Homegrown catching core

Tuesday October 23, 2012

(Pictured above: Jordan Procyshen.  Photo by: Shelly Kostic)

by Jonathan Hodgson

The Okotoks Dawgs solidified their catching core today, as the club is pleased to announce the signings of homegrown backstops Jordan Procyshen, Ramon Valdez, and Chris Shaw.

Jordan Procyshen is a 5’11’’, 190 lb catcher currently in his sophomore year at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado. Procyshen is a true Dawg with 2013 being his second year with the Dawgs summer collegiate team and sixth year with the organization after graduating from the Dawgs Academy in 2011. Procyshen was a rock behind the plate, guiding the Dawgs pitching staff and cutting down opposition base runners this past summer. At the plate he hit .236 with a homerun, 6 doubles and 22 RBI’s.

Procyshen hit .300 with 4 homeruns in his freshman season at NJC this past spring and is looking to take it to the next level in 2013, leading into his second Dawgs summer. Although next season will be his second full season with the summer collegiate Dawgs, Procyshen received significant playing time with the ‘big Dawgs’ in both 2010 and 2011 as a call-up from the Dawgs Academy, and looked right at home both years.

Dawgs Managing Director, John Ircandia recognizes the importance of returning his 2012 backstop,

"Pro has proven himself to be a front line catcher in the WMBL and he gives us a clutch bat from the left side. We expect Pro to have a break out season in 2013 with consistency offensively and defensively."

The stage of Seaman Stadium does not phase the 2010 Canadian Junior National Team member, but is an opportunity he says he relishes,

“There really is no other baseball town quite like Okotoks. I cannot wait to get back in a Dawgs uniform and play in front of the best fans in baseball again in 2013!”

Joining Jordan behind the plate next summer will be fellow Dawgs Academy graduate, Ramon Valdez. Valdez is a 5’10’’, 200 lb catcher who is currently in his freshman year at Parkland Junior College in Champaign, Illinois. A native of Chestermere, Alberta, Valdez graduated from the Dawgs Academy in 2012 after four years in the program. His tenure with the JDawgs was capped off by leading the Dawgs Midget Black Team to the 2012 Midget National Championship this past August.

John Ircandia talks about the addition of Ramon Valdez to the 2013 roster,

“Ramon was a huge part of the offence for the Dawgs Academy, batting over .400 this summer with 10 homeruns for the Midget Black Team. He was highly recruited as a catcher in anticipation of being an immediate impact player for Parkland Junior College. Though he is a freshman, we expect him to start at Parkland this year and take quality at-bats for the collegiate Dawgs this coming summer.”

Valdez had a taste of the summer collegiate Dawgs this past summer, and the JDawg grad says he is ready for the opportunity to take the next step in his Dawgs career,

“I am very excited for this upcoming summer. Having played with the Dawgs college team as an affiliate last year, I was privileged enough to experience the great fan base, and the professional environment that comes with playing for the Dawgs. I look forward to using ‘JDawgs Baseball’ to help the team in any way possible.”

Rounding out the Dawgs 2013 catching contingent is yet another JDawg grad, Chris Shaw. Shaw is a 6’1’’, 185 lb native of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Following his graduation from the Dawgs Academy this summer following 4 years with the program, Shaw is now in his freshman year at Midland College in Midland, Texas. It was Shaw and Valdez sharing the catching duties during the Dawgs Midget Black Team’s National Championship season.

Chris was an integral part of the Midget Black lineup all season before reporting to Team Canada to represent his country at the 2012 World Junior Baseball Championship in Seoul, South Korea. Shaw was the starting catcher during the tournament, leading Team Canada to a silver medal. Topping off his year, Shaw was a 38th round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the June draft.

John Ircandia’s thoughts on the addition of Chris Shaw to the 2013 Dawgs,

"Though a college freshman, Chris is mature as a baseball player far beyond his years. He's another consummate Dawg having been a mainstay on the National Championship team. His time with Canada's Jr. National Team exposed him to the type of pitching he will see this summer, and the pitching staff he handled gave him some great experience. We look for Chris to be an impact player for the ‘big Dawgs’ in 2013."

The Dawgs are very pleased to bring back three of their own in Jordan Procyshen, Ramon Valdez, and Chris Shaw for 2013. The club has the utmost confidence knowing that a trio of JDawg grads will backstop the club next summer!