The Okotoks Dawgs’ loss is the San Francisco Giants’ gain.
Dawg veteran Tyler Hollick signed a professional contract with the Giants on June 14, just nine days after being selected by the 2010 World Series champions at the 2012 MLB Draft, putting an end to his six-year tenure with the Dawgs organization.
Hollick’s outstanding 2012 season with the Chandler Gilbert Community College Coyotes pushed him into the forefront at the 2012 draft and put him in the enviable position of either choosing a scholarship from the Ohio State University Buckeyes or the chance to play professional baseball in the San Francisco Giants’ system.
“Obviously I value the importance of education as anybody would, but I felt at this point in my life it’s a better opportunity for me to go to professional baseball,” Hollick explained. “It’s a dream come true. It’s something I’ve been working on with these guys for a long time and my entire life.”
Hollick had quite the whirlwind of activity during the negotiations for his professional contract.
“It wasn’t as stressful as I think it could be, but once they made the offer that was right it was a no-brainer to sign.”
Dawgs’ director of baseball Brandon Newell told Hollick to try and remain patient during the contract negotiations.
“A lot of these kids at the draft they sign based on emotion,” Newell said. “I’ve signed a lot of kids at this draft and a lot of it was done that way, you make it an emotional decision. As soon as he made it a business decision he was patient and he ended up getting a very fair deal.”
The 19-year-old outfielder will report to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, the Giants’ Class-A short season affiliate, just as soon as his work visa arrives.
He’s keeping his expectations for his first professional season in check.
“To get the feel for everything and (do) as much as I can to get better for the two-and-a-half months I’m going to be there,” Hollick said. “Pretty much to get my feet wet and see what professional baseball is all about and keep getting prepared for spring training next year and hopefully have a long, nice pro career.”
As the Dawgs Academy graduate continues to dream of a fruitful future in the sport, he won’t forget the people who’ve helped him along the way.
“The things they’ve done for me not just on the baseball field, which speaks for itself, but me as a person too,” Hollick said of his time since he joined the Dawgs Academy in 2007. “Where I’ve come from since I was in junior high to two years into college is unbelievable.”
After six years with the Dawgs, Hollick knows how lucky he was to have access to quality of program, management and infrastructure afforded to him in Okotoks.
“John Ircandia and Don and Doc Seaman and all of his managing directors that put this place together, it’s not easy,” Hollick said. “A lot of people think it happens over night and it really doesn’t. There’s a lot of fighting, blood, sweat and tears that goes into this place and I can’t thank those people enough.”
Saying goodbye to his coaches and teammates will not be easy for Hollick.
“All my best friends growing up are from this organization so this is everything for me,” he said.
Hollick took a few moments to pinpoint the highlight of what was a prolific career with both the Academy and College Dawgs. Fittingly, the Giants’ prospect had a favourite memory at both levels.
“One of my first games with the college team that was pretty fun, a lot of my teammates were here and my parents were here watching and I’d never played in front of 2,000 people before,” he said. “Another one was winning the Parksville tournament in (2010) with a couple of my best friends I had been playing with for four years and we hadn’t won a major championship yet so that was a big one.”
Newell said he expects Hollick to thrive in the Giants’ system.
“Tyler is a kid who is going to have a lot of success at every level of baseball he plays at,” Newell said. “He’s never got to a level where he’s failed yet and I don’t see him getting to that level any time soon.”
Hollick’s departure leaves a big void to be filled in Okotoks’ lineup. The Dawgs’ centrefielder and leadoff hitter was the Western Major Baseball League rookie of the year in 2011 after registering a batting average of .407.
Newell said Zac Asman, currently sidelined with an injury, and Dawgs Academy graduate James Stewart should get increased opportunities going forward.
“Zac is a really good player, but James Stewart has stepped into the centrefield role and played really well,” Newell said. “(Stewart) didn’t get a ton of at-bats this year, he’s a little behind Tyler, but he can really play defence and we don’t lose a thing when James is playing in the outfield.”
