What if the Western Canadian Baseball League had a team of all-stars that took part in the Major League Baseball playoffs?
That was the question we asked ourselves when we tried to put our spin on the standard end-of-season all-star team idea.
We were also blown away by the entertainment and talent that the players put on the field, and really didn’t want to leave anyone out.
READ MORE: 2023 ADS All-WCBL Team
As it turns out, 2024 was going to be even better than last year, as it felt like every team could beat any other team on any given night.
This year, we watched more games and highlights, and scoured more stats sheets and game reports, to identify the best the league had to offer from this past summer.
As we did in 2023, our roster consists of 15 position players including a designated hitter and two utility players, as well as 11 pitchers. We included at least one player from each team, and added a four-man taxi squad for those who would get the call-up, should the need arise.
We hope you enjoy checking out our team, and look forward to seeing the debates develop.
C – Nick Thibodeau – Medicine Hat
Tied for third in the league with 11 home runs during the summer, Medicine Hat Mavericks catcher Nick Thibodeau was a threat at the plate all season. The Burlington, Ontario native and Western Alabama junior hit .332 and finished second in the circuit with 63 runs batted in. He was also solid behind the plate, making just one error in 40 games.
C – Ethan Menard – Saskatoon
Another hard-hitting backstop, Ethan Menard was a major contributor the expansion Saskatoon Berries. The Opelousas, Louisiana native and University of Texas Tyler junior collected a .340 batting average to go along with seven home runs, 44 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 50 games. He upped his game in six playoff games, hitting .407 while driving in three runs.
1B – Austin Gurney – Moose Jaw
Half of the Moose Jaw Miller Express dynamic duo, Austin Gurney did it all in 2024. The Campbell River, B.C. product hit .310 with 10 round-trippers, 55 RBI and 14 steals during the regular season. The University of Pikeville junior took it up a notch in the playoffs, hitting .344 with two homers and 12 RBI as the Miller Express came within a game of winning it all.
2B – Ricky Sanchez – Okotoks
The WCBL’s Most Valuable Player in 2022, Ricky Sanchez has been Mr. Reliable in the Dawgs organization since he was in high school. The Lamar University infielder sported a .310 average with a homer and 15 RBI in 28 regular season, but was a game-changer in the playoffs with a .406 average and 10 runs batted in, with series-changing at-bats in the deciding game threes against both Lethbridge and Sylvan Lake.
3B – Connor Crowson – Okotoks
The regular season was already great enough for Connor Crowson. The Okotoks product and University of Montevallo infielder hit .383 with nine homers and 55 RBI to pace the Dawgs during the regular season. He saved his best for the very last as he hit the championship-clinching walk-off home run against Moose Jaw.
SS – Antony Gilbert – Brooks
The league’s batting average champion with a .412 mark in 44 games, Antony Gilbert was also in the four-way tie for the lead in homers with 13 and was eighth with 50 RBI. The Quebec City native and Bellevue University junior also finished second in OPS at 1.190 and slugging percentage (.712).
INF – Gavin Roy – Sylvan Lake
If you need speed on the basepaths, Gavin Roy was your guy in 2024. Leading the WCBL with 33 stolen bases, the Sudbury, Ontario native and Cloud County infielder was a big-time factor for the Sylvan Lake Gulls with a .363 batting average to go along with 14 doubles, three triples, two homers and 49 RBI. He also hit .353 with two steals in five playoff games.
INF – Kody Hanna – Regina
Among the league leaders in most statistical categories, Kody Hanna did a little bit of everything for the Regina Red Sox in 2024. The Hemingway, South Carolina native and Coker University senior hit .359 with 18 doubles, two triples and eight homers while driving in 64 runs (leading the league) to help the Red Sox capture the East Division pennant.
OF – Nate Mensik – Moose Jaw
The other half of the Moose Jaw dynamic duo, Nate Mensik was in the four-way tie for top spot in the WCBL with 13 dingers in 2024. The Pleasantdale, Nebraska native also factored in with a .287 batting average and 44 RBI, but turned it up in a big way for the postseason. The Doane University senior hit .345 with four homers and 11 RBI as the Miller Express made it to the final.
OF – Cooper Ciesielski – Sylvan Lake
The WCBL’s 2024 regular season MVP was also in that four-way tie for homers with 13, while sitting fifth in average at .382. The Monument, Colorado and Gonzaga University transfer was also tied for the league lead in doubles with 21 and drove in the sixth-most runs with 53. Interestingly, Ciesielski was also tied for second in hit-by-pitch with 16.
OF – Jacob Gillis – Brooks
The final member of the four-pack with 13 home runs during the season, Jacob Gillis was another offensive dynamo in the Brooks Bombers batting order. The Fergus, Ontario native and Bossier Parish Community College product sported a .343 batting average and drove in 39 runs for the Bombers, while finishing in the top-ten in both runs scored and hits.
OF – Carter Beck – Saskatoon
The 2024 WCBL Home Run Derby runner-up and All-Star Game MVP had a season to remember with the expansion Saskatoon Berries. The Carnduff, Saskatchewan native and Illinois State transfer hit .374 with 11 homers, 38 RBI and 19 stolen bases during the season. He was even better in the playoffs, hitting .607 with two homers and six RBI in six games.
DH – Jordan Phillips – Medicine Hat
Tied for third in RBI with 62 and sitting amongst the leagues in many other categories, Jordan Phillips was a well-rounded piece of the Medicine Hat Mavericks’ puzzle. The Houston, Texas product and William Jewell College junior hit .351 with 19 doubles, three triples, nine homers and 10 stolen bases.
Utility – Marques Abulhosn – Sylvan Lake
When the Sylvan Lake Gulls needed a big play offensively or defensively in 2024, they seemed to get it out of Marques Abulhosn. At the plate, the Mercer Island, Washington native hit .335 with six homers and 32 RBI in 44 games. The Gonzaga freshman became a fan favourite during the season for his outgoing personality, exemplified after his walk-off home run in game one of the West Division Final.
Utility – Jack Kalisky – Lethbridge
Best remembered for an epic extra inning pitching battle in game three of the opening around against Okotoks, Lethbridge Bulls utilityman Jack Kalisky was as well-rounded as they come in 2024. He went 1-1 with a 1.63 ERA in 19 relief appearances during the season, while hitting .307 with seven homers and 47 RBI at the dish in 48 games.
SP – Colton Anderson – Regina
While offense around the WCBL was up, Colton Anderson said “no, thank you.” The league’s Top Pitcher went 6-2 in 11 games for the Regina Red Sox, striking out 64 in just 49 innings of work. The Verdigris, Oklahoma native and Rogers State hurler had the lowest ERA among those eligible (2.94) and was tied for first in wins and fourth in strikeouts.
SP – Javier De Alejandro – Lethbridge
While he didn’t come away with a near-perfect game like he did in 2023, Javier De Alejandro was still something to behold on the mound this past summer. The San Antonio, Texas native and St. Mary’s University southpaw went 6-1 with a 3.27 Era, striking out 52 in 55 innings, and did have one complete game victory on the season.
SP – Ian Heck – Weyburn
A two-way player who started the WCBL All-Star Game on the mound and came in as a pinch-hitter late in the East Division’s win, Ian Heck was a workhorse for the Weyburn Beavers. The Antelope, California product and York University righthander went 2-4 with a 3.75 ERA, striking out 64 in 60 innings. He also hit .255 with three homers and 27 RBI in 47 games.
SP – Kenny Jinks – Swift Current
Despite signing a professional contract late in the WCBL season, Kenny Jinks was still able to muster the third-most strikeouts with 65 in 49+ innings. The Cartersville, Georgia native and Wheeling University alum posted a 4-3 record to go along with a 4.16 ERA in his nine games, coming off a fantastic 2023 where he went 5-3 with a 3.31 ERA in 19 games.
SP – Graham Brunner – Okotoks
All Graham Brunner did during his WCBL career was win. The Dawgs’ all-time wins leader with 30, the Sherwood Park, Alberta native and Emporia State University alum was tabbed to pitch in every big game the last few seasons. Brunner went 4-0 with a 3.17 ERA in nine starts, striking out 33 batters in 34 innings.
RP – Matt Whitney – Fort McMurray
The Fort McMurray Giants got a small taste of what Matt Whitney could cook up in 2023, as he went 2-1 with a 2.07 ERA in four games. The Plantation, Florida product and West Texas A&M University lefthander was rock-solid in his one playoff start as well. Then in 2024, he showed the full menu by going 6-3 with a 4.05 ERA in 12 games, finishing second in the circuit with 66 strikeouts.
RP – Daniel Crabtree – Regina
The league-leader in innings pitched (69+) and complete games (two), Daniel Crabtree was part of a Regina Red Sox pitching staff that helped them earn the East Division regular season crown. The Marietta, Georgia native and Point University righthander also posted 43 strikeouts while allowing just 18 walks.
RP – Jacob Petersheim – Medicine Hat
Another starter who could eat up some big innings in a bullpen role, Jacob Petersheim was fifth in the summer circuit with 63+ innings of work to his name. The Broadway, Virginia native and CSU Pueblo sophomore went 5-1 in 12 games for the Medicine Hat Mavericks, striking out 43 batters and posting the league’s second-best ERA at 3.25.
RP – Ying-Jui Chen – Edmonton
Sitting sixth in the WCBL with 53 strikeouts, Taipei, Taiwan’s Ying-Jui Chen logged a lot of innings for the Edmonton Prospects. Pacing the squad with 56 innings as they struggled to a 12-44 record, the Taipei University product went 2-6 in 17 games, including nine starts.
RP – Klevert Martina – Swift Current
The WCBL’s strikeout king of 2024 with 75 in 64+ innings of work, Swift Current’s Klevert Martina did a little bit of everything for the 57s. After beginning the summer as a starter, he transitioned to the bullpen where he led the league with seven saves. The Kanga, Curacao native and Mid America Christian righthander posted a 1-6 record with a 4.87 ERA.
RP – Ashton Luera – Okotoks
Ashton Luera quickly became a fan favourite in Okotoks for his colourful endings to games and some big-time moments. During the regular season, the Albuquerque, New Mexico product went 0-1 with six saves and a 1.47 ERA, striking out 47 in 24+ innings. In the playoffs, the Oklahoma Wesleyan hurler upped the ante with three saves in six appearances, including an incredible 5.1 inning performance to get the series-clinching opening-series win against Lethbridge.
Taxi Squad
There were plenty of outstanding performances during the 2024 season that deserve recognition, but just due to numbers and players ahead of them in their positions, couldn’t make the cut.
This year’s group is headlined by Okotoks Dawgs infielder Brendan Luther, who hit. 368 in the regular season and .410 in the playoffs. He was also the two-time WCBL Playoff MVP before relinquishing the title to Crowson in 2024. Moose Jaw infielder Nathan Houston finished third in the league in batting average (.385) as the Miller Express nearly upended the Dawgs in the championship series. Jackson Syring of the Regina Red Sox was a pivotal bat for the team as he finished second in average (.404) while hitting seven homers and 51 RBI to help the Sox to the East Division’s regular season title. And on the mound, Sylvan Lake Gulls hurler Kyle Froehlich received some Pitcher of the Year votes after going 4-2 with a 1.91 ERA in eight games.
It was another memorable season on the field for the Western Canadian Baseball League with many more players who had great performances. Did we miss anyone? Any of these players really capture your attention this season? Let us know what you think in the comments below or on our social media channels.
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