Posts in Canadians in College
Elliott: Jean made a good bet - himself, drafted 2,233 days after his previous selection

“It has been said that the game should be called perseverance.

Take Antoine Jean for example.

He didn’t have to battle a bad-hop single or a bad call on the black by the umpire.

Drafted in the 17th round in 2019 by the Minnesota Twins he turned down life-changing money for a high schooler attending Academy Baseball Canada. He said no to $495,000 US to pitch for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Initially he had committed verbally to Pitt.”

Read More
McFarland: Wilde ride with Purple Eagles sees Albertan transition from pitcher to first baseman

“The caption on Evan Wilde’s Instagram post thanking Niagara University after his final season said it all.

“Started as a pitcher, finished as … not a pitcher.”

In what felt like the blink of an eye, the 6-foot-7, 225-pound hurler-turned-infielder was on his way back home reflecting on a memorable end to his collegiate career.”

Read More
Verge: From the soccer pitch to pitcher, Gillespie ready to begin pro career with Yankees

“The MLB draft wasn’t even on a 13-year-old Blake Gillespie’s radar.

Why would it be?

Baseball wasn’t part of his repertoire.

The young teen was busy dribbling a soccer ball around cones at the field, not coming set on the mound about to throw a zinger to the catcher.

But it was, unbeknownst to Gillespie, part of his future. The now 21-year-old, who didn’t pick up baseball until he was 14, was drafted in the ninth round by the New York Yankees on July 14. “

Read More
ICYMI - Elliott: Will top Canuck Bremner get chance to pitch on Bremner Blvd?

“What are the odds of finding the top-rated draft-eligible Canuck less than 15 weeks before the annual selection of high schoolers and collegians?

Over the years, we have found a few, yet we never have we found anything like this:

Santa Barbara Gauchos RHP Tyler Bremner.

Tyler was born in San Diego. His parents are Jason Bremner, of Mississauga, and Jennifer, of Queensville, Ont., north of Newmarket. They now call southern California home.

Tyler has a Canadian passport.

And he’s really good ... no, we mean really, really good.”

Read More
Elliott: Hicks, Pinkney, Hartman, Poturnak, Rienguette enjoying Draft League -- Update

“Well, if there was any doubt, the West Virginia Black Bears are Canada’s team in the MLB Draft league.

Especially since the Junior National Team vacated the league after playing a five-game partial schedule, of course.

The Black Bears have the most Canucks of any of the six teams with Connor Hicks of the Southeastern Fire, University of British Columbia Thunderbirds’ Jonny McGill and Scott Rienguette from Kansas State Wildcats.”

Read More
Elliott: Dawgs Tucker climbed from Mount Pearl to Seaman Stadium mound

“The joint was jumping.

Speakers at Seaman Stadium were blasting “Heave Away” by The Fables, the Celtic rock band from St. John’s, Newfoundland, as reliever Chase Tucker took his warm-up tosses.

The Fort McMurray Giants had a man on third as Tucker (Mount Pearl, Nfld.), replaced Josh Mills and made his first pitch.

Tucker heaved it all the way to the backstop with the runner scoring easily from third.

Lord liftin’ as a Newfoundlander might say.”

Read More
Betts: Davalan helps driving Razorbacks' bus ... all the way to Omaha

“The good folks at MLB Pipeline website have written Tennessee Volunteers left-hander Liam Doyle’s fastball “has been the most untouchable heater in college baseball this year.”

Apparently no one told Arkansas Razorbacks outfielder Charles Davalan.

Davalan (St-Bruno-De-Montarville, Que.) knew he would see that fastball when he headed to the plate after a leadoff walk in the top of the third in Game 2 of the Razorbacks Super Regional against the Volunteers on Sunday.”

Read More