*This article was originally published on Saskatchewan Dugout Stories on September 17. You can read it here.

September 17, 2024

By Joe McFarland

Saskatchewan Dugout Stories

The opportunities keep coming for Trentin Kooy and he’s more than happy to take them, no matter how far he has to go.

The Saskatoon native has quickly risen up the ranks of some of the best Canadian prospects set to graduate high school in 2026 thanks to some big performances on even bigger stages.

After appearances at the Prep Baseball Report Junior Future Games in 2023 and the 2024 Baseball Canada Cup with Team Saskatchewan, Kooy is looking forward to adding to that resume when he suits up for Team Black at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre in Toronto from September 17 to September 21.

“One of my big goals last year was to make it there,” the 16-year-old told Saskatchewan Dugout Stories. “We didn’t cross it off but made it happen this year and it’s probably the most excited I’ve been for a tournament.

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Listen to Saskatchewan Dugout Stories interview Trentin Kooy here.

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Kooy will be one of four Saskatchewan products – along with Aidan Marien, Matthew Tran and Merek Yeager – who will be heading to the annual showcase.

While he has already played a lot of baseball this year, his season is far from over and that suits the right-handed hitter just fine.

BURSTING ONTO THE SCENE

It’s only been in the last couple of years that Kooy has really started to turn heads.

The Marion Graham Collegiate High School product started off his 2023 with an invite to the Junior Future Games in Florida, where scouts were impressed with his aggressiveness at the plate, around the bases and in the field.

Kooy took that confidence back home with him, where he was named the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League (SPBL) 15U AAA Hitter of the Year as he led the Saskatoon Expos with a .572 batting average to go along with eight doubles, 13 home runs and 44 runs batted in.

He was also named to the Baseball Saskatchewan team that went to the Baseball Canada 15U Ray Carter Cup in Laval, Quebec that August.

Despite all the accolades, Kooy wasn’t able to crack the roster for the Canadian Futures Showcase, which served as motivation to work harder during the offseason.

“It’s been a lot of work on my swing, mentally and physically,” he said. “Being able to play with confidence in my swing has really changed my game a lot.”

GOING ALL IN

Bound and determined to have a big year in 2024, Kooy dedicated himself to the gym and the batting cages at Going Yard Academy.

He also found himself as many opportunities to get onto the field as he could, including with the Langley Blaze during their annual winter trip to Phoenix in January, a Going Yard trek to the U.S., and the Best of the West tournament in Kamloops for the Prep Baseball 18U National Team.

Kooy then came back home to suit up with the Saskatoon Cubs 18U AAA team, where he was named to the SPBL All-Star Game.

“It’s been amazing getting to play with a bunch of different guys on a bunch of different teams,” Kooy said. “A lot of opportunities this summer and it’s been a lot of fun playing with different people from across Canada and networking – just an amazing time.”

However, when the Blue Jays Academy named its first 75 players to be selected to the Canadian Futures Showcase in late-July, his name still wasn’t on the list.

BUILDING SOME BUZZ

Kooy had one more chance to really capture the attention of scouts before the final list of invites for the showcase was unveiled.

He was once again representing his home province on the national stage: this time at the Canada Cup in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Kooy had a standout performance, particularly in the final round-robin game against Ontario where his triple scored the winning run to get Saskatchewan into the semi-final.

While the team finished fourth in the tournament, the modest but smiling outfielder called it a highlight of his year, even though it came with some added pressure in the form of more attention and buzz.

“It’s really hard to drown out sometimes,” Kooy admitted. “The biggest thing about baseball is that it’s just a game.”

“You go out there and play to the best of your ability and whatever happens, happens. If you give it 100 per cent of your effort, that’s all you can do.”

On Aug. 19, the full list of players invited to the Canadian Futures Showcase was unveiled and Kooy was relieved to see his name finally called.

“Can’t wait…thank you!” he posted on X.

CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP

With another bucket list item set to be crossed off, Kooy’s big goal heading into Toronto will be to simply soak it all in.

And, obviously, he wants to show what he’s capable of.

“I have my numbers in mind there and I have my goals,” Kooy said after a game at the Sylvan Lake Gulls Rising Stars Showcase in September. “I think the main thing is to have fun. Being out there in Rogers Centre, be in the moment, have fun and go play the game.”

He’s also tapped the experience of one of his fellow Saskatchewan invites – Yeager – who was there last year to help set him up for what to expect.

“He said it was just an amazing experience,” Kooy said. “That’s what I’m taking into it – just compete to the best level I can, but I’m also going to go there and enjoy everything that I can and just soak it in.”

In case that’s not enough baseball, the still-uncommitted prospect is also heading to the Prep Baseball West Coast Games in Southern California in early October to represent Canada.

That’s what happens when you love being on the field like Kooy does.

“I love being out here,” he said. “You couldn’t ask for anything else. I’m glad to be out here every day and glad to put in the work – it’s something I’ll always love and can’t wait to keep playing.”

At the rate he’s going, we are going to keep hearing about Kooy’s game in the years to come.