RHP Will Zielinski, 20th round (606th) – Detroit Tigers
Hometown: Victoria, BC
Born: Victoria, BC
Height/Weight: 6’ 4” 190 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R-R.
Teams: Vauxhall Jets, Junior National Team.
Coaches: Les McTavish, Greg Hamilton.
Previous Teams: Victoria Eagles, Langley Blaze, Gordon Head Baseball, Batters Box Bandits.
Previous Coaches: Mitch Davidoff, Doug Mathieson, Dustin Robertis, Jason Willow, Dave Auger, Brad Weinmeyer, … Les has been amazing for my in my first year at Vauxhall. We see him everyday, and have a great relationship with him as players. He has helped me develop so much as a pitcher, and as a person. Along with that, on the mental side of the game, he has really helped me … Geltting Brad was a key person in my development. He held evening sessions, which I would frequently attend and later on I played on his team. He was a great coach, with lots of competitiveness and a good outlook on failure … Dave auger one of my favourite coach’s I’ve ever had. He followed me all the way through my time with the Eagles. He was always there for me and the other players. He was great on the hitting and defensive side. He and Brad coached together, for my first year with eagles, and it was awesome … Jason has always been a great coach to look up to. He was always younger, so related to the players more. He also always was able to communicate what he was coaching very well. He helped my very very much with my commitment to UCSB, and I am very appreciative of him.
Committed: University of California Santa Barbara.
2026 season with Junior National Team in MLB Draft League _ 0-1 in two starts with a 6.00 ERA. He allowed two runs in three innings, striking out six .... Junior National Team rookie-class Dominican tour _ Two innings against Pittsburgh, with two strikeouts, zero walks, one hit, sat at 93 MPH ... 2026 with Langley Blaze in Phoenix against first and second-year pros _ Three strikeouts facing the Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix … 2026 With Vauxhall _ Pitched 15 acoreless innings allowimg one hit, walking seven and striking out 23 ... At the plate he hit .348 with four doubles, three triples, three homers, 18 RBIs and an OPS of .409 in 28 games … At Futures Series held at Rogers Centre _ Pitched two innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out one.
Good genes: “My mom, Michelle, played lots of sports growing up, but never played at a super competitive level. My dad, Jon, played hockey and baseball, and ended up playing D1 hockey at Brown University.”
The most influential people in my baseball life: “Coaches Brad Weinmeyer, Dave Auger and Les McTavish, along with my dad.”
Best day on the ball field: “This past March against Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas tournament with Vauxhall. We played them at night, in their stadium, we were ‘just a team from Canada.’ The environment was awesome and super competitive. I ended up pitching the last three scoreless innings in relief and getting the save. We won that game and made a statement.”
Favourite player when you discovered baseball: “Mookie Betts.”
Favourite player today: “Shane Bieber.”
Go East Young Man: Zielinski is the first former Victoria Eagles player to play for Vauxhall.
Interested teams: “Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Ray, Seattle Mariners, Athletics, Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants and a few more.”
Scouting Report
“Zielinski continues to flash some intriguing, high-spin stuff on the mound coming out of the pen today for Canada. Has caught a ton of helium over the spring and has been on draft radars heading into July. He provides a unique yet valuable profile. The former West Coaster ran his fastball up to 90 mph this fall with exit velocities and distances reaching 104 mph and 384 ft, respectively. He showed big time impact on both sides of the ball this fall, earning a Junior National Team nod. Zielenski has arm strength on the mound and can make an impact with the bat, as well. It will be fun to see which side of his game takes the next jump.”
_ Prep Baseball Alberta