Natasha Baldin

B次元官网网址 Staff

Since he was six years old, Sam Shaw has always dreamed of playing professional baseball.

It was one of the many sports he played at a high level while growing up in Victoria, including lacrosse, soccer and hockey.

He even played against emerging B.C. hockey stars such as Connor Bedard and Matthew Wood, who were recently selected first and 15th, respectively, in the first round of the NHL draft.

But for Shaw, it was baseball that stuck.

B次元官网网址淭here arenB次元官网网址檛 a lot of Canadian kids that want to be professional baseball players,B次元官网网址� the 18-year-old said. B次元官网网址淯sually itB次元官网网址檚 hockey or basketball, but IB次元官网网址檝e always wanted to play baseball.B次元官网网址�

After watching his former hockey competitors make it big, Shaw will now get his chance to do the same. His name will be on the list of eligible players for the MLB draft, taking place from July 9 to 11.

He recently gained important visibility in front of major league scouts as one of 300 high school and college prospects selected to take part in the MLB draft combine from June 19 to 24 in Phoenix, participating in performance assessments and tournament-style games.

B次元官网网址淚 thought I had a good showing and I tried my best, and weB次元官网网址檒l see what happens,B次元官网网址� he said.

His father Craig Shaw said he has been B次元官网网址渨ired for sports more or less from birth.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲hen he was six or eight months old, we would take him for walks to Beacon Hill Park, and weB次元官网网址檇 be holding him and heB次元官网网址檇 be watching the softball games and he would be so locked in,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e would try to leave and heB次元官网网址檇 start crying.B次元官网网址�

Shaw started playing T-Ball with Beacon Hill Little League at the age of four. Despite his small size, he would always play up a few levels with kids who were older B次元官网网址� and significantly bigger B次元官网网址� than he was.

B次元官网网址淗e was eight, and he would be pitching against 12-year-olds in little league,B次元官网网址� his father recounted. B次元官网网址淭hese guys were close to six feet, and he was about four-foot-nothing, and he would get these guys, which is kind of incredible.B次元官网网址�

Shaw is a utility player, meaning he doesnB次元官网网址檛 have one single specialty position and moves around the diamond depending on where his team needs him defensively.

Mitch Davidoff, LambrickB次元官网网址檚 director of baseball operations and ShawB次元官网网址檚 senior head coach with the Victoria Eagles, said he is a B次元官网网址渃hameleon,B次元官网网址� both in his ability to fit into any group and his versatility on the diamond.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had discussions before where we see where he fits week by week,B次元官网网址� Davidoff said. B次元官网网址淗e says, B次元官网网址業t doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter. Just put me where the team needs me.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Shaw recently graduated from Lambrick Park Secondary School, where he participated in the baseball program. Davidoff called Shaw a B次元官网网址済enerational talent.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 the complete package,B次元官网网址� Davidoff said. B次元官网网址淵ou always see guys who have the skills, but they might not have the work ethic, the drive, the heart, the attitude or the professionalism. But itB次元官网网址檚 hard to pick (Shaw) apart and find anything that you donB次元官网网址檛 like about him.B次元官网网址�

When Shaw was in Grade 9, a scout told him if he could run a 60-yard dash in 6.7 seconds, he would get drafted out of high school. At the time, he was more than a full second slower than where he needed to be.

For the next few years, Shaw trained tirelessly with the help of Adrian Kinney to shave those important milliseconds off his time. Now, heB次元官网网址檚 running the dash at 6.6 seconds.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the kind of work ethic he has, turning himself from an average runner into an elite runner,B次元官网网址� his father said.

Shaw has also committed to play Division 1 baseball at Xavier University in Cincinnati. If the draft doesnB次元官网网址檛 work out, he will go down to play for the Musketeers in the fall.

Even with intense training, playing baseball in a Canadian climate comes with its challenges. Unlike in many parts of the U.S., Canadian weather prevents athletes from playing baseball outside year-round.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to be as polished as an American player,B次元官网网址� Shaw said. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 get the same number of reps or games because weB次元官网网址檙e not playing baseball for 12 months a year.B次元官网网址�

But Shaw said his upbringing is a proud part of his identity, and looks forward to having the entire country behind him as he looks ahead to the upcoming draft.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been different, but I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 change my experience for the world,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 feel like itB次元官网网址檚 part of who I am, coming from Victoria.B次元官网网址�