Selects' Derbyshire excited about first T12

Windsor Selects right-hander Russell Derbyshire (Leamington, Ont.) is shown here competing against Cuyahoga Community College. Photo: Claudia Burgess

September 15, 2019

By Christiana Qesko

Canadian Baseball Network

Pitcher Russell Derbyshire is competing for the first time in Tournament 12 this week and expects it to be a chance to grow and learn as a player and person.

The 17-year-old, from Leamington, Ont., is as excited as you’d expect for someone showing himself in front of college and pro scouts, at the home of the Toronto Blue Jays.

“I expect it to be an amazing baseball experience playing at the Rogers Centre and a great chance to showcase myself,” he said, over the phone. “Hopefully someone watching likes what they see and I hope to pick up some tips and pointers from the coaches to learn and grow as a player.”

The right hander plays for Windsor Selects U18 and has verbally committed himself to Wabash Valley College (WVC), a National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1, in Mount Carmel, Illinois. Set to graduate from Leamington Secondary School in 2020, baseball has always been his first option.

“I am so thrilled to go there (WVC) to continue my baseball and academic career,” said the player. “The coaches have been great to me during the recruiting process and the program has an amazing history of winning and producing great players.”

Derbyshire says being 10 hours from home at a new school will be a challenge, but he’s up for it.

“When I was younger I used to be a catcher and first baseman, but I have always loved pitching because you are in control of the game and set the pace,” he said. “I hope to continue play baseball maybe at the college or professional level.”

Donald Morris, head coach of the Windsor Selects, speaks highly of his pitcher.

“Russell is always quite athletic and has worked very hard to be a very good pitcher,” said Morris. “He is dedicated to the sport. Russell has really come on in the last couple of years and he is starting to become a dominant pitcher and I think the ceiling is very high for him and he is nowhere near reaching his potential.

“I think there is a lot more left in his tank and Russell is going to continue to develop over the next couple of years and to where I believe is a high-end arm.”

Clayton Kershaw, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, are two players that the pitcher draws inspiration from.

“Growing up as a kid I would always wear number 99 (as does Judge),” said Derbyshire. “Watching Kershaw pitch growing up, I would always try to copy him and throw that big curve ball and have the hesitation in his wind up.”

Derbyshire will be playing for Team Green in the Tournament 12 with the tip off on Wed., Sept. 18, at 1 p.m.