Procyshen, Procopio among Canadian players awaiting baseball’s return
Okotoks Dawgs alum Jordan Procyshen (Calgary, Alta.), who signed with the Chicago Cubs in February, is staying in Oklahoma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Megan Ross. Tulsa World
April 16, 2020
By Lukas Weese
Canadian Baseball Network
Canadian minor league catcher Jordan Procyshen patiently waited for a team to make an offer over the offseason.
After spending the 2019 season in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system, the Calgary native and Okotoks Dawgs alum was a free agent.
On February 10, 2020, the Chicago Cubs gave the 27-year-old another opportunity, assigning him to their double-A affiliate Tennessee Smokies.
Fast forward to April and Procyshen is doing a different kind of waiting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a delay in starting up both major and minor leagues.
“It’s just a lot of shock,” said Procyshen over the phone. “At the end of the day, we have to do what’s right for everyone. We are making sure that we are doing our part, by taking a break from all sports.”
Procyshen is residing in Oklahoma during the hiatus. While his girlfriend and dog keep him good company in quarantine, the Calgarian is the first to admit he wishes he was out on the diamond playing baseball.
When the news broke of the minor leagues delaying the start to its season, Procyshen was with his teammates in Arizona for spring training. The minor leaguers had four days of actual practice with the full Cubs squad before the postponement occurred.
According to Procyshen, the Cubs sent out an email to the players, informing them what Major League Baseball and the Players Association were going to do. The front office ensured that all the members in the organization had flights to their respective homes.
“I couldn’t imagine the scrambling for the front office,” Procyshen said. “They made sure that it went smooth for everyone needing to go. I drove from Arizona so I was lucky that I didn’t need to book any flights.”
While Procyshen only had to travel to nearby Oklahoma, others had longer journeys. Los Angeles Angels minor league relief pitcher Daniel Procopio was also in Arizona for spring training before the hiatus. The last game Procopio played with the Angels double-A affiliate, Mobile Baybears, was on September 2. The Toronto native pitched one inning, giving up three hits.
Windsor Selects and Toronto Mets alum RHP Daniel Procopio is staying in shape in Toronto during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Twitter
Procopio, a Windsor Selects and Toronto Mets alum, was shocked when he heard the news that minor league baseball was postponed.
“It didn’t feel real because you would never think something like this would happen,” Procopio said. “When they asked us how we were getting home that’s when the realization hit."
Luckily for Procopio, he was able to get back home to Toronto before the Canada and United States border closure. Despite Canada being under tight public health guidelines, Procopio is finding ways to stay in baseball shape.
He has reconnected with his childhood coach, Raf Choudhury, who owns a training facility in North York, Ontario called Baseline Sports.
“Throughout the years of college and pro ball his facility has always been open to my brothers and I,” Procopio said. “We’ve been taking advantage of his generosity while the season has been postponed.”
Procyshen is also staying motivated, trying to stick to a daily training routine. Whether it’s getting workouts in or practicing his swing, the Cubs minor leaguer is working on all facets of his game, so when he gets the call to come back and play competitive baseball, he will be ready.
How long until that time comes is uncertain. For minor league players, compensation is a concern.
According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, the average salary for a class-A player is $4,800, for double-A $9,350 and triple-A $14,000.
The lack of baseball presents a financial challenge for players trying to make ends meet.
On March 31, 2020, Major League Baseball announced that it will continue to provide financial assistance for minor league players up until May 31. Included in this initiative is medical benefits for players.
According to Procopio, more action is required to support minor league players.
“If the season were to cancel, I think the MLB and MiLB would need to take care of the minor leaguers with pay. This still is a job and not being able to play isn’t the players' fault nor the leagues but it would greatly help if they were to take care of us in these hard times.”
In these challenging times, there is only one thing to do — wait.
Procyshen, like many minor league players, has waited his whole career. Jumping around between major league teams continues to fuel the young catcher’s motivation.
Waiting out COVID-19 is just another hurdle to achieve his major league dream.
"It makes me understand the passion I have for this game," Procyshen said. "If you are not passionate about it, maybe you don’t work out. You don’t stay ready. But it’s that hunger for playing it at the top level. It drives me every day to continue to work and be better."