Premier Sports Academy catcher Kieran Cutler (Paradise, Nfld.) impressed both offensively and defensively at the recent Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre. Photo: Blue Jays Academy

September 30, 2024

By Melissa Verge

Canadian Baseball Network

Crushing dingers out of the park at Rogers Centre isn’t your average after school activity.

Nor is having scouts inquire and colleges texting.

But life flows a bit differently as a high school student when you’re Kieran Cutler, one of the best young baseball players in the country.

Cutler was one of 161 - but the only one from Newfoundland - selected to perform at the Canadian Futures Showcase earlier this month, which displays the best amateur talent in Canada.

Getting the chance to drive a few home runs over the Rogers Centre wall in batting practice was a testament to the time he’s put into training, Cutler said.

“It just feels like hard work paid off . . . [And] it was definitely cool saying you’ve hit a ball out of a major league stadium,” said Cutler.

That strength he displayed at the plate was what Premier Sports Academy owner Ryan Sweeney was hopeful he would see from Cutler. Cutler trains at his facility in Paradise, Nfld.

Although he wasn’t able to capitalize on it as much in games, that experience will help him in his training moving forward, after facing such high caliber talent, Sweeney said.

“You got to really see when you take it to the next level there are no brakes, everyone is a good arm or everyone is a good position player or a good bat etc.,” Sweeney said. “So you really got to see what that’s going to look like, and now we know the adjustments he needs to make to be successful in game at that level.”

The 17-year-old catcher, who hails from Paradise was also noticed for his skills behind the plate in Toronto.

He called a one-hitter for Team Red in their matchup against Team Navy on September 18. They went on to win 8-0.

He wasn’t familiar with any of the pitchers, he said, which can help to have a rapport with them, but his experience behind the plate helped him call the right pitches.

“You see where they’re positioned in the box, that also helps, you see how they react to different pitches, that all helps and that all plays a big role in what I call,” he said.

At the Showcase, Cutler also stood out for his personality.

After it wrapped up, he received a number of messages from scouts and schools inquiring about Cutler, Sweeney said.

They were impressed with how he showed up.

“When you get the combination of the physical tools that he has, and the coachability and the work ethic that he has, someone who’s a very passionate developer at the next level can probably do a lot with someone like him for sure,” he said.

With his defensive and offensive showing and his work ethic, overall the young catcher made quite a statement at the Showcase.

His goal of attending a school in the states to pursue baseball is closer than ever.

“They’re happy with what they saw from him, still very raw but has a tremendous amount of tools that can still be developed,” Sweeney said.