August 21, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Unpacking in his new digs on the Florida coast, infielder Owen Gregg was taking in the moment.

The 17-year-old has had a whirlwind few weeks, travelling across the country and down to Central America before winding up in Dunedin – but this time it was different.

Gregg wasn’t here for pleasure or to play in front of scouts, a task he had done numerous times over the past year. He was here on business, as the Oakville, Ont., product was now a Toronto Blue Jays baseball player, a move that became official back in mid-July after signing a minor league contract following the MLB draft.

“It all happened so quickly,” said Gregg, speaking to the Canadian Baseball Network. “Heading into the spring, I wasn’t on the map for a lot of Major League teams. With the Junior National Team earlier this year, I had some really good trips down to Florida and the Dominican and that helped out a lot. I was hitting well against some tough competition and that started to get some teams interested and poking around. Scouts started to show up to my games in the CPBL (Canada Premier Baseball League) and things took off from there.”

And took off they did, as two organizations started to take serious notice of the Canuck. One was the Atlanta Braves, spearheaded by a familiar face in general manager Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) while the other was the Blue Jays, who ended up getting Gregg’s signature when the dust settled.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be suiting up for the Jays, something that I have been dreaming of forever,” said Gregg. “On Day 2 of the draft, the Jays had me down at the Rogers Centre for a workout and once the draft was over, the negotiations were quick. They presented me with a number that I thought was the right value and at the end of the day, I wanted to bet on myself with a world-class organization in Toronto.”

With his days with the Fieldhouse Pirates now behind him, the Jays have their newest prospect working early in the instruction camps. Before he joined the team, he had some other business to take care of.

“Part of the deal I had with signing with the Blue Jays was that I would still be allowed to represent Canada at the U-18 Pan Am Championships down in Panama,” said Gregg. “They were fully on board with me suiting up for the team and thought this tournament would be not only a great experience on a personal level but would also help refine my game.”

The Junior National Team was looking to be one of three teams that would qualify for a spot for the 2025 U18 World Cup. Canada would finish with a 5-2 record, losing in the quarterfinals to Puerto Rico. Gregg started all seven contests and played shortstop for the Canucks, collecting three hits, one double, two RBIs, six runs, and four walks.

“It was such an unbelievable and unreal experience,” said Gregg. “Being able to represent my country and competing alongside my friends and brothers, these are memories I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

Once Canada was eliminated from the tournament, Gregg wasn’t returning to Canada like most of his teammates. His course was set for Dunedin, where he was set to join a new set of brothers in a new chapter of his baseball career.

“The Jays had my schedule full right from the days after I landed from Panama,” said Gregg. “I was immediately working in the facility, in the gym, on the field, in the cages, but I was also putting work in the classroom in terms of my mentality, working with the athletic trainers, nutritionists, everything a professional baseball player needs to succeed.”

As for game action, Gregg isn’t with an affiliated squad at the moment but is with the instructional group as he gets his feet under him. The Ontario product is slated to be under the guise of the Dunedin staff late into the fall as he continues to get more at-bats under his belt away from the affiliate circuit.

While he won’t be suiting up in Rookie Ball just yet, Gregg and some of his new teammates are getting a chance to face other instructional squads in live-game situations.

“It was a bit intimidating at first and my nerves were at an all-time high,” said Gregg. “It was good fun to get my feet under me. My first at-bat was a ground out that I got a pretty good piece of but just couldn’t get past the infield. In my next at-bat, I tagged a ball that hit the warning track but fell just shy of the wall for a home run.”

When asked if the warning track ball landed for a hit or was caught for an out, Gregg gave credit to the opposing outfielder, “it was a spectacular catch, at least in my opinion,” Gregg said with a laugh. “That ball had some good run to it and he was able to get there.”

This year, the Blue Jays didn’t select any Canadians in the draft and Gregg was the only Canuck signed by the club after the draft. While fans likely won’t be able to catch Gregg in Rookie Ball or single-A Dunedin until next season, the 17-year-old is cherishing every moment early into his professional career.

“I believe this was the right move for my future and I am excited to be a Blue Jay. To watch this team at the Rogers Centre to now playing in their farm system, it truly is everything I have ever wanted.”