ICYMI - Vancouver native McAffer idolized Halladay
Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect and North Shore Twins alum Will McAffer (North Vancouver, BC) is not only toeing the rubber in the organization he grew up cheering for, but he also spent a season with his hometown Vancouver Canadians. Photo: Jordan Cicchelli
*Today is Will McAffer’s 23rd birthday. So we thought it would be fitting to re-run this feature by Centennial Sports Journalism student Jordan Cicchelli that was published in March.
March 11, 2020
By Jordan Cicchelli
Canadian Baseball Network
DUNEDIN, Fla. - Growing up a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays, the connection Will McAffer felt between the nation’s team and especially the late Roy Halladay helped in his future with the organization.
The tall and athletic right-handed pitcher from Vancouver, B.C., saw the future Hall of Famer as his idol growing up.
“Watching him pitch every fifth day was always awesome,” said McAffer, sitting on a bench at the Englebert Complex. “Some years we’d drive down to Seattle and watch those games, which (were) always sweet because it’s like more than half the stadium was filled with with Blue Jays fans.”
McAffer was originally drafted by Cincinnati out of Sentinel Secondary School, but chose instead to chase a college career. That was split between South Dakota State and Tulane University. He was selected by the Jays in the 25th round of the 2018 draft.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder had a strong short season back home with the Vancouver Canadians that summer, going 7-2, with a 3.68 ERA, all out of the bullpen.
Joining the class-A Lansing Lugnuts last season, McAffer put up a 4-3 record and posted a 4.34 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 56 innings, amounting to an 11.3 K/9. With the opportunity being open for more young prospects during the Blue Jays rebuild, the Vancouverite is optimistic of his potential to fit into their equation.
He’s come a long way for a young man who entered Dunedin minicamp in 2018, unsure where he would end up.
“I was between the Gulf Coast League, Bluefield, and Vancouver. I was just hoping to go to Vancouver not only because it’s the highest level of those three, but also because I live there,” said McAffer, on how special it was to perform in front of his family and friends amongst sold-out crowds.
In his journey to professional baseball, the Vancouver-born player has made appearances for Canada’s national team on their road to the 2021 World Baseball Classic.
Following Spring Training, McAffer will continue to represent the country at the end of March in Arizona at the Americas Olympic Qualifier, and build off his 2019 performance.
“Anytime I get to represent Canada it’s awesome because I feel like it's not really known as a baseball country, generally, so it's nice to be able to put that image out there of us being pretty good,” he said.