By IAN WILSON

Infielder Gavin Roy is flying high after signing a deal to play baseball professionally in Quebec.

The 22-year-old from Sudbury, Ontario – who was a First Team WCBL All-Star with the Sylvan Lake Gulls in 2024 – has inked a contract with the Trois-Rivieres Aigles of the Frontier League, which is a Major League Baseball (MLB) Partner League.

“Trois-Rivieres reached out shortly after the (MLB) draft. They knew I was waiting to see how the draft played out, and once it was over they contacted me and said they wanted me to come up and play as soon as possible,” said Roy.

“It was a great opportunity to play at the professional level, so it was a decision I was really excited to make, but sad to leave Sylvan Lake at the same time.”

Roy was tremendous for the Gulls in 2024. He led the WCBL in stolen bases that year, with 33, and also registered a .363 batting average, 61 runs, 49 runs batted in (RBI), 14 doubles and a .454 on-base percentage in 55 regular season contests.

Coming off his senior year at Washington State University, Roy returned to central Alberta in late June and got into 13 games with the Gulls this summer. In that time, he collected nine hits, five runs, four RBI, eight walks and three stolen bases over 58 plate appearances.

“I came back because I wanted to play and help Sylvan win a championship. They’ve always treated me really well, and from the beginning they told me they’d do everything they could to help me get to the next level,” said Roy.

“That loyalty meant a lot to me, so coming back was an easy decision. I’m really thankful for everyone in the organization and everything they did for me.”

Added Roy: “The coaches and everyone with the Gulls were very supportive and understanding throughout the process. They knew my goal was to play professionally and they were fully behind me taking that next step when the opportunity came up.”

After his first two Frontier League games, Roy is still seeking his first hit in the pros, but he already has a walk, a stolen base and an RBI.

The former student at Cloud County Community College also expressed gratitude about his time in the Western Canadian Baseball League.

“The WCBL meant a lot to me because it gave me the opportunity to keep developing and compete every day,” he said.

“The Gulls organization and the league helped me grow as a player and as a person, and I’m really thankful for the support from fans and everyone involved. These experiences helped prepare me for this next step.”

Several other WCBL alumni have gone pro in the Frontier League, including former Gull middle infielder Jonah Weisner, who joined the Capitales de Quebec in 2023.

Relief pitcher Ashton Luera of the Okotoks Dawgs also signed on with Quebec earlier this year and Lethbridge Bulls slugger Carter Claerhout joined the Ottawa Titans on a pro deal.

Meanwhile, the Gulls made some roster moves following Roy’s departure and added infielder Cleary Simpson and right-handed pitcher Kyle Froehlich.

Simpson was an original member of the Gulls who has suited up in over 119 regular season games for the franchise, dating back to 2021.

Froehlich was also a day one player for the team and took the mound for Sylvan Lake between 2021 and 2024.