Right-hander Owen Pote (Sherwood Park, Alta.), shown here with the Sylvan Lake Gulls, was signed by the Cincinnati Reds this year. Photo: Sylvan Lake Gulls

November 9, 2025

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Baseball runs in Owen Pote’s genes.

His father, Lou, pitched 219 2/3 innings in the big leagues and played all over the world – Japan, Mexico, China, and even Canada with the independent Edmonton Cracker-Cats and Edmonton Capitals.

His brother Conor played as well, taking his talents stateside while also playing for the Okotoks Dawgs (where Lou is currently the interim manager).

Although born in Arizona, Pote grew up in Alberta because of his father and the connection to baseball. Ironically, baseball is also taking him back to the desert, at least for the moment.

Last summer, Pote found himself in the draft conversation, and it was the Cincinnati Reds who selected the right-hander, using their 19th-round pick on him.

“It was a mix of emotions,” said Pote, speaking to Canadian Baseball Network regarding the 2024 MLB Draft. “Some teams had reached out and expressed interest early on, and I was getting my name into the pool and becoming eligible, but I really didn’t hear anything two months leading into the draft.

“Day 3 of the draft rolls around, and the chatter starts to pick up. I had some emails and phone calls from interested teams, mostly just some ‘get to know you’ type of information, and then the moment finally happened.”

That moment Pote is referring to is the phone call he received from his advisor, informing him of the news. Like most high-school players in the summer, Pote was on his way to a baseball game when the phone call came through.

“I was driving home to summer ball (Sylvan Lake Gulls) with my grandpa after being at home, and we were listening to the radio and I was just a bundle of nerves,” laughed Pote. “I got a call from my advisor, and he just says, ‘hopefully you got a Reds hat near you, because they just drafted you,’ and I just lost my mind.”

Pote had received the call that every kid growing up playing the game wishes to hear: that pro baseball was knocking on the door. It’s an emotional time for any player to hear their name called in the draft, but for Pote, his dream to play professionally was going to be put on hold for a moment.

The right-hander was heading to Barton Community College, joining the Cougars in JUCO ball. In the latest CBA, the ‘draft and follow’ rule was reinstated, allowing drafted players to attend a non-four-year school for a year while still being able to sign with the team, as long as it was before the next year’s draft.

Pote was going to be following this route, something he had discussed with the Reds.

“The Reds brought up the idea of me going to Barton and continuing to play in JUCO and then looking at next year and what lies ahead,” said Pote. “I saw only the benefits of going to Barton and getting some reps there to try and become a better baseball player.

“I chose Barton because of Coach (Brent) Briggs. He and I talked a lot leading up to attending their program, and he really sold me on the school and their philosophies. He wanted to win and compete, and I love winning. I absolutely love winning, and I hate losing, and that was one of the biggest things for me while also getting better on the field. It was great to play in special games with a special group of guys.”

The life of a baseball player is always on the move, and for Pote, he was no exception. Once the year with the Cougars was completed, he had just returned home from his time at Barton when the Reds came calling back. One thing led to another, and Pote signed on the dotted line on June 6.

“I had just gotten home from school about two weeks before, and I was hanging out with my girlfriend when the Reds called,” said Pote. “We talked about signing this year and turning pro versus going back to school, and I wanted to sign. I wanted to join the Reds and get the ball moving.

“Two weeks later, I was down in Arizona at the complex, just getting my body stronger and more familiar with the way my body moves, and just working with the staff to get stronger after the season I spent with Barton.”

Pote would remain in Arizona the rest of the summer and into the fall. He didn’t appear in any affiliated action, instead partaking in various camps and working out alongside fellow players and under the Reds' coaching staff. This involved working on his mechanics and going through various strength programs.

As for what lies ahead, Pote is returning to Canada to continue working throughout the winter, begin his pro career next year, and see where baseball takes him.

“I am going to head back to my home facility back in Alberta and continue to work on what the Reds gave me for the offseason,” said Pote. “When I look towards my future, I am not so concerned with the destination or the level I need to play in next year, but more so just getting back in there and seeing what I can learn, what I can figure out in terms of the little tips and tricks from the process and from others, and putting that work in every day. Those are things I can control.”

Shushkewich: Reds’ Pote focused on things he can control in his pro career