November 9, 2021

J.P. Antonacci

Canadian Baseball Network

Brock Dykxhoorn’s MVP-calibre season in the Chinese Professional League has earned the right-hander the Canadian Baseball Network’s Claude Pelletier Award as the top Canadian pitcher in foreign lands or in independent ball.

From his home in Taiwan, Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) called receiving the award “an incredible honour.”

“There are so many great Canadian baseball players playing around the world right now, and to be named the pitcher of the year is incredible,” Dykxhoorn said.

“The Canadian baseball community has grown so much with all of the young talent in recent years as well as the established veteran guys who have gotten us to this point, and to be part of that is always a great honour.”

The award is named after Claude Pelletier (Ste-Lezare, Que.), the longtime area scout. While with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pelletier signed Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne. He later scouted for the New York Mets until last year.

Dykxhoorn beat out a diverse field of pitchers playing in independent leagues on both sides of the border and in several European leagues, collecting eight of nine first-place votes for 43 points. RHP Miguel Cienfuegos (Laval, Que.) who went 9-6, with a 3.78 ERA for Equipe Quebec had 20 points. Three others had five points apiece: RHP Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.), 4-0, 2.63 ERA for the Winnipeg Goldeyes, Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.) 3-1, six saves, with an 0.59 ERA for Equipe Quebec and Travis Seabrooke (Peterborough, Ont.) 6-0, 4.13 with the Goldeyes.

The tall righty led the pack in nearly every statistical category and has his Uni-President Lions poised for a return to the Taiwan Series, where Dykxhoorn made a name for himself last season as series MVP.

“This season has been truly incredible. With COVID restrictions and being across the world it has brought plenty of challenges, but I’m proud of the work that myself and my team have put in,” Dykxhoorn said.

The pandemic prompted an unplanned two-month pause in the season, but Dykxhoorn kept his rhythm. Heading into the final playoff push, he sports a 15-4 record with a sparkling 1.89 ERA and 0.89 WHIP over 166 2/3 innings.

“We have stayed focused through it all and are seeing it pay off now,” he said. “We are close to clinching our spot in the Taiwan Series and hopefully make a run at defending our championship.”

The Goderich Seahawks and Canadian Junior National Team alumnus reflected on the many influences that propelled him to become a sixth-round draft pick by Houston Astros in 2014 from Central Arizona College. He ascended to Triple-A, and now an international star.

“I owe thanks to so many people across Canada and the baseball community over the years,” Dykxhoorn said.

“The Ontario Nationals coaches and teammates who I played with throughout high school, Greg Hamilton and Baseball Canada for truly opening the doors to my career after high school and into pro ball, as well as Adam Stern and all of the other guys involved with Centerfield Sports in London, where I have trained every off season.

“Without these people there’s no way my career would be where it is today.”

While Dykxhoorn has thrown himself into making friends in the Uni-Lions clubhouse and through his interactions with Taiwanese ball fans, he said it was a special treat to have his wife, Carly, with him in Taiwan for part of the season.

“I’d like to thank my family and friends and of course my wife Carly for the support every year, but in particular this year with all of the challenges it has brought and being away from home for so long,” he said.

For now, the man Taiwanese fans call “The Big Doctor” has his sights on prescribing another Taiwan Series win for the Uni-Lions. The off-season will bring a return to Ontario and the chance to reflect on a whirlwind year.

“I’m hoping to take a little bit of time off to recover from such a long season and relax with friends and family,” said Dykxhoorn, who is on a one-year contract and will weigh his options for next season.

“I’m assuming it will be a pretty quick turnaround, so likely get back into Centerfield Sports shortly and begin training for another season in 2022.”

Honour Roll

Pitcher Of The Year — Claude Pelletier Award

(Renamed the Pelletier award after 2021 season)

2008 — Michel Simard (Charlesbourg, Que.) Quebec Capitales.

2009 — Aaron Wideman (Mississauga, Ont.) New Jersey Jackals.

2010 – Aaron Cotter (Kitimat, BC) Sioux Falls Pheasants.

2011 – John Mariotti (Toronto, Ont.) Quebec Capitales

2012 – Jeff Duda (Surrey, BC) Quebec Capitales.

2013 – Karl Gelinas (Iberville, Que.) Quebec Capitales.

2014 – Karl Gelinas (Iberville, Que.) Quebec Capitales.

2015 – Karl Gelinas (Iberville, Que.) Quebec Capitales.

2016 – Karl Gelinas (Iberville, Que.) Quebec Capitales.

2017 - Scott Mathieson (Aldergrove, BC) Yomiuri Giants.

2018 _ Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.). Orix Buffaloes

2019 _ Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) Ottawa Champions.

2020 _ Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.). Orix Buffaloes

2021 _ Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) Uni-President Lions

(Bold indicates pitched in majors)

Indy/foreign lands winners

By provinces: Quebec 9, BC 6, Ontario 3, Alberta 2, Saskatchewan 2.

On deck ... More awards to come: Affiliated Players _ Offensive Player Of The Year wins the Randall Echlin award ... Pitcher of the Year receives the Wayne Norton award _ Indy ball or foreign lands Offensive Player of the Year wins the Murray Zuk award.