Few athletes have had the kind of high-profile year that Jayden Kane has embarked upon.
The Fort McMurray native and AHP Academy product has taken advantage of every opportunity given to him as he’s been looking to find the right college to commit to.
It all started with an invite to the Prep Baseball Senior Future Games, where he was named Team Canada MVP and lauded for his speed, patience at the plate, and ability to get extra-base hits.
Kane followed that up by representing Alberta at the Canada Summer Games, an experience he was proud to do after his father did the same thing two decades earlier.
And finally, the 6-foot-1, 182-pound utilityman suited up with Team Royal at the annual Blue Jays Academy Canadian Futures Showcase, going onto win the tournament championship.
It was a dream come true for Kane, who joined us on a recent episode of Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast, to talk about the last year and his path in baseball.
1. Fresh off the Canadian Futures Showcase, how did it go in your eyes?
It was just a surreal experience to get out there and play at Rogers Centre was just something you dream of as a kid. That first step on the field just felt like I was getting one step closer to that dream of playing there full-time one day.
2. Were the Blue Jays your team growing up and who were your guys?
Absolutely. Probably Kevin Pillar, and it was so cool getting to listen to him and what he had to say about his journey and his career. It was Kevin Pillar and Jose Bautista, but you know, Jose didn’t show up this time. Getting to hear from Kevin Pillar was definitely a big eye-opener for me.
3. That had to be something else. A guy you grew up watching, a guy you’re watching go “Superman” through the air in the outfield and there he is in the flesh. Did you have to pinch yourself in that moment a little bit?
It didn’t feel real at the start. I was face-to-face with Kevin Pillar having a conversation with him about life and how his career went. He’s giving me advice on mine and it was so surreal. It was amazing.
4. I can only imagine. Let’s talk about the game-play and the showcase part of things. How did you think you fared in terms of showing off your skills?
It was pretty good. Our team was really well put together. Once you get to that level, you realize that the gap between skill is neck-and-neck. It’s not as much as some of the teams here. Everyone is a great baseball player, it’s just who plays harder and things like that. I find that I played pretty good, had some good at-bats and I put quality stuff together.
5. How special was it getting to share the experience with some familiar faces like Daril Rodriguez, who ended up winning the Home Run Derby?
Yeah, Daril is one of my good buddies. So that was pretty exciting for him and for me. I was right there with him the whole time and got some videos for him, so that was pretty cool. Then to get to share the winning experience with another one of my buddies, Zach MacDonald, that was a very cool experience as well.
6. Aside from the Canadian Futures Showcase, you’ve had a crazy year including Canada Summer Games. What was that experience like for you?
That one was definitely a great experience. Just the whole set-up there. I’ve been wanting to do that for years because my dad played in the Canada Summer Games in 2005. It was such a great experience to be able to carry that on 20 years later. Just to have him there and watch me play was another surreal experience.
7. That’s so cool. Did he have any pointers for you as you headed into that?
He definitely did say to not let all the people there basically get into my head and that they’re just there to watch baseball. Play your game, be you. That definitely helped me out. I’m from Fort McMurray, but my whole family is from Newfoundland, so I had lots of people there, so it was definitely fun to play in front of distant family like that.
8. You also got to take part in was the Prep Baseball Senior Future Games. How was that?
That was a great experience. That was some of the best baseball I’ve ever played against the best competition, too. You go down to the States and it’s so much different in how kids go about their work. It’s like the Canadian Futures Showcase but everyone down there does it. Not just the top 150. I find all the good players are throwing 89-plus and just know how to pitch. That was the first time I got out playing in front of that many scouts and I just got into that flow state. I basically thought I had nothing to lose and I could only go up from this event. It turns out I did and I’m very grateful for that.
9. That might be the understatement of the year as you were named Team Canada’s MVP. What did that mean to you to be recognized in that way?
That was very special to me, especially as I didn’t get my invite until about a week before. I basically told my dad that I was going to go down there and make the most of it. And like you said, that was the understatement of the year, I definitely took it and ran with it.
