2023 Alberta Dugout Stories All-WCBL Team
Alberta Dugout Stories has created a 2023 All-WCBL Team that includes a 26-man roster of standout players. Photo: Alberta Dugout Stories
*This article was originally published on Alberta Dugout Stories on December 19. You can read it here.
December 21, 2023
By Joe McFarland and Ian Wilson
Alberta Dugout Stories
Warning: this isn’t your regular, end-of-year All-Star Team.
When the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) season wrapped up in August, we thought of different ways we could mark the occasion and pay tribute to the players who entertained fans all summer.
It originally started with something similar to our annual ADS All-College Team, with a full roster of position players as well as three pitchers.
However, we felt like that didn’t really do it justice, given how many fantastic performances there were in 2023.
So then we talked about expanding the pitching rotation, adding a couple of utility positions, and our debate turned into whether the roster size was getting to be too arbitrary.
A random text of “what about a 26-man roster like they do for Major League Baseball playoffs?” followed, and we dreamed up a scenario where the WCBL sent its best to a playoff format against other summer leagues across North America.
It’s far-fetched to be sure, but the premise behind the whole idea remains the same: let’s recognize the outstanding achievements of those who played in Alberta and Saskatchewan during the 2023 WCBL season.
Our roster consists of 15 position players, including a designated hitter and two utility players, as well as 11 pitchers. We’ve also added a taxi squad at the end for those who would get the call-up, should we need it for future playoff series.
We hope you enjoy reading more about these players and their accomplishments.
Jordan Bach walks through the visitor dugout at Seaman Stadium. Photo: Ian Wilson
Catcher – Jordan Bach – Fort McMurray Giants
The most valuable player for the Giants in 2023, Bach was outstanding offensively and defensively. He hit .346 with two home runs, 26 runs batted in and seven stolen bases, while committing just four errors in 247 innings behind the plate.
Catcher – Hank Dodson – Sylvan Lake Gulls
Dodson first captured the hearts of WCBL fans with his performance in winning the WCBL Home Run Derby with his dad pitching in July. The Gulls’ backstop hit .285 with six homers and 30 RBIs in 42 games, while also committing just four errors in 244-plus innings.
First Base – Austin Gurney – Moose Jaw Miller Express
As the Miller Express steamrolled through the East Division during the regular season, Gurney was a key piece of the puzzle as a returning veteran. He had a .276 batting average with five home runs and 33 RBIs in 52 games. Interestingly, Gurney was also hit by a pitch 18 times to pace the circuit.
Brady Bean awaits a pitch in Game 1 of the WCBL Final in Okotoks. Photo: Ian Wilson
Second Base – Brady Bean – Medicine Hat Mavericks
Bean did a little bit of everything for the Mavericks during the 2023 season. A .313 hitter with six home runs and 35 RBIs in 55 games, the Kennewick, Washington product stole 21 bases and scored 46 runs. The right-handed batter was a big reason the Mavs made it to the WCBL Final. In the postseason, he contributed to the offence with a .355 batting average, two homers and five RBIs in eight playoff games.
Third Base – Torrin Vaselenak – Lethbridge Bulls
The league’s home run king with 12 round trippers in 50 games, Vaselenak hit .288 and drove in 35 runs while sitting fourth in the league with 33 walks. He would also be valuable as a veteran presence on the squad, having spent three summers with the Bulls. Vaselenak was named the team MVP in 2023.
Shortstop – Jonah Weisner – Sylvan Lake Gulls
When you’re the league MVP, of course you’re getting the call to the 26-man roster. Weisner was in the top-five in almost every offensive category, including average (.396), runs (44), hits (85), doubles (13), triples (5), RBIs (49) and stolen bases (23). The British Columbian went pro after the 2023 WCBL season when he inked a deal with the Quebec Capitales of the Frontier League.
Infield – Brendan Luther – Okotoks Dawgs
When you think “clutch performer,” Luther’s name comes up. The back-to-back playoff MVP had a great regular season hitting .338 with 28 runs and 28 RBIs in 38 games before helping guide the Dawgs to their second-straight championship and seventh title in franchise history. Over seven postseason contests, the Ontario native produced a .344 batting average, three homers and 10 RBIs. Add in sound defence in the middle infield and the “Mr. August” nickname made a lot of sense.
Kalem Haney (right) receives the WCBL All-Star MVP award from Matt Stairs (left). Photo: Ian Wilson
Infield – Kalem Haney – Lethbridge Bulls
The WCBL All-Star Game MVP was a rock-solid part of the Bulls’ infield in 2023, hitting .294 with 23 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in 54 games. He led the league’s second basemen in innings played, putouts and assists (119), adding some consistency to the infield depth of this team.
Outfield – Eric Rataczak – Brooks Bombers
Endearing himself to fans all over the league with his attitude and smile, Rataczak was a driving force for the Bombers in 2023. He hit .358 with 11 home runs and 48 RBIs, finishing second in the league with 15 doubles and was a solid defender in left and right field.
Outfield – Ethan Murdoch – Swift Current 57s
Like Rataczak, Murdoch was among those who helped entertain the All-Star Game crowd at the Home Run Derby. While he fell short of victory in the final, Murdoch finished the year with great numbers, including a .333 average with four home runs and 30 RBIs.
Outfield – Brody Gardner – Medicine Hat Mavericks
Among the league leaders in batting average at .352, Gardner was a singles machine for the Mavericks. All but eight of his 83 hits (third in the WCBL) were of the single-bag variety. He also drove in 36 runs before hitting .333 with a homer and three RBIs in eight playoff games.
Logan Grant is introduced to fans at Seaman Stadium during the WCBL Final. Photo: Ian Wilson
Outfield – Logan Grant – Okotoks Dawgs
Cracking the top-ten in batting average at .344, Grant would be a useful player to have on the roster for his versatility as a catcher and outfielder, as shown in the playoffs. He hit three home runs and drove in 26 runs during the season, then came up big in major moments of the WCBL playoffs.
Designated Hitter – Nash Crowell – Okotoks Dawgs
Along with Vaselenak and Rataczak, Crowell was the only other player to crack double-digits in home runs with 10. He finished the year with a .287 batting average and 39 RBIs in just 34 games, also putting on a show for the hometown fans during the Home Run Derby in Okotoks.
Utility – Dawson Tweet – Moose Jaw Miller Express
Tweet played everywhere on the field, including all nine positions in one game for the Miller Express in 2023. The WCBL’s Most Outstanding Canada was on top of the batting average leaderboard all year, finishing at .411 while also finishing tops in runs (61), hits (90), doubles (16) and triples (5). Tweet added three dingers and 36 RBIs and set a new WCBL record for consecutive games hitting safely by running his streak to 36 games to start the season.
Utility – Nick Groves – Sylvan Lake Gulls
If you need a pinch-runner, Groves is your guy. Sitting second in the league with 28 stolen bases, he was also solid at the plate with a .309 average with three triples, a home run and 23 RBIs in 50 games. He’ll be an asset as someone who can play in the middle part of the field.
Josh Tucker warms up at Seaman Stadium before the 2022 WCBL All-Star Game, as the pitching coach for the Okotoks Dawgs, Joe Sergent, looks on. Photo: Ian Wilson
Starting Pitcher – Josh Tucker – Sylvan Lake Gulls
The 2022 WCBL Pitcher of the Year was once again a menace to hitters in 2023, striking out 70 in just 53 innings of work. He led the Gulls in innings pitched (53) while giving up just 18 earned runs and posting a 3.06 earned run average.
Starting Pitcher – Daniel Crabtree – Regina Red Sox
The workhorse of the league with over 68 innings of work, Crabtree logged four complete games while compiling a 3.15 ERA on the season. Through his 12 appearances (10 starts), he allowed just 24 runs and struck out 35 batters.
Starting Pitcher – Dylan Esquival – Medicine Hat Mavericks
Had the Mavericks won the 2023 WCBL championship, Esquival likely would have been a leading choice to capture the Playoff MVP Award. After going 6-2 with a 3.54 ERA in 12 appearances, striking out 67 in 53 innings, he upped his game with a 2-1 record in playoffs, posting a 2.36 ERA in three games.
Starting Pitcher – Ethan Merk – Moose Jaw Miller Express
When Merk took to the bump, it was almost “guaranteed win night” for the Miller Express. The righthander went 8-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 14 appearances, finishing third in the league with 62+ innings and tied for sixth with 53 strikeouts.
Graham Brunner is introduced to reporters by William Gardner (left) at the 2023 Okotoks Dawgs media day at Seaman Stadium. Photo: Ian Wilson
Starting Pitcher – Graham Brunner – Okotoks Dawgs
The long-time Dawg has been about as consistent as they come over the last few seasons. After going 7-0 with a 2.77 ERA in 10 starts in 2022, he went 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA in nine starts this summer. Brunner saved his best for playoffs, going 2-0 with no earned runs and just seven hits in 12-plus innings.
Relief Pitcher – Tyler Boudreau – Sylvan Lake Gulls
If you’re looking only at pitchers who registered more than 45 innings on the mound, Boudreau led the league with a 1.54 ERA. He was nearly impossible to hit in his 15 outings, including five starts, going 5-1 with four saves and just 34 hits allowed in 46-plus innings. Boudreau followed in the footsteps of teammate Josh Tucker by winning WCBL Most Outstanding Pitcher honours for the 2023 season.
Relief Pitcher – Kenny Jinks – Swift Current 57s
Among a select few to post over a strikeout per inning, Jinks was a workhorse for the 57s in 2023. In 18 appearances, including six starts, he went 5-3 with three saves and a 3.31 ERA, while racking up 58 strikeouts in more than 51 innings.
Relief Pitcher – Logan Knight – Fort McMurray Giants
Few pitchers were as effective and nimble as Knight was for the Giants in 2023. He made 12 appearances, including five starts, posting a 3-1 record with just a 1.08 ERA. Knight allowed just 31 hits and nine runs (five earned) in 41-plus innings of work for the Giants.
Zane Pollon signs some autographs for young baseball fans. Photo: Ian Wilson
Relief Pitcher – Zane Pollon – Regina Red Sox
Pollon is a jack-of-all-pitching trades. Most of his 16 appearances were out of the bullpen, while he went seven innings or more in three of his four starts, including a complete-game gem against Fort McMurray on July 18. He finished with a 2-3 record and a 2.45 ERA.
Relief Pitcher – Seth Thompson – Okotoks Dawgs
Recording the final outs in the Dawgs’ championship finale, Thompson was among the league’s elite coming out of the bullpen all year. He struck out 29 in 25 relief appearances to go along with a 1.87 ERA during the season, then allowed no runs and just one hit in three playoff games.
Relief Pitcher – Luke Zimmer – Weyburn Beavers
Fifth in the league in strikeouts with 54, Zimmer spent most of the year as a starter with the Beavers. He would certainly provide some strong depth on the squad, after going 3-4 while leading the team in ERA at 3.20 and innings pitched with more than 64.
Taxi Squad
A few other performances during the year are worthy of mention, and would be solid candidates for getting called up should the opportunity present itself. Okotoks infielder Ricky Sanchez was the league’s 2022 MVP and always finds a way to come up big in key situations. Swift Current outfielder Cory Bonstrom led the league in stolen bases and walks and would be a helpful addition defensively. And if you’re looking for someone who can pitch and hit like Shohei Ohtani, Sylvan Lake Gulls two-way star Tyler McWillie was solid all year while also a force in the playoffs with a .438 batting average and two home runs in just four games. The same could be said for Noah Geekie, a southpaw pitcher who went 4-2 with a 3.85 ERA and 32 Ks in 35 regular-season innings, while hitting .306 with 25 runs in 98 at bats.
This team of players accomplished and provided fans with a lot of memories from the 2023 WCBL season. It would be a lot of fun to watch them all together in some kind of tournament or playoffs situation.
It might not be your standard All-Star Team, but all are worthy of being recognized for their efforts.