IBL's Kitchener Panthers sign Procopio
March 9, 2022
Official Kitchener Panthers News Release
The Kitchener Panthers have signed right-hander Daniel Procopio (Toronto, Ont) for the 2022 season.
The 26-year-old flame-throwing righty projects to be a significant addition to the Panthers pitching staff.
In high school, Procopio was a back-to-back Canada Cup champion (2011, 2012) while representing Ontario and was also a member of the 2012-2013 Junior National Team. This led to him being selected in the 22nd round of the Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets in 2013. Opting to pursue a collegiate scholarship instead of signing, Procopio went on to pitch one season at NJCAA D1 Seminole State College (Seminole, OK) and three seasons at NCAA D1 Niagara University (Niagara Falls, NY).
In 2017, his senior season, he recorded six wins, a 4.19 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 58 innings. Following that campaign season, Procopio made a brief stop in Kitchener, making three dominant appearances for the Panthers recording 19 strikeouts and only allowing two hits and one earned run in 11 innings before being selected in the 10th round of the MLB draft by the Los Angeles Angels.
He went on to pitch four seasons in the minor leagues between 2017 and 2021, two of which being at the double-A level. He recorded four wins, four saves and 144 strikeouts in 120 innings.
In 2018, he also pitched in the prestigious Arizona Fall league and in the Australian Baseball League the following year. He was also a member of the Canadian Senior National Team in 2019.
“We are very excited to have Daniel Procopio back with the Panthers,” said Mike Boehmer, Panthers GM. “Daniel pitched for us in 2017, averaging well over a strikeout an inning, before being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels. In addition to the Angels, Daniel has pitched in the Houston Astros organization, and for Team Canada in the 2019 WBSC Premier 12.”