September 20, 2024

By Trevor Fitzpatrick

Canadian Baseball Network

It’s not uncommon for Fieldhouse Pirates catcher Evan York (Waterloo, Ont.) to receive a compliment.

His game-calling skills and switch-hitting prowess have earned him a top 10 spot on the 2025 Canadian Baseball Network Draft List.

One story that wasn’t about his play came to mind first, as Minnesota Twins’ veteran Canadian area scout Walt Burrows watched York, working on his throws down to second base.

“I believe he (Burrows) told me that I needed to let the ball travel a little bit deeper,” recalled York.

He made the necessary adjustment and Burrows told York “that he was the most polite player he’d met since Luke Willson (LaSalle, Ont.) back in 2007-2008.

Willson, a Junior National Team alum, is well-known for his Super Bowl win as a tight-end with the Seattle Seahawks and as a TSN sports analyst following that.

York’s politeness certainly continues to shine through at the Canadian Futures Showcase this week. Every time you look, he’ll be smiling and talking to someone new, always open to chat.

During our conversation, the field cleanup crew behind us must have dropped something big as it made a loud clanging sound. We both jumped up in shock, before he was the one who helped pick the topic back up after a collective laughing session.

It was a small thing, but it helped drive home the point of York’s focus on and off the field. Staying locked in on the task at hand is an invaluable trait for a catcher.

“I love pitch sequencing and playing the ‘chess match’ against hitters,” explained York, “I’m always thinking about how I can get the most out of my pitcher and what he has working.”

He continued, “I take that mindset into my at-bats as well. If I’ve caught a similar pitcher before to the one I’m facing, I have a pretty good idea of what pitch might be coming. I try to take everything I learn defensively to the plate.”

Switch-hitting catchers are a rare sight at the highest levels of ball. The most recent example of one is the Baltimore Orioles young star Adley Rutschman.

It can be a tough task to flip over to the other box in the middle of the game and hitting splits for switch hitters are often skewed better to one side.

York isn’t concerning himself with that though.

“I just try to hit the ball up the middle,” he said, “I take a lot of pride in working through the middle no matter which side I’m on.”

The bright and polite signal caller’s baseball journey started at a young age. Around three or four years old was when he started playing tee-ball.

His passion for the sport grew the more he played and watched it.

“I have a lot of positive memories from baseball,” said York, “Almost all of them revolve around my family and teammates. My dad (BJ) has done a lot of work with me over the years. He’s a really special person in my life.”

He does admit that the game he loves is not without its challenges though.

“No one is going to be perfect. I’ll have slumps just like everyone else where I’ll go 0-for-20 and I’ve had to completely rework my swing a few times. I feel like I’ve always come out better after those challenges though.”

Team New Blue struggled throughout the tournament going 0-3-1.

Still uncommitted, the young backstop may very well receive his first offers following the Futures Showcase – he has an excellent frame (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) and baseball knowledge already built into his game.

Team New Blue has finished all of their games, but there is still the possibility of York being named to the All-Star Game roster. If he is, the game will be played on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.