Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau's, Walt Burrows, attended the Bullett Proof Prospects indoor workout on Sunday, February 24, 2008. Walt took the time to talk to the players about the scouting process and how it works. He then stayed for the 2 hour workout and watched all the players workout. Pitching, hitting and fielding were worked on by the Prospects. The club was very happy to have this opportunity for our players to get looked at by the head of Major League Baseball's Canadian Scouting Bureau in a small, private workout atmosphere.
Bullett Proof Baseball's staff, players and parents would like to
thank Walt for taking the time to come down to Welland and see our players
Major League moment
Niagara Falls pitcher slated to be picked in amateur draft
DAN DAKIN / Review Staff Writer
Sports - Wednesday, June 06, 2007 Updated @ 6:27:53 AM
Anxious. Excited. Nervous.
Colin Buckborough is full of emotions this week, as the moment he has been working towards for years has finally arrived.
"My time has come," Buckborough says in a matter-of-fact way.
"I've done everything I can to get myself ready."
Buckborough's date with destiny is here.
On Thursday and Friday, the 18-year-old Stamford Collegiate student will be glued to the Internet as he watches the Major League Baseball draft unfold.
The words the pitcher is waiting to hear are simple:
"In this round, the (insert pro team here) select Colin Buckborough, pitcher from Niagara Falls."
"I don't know what the reaction will be," Buckborough said. "It's every kid's dream. Other than making it to the majors, getting drafted is the big thing."
A right-handed pitcher who can throw in the low 90s, Buckborough is considered among the top handful of Canadian prospects in this year's MLB draft.
He spent the past year on Canada's junior national team along with No. 1 Canadian prospect Phillippe Aumont, who is expected to go early in the draft. For someone whose life is probably about to take a dramatic turn for the better, Buckborough is surprisingly grounded and level headed.
"It came up quick. Now that it's here, I just want it to be Thursday and Friday.
I'm anxious and a little nervous," he said.
"I know I'm not going in the first couple of rounds, but I'm hoping no later than the 15th," he said. "It's a poker game of who's going to go where. You can't really tell."
The game gets underway Thursday, but since he's expected to go in the later rounds Buckborough's big day will likely be Friday. When the draft gets going that day, he will be at his parents' Niagara Falls home along with some friends, other family, and his player representative Dan Lawson, who also represents Stevensville ball player Nick Weglarz, drafted by the Cleveland Indians two years ago. Buckborough has already booked Friday off school.
He credits his teachers for their willingness to work around his busy schedule of travelling to tournaments over the years. Stamford phys-ed department head Bonnie Brady said the whole school is rallying around one of their own.
"This has been a hard week. We're all dying inside for him," she said.
"It's exciting. It's hard not to keep talking about it.
"Colin has always been such an athlete, but he doesn't just go out and throw a baseball. He's well-rounded."
Though making the big leagues is the ultimate goal, Buckborough has set himself up to be successful either way by accepting a full four-year scholarship deal at the University of Evansville in Indiana. If he doesn't sign with a pro team this summer, an education and a spot on one of the Top 25 baseball programs in the U.S. awaits him. New rules put in place this year mean major league teams have until Aug. 15 to sign their draft picks to a contract or else they get released outright - which would also result in Buckborough going to university.
The goal, however, is to get drafted in an early round this week, then have a solid summer playing travel baseball (Buckborough also plays for the Intercounty Brantford Red Sox).
Sometime before Aug. 15, Buckborough, the team that drafts him and his player representative (by NCAA rules he can't have an agent), will sit down and hopefully sign a contract with a weekly salary for playing on a semi-pro team plus a signing bonus.
"I want to play ball, that's my main goal. I want to go in a half-decent round in the draft and sign and go play pro somewhere," he said.
Buckborough has no clue who might draft him, although he's said to be on the draft list for the Milwaukee Brewers, who have a Canadian general manager and scout Canada heavily.
"That would be a good organization for him. If you get drafted by the Yankees, maybe you'll spend longer in the minors," said Mike Simpson, the pitching coach for Bullett Proof Baseball, a prospect team out of Welland that Buckborough occasionally pitches for. Simpson figures he has all the makings of a big league pitcher.
"Right now he has a major league curve ball. It's tough to hit," he said. "He's young, he's tall, he's got what they look for in major league pitching."
If he signs a contract, Buckborough will automatically lose his eligibility to play baseball for an NCAA university team, but by MLB rules, the approximately US$130,000 his scholarship would have been worth is picked up by the pro team that signed him and put into escrow. If and when the player leaves the team - even if it's at the end of a lengthy professional career - that money will be given to Buckborough tax free.
It's a lot of money, but any money the pitcher makes from baseball will be the repayment of years of hard work and dedication.
"Baseball has been such a big commitment. The last couple of years I knew I had a shot at going pro, so I had to give up the other sports and stuff," he said.
But Buckborough also knows the hard work is far from over.
"If I get drafted and signed, I'll have to perform. Staying there is harder than getting there," he said.
But getting there is what will have Buckborough's stomach in a knot until Friday afternoon.
ddakin@nfreview.com
Prospects prospect JOHN VESSOYAN
Sports - Friday, August 17, 2007 @ 09:00
Colin Buckborough has taken a major step toward his big league dreams, and in a few years he hopes his dream will become a reality. The 18-year-old woke up at home in Niagara Falls Wednesday, had lunch in Toronto, went to the airport in Buffalo and finally went to sleep in Phoenix. Oh, the Seattle Mariners signed him to a minor league contract worth $200,000, too. The M's drafted the Stamford graduate in the 16th round of the June entry draft. After watching the right-handed pitcher carefully over the past month and a half, they offered him the rookie contract Wednesday.
Seattle had selected 51 players in the draft and Buckborough was one of 31 to be offered a contract. The team's first-round pick, fellow Canadian Phillippe Aumont, signed for $1.9 million US. While the Buckborough household was buzzing Wednesday night, Colin had to miss the excitement as he was sent to Phoenix for physical testing. The pitcher will be back in Arizona in mid-September to take part in an instructional league, then in March he plans to report to spring training. "Hopefully in a few years I'll be able to get to the bigs," he told The Tribune in a phone interview last night from Peoria, Ariz., where he underwent a physical yesterday. "A lot of hard work to get there." Buckborough spent small parts of the last two seasons with the Bullett Proof Prospects, a premier showcase team in Welland, mostly training with the team in the winter. Prospects head coach Scott Bullett said he's proud to see one of his players reach the top. "It makes us feel great," Bullett said last night. "It's the end of the road. He got what he worked for, so we're very happy today." Bullett is also happy because Buckborough is a pioneer. "
Colin is our first official Bullett Proof kid to go to the pros," he said. Buckborough has four main pitches: fastball, curveball, slider and change-up, pitches that he can launch to 90 mph. "Colin - each and every day, on and off the field - put his time in and that's one of the reasons that we try and tell these kids in our organization it takes more than just going to practice. You've got to go out there and be able to dedicate yourself on and off the field and in the gym." Buckborough's thankful an organization such as the Prospects exists. "They helped me a lot in the off-season. It was great to have that place there to be able to throw in the off-season and train," he said. "I'm not sure where else I would go if they weren't there."
Buckborough's agent Dan Lawson called Tuesday to say a contract offer was going to be presented. On Wednesday, the family headed to Toronto to meet Lawson and look over the contract. On the table was a $120,000 signing bonus, a $80,000 education fund and the standard $1,200 monthly rookie ball salary. It wasn't first-round money, but it was significantly more than what is typically offered to a 16th-round pick. The contract was in line with a sixth-round pick, which Buckborough's father, Lee, said was the result of a strong summer of baseball. "His control was pretty good, his curve ball was good and he had good velocity. That's why Seattle moved him into sixth-round money." Colin Buckborough is is just happy to have his name on a contract. "It was a big relief," he said. "It felt great. It's every kid's dream to get to the pros and make it to the big leagues. That's the next step." After his stay in Arizona, Buckborough will be flown to Missouri, where he will join the Canadian national junior team for a training camp leading up to the World Junior Championship qualifiers, which will be held in Mexico Aug 24 to Sept. 2. Canada is hosting the 2008 World Junior Championships in Edmonton, although he will be too old to play on the team next year.
Bullett Proof Baseball is represented at the Olympics!
Bullett Proof Baseball is very proud to have two members of our clinic taking part in this year's Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Our pitching coach, Dave Davidson, and former student Nick Weglarz are both taking part in this huge event as part of Team Canada. We are so proud of both young men and wish them and the team good luck!
Ballpark FiguresPosted By DAN DAKIN, OSPREY NEWS NETWORKNick Weglarz doesn't know what to expect.
The Stevensville native knows the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing will be amazing, but beyond that, he's just ready to go on the ride of his life.
Needless to say, when the 20-year-old baseball player officially found out he had made Canada's national team for the Olympics next month in China, he was thrilled.
"It's something I was hoping for all summer. When I finally got the call it was relieving. I was happy and honoured to have the opportunity to represent the country," he said.
After being drafted by the Cleveland Indians, Weglarz is playing advanced single-A baseball with the Kinston Indians this summer in North Carolina. He has been on a tear over the past month, but last Friday he left the Indians to join the national team as they start preparations for the Olympics.
Weglarz and his teammates were recently honoured before a Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre.
It's a ceremony that will pale in comparison to what's to come.
"The veterans that have played said the opening ceremonies (at the Olympics) are something very special. They've been building that up so I can't wait to go through that," he said.
"As far as international baseball goes, it's going to be the same as it always is, except with bigger crowds. I can't wait to go and play." Weglarz has already made a name for himself on Canada's national team.
He's a power hitter who helped the club earn a spot in the Olympics during the qualifying tournament in Taiwan in the winter.
He has added to that reputation for power with Kinston this year as he has a .274 batting average with 10 home runs and 38 RBIs in 96 games. In the first two weeks of July, Weglarz had a .500average,
Ballpark Figures
Posted By BILL POTRECZ, OSPREY NEWS NETWORKDave Davidson is more than happy to put his aspirations of getting back to big leagues on hold for a shot at an Olympic medal.
The 24-year-old Thorold resident couldn't say yes fast enough when he was contacted by Team Canada and asked to be part of Canada's baseball team at the Olympics in Beijing.
"It's huge," Davidson smiled when asked about the opportunity to pitch for his country. "I keep telling everyone who asks me about it that it hasn't sunk in yet. I'm here and I've got my country's colours on, but until I get to China and see the opening ceremonies, that's when it's going to kick in and I'll realize what it means."
Davidson, a left-handed pitcher with a sharp-breaking curve, made his major league debut last September with the Pittsburgh Pirates and got into a pair of games versus Houston and St. Louis. He began this season with the Altoona Curve of the AA Eastern League where he was 4-2 with a 3.29 earned run average in 34 games out of the bullpen.
"It was a win-win situation," Davidson said recently.
"I was either trying to get back to the big leagues or going to the Olympics. Either way, there's no down side to the season."
Davidson said the process to put his pro career on the back burner for a few weeks went very smoothly.
"Team Canada contacted the Pirates and got permission and thankfully Pittsburgh let me go," said Davidson, a graduate of Denis Morris High School. "The whole thing was done over the phone. They told me there was a spot for me if I was willing to go."
Davidson, who played for Canada at the World Junior Championships in 2001, is looking forward to the experience. You're playing ball for the love of your country
The hitter said he knows his role on the team will be to put numbers on the board.
"I think one through nine will all have to produce if we want to win gold. They're going to look to me to drive runs in and move runners over when I can. Anything I can do I'll try to. Whatever it takes to help the team win I'll try the best I can to do," he said.
Weglarz will rejoin the Indians at the end of August.Other countries vying for the gold at the Games are the United States, the Netherlands, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea.
The squad is managed by 15-year major league veteran Terry Puhl. Other notable players include outfielder Nick Weglarz of Stevensville, outfielders Ryan Radmanovich and Adam Stern and infielder Pete Orr, who all have big league experience, and Windsor's Stubby Clapp.
and game but (at the pro level) it turns into more of a job. I think going back to this is for fun and will help me grow as a baseball player
"If you give up 10 runs and win 11- 10, no one cares. You're out there for fun, but it's still a team-based thing."
He has been told he'll be used in relief, the same role he's become accustomed to in pro ball. Davidson is particularly looking forward to having all 24 players pulling in the same direction with one goal in mind -an Olympic medal. d not to make it to the big leagues," he said. "It's been six years since I played for Team Canada. I still love the
After an uneven start to his season -Davidson admitted he was disappointed at not making the Pirates in spring training -the lefty turned things around following the all-star break a couple of weeks ago. He's 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his last 10 appearances.
"There was a stretch where everything went bad but the time off gave me a fresh start and really helped me out," he said. "I think we really have a good staff and definitely have a good shot and coming home with a medal," Davidson said.
Should Team Canada earn a medal, Davidson isn't quite sure what he'd do with it. "I haven't got that far," he said, laughing.
"I'm not sure. Maybe I could give it to my parents and they could take care of it for me."
BULLETT PROOF BASEBALL IS VERY PROUD OF COACH DAVIDSON!
Dave was called up today to the major league Pittsburgh Pirates. The last couple of years have gone by in a flash for Dave, starting at 'A' level Lynchburg he has gone through the Pirates system to the MLB club in less than a year. Everyone here at Bullett Proof Baseball knows all the hard work Dave has put into his game working out all winter at the clinic. We know he will do well with the big club and all the players are looking forward to having a Major League pitcher working with them this winter. Good luck and congratulations Dave!
Showcases for The Show
Swartz, Derek
Sports - Friday, March 02, 2007 @ 09:00 Winter in Welland may not seem like the breeding ground for a boy summer.
With winter facilities to augment their training when the winter winds blow, the idea is not far-fetched at all. In fact, a Major League Baseball scout and representatives of two American League teams were at Bullettproof Baseball academy Sunday evaluating some of the top 15- to 18- year-old prospects in Niagara.
The day's session won't land any of the hopefuls a contract. The results will, however, find their way into scouting reports that could mean the difference between being drafted or not. More than a dozen hopefuls worked out under the watchful eye Walt Burrows. The Canadian supervisor of scouting for Major League Baseball says Canada, once known in baseball only for perennial all-star Fergie Jenkins and pinch-hitter Terry Puhl, is too rich a talent pool these days to be ignored.
Once an anomaly in the big leagues, Canadians are not only increasing in number, they are increasingly significant contributors to their teams. Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau of New Westminster, B.C., is the reigning American League most valuable player, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay (Trail, B.C.) is a two-time all star, and fellow Canucks Rich Harden (Victoria, B.C.) and Jeff Francis (Vancouver) are the staff aces of the Oakland Athletics and Colorado Rockies, respectively.
There's no question Canadian players in the big leagues aren't filler guys. You've got guys like Morneau, Jason Bay, Rich Harden, Adam Stern. ... Success breeds success, Burrows says. The kids see other Canadians being successful and they say, Why not me.'
There are close to 100 Canadians in the major leagues and Burrows says 500 playing professionally in the minor leagues is a conservative estimate.
One reason Burrows feels more Canadians are reaching The Show is because of academies, such as Bullettproof, that allow young players to develop their skills year-round.
The academy, located at the Niagara Region Exhibition grounds, is becoming part of the Canadian player pipeline. Nick Weglarz, a Stevensville kid who was drafted in the first round last June by the Cleveland Indians, came through the Bullettproof Baseball Academy. St. Catharines pitcher Dave Davidson, a member of the Pirates' 40-man roster, is another Bullettproof alum.
There's talent everywhere, says Ozzie Timmons, a minor league hitting instructor for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays also at Sunday's session. Baseball academies fields of dreams for scouts "When you've got a place like this it will bring the scouts out. There's talent everywhere and you've got to find it, he says as the pitchers show their stuff for him, Boston Red Sox associate scout Paul Pelfrey and Burrows.
Burrows' job is to keep an eye on players he and his staff have already identified and to try to project how they will develop over the next few years. But he also keeps his eyes open for undiscovered players who have the tools to succeed. Those tools may be bat speed for a hitter, arm speed for a pitcher, or in the case of Cambridge's Scott Thorman, strength. Nearly a d decade after he initially scouted him, Thorman finds himself the likely starting first baseman for the Atlanta Braves this season.
The scouting business will keep Burrows away from his home in Victoria for most of the next eight months. Burrows was i Montreal on Monday and and in Saskatoon the following day. That was followed by Calgary and Lethridge yesterday before heading to Langley, B.C., for a weekend tournament.
Next week he heads off to Florida, where some Canadian youth teams will be playing in tournaments, in search of the next Morneau or Bay.
