February 8, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions ace Brock Dykxhoorn has won the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2023 Claude Pelletier Award, as the top Canuck pitcher in the independent or foreign pro ranks.

It’s the second time in three years that Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) has received the award, which is named after legendary Canadian scout Claude Pelletier.

Dykxhoorn, who has spent the past four seasons with the Lions in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, was thrilled to learn he had won the award again.

Dykxhoorn had five first-place votes to finish with 34 points. In second spot was RHP Jared Mortensen (Abbotsford), who went 11-1 with a 1.75 ERA for Heidenham Heidekopfe German Bundesliga with two first-place votes and 16 points. RHP Jake Polancic (Langley, BC) who had 17 saves for the Evansville Otters had one first place vote and 14 votes. LHP Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.), of the Quebec Capitales, was next with one vote and seven points.

“I take great pride in representing Canada while I play overseas and to be recognized as the top Canadian player overseas or in independent ball as the recipient of the Claude Pelletier Award is a great honour,” said Dykxhoorn. “I hope many other Canadians get the chance to play overseas as well and represent Canada.”

The 29-year-old was dominant for the Lions in 2023, leading the team in games started (25) and innings pitched (149 2/3), with his innings total also leading all Canadian pitchers in independent or foreign baseball. Dykxhoorn amassed a 1.156 WHIP and a 6.3 K/9 on the mound while racking up 104 strikeouts, ranking third amongst Canadian-born pitchers eligible for the award. Fifteen of his starts last season went six or more innings while he held opponents scoreless in 10 of his outings, helping bring his ERA down to 2.83, the second-best in the CPBL amongst starting pitchers.

In the playoffs, Dykxhoorn got the nod for game one versus the Rakuten Monkeys and went 6 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits. His team could only muster two runs in the contest, so the right-hander unfortunately was saddled with the loss. The Monkeys swept the series over the Lions and advanced to the Taiwan Series, where the Wei Chuan Dragons eventually won in a thrilling seven-game series.

“Overall, I was happy with the success I had on the mound in 2023,” said Dykxhoorn. “There were some ups and downs throughout the season but I was able to battle and put together a solid year. I was happy to help our team clinch the first-half title and proceed to the championships. Unfortunately, we fell short of our goal of winning the Taiwan Series. I hope in 2024 to be more consistent throughout the season and to have an even stronger year.”

The 2023 season was a great bounce-back campaign for the 6-foot-8 right-hander. In the previous season, injuries limited him to just 12 starts in which he posted a 2.96 ERA in 73 innings. Before joining the Lions during the 2020 season, Dykxhoorn spent one season in the Korean Baseball Organization.

In 2014, he was selected in the sixth round of the MLB draft by the Houston Astros and he spent five season in the Astros’ organization before heading overseas.

Looking ahead, Dykxhoorn has no plans to leave the CPBL and will be returning to the Lions for the 2024 campaign, his fifth season with the organization based out of Tainan City, Taiwan.

“Yes, I will be returning to the Uni Lions for the 2024 season,” said Dykxhoorn. “Every off-season is a chance to reflect and look forward to where my career may lead next, but I feel comfortable with the Lions and respect the loyalty they have had with my family and me. I feel part of the team there and want to win another championship with my teammates in Taiwan.”

Dykxhoorn won a championship with the Lions in 2020, his first year with the club after making the jump from the KBO, and went to the Taiwan Series in 2021 but fell just short of a repeat win.

“My main goal for 2024 is to win the Taiwan Championship again. It was a great achievement to do that in 2020 and I am excited to do it again. If our team wins, usually all of your personal goals will be met too,” said Dykxhoorn.

By returning to the Lions for the upcoming campaign, Dykxhoorn will be eligible for the Claude Pelletier Award once again, potentially becoming just the second player to win the award three or more times (Karl Gelinas (Laval, Que.) holds the title with four wins) since the creation of the honour back in 2008.

Previous winners

Independent/foreign lands Pitcher of the Year
(Renamed the Claude Pelletier Award for 2021 season)

2008 - Michel Simard (Charlesbourg, Que.) Capitales de Québec.

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

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

2011 - John Mariotti (Toronto, Ont.) Capitales de Québec.

2012 - Jeff Duda (Surrey, BC) Capitales de Québec.

2013 - Karl Gelinas (Iberville, Que.) Capitales de Québec.

2014 - Karl Gelinas (Iberville, Que.) Capitales de Québec.

2015 - Karl Gelinas (Iberville, Que.) Capitales de Québec.

2016 - Karl Gelinas (Iberville, Que.) Capitales de Québec.

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 7-Eleven Lions  

2022 - Miguel Cienfuegos (Laval, Que.) Capitales de Québec.  

*Bold indicates spent time in the major leagues.