McFarland: Dream come true for Dawgs’ Thierman to play for Junior National Team
Okotoks Dawgs Academy’s Taye Thierman (Calgary, Alta.) is playing for the Junior National Team in their Dominican Fall Instructional League camp. Photo: Alberta Dugout Stories
*This article was originally published on Alberta Dugout Stories on October 25. You can read it here.
October 28, 2024
By Joe McFarland
Alberta Dugout Stories
Getting a call from Greg Hamilton at Baseball Canada is a pretty good reason to be late for class.
Already running behind, Taye Thierman was walking the halls at Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks about to walk into class when his phone started ringing.
Even with Alberta’s new cell phone policies in place, the Dawgs Academy product couldn’t help but look at the phone as he knew that Hamilton was making phone calls for the upcoming Junior National Team’s trip to the Dominican Fall Instructional League camp.
Sure enough, it was the call he was hoping to get.
“I was in shock, it took me 10 minutes before I got to class to take it all in,” Thierman told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “I’ve never felt that rush of excitement before.”
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Listen to Alberta Dugout Stories interview Taye Thierman here.
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After calling his parents to relay the good news, the young catcher had to explain the situation to his teachers and school administration, who gave him a pass on the cell phone policy infraction.
Thierman is one of two Alberta-born players – the other being Spruce Grove’s Easton Kitura of Vauxhall Academy – and several Dawgs teammates from other parts of the country to be named to the Junior National Team roster.
He says it will be a dream come true for him to wear the red-and-white of his country and hopefully the start of big things to come.
CLUTCH PERFORMER
Born and raised in Calgary, Thierman says baseball has always had his heart.
While he was also a hockey player, he decided to focus on the diamond when he was 13 or 14 years old.
The 6-foot-3, 187-pound backstop became a key piece of the Dawgs Academy team that represented Alberta at the Ray Carter Cup in 2022 and 2023, capturing seventh and fourth place, respectively.
In his second year at the tournament, he hit a home run against New Brunswick that serves as the highlight of his young career.
“The first pitch I saw, I hit it over the fence, pimped the bat, it’s on Twitter and everything,” Thierman laughed. “I threw the bat like Jose Bautista – I went ballistic and don’t remember the moment, but that was the most fun and most surreal thing I’ve ever been a part of.”
He also helped the Dawgs win this year’s edition of the Best of the West tournament in Kamloops, B.C., while also starring at several showcases including the Prep Baseball Junior Futures Games.
GRADE-A OPPORTUNITY
Another big bucket-list item for Thierman was the Canadian Futures Showcase.
After seeing several of his Dawgs teammates do it over the last couple of years, he hoped he would get the opportunity to play at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
The 16-year-old received the call this year, admitting he didn’t have the best showcase day to open things up as he felt like the eyes of Hamilton and the Baseball Canada brass were all on him.
“Once the first day was by me, I really locked in and realized that I just have to work day-by-day,” Thierman said. “My nerves got over with after the first day and I played great every game.”
Suiting up for Team Navy, he picked up a single, walk and two runs batted in during his three games.
“It was a great opportunity and I’m glad that I used it for my abilities.”
Just as important as his on-field performance was, Thierman says he tried to learn as much as he could from the other players and coaches at the showcase, realizing that he has to get better every day if he wants to take his game to the next level.
IN THE MOMENT
Viewed as one of the top prospects coming out of Alberta in the next few years, Thierman has tried to block out the extra noise surrounding his name.
Whether it’s articles, rankings or simply appearing in big national and international events, he says it’s important not to over-analyze everything being said.
Even heading into the Junior National Team experience, Thierman says he’s not focused on the numbers or attention.
He first wants to focus on being “in the moment” by enjoying the opportunity to step inside the locker room for the first time to see his new Canadian jersey and ball cap.
“That will be a picture-perfect moment for me, especially because this has been one of my goals for the last couple of years now,” Thierman continued. “It’s going to be awesome.”
On the field, he simply wants to have productive at-bats and to catch clean games when he’s behind the plate.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Another goal of Thierman’s is to eventually play college baseball.
Originally slated to be eligible for college in 2026, he has re-classed to 2027, meaning he doesn’t have to commit until next year.
Thierman says he’s not in a rush as he wants to make the right decision for both athletics and academics. He is still weighing his classroom options as well.
Just like taking each situation pitch-by-pitch as a catcher, he’s determined to be methodical about his future in the sport.
“Baseball is fun and sometimes I can get very serious,” Thierman says. “You have to calm down, take a deep breath and think of it as a kid’s game.”
He says he wants to show young kids about playing and approaching the game in the right way – through fun and love.
And one phone call at a time.