August 4, 2024

By Trevor Fitzpatrick

Canadian Baseball Network

At seven years old, a young Julian Sabourin was walking to a playground with his dad.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted someone playing baseball.

He observed for a bit, before turning back to his dad and said, “I have to play this.”

The rest has been history.

Sabourin (Ancaster, Ont.) has been making a lot of noise playing for the Fieldhouse Pirates this season.

He’s earned himself a 9.5 score from Perfect Game, where a nine represents a potential top 10 round pick and/or a highest level college prospect.

Watching Sabourin pitch, it’s evident he has all of the physical tools to succeed. With a 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame, he pumps in his fastball consistently around 90 mph to dominate at-bats.

“I always go right at hitters, you can’t be scared of them, I let my stuff work,” he said, “I think I’m the most competitive out of anyone here.”

But it’s more than physicals that separate the young righty from the rest. He’s quite mature for his age.

When asked about the biggest lessons he’s learned throughout his still blossoming career, he said, “I’ve learned to stay patient and let the game come to me. It won’t work if I try to force things.”

Sabourin has brought that competitive, but patient drive to the mound for both the Pirates and his high school team (Bishop Tonnos), finding success with both.

While he’s made appearances at prospect showcases, a Perfect Game National Showcase, and PBR’s Future Games, one of his fondest memories came on a trip to Nashville.

“It was a playoff game, I went eight innings and was under 70 pitches,” recalled the right-hander.

Unfortunately his team lost in extra innings, but his personal efficiency was off the charts.

If you ask Sabourin, his entire journey is all thanks to one man. That’s right, the same one who was walking him through the playground that fateful day — his dad.

“He’s such a role model to me, he got me into baseball and taught me everything from when I was a little kid until now.”

I then asked him, “If you had to choose a second-most influential person, who would it be?”

He paused and thought for a second, gave me a smile, then told me, “Second place still has to be my dad.”