Kurtis Kostuk selected to the Arizona Diamondbacks

Kurtis Kostuk attended the Yale Baseball Academy for the last 4 years and played with both the Junior and Senior PBL Cardinal Team.  Kostuk’s incredible arm as a Centre Fielder coupled with his athleticism on and off the field obviously got the attention of the scouts in the majors.

“In the 38th round of this year’s Major League Baseball’s 1st year players draft the Arizona Diamondbacks select Kurtis Kostuk, a Right handed pitcher out of Abbotsford, British Columbia”.  That’s how it was announced and it was sweet music to all in the Kostuk household.  Then they received the phone call from Doug Mathieson who is the Canadian Scout for the D-Backs as well as with the Langley Blaze and reality set in but it was still very overwhelming.  Recently Kurtis signed a letter of Intent to attend The University Northern Kentucky – a Division 1 baseball program, however that is no longer as professional baseball and his journey to the Big Leagues has already started as Kurtis got on the next plane and headed to the D-Backs training facility in Arizona.  Kurtis was a two way player that showed some pop with his bat and a lively arm on the mound, but it’s that lively arm strength that got the D-Backs excited.  Who knows, being on a National League team he’s going to have to hit for himself, hmmm, show them that offensive pop….

Kurtis was a member of our BC provincial team and then added to our Canadian Junior National team this spring and his club team is the Abbotsford Cardinals of the BC Premier Baseball League.  Ironically his pitching coach for all three teams is the same person – Corey Eckstein (nicely done Corey).  Congratulations to a fantastic accomplishment and we at the Big League Experience are so happy for you and your family.