Funderstruck

A two-way star with the Okotoks Dawgs and Edmonton Prospects has made his Major League Baseball debut in stellar fashion.

2017 Western Major Baseball League MVP Kody Funderburk pitched two perfect innings – including three strikeouts – with the Minnesota Twins on August 28.

Setting The Trap

He may have just hit a triple, but Peter Pocklington couldn’t help but dream about crushing a home run.

The ink was still fresh on his acquisition of the Ogden Athletics of the Pacific Coast League when he mused about something much bigger: Major League Baseball.

On the 40th anniversary of the Edmonton Trappers beginning play in the PCL, we take a look back at the efforts made to bring the team to the capital and the legacy left behind.

Twin Will

It hasn’t been an easy road in life for Willy Diaz.

Moving to Edmonton from the Dominican Republic with his mother in search for a better life, there were no guarantees that he would find a career in baseball.

But after suiting up with Prairie Baseball Academy and garnering the attention of the right people, the young infielder has his sights set on the pros after signing with the Minnesota Twins.

North Star Smith

Dawgs Academy grad LaRon Smith is chomping at the bit to get going.

After being chosen in the 25th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by Minnesota, he has been dealing with a transition to catching as well as injuries.

He’s putting it all behind him heading into the Twins’ 2020 Spring Training.

MLB Draft Review

The 2018 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft took place from June 4-6 and we’ve got a rundown on what it means to some of Alberta’s most talented players.

Some of the athletes selected were born and raised in the province, others have become familiar faces through our baseball academies, Some are players we’ve come to know from their time in the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL).

Here’s a look at the selections we had our eye on …

Ballot of Alberta

The ballots have been cast and we’ll soon know who will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Of the 34 candidates, five players spent time playing on Alberta minor-league teams.

Edgar Martinez and Omar Vizquel were teammates on the Triple-A Calgary Cannons in the 1980s, while lefty Johan Santana fine-tuned his game with the Edmonton Trappers before winning two Cy Young Awards in the mid-2000s.

Another Cy Young Award winner, Chris Carpenter, cut his teeth with the Medicine Hat Blue Jays in 1994 and second baseman Orlando Hudson also got his start with the Baby Jays.

Here’s a look at the Alberta hopefuls and their chances of finding immortality in Cooperstown …

From Wild Rose Country to Wild Card Games

Turns out Alberta puts more in the pipeline than just oil and gas for our southern neighbours.

And even though affiliated baseball left this province more than a decade ago, there are still plenty of people who played here that are now helping their MLB teams pursue a World Series title.

Avoiding Cannons and Eluding Traps

Baseball superstardom aside, Ken Griffey Jr. and David Ortiz appear to have little in common. Although they did both skip over playing for Alberta’s ‘AAA’ teams.