Jake Eliopoulos

Jake Thomas James Eliopoulos

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 3", Weight 185 lb.
• High School Sacred Heart Catholic High School
• School Chipola College

• Born May 25, 1991 in Ukraine
• Died April 29, 2013

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Jake Eliopoulos was drafted three times but did not sign.

Eliopoulos was born in Ukraine but was adopted at a young age by Jim Eliopoulos, catcher for Canada's team in the 1984 Olympics and grew up in Newmarket, ON. With the Brantford Red Sox of the Intercounty Baseball League in 2008, he was 1-1 with a 9.95 ERA in 5 appearances (3 starts). He then pitched for Canada's junior team in 2009. Elipoulos died on April 29, 2013 at the age of 21. The cause of his death was not disclosed.

Eliopoulos was a second-round pick in the 2009 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays (68th overall). He was the second Canadian picked that year, following James Paxton. He did not sign a contract with the Blue Jays, having rejected the club's offer of $530,000. The team received a compensatory selection in 2010 for not having signed him.

Following the 2009 draft, Eliopoulos opted to go to Chipola College in Marianna, Florida. "I'm excited about going to school," he said. "I'm glad the draft itself is over and now I can focus on going to school." After one year with Chipola, Eliopoulos was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 15th round of the 2010 amateur draft. He did not sign. The 2011 amateur draft saw Eliopoulos drafted by the Blue Jays in the 43rd round. Once again, he did not sign.

Scouts had listed Eliopoulos' fastball in the high-80s to low-90s.

Quotes

"How could any Canadian, especially someone from the Toronto area, not be ecstatic to be drafted by a team that they've been following for years and years?" Jake said. "This is a dream come true." as quoted in the Toronto Sun upon hearing he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays

Sources

• Intercounty Baseball League stats for 2008
• Georgina Advocate article with photo
• Toronto Sun article