Betts: With wise words from dad, O'Halloran ready for third pro season

Terriers and Junior National Team alum Connor O’Halloran (Mississauga, Ont.) is preparing for his third professional season in the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization.

March 17, 2025

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

There are levels to this game.

And left-handed pitcher Connor O’Halloran (Mississauga, Ont.) has seen success at each one of them.

Whether it be with the Ontario Terriers, University of Michigan or now in the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization.

But anyone who’s played the game knows true success doesn’t come without its challenges and a few doses of failure along the way.

Following a standout high school career with the Terriers and Junior National Team, O’Halloran was off to Michigan for three seasons where he totalled a 13-10 record and 4.98 ERA over 202 1/3 innings for the Wolverines.

He garnered Big Ten Pitcher of the Year honours in 2023 and was selected by his hometown Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round, 157th overall, that July.

O’Halloran made six appearances in 2023 for the class-A Dunedin Blue Jays before his first full season last year was split between Dunedin and Vancouver.

Through parts of two pro seasons so far, he owns a 9-10 record and a 5.70 ERA.

The transition from Michigan to professional baseball represented the biggest jump yet.

“The college season you’re throwing the same amount of innings but it’s a lot more condensed,” O’Halloran said.

“Over the minor league season, it’s a couple more months, a little more time between starts. So, I think just being able to manage your workload daily, all your throwing and lifting. You have to make sure you take care of yourself because it’s a long season.”

O’Halloran went back to his roots in the offseason, training at The Baseball Zone in Mississauga, Ont. He even found himself working out with current Michigan outfielder and left-handed pitcher Keegan O’Hearn (Oshawa, Ont.).

While the ladder from college to the professional game is steep, he credits Michigan for getting him prepared to embark on the climb.

It’s a program that’s produced hall of famer Barry Larkin and left-handed pitchers Jim Abbott and Rich Hill, to name a few.

“I think the history of having so many guys that have moved on to the next level,” O’Halloran said of how the program shaped his career.

“Especially recently with that (College) World Series team in 2019. Getting to know some of those guys and sharing their experiences of what pro ball is like. Yeah, it’s a lot of fun but it’s a grind and still a job at the end of the day.”

Oh, and then there’s the former big leaguer he can talk to any time — his dad.

Greg O’Halloran achieved his dream when he played 12 games for the Florida Marlins in 1994.

“He’s always there sending texts,” O’Halloran said with a laugh.

“He’s pretty hands off but he’ll send the wise words of wisdom. I think the one thing he’s said that’s really stood out is just take it one day at a time. Work in day in, day out.”

Where that work will lead remains to be seen but the younger O’Halloran is taking the words to heart.

“I think hopefully just staying consistent, that’s the first thing,” he said of his 2025 goals.

“Just being where my feet are right now.”