Winnipeg Goldeyes sign Pelletier

The Winnipeg Goldeyes have signed catcher Raphael Pelletier (Repentigny, Québec). Photo: Austin Van Meter/Kansas State University Athletics

April 8, 2026

By Jason Young

Winnipeg Goldeyes

WINNIPEG, MAN. – The Winnipeg Goldeyes announced Wednesday the signing of Canadian rookie catcher Raphaël Pelletier.

Pelletier finished the 2025 season with the London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball League, where he batted .243 with two home runs and four runs batted in in 11 games.

The Repentigny, Québec native was chosen by the Texas Rangers in the 25th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft out of École Secondaire Édouard-Montpetit (Montréal, Qué.).

Pelletier attended Kansas State University (Manhattan, Kan.) from 2022 to 2024 and the University of Kentucky (Lexington, Ky.) in 2025. The 24-year-old hit .224 with 20 doubles and 19 home runs in 173 college contests. He drove in 70 runs.

A former member of the Junior National Team, in 2018 Pelletier competed at the Pan American Baseball Confederation (COPABE) U-18 Pan-American Championships, winning a bronze medal.

“We are excited to sign another young Canadian player in Pelletier,” said Goldeyes manager Logan Watkins. “He’s going to strengthen our catching situation and give us opportunities to mix up the lineup a little bit. Raphaël is the kind of player our pitchers will enjoy throwing to, and his ability to throw out base runners will be critical when we face division opponents who like to run.”

Pelletier is the seventh Canadian on the Goldeyes’ roster, joining pitcher Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alberta), pitcher James Bradwell (North Vancouver, British Columbia), catcher/infielder Mason Dobie (Meaford, Ontario), infielder/outfielder Adam Hall (London, Ontario), pitcher Eli Saul (Vancouver, British Columbia), and infielder T.J. Schofield-Sam (Mississauga, Ontario).

Winnipeg now has 26 players under contract for the 2026 season. American Association clubs may carry up to 33 players during spring training, which begins May 3.