Wilson: 13 WCBL alums selected in MLB draft

Sylvan Lake Gulls catcher Nathan Flewelling (Innisfail, Alta.), who was selected in the third round of the 2024 MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, was one of 13 Western Canadian Baseball League alums that were selected in this year’s draft. Photo: Sylvan Lake Gulls.

*This article was originally published on the Western Canadian Baseball League website on July 17. You can read it here.

July 23, 2024

Ian Wilson

Western Canadian Baseball League

The scouting report for the Western Canadian Baseball League is in, and the WCBL received high praise through the Major League Baseball Draft.

The summer collegiate circuit experienced it's best MLB Draft ever, with more than a dozen alumni being selected over 20 rounds.

Over 600 high school and college prospects were picked in the annual event, which took place from July 14-16 in Fort Worth, Texas. Of the 16 Canadians who were chosen, seven spent time in the WCBL.

Here's a closer look at some of those WCBL-linked pitchers and hitters who may have found a new home with a major-league club:

TRAVIS BAZZANA, 1st Round, 1st Overall, Cleveland Guardians

The five-tool second baseman from Oregon State University (OSU) may not have played in the WCBL, but he has homered at Seaman Stadium, the home of the Okotoks Dawgs. Bazzana and his OSU teammates traveled to Okotoks in September of 2023 for the Beavers fall training camp, an event that saw the talented Australian take part in batting practice, base-running drills, inter-squad games and an exhibition game against Dawgs Academy. In addition, Bazzana's friend and teammate Micah McDowell - a roommate of his at OSU - trained at Dawgs Academy and was a star outfielder with the Dawgs in the WCBL.

NATHAN FLEWELLING, 3rd Round, 94th Overall, Tampa Bay Rays

The hard-hitting catcher was the highest WCBL selection in this year's draft and the highest pick from the league since Jacob Melton of the Okotoks Dawgs went in the second round to the Houston Astros in 2022. The 17-year-old, who won the Home Run Derby at the Canadian Futures Showcase last year, has been a key part of the offence for the Sylvan Lake Gulls this season. In 20 games and 70 at bats, the Innisfail, Alberta product had a .329 batting average, 21 runs, five home runs and 19 RBIs for Sylvan Lake. Flewelling trained at Red Deer's St. Joseph High School’s Baseball/Softball Academy.

SAM STUHR, 5th Round, 137th Overall, Oakland Athletics

A right-handed pitcher from Portland, Oregon, Stuhr was on the pitching staff of the WCBL champion Okotoks Dawgs in 2022. He made 10 appearances that summer and racked up 13 strikeouts over his 11.1 innings of work. Stuhr had a combined 7.15 earned run average (ERA) in the regular season and playoffs. He came out of the bullpen in the first game of the championship series against the Moose Jaw Miller Express at Seaman Stadium, a 12-3 victory for Okotoks.

ZANE ZIELINSKI, 9th Round, 268th Overall, San Francisco Giants

The shortstop from Chicago was a regular feature of the Regina Red Sox middle infield in 2023. The righty batter played in 55 games, including two postseason matchups, and put in 230 at bats. In that time, Zielinski had a .291 batting average, 20 stolen bases, 28 runs and 25 RBI.

JACK LINES, 12th Round, 366th Overall, Tampa Bay Rays

The Dawgs Academy shortstop from Okotoks played in 20 games for the summer collegiate squad in the pandemic-shortened 2021 season. Lines was just 15 years old at the time, but did not look out of place. He batted .276 with 12 runs, seven runs batted in, a triple, a homer and two stolen bases over his 58 at bats.

RYAN MAGDIC, 14th Round, 406th Overall, Oakland Athletics

Magdic was selected in the draft by the A's as a left-handed pitcher, but they may consider using him as a hitter. The Beamsville, Ontario native played as an infielder for the Swift Current 57's in 2019 and was stellar at the plate. In 37 games and 139 at bats in the WCBL that summer, Magdic had a .353 batting average, 25 RBI, 17 runs, 10 doubles and three long balls.

MASON GUERRA, 14th Round, 431st Overall, Atlanta Braves

Another part of the OSU-Okotoks Dawgs pipeline, Guerra traveled to Seaman Stadium in 2022 to suit up in 15 games for the Dawgs. The Beaverton, Oregon infielder produced 14 runs, 10 RBI, two stolen bases and a homer in his 49 at bats with Okotoks.

ERIC RATACZAK, 16th Round, 484th Overall, Miami Marlins

The first member of the Brooks Bombers organization ever selected in the MLB draft, Rataczak was outstanding during his 2023 WCBL season. In 50 games with the Bombers, he finished second in the league in home runs (11) and RBIs (48) while batting .358. The Minnesotan also collected 43 runs and 15 doubles. For his efforts, the lefty slugger - who competed in the Home Run Derby at last year's All-Star Game - was named the most valuable player on his team and the WCBL Rookie of the Year.

TITUS DUMITRU, 16th Round, 491st Overall, Atlanta Braves

The Oregon outfielder was excellent for the Dawgs last season, appearing in 34 games and putting up big numbers for the Seaman Stadium faithful. Dumitru had a .364 batting average, 30 RBIs, 28 runs, six homers and six steals in 129 at bats.

MICAH McDOWELL, 17th Round, 514th Overall, Miami Marlins

McDowell came up through Dawgs Academy and was an impactful player with the big club over the years. The Nova Scotian appeared in 10 games for the WCBL Dawgs in 2019 before blossoming into a dependable hitter and defender. As an outfielder on the 2022 championship squad, the outfielder played in 34 regular-season games (.381 batting average, 30 runs, 24 RBIs, 25 stolen bases) and was clutch in the postseason. In seven playoff games, McDowell batted .367 with 10 RBI, six runs and a pair of steals.

TYLER HAMPU, 18th Round, 528th Overall, Colorado Rockies

Hampu called Sylvan Lake home in the summer of 2022. With the Gulls that season, the Ohio righthander made 10 relief appearances, going 4-1 with a 3.85 ERA, one save and 39 strikeouts in 28 innings.

OWEN POTE, 19th Round, 569th Overall, Cincinnati Reds

Pote is a Sherwood Park product who trained at AHP Academy and pitched this season for the Gulls. The son of former MLB pitcher Lou Pote - interim manager of the Okotoks Dawgs - has been excellent as a swingman in Sylvan Lake. The 6-foot-6 righty made eight appearances, four of them starts, and put together a 3-0 record with a save, a 3.17 ERA and 17 Ks through 22 2/3 innings.

VICARTE DOMINGO, 19th Round, 579th Overall, San Diego Padres

A right-handed pitcher from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Domingo was a reliever with the 2023 Dawgs, a squad that won the second of back-to-back WCBL titles for Okotoks. He went 1-1 with a 4.10 in 12 games out of the bullpen while piling up 30 strikeouts in 15-plus innings. Domingo also suited up for the Okotoks Dawgs Black team in 2021 and went 4-0 with one save and a 0.80 ERA. He also had 28 Ks in 22 1/3 innings that year.

ERIC HARTMAN, 20th Round, 611th Overall, Atlanta Braves

Hartman played 13 games with the Okotoks Dawgs in both 2023 and 2024. The outfielder's most impressive stretch in the WCBL came during last summer's championship final series against the Medicine Hat Mavericks. In three games against the Mavs, the St. Albert native collected three hits, three runs, five RBI and a homer.

INKING A DEAL

After watching 13 WCBL players selected in the draft, players and their agents continue to look for professional contracts that MLB teams may be offering.

Righty pitcher Jay Schueler, who is on the roster of the 2024 Okotoks Dawgs but hadn't taken the mound due to injury, inked a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays shortly after the draft concluded. Despite not playing for the Dawgs, the Illinois product has suited up for the squad and has been cheering on his teammates from the bullpen.