UBC grad Sean Heppner (Richmond, B.C.) visited the Cleveland Guardians clubhouse after he was selected by the club in the 12th round of the MLB draft this July. Photo supplied.

September 13, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

The Cleveland Guardians have been one of the most active major league teams in dipping their toes into Canadian waters at the MLB draft.

They have four Canadians on their big league roster and five Canucks have played in their farm system this season, including right-hander Sean Heppner (Richmond, B.C.), whom they selected in the 12th round of the MLB draft in July.

“I wouldn’t describe it [the day he was drafted] as hectic, but it was definitely a rollercoaster of a day,” said Heppner, speaking to the Canadian Baseball Network. “You don’t know how things will shake up until the draft is in full swing and you start getting phone calls and teams gauging interest. Luckily, the Guardians took me in the 12th round, and the journey is just getting started.”

Heppner had a busy couple of days following the draft, as the right-hander was needed down in Goodyear, Ariz., at the Guardians’ Player Development Complex. This was all part of the life of a professional baseball player that the soon-to-be 22-year-old was about to embark on.

“Right after the draft, I traveled back home for a day and then immediately flew down to Arizona to the Guardians’ complex,” said Heppner. “I went down there and, over the next week, went through all the medical and physical portions of the process, signed the contract, and then went through various training exercises with the staff and the other draftees both on and off the field. After that week in Goodyear, I was given my first pro assignment and was off to Lynchburg.”

Heppner’s first professional team was across the country in the Carolina League, joining the Guardians' Single-A affiliate in Virginia with just over a month left in the campaign. Working out of the bullpen, the right-hander collected 15 strikeouts through six outings and 11 2/3 innings while posting a 6.94 ERA.

“I think the biggest difference out of the gate is just the quality at-bats opposing hitters put together regularly,” said Heppner. “These guys have obviously earned their opportunity here and won’t chase those outside pitches you are used to getting back in the college days. Overall though, the coaches continue to stress that we are playing a game and those guys put their jerseys on the same way you do, so have fun with it.”

Heppner’s journey to the Guardians' farm system is another success story for Canadian baseball, as the B.C. product opted to stay north of the border and play for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds under head coach Chris Pritchett instead of taking his talents stateside.

“We really got to see Sean play at the T12 Tournament (now the Canadian Futures Showcase) and he was a talented two-way player both as a pitcher and at shortstop,” said Pritchett. “We knew he could be a good player on the field, but we believed he had a ton of upside on the mound. Ultimately, we told him it was his decision, but that we would want him to really focus on pitching if he joined our program because that is where we saw the most potential. The rest is history.”

The North Delta Blue Jays alum wouldn’t get to suit up for the Thunderbirds until the 2022 season due to COVID-19 restrictions, but across three seasons with UBC, the right-hander posted a 4.19 ERA through 40 appearances (33 starts) and 184 2/3 innings. Heppner amassed a 1.197 WHIP and an 11.5 K/9 pitching in the NAIA and was a go-to arm for Pritchett and the Thunderbirds this past year as they finished with a 34-20 record and advanced to the Lewiston Bracket in the Opening Round of the NAIA World Series.

“When we were doing scrimmages at the time of the shutdown a few years back, Sean had really great arm action and was just out there doing his thing,” said Pritchett. “He is a very intelligent man and possesses a tremendous work ethic that Cleveland is going to see the benefit of very soon.”

Right-hander Sean Heppner (Richmond, B.C.) posted a 4.19 ERA in 40 appearances (33 starts) in three seasons with the UBC Thunderbirds. Photo: UBC Athletics

Speaking about his post-secondary decision, Heppner lauded the UBC program and the campus itself.

“From the offers I did have, UBC stood out academically from the rest of the group that I was fortunate enough to get into, and that was a big pull for me,” said Heppner. “The Thunderbirds play in the NAIA but have Division 1-calibre facilities, and considering the history of the program and the success stories over the years, I wanted the opportunity to gain an education but also get noticed on the baseball field.”

The program he chose at UBC?

Civil Engineering, which UBC is ranked as one of the top programs across the country per EduRank.org.

“I really enjoyed the STEM courses growing up and I was always building things as a kid,” said Heppner with a chuckle. “I figured engineering would be a good fit, and given UBC’s program, it felt like a good match.”

Outside of pitching at UBC, Heppner gained a lot of attention this past summer in the Northwoods League with the Thunder Bay Border Cats.

A collegiate wood bat league with 26 teams spread across the upper Midwest of the United States (the Border Cats are the only team not in the U.S.), the Canuck stood out in the bullpen, allowing just 14 hits and four earned runs through 19 2/3 innings while striking out 29. With the move, Heppner pitch in front of more eyes, which helped catch the attention of the Guardians and also the Baltimore Orioles, who were also gauging interest in the UBC pitcher.

In a day and age where travel clubs and tournaments can take players from coast to coast and across the United States, Heppner accomplished a lot and found success playing for teams in Canada—including stints in Victoria and Kamloops in the West Coast League. Heppner becomes the 32nd player to either be drafted or signed directly from the UBC program, joining an exclusive list that features Jeff Francis (Vancouver, B.C.), Brooks McNiven (Terrace, B.C.), and Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, B.C.).

“It’s funny because we want our program to win and to be the best, and to have talented guys like Sean or Victor Domingo (19th round, San Diego Padres) drafted and taken away seems like the opposite of those goals,” said Pritchett. “However, it is also our responsibility to get them ready for the next level and do our best to get them noticed so they can succeed and provide themselves with a future in the game of baseball while providing a top-notch education. Sean is going to thrive in the Guardians’ system and I could not be happier for him.”

To be selected in the MLB Draft is a momentous occasion—doing it from a Canadian program is another feather in the cap for those who promote the country on the baseball diamond. For Heppner, the biggest factor in setting himself up for success was deciding on the right program that fit his needs and supported him in his journey both on and off the field.

For that, he leaves some parting wisdom for other Canadians currently in the process of selecting where they will be playing post-secondary baseball.

“I think the most important thing in choosing a college program is picking somewhere you think you are going to play with regularity,” said Heppner. “Many players can get caught up in the mentality of ‘you have to play Division 1 baseball to succeed,’ and that’s simply not the case. You need to put yourself in a positive environment to continue getting the chances to play and showing what you can do on the field should be a big part of your recruitment decision and not just based on the name of the program. There are so many things to also consider like education, location, family, etc., but for those wanting to take the next step, you should put a program that sees a future with you being a part of it as something to look for.”

Shushkewich: UBC grad Heppner completes first season in Guardians’ organization