Thunderbirds galore on Canadian Baseball Network’s all-Canadian college team

By Len Catling
UBC Communications and Media Relations

VANCOUVER - The 2015-16 UBC Thunderbirds were well represented on this year’s edition of the Canadian Baseball Network all-Canadian college team. For that matter, the 2016-17 version of the UBC Thunderbirds were well represented as well.
 
The amount of T-Birds hurlers in the 17th edition of Canada’s best collegiate baseball players shows just how special a rotation and bullpen UBC head coach Chris Pritchett and pitching coach Wayne Corness had at their disposal.

 
Alex Webb was named to the first team as the right-handed pitcher, while fellow right-hander Curtis Taylor was given the second team slot. Both of these hurlers were taken on the first day of the 2016 MLB Entry Draft. Taylor in the fourth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, while the Cincinnati Reds snapped up Webb in the ninth round.

UBC right handed closer Tyler Gillies was named the relief pitcher on the second team, giving three of the top six pitching spots to Thunderbirds.
 
See the entire Canadian Baseball Network all-Canadian college team roster
 
“Obviously I’m extremely proud of those guys and the season they had,” said Pritchett. “It gave us more than a good opportunity to win every time they had the ball.”
 
The depth of the ‘Birds staff was also evident as three other T-Bird arms were given honourable mentions by the Canadian Baseball Network. Jeremy Newton (reliever), who ended up signing as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers organization, Connor Noble (RHP) and Brad Smith (LHP) were given honourable mentions.

“I think sometimes kids think they need to go down to the United States to be seen from a development standpoint,” said Pritchett. “Having four guys who go to pro ball from UBC and all perform very well over the summer league shows the strength of our program.”
 
The ‘Birds rotation can expect to provide more arm strength in 2016-17, as Noble and Smith will both be back in the mix and Gillies is expected to move up from the bullpen to join them on the starter’s mound.
 
“It’s an indication of how strong we were on the mound last year. We rode those guys (Webb and Taylor) and there are some big shoes for guys to step up and fill,” added Pritchett.

In the outfield, Bruce Yari was rewarded for his monster 2015 -16 slash line (.368/.466/.541) with an honourable mention on the all-Canadian team. Yari later joined Webb in the Reds organization when they called his name in the 13th round of the MLB Entry Draft.  Ironically, the bat expected to fill the void Yari left in the T-Bird’s line-up for 2017 was also named an outfielder on the 2nd team. Mitchell Robinson, who was a stand out for the Central Arizona Vaqueros, transferred to UBC this summer. Robinson got off to a fast start at Thunderbird Park, recording seven hits, five runs and four RBI’s in his first four games for the ‘Blue and Gold’.
 
“I scouted Mitchell when he was in high school and he just has an innate ability to hit,” said Pritchett. “You can stand him open, closed, upside-down. The kid just knows how to get the good part of the barrel on the ball and he does it consistently. It’s going to be a huge addition to the middle of our line-up. I expect Mitch to have a very good year this year.”
 
With plenty to look back on, but just as much to look ahead to, the UBC Thunderbirds continue the 2017 portion of their season on February 10th, 2017. The ‘Birds will travel to Lewiston, Idaho for the LCSC Guardian Plumbing, Heating and A/C tournament.