Easton Kitura still has a couple of years before he graduates high school.
That means he also has a couple of years to see his Major League Baseball draft stock continue to rise, as the Spruce Grove native is considered one of the best prospects heading into 2026.
Already a veteran of some big stages with Vauxhall Academy, Baseball Alberta’s Canada Cup roster and the 2024 Prep Baseball Future Games, the buzz has already started to build around Kitura.
The 16-year-old welcomes the opportunity.
“Just staying driven and level-minded – not getting too high or getting too low,” Kitura told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “The more I just stay easy and not try too hard, the more I feel like I’m successful and enjoy the game more.”
His next test is set to come at the Canadian Futures Showcase in Toronto, where he will join some of the best high school players at Rogers Centre Sept. 17-21.
FLASHING THE LEATHER
A two-sport star throughout his childhood, Kitura split his time as a second baseman and outfielder in baseball while also stopping pucks as a hockey goalie.
While he was successful on the ice, his exploits on the diamond earned him the Gordie Wilson Memorial Award from Baseball Alberta in 2022.
A year later, Kitura was a key piece for the Parkland Twins as they captured the Baseball Alberta Elite League championship.
It also provided him with an opportunity to represent Alberta for the first time as one of the youngest players at the Canada Cup in Regina, Saskatchewan.
After the tournament, he decided to focus solely on baseball, hanging up his skates and packing his bags for Vauxhall.
“It’s a small community, and so everyone there is very helpful and supportive of you,” Kitura said. “I’m very grateful for that opportunity to be there and to be surrounded by all those amazing people.”
SETTING THE SHOWCASE STAGE
Heading into 2024, attention around Kitura started to intensify.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound utilityman showed well at a variety of scout days and was impressive at the Prep Baseball Future Games trials in Calgary in April.
That led to a call to represent Canada in late-July in Georgia.
“That was something I will never forget,” Kitura said. “It was an experience that I feel like every young teenager or young kid in sports should go through, playing under that much pressure in front of so many scouts.”
He was considered one of the more impactful players at the tournament, giving him additional confidence as he headed to his second-straight Canada Cup as well as Pacific Northwest Scout Games in Oregon, where he was named MVP.
Kitura says he’s tried to soak in every moment he can.
“You’re expecting to meet some good ball players and even better people,” he said. “They’re all driven in the same way and have similar goals to you, so it’s neat to meet different guys from all over who you wouldn’t get to know otherwise.”
The left-hitting infielder is hoping those experiences lend well to the next steps in his baseball journey.
DROWNING OUT THE NOISE
Kitura had just finished playing a game with Parkland when he found out he earned a roster spot at the Canadian Futures Showcase.
He says his sister saw the post about the initial 75 players invited on Instagram and shared the news as soon as she could.
Entering as the top 2026 prospect coming out of Alberta, he knows there will be some pressure to perform.
He’s not too worried about the external noise as he wants to put his best foot forward on the artificial turf at the old SkyDome.
“I try to push it away, I guess,” Kitura said. “I like to stay humble and not talk about myself much.”
“I often under-size myself or put myself lower than I probably am. I don’t like to look too far ahead and just keep going because there’s more to come.”
He doesn’t have goals or aspirations heading into the showcase, which will feature a total of six Vauxhall players.
“I just want to go in and enjoy it,” Kitura said. “Not many kids can say they have played in Rogers Centre, so it’s definitely something I’ll just go and have lots of fun and meet lots of new guys.”
PUTTING SCHOOL FIRST
One of the main reasons Kitura is able to keep all of the extra attention at bay is that he’s not actually focused on his statistical standings or draft ranking.
Instead, he’s hoping to find the perfect match to continue his studies after high school.
“I’m more focused on getting a scholarship and going off to school,” Kitura said. “My parents are really big on education, so I keep my mind in that space.”
As an all-around athlete, Kitura has his eyes on something athletic when he finally makes his college commitment.
“I’ve always wanted to stay in the sports world,” he said. “I just love being around athletes, so I want to be a sports psychologist or a physiotherapist. I love learning about the body and how it works.”
While Kitura admits it would be a “dream come true” to get noticed by a big-league scout and get drafted in 2026, he’s not putting all of his eggs in that basket just yet.
He’s content on soaking in the experiences he’s getting right now and putting in the work needed to succeed in the classroom and on the field.
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