futures League’s MVP in 2019.
Scouting Report: tall, lean LHP with very good curveball … lots to prove … will be a valuable pitcher for Flagler this spring … MLB Comp: Barry Zito.
The Navs are now preparing for the 13th season of collegiate ball at Fraser Field and their ninth in the Futures League. The 2020 opener is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27. Until then, stay up to date on the latest Navs news by visiting nsnavs.com and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
