Betts: BMOC - Slater’s success all about adjustments

Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team grad Owen Slater (Brooklin, Ont.) is in his sophomore season at Missouri State. Photo: Missouri State Athletics

February 26, 2026

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

Making adjustments is nothing new to Missouri State right-handed pitcher Owen Slater.

Pitching for the Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team in high school put him in positions that forced him to grow as a player.

But no adjustment has been as big as the one he had to make during the transition to college baseball.

“On the field, the speed of the game, the level of preparation and the expectations were all higher than anything I’d experienced before,” Slater said.

“I learned quickly that you have to be disciplined with your routines, your recovery and your approach every single day.”

His freshman campaign saw plenty of highlights, including leading the Bears with 24 appearances, five of which were starts, and throwing 50 innings en route to a 3-3 record and 6.84 ERA.

Make no mistake, a player’s first year in college can be a lot to balance. School, workouts, practice, travel and dealing with on-field successes and failures can be make or break for many.

“Mentally, I had to get better at handling adversity, staying composed and treating every opportunity as a chance to improve,” Slater said.

“Throughout the year, I focused a lot on learning from the older guys and the coaching staff.”

Leading the coaching staff is head coach Joey Hawkins (Whitby, Ont.), a fellow Canadian that made the transition easier.

But don’t be fooled, Hawkins runs a program focused on team culture and earning every opportunity, regardless of nationality.

“Hawk has had a huge impact on my development,” Slater said.

“He emphasizes accountability and preparation, and he’s challenged me to take ownership of my routine whether that’s in the weight room, in bullpens or in how I prepare for whatever situation I’m asked to be in each weekend. He’s a coach that tells it like it is and builds player’s confidence while still demanding a high standard in everything that we do.”

Now in his second season, Slater (Brooklin, Ont.) admits he feels more physically and mentally prepared for the expectations of the program and the ups and downs that come with a college season.

His two starts so far have been a prime example.

On Feb. 15, he allowed seven runs (six earned) over four innings in a 9-7 Game 3 loss to Louisiana.

A week later, he went into Ole Miss and tossed four innings, allowing a run on one hit in a 3-2 loss in front of 8,397.

“As a sophomore pitcher in a smaller conference, I understood the magnitude of taking the ball against a highly ranked Southeastern Conference program,” Slater said.

“There’s a different level of attention on these teams. The environment is a little more electric and so is the talent in the batter’s box. But, at the same time, we try not to put them on a pedestal. It’s about competing, executing and showing that our program belongs in those matchups.”

Missouri State is full of Canadian connections. Aside from Hawkins and Slater, right-hander Michael Yusypchuk (Edmonton, Alta.) has been the team’s Friday night starter and infielder Taeg Gollert (Toronto, Ont.) is a middle of the order bat.

Right-handed pitcher and infielder Adyn Schell (Toronto, Ont.) and left-handed pitcher Sam Maclaughlin (Toronto, Ont.) are also on the roster.

“It’s pretty cool to be in a rotation with someone who comes from the same country and who I’m close with off the field,” Slater said of Yusypchuk.

“Mike and I were teammates with the Canadian Junior National Team and now being roommates and competing together at the college level makes it even more special. We’ve definitely talked about the sense of pride that comes with representing Canada and we push each other a lot both on and off the field.”

Slater’s pitching coach is former Toronto Blue Jay Deck McGuire, who he credits with helping him understand the art of game planning and attacking hitters.

As the season wears on, he wants to be seen as a consistent option the team can turn to.

“I want to continue to be someone the team and coaches can rely on every time I take the ball,” Slater said.

“I want to keep growing into a bigger role and competing with confidence, regardless of the opponent or environment. For the team, the goal is always to help us win games, compete for a conference championship and get to a regional.”