UCLA righthander Griffin Canning (Shotgun Spratling)

Canning Grasps Destiny As True Ace

Even before Griffin Canning ever threw a Division I pitch, UCLA’s coaching staff knew it had a future ace on its hands.

“Canning is special,” UCLA coach John Savage said in November of 2014, the fall of Canning’s freshman year. “Canning is really good — you’re going to love Canning. He’s 88-91, curveball anytime. Slider, changeup, athletic — you’re going to love him.”

UCLA’s recruiting coordinator at the time, T.J. Bruce (now head coach at Nevada), was even more specific in his forecast for the tall righthander.

“When you go out and evaluate players, it’s about[…]