Canadian catcher enters top prospects list
Photo credit: https://www.reddeeradocate.com
Congratulations go out to Nathan Flewelling. The Red Deer, Alberta native has entered the Top 30 Prospects list for the Tampa Bay Rays.
A graduate of St. Joseph High School in 2024, the 18 year old was selected with 94th overall pick by Tampa Bay in the third round of last year's entry draft. The $774,000 signing bonus he received was enough for him to forgo his commitment to Gonzaga University and attempt a major league baseball career.
Although he had been a lifetime baseball fan, the budding catcher didn't even start thinking about a career until 2024.
It was January of this year, when people started to have an interest in me, that I knew I could do this. I went to a couple of showcases and had a couple batting practice rounds that were good. My coach at home, Jason Chatwood, was the biggest help through all of this. My advisor, Blake Corosky, was big, too.
Although he grew up - as any proper Canadian should - as a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays, Flewelling wasn't totally surprised when he was drafted by the Rays.
I was talking with a bunch of teams and narrowed it down to a couple I thought I might go to. Anywhere from the third to fifth round were the expectations.
Currently in Low-A with the Charleston River Dogs, Flewelling great contract skills, but still needs work defensively. Although he was drafted as a catcher, he has also been seeing time at first base and is something of a positional wildcard.
Flewelling could be the first in another area as well. While Alberta has produced major league pitchers such as Michael Soroka and Chris Reitsma, there has never been a high school hitter drafted and signed out of the province who reached the Majors.
Flewelling aims to be the first.
Previously on Blue Jays Central
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AVRIL 19 | 24 ANSWERS Canadian catcher enters top prospects list Will Nathan Flewelling eventually make the majors? | ||
| Yes | 16 | 66.7 % |
| No | 8 | 33.3 % |
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