Posts in Canadians in the Minors
McFarland: Coutney focused on what he can control heading into second pro season
McFarland: Coutney focused on what he can control heading into second pro season

“Matt Coutney remembers the exact moment when he realized that professional baseball was going to be a grind.

In his final two seasons at Old Dominion University (2021-2022), the Wetaskiwin product played a total of 117 games.

On his way to playing 121 games in 2023 in the Los Angeles Angels’ farm system, it was a roadtrip to California when he started to understand what many others had told him about life in the pros.

“It was game 32 and I was thinking to myself, ‘I have 100 games left – there’s no way I’m going to be able to make it through this,’” Coutney told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “As the year goes on, you hit certain benchmarks – you make it another week, you make it another month – and the next think you know, the season is over.”

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Canadians in the Minors, Alberta Dugout StoriesJoe McFarland
McFarland: Bourassa back for fourth season with Goldeyes
McFarland: Bourassa back for fourth season with Goldeyes

“It won’t be long before Landen Bourassa has the key to the city in Winnipeg.

The Lethbridge, Alta., native has become a staple of the starting rotation for the independent American Association’s Winnipeg Goldeyes over the past three years, while taking pride in becoming an involved member of the sports community.

In that time, he has posted a 20-11 record with a 4.17 ERA in 43 games for the Goldeyes, and is set to improve those numbers as he has a new contract with the team for 2024.”

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Canadians in the MinorsJoe McFarland
Shushkewich: MacKinnon excited about his new role with KC Royals
Shushkewich: MacKinnon excited about his new role with KC Royals

“If you look across Canada, you will see a wide array of teams from coast to coast — from travel ball teams such as the Ontario Blue Jays out to the prairies, where the Medicine Hat Mavericks suit up in the Western Canadian Baseball League.

For Cheltenham, Ont. product Kyle MacKinnon, these teams were just some of the organizations that were stepping stones for his newest opportunity. He was recently named the assistant hitting coach of the Columbia Fireflies, the single-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.”

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Canadians in the MinorsTyson Shushkewich
Verge: Trailblazing Stephenson preparing for second season as pro coach, World Cup
Verge: Trailblazing Stephenson preparing for second season as pro coach, World Cup

“I like to think that I was always going to be someone who really tries to push boundaries and tries to make things happen in whatever I want to do,” Women’s National Team great and Vancouver Canadians coach Ashley Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.) recently told Canadian Baseball Network writer Melissa Verge. “I don’t want to be mediocre at things, I want to be exceptional at things. And sometimes to do that you’ve got to take scary steps.”

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Baseball Canada, Canadians in the MinorsMelissa Verge
McFarland: Peters switch to “puck knob” bat helped batting resurgence in 2023
McFarland: Peters switch to “puck knob” bat helped batting resurgence in 2023

“When he looks back on 2023, Tristan Peters says it was a good year, but he believes he can have an even better one.

The Winkler, Manitoba native seems poised for another jump in his professional baseball journey, potentially setting himself up for a Major League Baseball (MLB) call-up, after what can only be described as a whirlwind last 12 months.”

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Canadians in the MinorsJoe McFarland