Fitzpatrick: Rhoades WCBL biggest bopper to take home run derby

Fort Mac slugger Matt Rhoades crowned WCBL Home Run Derby champ

Fort McMurray Giants slugger Matt Rhoades won the WCBL home run derby prior to Saturday night’s annual all-star game. Photo: Trevor Fitzpatrick

July 19, 2025

By Trevor Fitzpatrick

Canadian Baseball Network

Okotoks, Alta. _ With 22 total home runs in a rainy Seaman Stadium, left-handed hitting Matt Rhoades, of the Fort McMurray Giants and Concordia University-Nebraska, took home the 2025 Western Canadian Baseball League Home Run Derby crown.

Each team in the league had one representative, and each had two minutes to slug as many long balls as they could. Each player also got a 30-second timeout to use whenever they chose.

The two top sluggers of the first round, Rhoades and Weyburn Beaver Ian Heck, faced off in a second round identical to the first to determine the winner. Rhoades belted 13 in the first round and nine in the second.

Matt Rhoades hit 22 homers to win the WCBL home run derby and be presented with the trophy from Okotoks Dawgs coach Matt Stairs, who authored 265 big flies in the majors. Photo: Trevor Fitzpatrick

Jack Kalisky, of the Lethbridge Bulls, had more home runs (12) than Heck (11) in the first round, but the event mandated that the west and east team each had a player in the final.

Heck went first in the second round, smacking eight out of the park. Rhoades had nearly 30 seconds left on the clock by the time he walked things off.

The Giants have now gone back-to-back with derby winners, Peyton McDowall won in 2024.

“Hey, best power hitter in the WCBL right now? I’ll take that one,” laughed Rhoades, “It’s an honour.”

Born in Monument, Col., the sweet-swinging Rhoades is no stranger to seeing balls fly out of the park. He’s been a part of contests before in high school and enjoyed the time-based format compared to the old out-based format he’s used to.

“More freedom, you get to mash,” he explained, “You don’t have to be uptight, you hit the ball as hard as you can. I’m in decent shape for swinging, I’d say. Not running, but swinging.”

It helped that he was used to his pitcher before the event as well. Assistant coach and former WCBL All-Star infielder Tanner Hess (Victoria, BC) was on lob duty, and he’s been throwing batting practice to Rhoades all season.

Weyburn Beavers Ian Heck finished second. Photo: Trevor Fitzpatrick

Rhoades will get to hang up the commemorative bat presented to him by former World Series Champion Matt Stairs (Fredericton, NB) when he gets home.

In all, the total amount of homers hit was 111, a derby record, according to Alberta Dugout Stories. The previous record was 85 was in 2024.

The slugger’s parents were watching on from the house as they had to stay back to watch over the family dog, who Rhoades jokingly said is the favourite child. Despite them not being in attendance, he did have a message for them:

“Thank you for always supporting me. Thank you for putting me through college. Thank you for letting me chase my dreams.”

Home run derby participants from the West. Photo: Trevor Fitzpatrick

HOME RUN TOTALS

ROUND 1:

NAME (TEAM) : HOME RUN COUNT

Matt Rhoades (Fort McMurray): 13

Jack Kalisky (Lethbridge): 12

Ian Heck (Weyburn): 11

Nash Crowell (Okotoks): 11

Tyler Vanneste (Medicine Hat): 8

Wyatt Ormonde (Brooks): 8

And the competitors from the East. Photo: Trevor Fitzpatrick

Wilmer Henriquez (Swift Current): 7

Ethan Menard (Saskatoon): 7

Ayden Makarus (Sylvan Lake): 6

Brady Bye (Regina): 5

Timo Aracena (Energy City): 4

Austin Gurney (Moose Jaw): 2

ROUND 2 (Championship):

Matt Rhoades (Fort McMurray): 9

Ian Heck (Weyburn): 8