RHP Owen Pote, FA, Signed by Cincinnati Reds — $150,000
Hometown: Sherwood Park, Alta., where he lived most of his life.
Born: Chandler, Az.
Canadian passport: Yes.
Height/Weight: 6’ 6” 190 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R-R.
School: Barton College.
Coach: Brent Biggs.
Drafted 19th round (569th) 2024 by Cincinnati Reds.
Signing scout: Alec Benavides, son of Freddie Benavides, bench coach with the Cincinnati Reds.
Follow me: The commissioner’s office brought back the draft and follow rule, which allowed teams who JUCO players to maintain a player’s right to sign for 50 weeks after the draft a la Adam Loewen, drafted in 2002, attended Chipola College and then sign with the Baltimore Orioles before the ‘close,’ period. The maximum is now #225,000.
Previous Teams: Sylvan Lake Gulls in the WCBL, Sherwood Park Dukes, Absolute Hunan Performance (AHP) Renegades and Okotoks Dawgs,
Previous coaches: Jason Chatwood, Wyatt McKnight, Matt Hape. Connor Burns, Ty Wagar, Jacob Honke, Ethan Elias, Taylor Burns, Darren Anderson and Lou Pote,
2025 season at Barton: Was 5-2 with a 6.70 ERA in 12 games making nine starts ... Had 30 walks and 35 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings ... Recorded his first college win against Seward County (five innings) as he allowed three runs and struck out five ... The other wins came against Hutchison when he pitched four innings allowing five runs, striking out one ... Cloud County when he pitched four innings giving up one run ... Butler as he pitched five innings, gave up four runs and whiffed a pair and Colby as he pitched five allowed four runs and struck out one ... He lost to Rose State (pitching 2 2/3 innings) allowing one unearned run and Kansas City Community College (2 1/3) giving up three runs -- three earned ... Had scoreless outings aginst Tabor Jvs (one inning) with two strikeouts ...
Good Genes: “My dad play pro ball for 20 years while spending time in the majors (four years with the California Angels, one with Cleveland) in Japan (Hanshin Tigers), China (Uni-President Lions) and Mexico (Tomateros de Culiacan and Dorados de Chihuahua). My older brother Conor played ball his whole life, committed to Oregon State before ultimately playing for Linn-Benton Community College in Oregon. My mom, Erin, played high school volleyball, same with my younger brother Dane.”
Papa Pote: Owen’s father appeared in 129 games. He received a World Series ring with the 2002 Angels, was 4-4 with a 3.56 ERA and six career saves. His seventh save was me which is why I call him ‘LSL’ which translates to ‘Life-Savin’ Lou,’ for he is one of the Okotoks angels along with trainer Savannah Blakeley and team photographer Angela Burger who saved my life in 2019.
The most influential person in my baseball life: “Definitely my dad. He has always been extremely supportive of what I want to do with my career and he’s always been the best coach and teacher I could’ve asked for. It has and will always be my dad. I’ve always looked up to him and for as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
The most influential person through my baseball life besides my dad: “My brother Conor. I credit my entire career towards him. I quit baseball when I was 13 and decided to come back when I 16. He was a major reason to me coming back and he showed me what I wanted to do in my life and saved my career.”
Best moments on the ball diamond: “Draft day (in 2024) was pretty special. We (Sylvan Lake) were playing against my dad’s team (Okotoks) that night. I saw him for the first time before the game after I found out I’d ben drafted. We met in the outfield and gave each other a big hug. Treally cool moment. This spring, winning a conference championship with the Barton Cougars.
(No. 17 Barton celebrated at Lawson-Biggs Field clinching the program’s 12th Jayhawk West crown with a 6-5 walk-off and 14-10 doubleheader sweep over the Dodge City Community College. It was the Cougars third conference title in the last four seasons as the Cougars concluded league play 26-6, moving to 39-10. Pote earned a no-decision lasting 4 2/3 innings scattering nine hits, five runs with two walks and two strikeouts in the opener.)
2024 summer with Sylvan Lake Gulls of the WCBL: Was 3-0 with a 2/92 in 10 games, making six starts ... He walked 17 and struck out 20 in 28 2/3 innings.
Favorite player as a youngster: “Buster Posey when I was a kid because I used to love catching and the San Francisco Giants.”
Current favourite player: “Jacob DeGrom (Texas Rangers). He’s been someone I try and emulate and wanted to be like for a while.”