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OPINION: Alberta’s Big MLB Draft Presence

The MLB Draft Class of 2024 was a big one for Alberta.

With five Albertans being named and a few others with connections to our province, it was the biggest contingent since 2011, despite being half the size.

Joe McFarland says this should be a sign of things to come.

7th Inning Stretch: Gavin Fraser

Gavin Fraser has made a baseball career out of proving the doubters wrong.

The Spruce Grove native was regularly cut from teams growing up because he was thought of as being too small or not ready for the level of baseball he was trying out for.

He persevered and is now playing for the Edmonton Prospects on his way to the next level of college with the University of Pikeville.

Pioneer Piper

It’s an opening weekend debut that Piper Wiklund won’t soon forget.

The Edmonton product picked up a hit in her first at-bat with the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack of the Canadian College Baseball Conference on March 31.

It’s the latest accomplishment in what’s been a whirlwind few months.

Alberta’s 2023 Pro Connections

With the 2023 Major League Baseball season now underway, it was only a matter of time before each organization started setting up its affiliate rosters for the coming year.

While things can and will change, we thought we’d scour as many minor league rosters for Alberta connections to get you updated on where everyone is.

2022 MLB Draft Review

We take a closer look at some of the Alberta connections to the 2022 MLB Draft …

Contact Hitter

Wetaskiwin’s Matt Coutney now holds the record for most home runs in a single-season at Old Dominion University.

It’s an amazing feat, made even more incredible in that he started the season slowly and had an incredible April.

Coutney credits working on his mechanics, plus using a contact lens in his right eye, for turning his season around.

Stand Up Double

Ellie Jespersen’s 2019 season can be summed up in one word: incredible.

After pacing Alberta at the national championships in Okotoks, the 16-year-old was named to Baseball Canada’s National Women’s Team, contributing in major ways.

She put the wraps on the year by being named to two major Baseball Alberta awards in November.

1 Thru 9: St. Francis Xavier

If you’re around baseball long enough in the Edmonton area, you will eventually hear about St. FX, or just FX.

That’s the abbreviated form of St. Francis Xavier Baseball Academy, a program that guides student athletes as they pursue their academic and sporting dreams.

Brad Wolansky, the director of the academy, brought his extensive baseball experience to Alberta’s capital with the aim of coaching aspiring major leaguers. He made time for us and our latest installment of “1 Thru 9,” which examines the baseball academies in Alberta.