March 16, 2020

By Robert Nicholas McVicar

Canadian Baseball Network

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – Swift Current has only produced one major league ball player -- Brody Alexandre is looking to change that.

Standing at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Alexandre has made his mark at the youth levels of baseball in Saskatchewan. He managed to get an invite to the Tournament 12 (hosted by Roberto Alomar and the Toronto Blue Jays) last season.

Alexandre also got the chance to compete in the first ever home run derby at the T12.

“It’s such an honour to be a part of the first ever home run derby,” Alexandre said behind the dugout after practice on Friday. “Just against all the most powerful guys across Canada is an unreal experience.”

His power comes from size. Looking more like a linebacker than a ball player, Alexandre has used his strength to his advantage. During T12, Alexandre batted .273 with two doubles and seven RBI.

Back in Swift Current, the infielder’s talent caught the eye of the Swift Current 57’s coach, earning a call up for multiple games at the Elite level.

Canadian Junior National Team head coach Greg Hamilton also sees the potential in the high school senior.

“For him, it’s the patience, and (taking the) time for that power to express,” Hamilton said about what the young power hitter has been working on. “Try to be in the process, be a good consistent hitter so that you know the contact is there, and eventually the power will come.

While Alexandre is finding his game at the next level, he is also trying to do something only one other Swift Current native (Reggie Cleveland) has been able to do, make the major leagues.

Cleveland, who played from 1969 to 1981, went 105-106 across 428 appearances a pitcher in the major leagues. Terry Puhl, a Melville, Saskatchewan native, also had a great MLB career batting .280 with 435 RBI and 217 stolen bases in 15 years, 14 with the Houston Astros. Cleveland, Puhl and six other Saskatchewanians have paved the path for players in the prairie province.

Alexandre believes any youngster from the province can do what he is doing.

“Just because they’re from Saskatchewan doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “Just keep working as hard as you can. Every day trying to be better than you were the day before.

“Just work as hard as you can to get to that next level.”