Hope springs eternal for an Okotoks baseball star coming off a season of quality and quantity.
Okotokian Matt Lloyd is spring training bound this week with the St. Louis Cardinals organization after he parlayed a prolific calendar year into a minor league contract offer from the Redbirds.
“They’ve seen my numbers throughout my pro career, but I think a huge thing for me this year was just staying healthy,” Lloyd said. “I played close to 140 games on the year, the most I’ve ever played and that was a big part of it, showing I can be on the field every day.”
The 2023 campaign packed a heavy punch for the Foothills Composite alumnus.
Lloyd, a 2019 draft pick of Cincinnati, was released by the Reds after struggling with injuries the season prior.
From there, he signed with the Sioux City Explorers in the independent American Association and had a monster season in Iowa, hitting .321 with 14 home runs, 62 RBI and 17 stolen bases en route to becoming a league all-star.
“Coming off an ankle injury and not really knowing what type of player I can be after coming off surgery, coach ‘Mongo’ Steve Montgomery, he’s been great, talking to him on the phone before going there I had a really good feeling that it was a good spot to be,” he said.
“I had a lot of fun there, got to play third base every day and that locker room we had, all the guys we had, it was one of my favourite teams we’ve ever been on. I just feel blessed that I got to be a part of that.”
In Sioux City, Lloyd transitioned to third base after coming up through the ranks as a two-way player who plays shortstop and a little first base and left field along with pitching.
“I signed to be the third baseman and I knew I would get the chance to be there every single day,” he said. “As the year went on, I got more comfortable there and Mexico was huge too for continuing to work on the position.
“Some of the angles you’ve got to take, charging into balls, bunts and choppers, that’s probably the biggest adjustment and the throw. It’s a longer throw than you would think.”
Lloyd has enjoyed what can only be characterized as a condensed offseason, training at Bold Athlete in Calgary, and tried to make up for lost time.
The Dawgs Academy alumnus was a globetrotter over the 2023 calendar year, starring for Sioux City, earning the opportunity to wear Team Canada colours at its Pan Am Games qualifier series in Argentina, later being named Baseball Canada's Men's National Team MVP, and then extending the campaign with Mayos de Navojoa in Mexico’s Pacific Winter League.
“It was good to get down there and keep playing and keep getting reps in,” Lloyd said. “But it’s definitely different than the traditional offseason where I’d be in the gym for five months or so. It’s coming home in December and having two months to get ready to go.”
As he departs for the Cardinals spring training base in Jupiter, Florida, the 27-year-old said he’s grateful for the opportunity to be back in affiliate baseball and is going with a nothing to lose mindset.
“It means a lot and it shows that the dream is still alive to get to the big leagues,” Lloyd said. “And I’m very thankful for the Cardinals letting me have this opportunity and excited to get going.
“I remember in 2011, they were playing the Rangers in the World Series and David Freese in those big games and I would watch those videos and get chills seeing those guys do that.
“I’ve only heard good things about the organization so I’m excited to get in there and be a part of their system and excited to be a part of this historic organization.”
