RHP Sean Heppner, 12th round (355th) -- Cleveland Guardians — Signed $150,000
Born: Richmond, BC.
Resides: Point Roberts, Wash.
Height/Weight: 6’ 3” 215 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R-R
School: University of British Columbia, Thunder Bay Border Cats.
Coaches: Chris Pritchett, Jim Kelly.
Previous Teams: Kamloops NorthPaws, Victoria HarbourCats, Team BC at Canada Cup, North Delta Blue Jays, Delta Tigers.
Previous coaches: Sammie Starr, Mitch Hodge, Wayne Corness, Corey Eckstein (head coach), Shawn Shaefer, Jordan Broatch, Orville Germaine, Parker Kynoch, Ernie Hawkins and Jack Thompson, Brodie Hawkins, Will Flodin, Sam Siddall, John Parker, Mike Addy, Tim Bunnett, Declan Murphy, Drew Parker, Cam Frick, Ford Marcotte, James Tereschyn, Jesse Burns, Dirk Van Ommen.
The most influential people in my baseball life: “Definitely my parents. Outside of them, my college coaches have been the most influential.”
My best days on the ball field: “All the playoff games we won with UBC.”
Teams who showed interest before the draft: “The Guardians and Orioles both were interested in me on draft day.”
Border crossings: Since most of the Heppner family lived in the Lower Mainland of BC, they chose to move to Point Roberts Wash. While technically they lived in the U.S., everything Sean or brother Ryan, did was in Canada including schools and sports. Used to crossing the border four times a day they returned to Delta BC when the COVID restrictions hit. And it was not easy as each country had its own set of restrictions.
The Heppner family at Ray Carter Cup in 2019 at historic Kinsmen Stadium in Oshawa, mom Sharon with her sons Sean, left, and Ryan.
2024 Summer with Thunder Bay Border Cats, Northwoods League: Has 1-2 record with a 1.83 ERA in 11 games, making one start ... He walked 19 and struck out 29 in 19 2/3 innings as he made the adjustment from starter to reliever.
2024 spring as a junior at UBC: Was 6-2 with a 4.79 ERA in 14 starts. He walked 30 and struck out 107 in 71 1/3 innings ... Registered wins over College of Idaho, Oregon Tech, Corban, Bushnell, Oregon Tech and Embry-Riddle ... Needed only 100 pitches to strike out 16 in 6 1/3 innings in 6-1 win over College of Idaho ... Surpassed 10 Ks in playoff win over Embry-Riddle with 11 in eight scoreless innings as he threw 107 pitches.
2023 Summer with Victoria HarbourCats, West Coast League: Had a 1-2 record with a 2.70 ERA in five starts ... Had four walks and 35 strikeouts in 20 innings.
2023 spring as a sophomore at UBC: Was 1-3 with a 4.86 ERA in six starts. He walked 15 and struck out 43 in 33 1/3 innings.
2022 Summer with Kamloops Northpaws, West Coast League: 4-0 with a 2.64 ERA in 10 games making seven starts. He walked 22 and fanned 43 in 44 1/3 innings.
2022 spring as a freshman at UBC: Was 7-5 in 15 starts with a 3.23 ERA ... Walked 23 and struck out 91 in 86 1/3 innings.
2021 spring as a freshman at UBC: Went 0-2 with a 5.67 ERA in 11 games, making four starts. He walked 12 and struck out 38 in 27 innings.