Demi Orimoloye

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

Oluwademilade Oluwadamilola "Demi" Orimoloye (born January 6, 1997) is an Afro-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 attended 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 begin his professional career; in Arizona, Orimoloye posted a .292 batting average with 6 home runs and 26 RBI's.[11] Orimoloye spent 2016 with the Helena Brewers of the Advanced Rookie-level Pioneer League, where he batted .205 with five home runs and 17 RBIs.[12] He began the 2017 season with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Class A Midwest League.[13]

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",[14] 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. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. 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. ↑ http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=647309#/career/R/hitting/2016/ALL
  13. ↑ http://www.postcrescent.com/story/sports/mlb/rattlers/2017/04/22/rattlers-outfielder-demi-orimoloye-has-high-ceiling/100662810/
  14. ↑ "Naylor, Orimoloye impressing at Tournament 12". Toronto Blue Jays. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
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