Sept. 5, 2023

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Brock Dykxhoorn is literally back in shape.

RHP Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.), the only Canadian in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, suffered a herniated disc in his back, limiting him to 12 starts with the Uni-President Lions in 2022.

A starter by trade, Dykxhoorn has been given the ball 18 times this season. He is 5-7 and owns a 3.57 ERA through 106 innings. Boasting a 1.179 WHIP, the Ontario Nationals alum has allowed just 42 earned runs while racking up a 2.7 BB/9 rate and striking out 74 opposing batters to the tune of a 6.7 K/9 clip. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer 14 times and has gone five or more innings in all but one of his 17 starts, including one complete game.

“The back surgery cut me short last season, making sure I was healthy this offseason and getting ready for a new season was big for me,” the Junior National Team grad told the Canadian Baseball Network. “I was pitching through some pain and I wanted to make sure this past off-season I got back into my regular mechanics and motions.

“Looking ahead, everything about playing over here is about team success and the goal is the Taiwan Series and to repeat being champions again this season after winning it all in 2020. It’s all about winning that championship.”

This is Dykxhoorn’s fourth season in the CPBL. He joined the Uni-President Lions in 2020 following a season in Korea.

“After playing Korea in 2019, there wasn’t a ton of options with COVID going on. I started to wait it out and midway through June, the Lions called and inquired about my availability. I jumped on the opportunity. I have enjoyed my time here and stayed ever since.”

He re-signed with the Lions based in Tainan City, Taiwan on a one-year deal earlier this off-season.

Since making his debut with the Lions, the 6-foot-8 Canuck has amassed a 3.07 ERA through 70 appearances (68 starts) and 430 1/3 innings with a 1.074 WHIP. His first season was rough in a new environment but the Central Arizona College alum bounced back in his second campaign, posting a 17-4 record while allowing 37 earned runs in 181 2/3 innings, which was a career high for the right-hander.

For his outstanding effort in 2021, Dykxhoorn was named the Canadian Baseball Network’s Claude Pelletier Award winner as the top pitcher in foreign or independent baseball.

Dykxhoorn has bounced back well this year and has been a key part of the Lions’ rotation. The club owns a 45-43 record, with three ties, and is third in the standings, 2 1/2 games behind the Rakuten Monkeys.

“When I had a chance to play in 2020, I was grateful for the opportunity,” Dykxhoorn said. “For the first part of 2020 when I didn’t have a playing opportunity, I started to think about my future and those types of thoughts started to get into my head a little bit. Then I came back in 2021, I think my success came from being comfortable over in Taiwan.

“Away from the field, it is a whole new dimension and lifestyle and I think getting into a set routine and finding that comfortability definitely helped on the field. I got off to a good start and things kept on rolling and turning into a good season for me.”

With a repeatable delivery that shoots down the mound given his size, Dykxhoorn uses a fastball that sits in the high 80s/low 90s and mixes in off-speed pitches (namely a dropping curveball) that have the ability to generate swing and miss, as well as weak contact. Combined with his command that produces limited walks, the right-hander has seen exceptional results over the past three seasons.

The road to the CPBL was full of ups and downs for Dykxhoorn, as he was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the sixth round in the 2014 draft, signing for $250,000 USD and beginning his pro career in Rookie League ball with the Greenville Astros.

Over the next four years, Dykxhoorn climbed through the Astros’ farm system, advancing to triple-A Fresno in 2018 where he would post a 4.60 ERA in 14 appearances. But he would be released from the organization the ensuing offseason.

Following his release, Dykxhoorn took his talents overseas to the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), joining SK Wyverns (now the SSG Landers) on a one-year deal for the 2019 season, splitting the year with SSG and the Lotte Giants before joining the Lions and never looking back.

At the international level, Dykxhoorn has spent time with the Junior National Team at the 2012 WBSC U18 Baseball World Cup while also suiting up for Canada at the 2015 Pan Am Games (winning gold) and the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament.

Since joining the Uni-President Lions almost four years ago, Dykxhoorn has emerged as a top starter within the foreign/independent leagues that has also seen him earn some hardware, taking home the Taiwan Series Outstanding Player Award during his inaugural campaign as the Lions went on to win the championship. He pitched 17 innings in that series and allowed just one earned run.

The road to the CPBL might have been a roller coaster for the Goderich native but one thing is for certain – he is making the most of the opportunity to continue playing baseball at a high level, and his strong performance could lead to an opportunity back to a big league organization.