Sopko aims to impress in first spring with Jays

Right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Sopko is attending his first minor league Spring Training with the Toronto Blue Jays since being acquired in a trade for catcher Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.).. Photo: Brandon Cameron

By Brandon Cameron

DUNEDIN, Fla. — For pitcher Andrew Sopko, this spring is a second chance to make a first impression.

Sopko was acquired by Toronto in January from the Los Angeles Dodgers along with fellow minor league infielder Ronny Brito for veteran catcher Russell Martin (Montreal, Que).

“Obviously Russell Martin was beloved in Toronto. I know that,” Sopko said, at the Jays’ spring training complex. “And you know there is a little pressure. I think that’s a good kind of pressure. People want to see you perform, and obviously you want to see yourself perform.

“It’s a big deal and I look forward to it.”

He was drafted by the Dodgers in the seventh round in 2015. Last season, Sopko started in double-A with the Tulsa Drillers, then was sent down to class-A Rancho Cucamonga in midseason. Over 22 starts, the righty was 6-5 with a 3.52 ERA.

The Gonzaga University product sees the trade to Toronto as a chance at a fresh start with a new team.

“It’s just a new opportunity for me,” Sopko said. ”It’s a different organization, they have different values. Just learning those, figuring out my place in the organization, and just being the best pitcher I can be.”

He never had a chance to play high school baseball.

“In Montana we don’t have high school baseball” he said. “All we have is the (American) Legion ball and that runs from about April through the summer.

“For me, I just got the experience of being on a team for five months at a time, so I think that was good for me. It’s good baseball. People don’t really think Montana might have good baseball. It was good baseball. It was a good experience for me.”

Sopko declined to sign with the San Diego Padres, who drafted him in the 14th round in 2012, in order to develop his talent and further his education at Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash.

“I was kind of set on going to college,” he said. “I know I wanted that experience and obviously your parents, they want you to go to school. Obviously, it was tempting to take that opportunity (to join the Padres organization) but I knew I wanted to go to college and get my education.”

He graduated in 2015.

“I think my biggest asset is that I love to win,” Sopko said. “I’m a competitor and I’ll do whatever it takes to do that.”