Making it to Major League Baseball (MLB) or an American university team is much like baseball itself. It's a chess game.
So says Jackson Winacott, a graduate of Patrick Fogarty Catholic High School, who is putting in the work in a bid to achieve his dream of playing in the MLB.
The 17-year-old catcher made the Toronto Mets baseball team this season as the catcher. The Mets, a Canadian Premier Baseball League team, is preparing for a 17-day tour of American universities at the end of the month where they will play Division 1 teams.
"We are not expected to win. The whole point is for the coaches to see the players. With the Mets, 95 per cent of the players get a scholarship to play baseball," said Winacott, who will be 18 in November.
Winacott is courting U.S. university baseball coaches on his own as well. He recently attended the Best in the U.S. Showcase at the University of Michigan and impressed the coaches, some of whom he remains in contact with regularly.
He has been invited to the Best in the U.S. MLB Showcase at Chase Field, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Oct. 19-20. There will be 25 MLB scouts and 40 Division 1 university coaches in attendance.
"It is an extreme honour to be invited to this event," said Winacott. "My dream is to play in the majors, but my reality is to play for a college while getting an education with a scholarship."
Winacott, who stands 5' 10" and weighs 180 pounds, attends practice in Richmond Hill three or four times a week and plays other CPBL teams in the province on weekends.
"I'm a really hard worker when it comes to baseball. It's something I take pride in," he said.
Winacott played for the Newmarket Titans last year and with his hometown Orillia Royals before that.
He started playing baseball at the age of three, but felt like his talent turned on in his Grade 10 year. By then he was committed to catching.
"I like catching because I'm involved in every single pitch of the game. I feel like I can contribute to a win more than if I was in the outfield and caught four or five balls during the game."
Winacott said building relationships with pitchers is a key part of catching. He enjoys working with pitchers as they attempt to strike out batters. Relaying signs to the pitcher is part of that, but Winacott says they can be sneaky about it to hide their intentions from members of the opposing team.
“It’s a really big chess game. It’s all mind games," he explained.
"My favourite part about catching is being in control. I feel like I can lead the field," he said.
There's a lot of specialized training for catchers when it comes to their defence and physical training, but Winacott makes a point of making time to better develop his hitting.
For one, he loves it. Secondly, being selected for the MLB or a university team is very competitive. Winacott said a strong bat gives him an edge over competitors that don't hit as well.
"To have a catcher that's able to hit the ball well and hard is a difficult thing to find," Winacott said.
Winacott's favourite baseball player is Adley Rutschman, a catcher and slugger with the Baltimore Orioles. His favourite baseball movie is Major League.
The Orillia native says he is getting "heavy" attention from university coaches now.
Winacott also organizes his social media including X @Winacott22 and FieldLevel where he posts photos and videos.
Following his passion for baseball is a costly endeavour as there is team fees and lots of travel expenses. Winacott is looking for sponsors. Anyone interested in supporting him can call 705-619- 3912.
