Stellar reputation helps Goldeyes’ reel in prospects

Matthew Warkentin didn’t need much convincing to join the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

The 28-year-old targeted the club as much as it did him.

Warkentin, who grew up in Leamington, Ont., about 45 minutes east of Windsor, has kept tabs on Canadian teams in independent leagues since he turned pro in 2021.

Earlier this spring, after being released from Rieleros De Aguascalientes of the Mexican Baseball League, he turned his attention to the American Association, and specifically the Goldeyes. It wasn’t long before skipper Logan Watkins, who received a strong recommendation to look at the first baseman from Mexican League manager José Amado, came calling.

“I knew that I wanted to play at, most likely, the American Association, just because I think it’s the best league, from everything I’ve heard from the guys,” Warkentin said after the Goldeyes’ final dress rehearsal Tuesday afternoon against the Kansas City Monarchs in Missouri.

“I just know that the history of the Goldeyes is pretty— it goes back quite far.”

It made for an easy recruitment for Watkins, who downplayed his role in helping Winnipeg remain an attractive destination for players.

“I mean, I’d say it’s far less to do with me and more just the reputation the organization has. It’s been one of the premier places in independent baseball for a long time, and that’s absolutely outdated me,” said Watkins, who nearly guided the Fish from worst to first in his first full season as a professional manager.

“You have to give (GM) Andrew (Collier) and (owner) Sam (Katz) a lot of credit for keeping the reputation of this organization as high as it is.”

Warkentin, who spent the last two summers playing for the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League, joins a club that finished atop the West Division at 56-43 a year ago and backed up its top seeding all the way to the American Association championship series, where they ran into a buzzsaw in the Kane County Cougars.

He is expected to provide some pop in a lineup that scraped by without much power last summer. The Goldeyes recorded a league-low 62 home runs, which limited their upside at the plate and put a lot of pressure on their starting pitchers.

Fortunately, Watkins put together the best pitching staff in the league, which held opponents to a league-best 3.64 runs per game while allowing a league-low 816 hits.

“The Frontier League is definitely starting to produce a lot of players that translate really well to this league,” said Watkins. “He had two really good years in the Frontier League, showed really good power numbers.”

Defence has always come naturally to Warkentin, but an improved focus at the plate has paid dividends. The right-handed batter hit a combined 51 long balls over the last two years and led the circuit with 83 RBI last summer en route to being named the league’s all-star first baseman. He also posted a .299 batting average in 2024.

“When you look at his numbers from previous seasons, (the home runs are) definitely the first thing that jumps out,” Watkins added. “But then getting him here and watching him through spring, he’s a really solid defensive-first baseman. He’s not just a big guy over there, he’s athletic, moves around, fills his position well. I think he’ll be a big addition for us.”

The real games begin for the Goldeyes Thursday in Cleburne, Texas, against the Railroaders (7 p.m.).

Pitcher Landen Bourassa, one of the team’s longest tenured players in his fifth season, has been told he will get the ball on opening day. It’s the first time he’s earned the first start.

“It’s not a crazy thing or anything, because everybody’s going to have their first starts and their first games,” said Bourassa, one of six Canadians and 13 returning players from last season. “I think it’s definitely a nod of confidence from Logan as the manager, and that means a lot.

“I think it doesn’t matter really who’s throwing, I guess, the mission is kind of the same, but I guess if they want me to take the ball first, then I guess it’s my turn.”

Following their four-game series in Texas, the Goldeyes head back to Missouri for a three-game set against the Monarchs before travelling to Lincoln, Neb., to face the Saltdogs for three contests.

They will return for their first home game on May 20 against the Milwaukee Milkmen.

Watkins knows it won’t be easy for the Fish to reclaim their spot atop the West, despite returning nearly half of the roster from a year ago. The best collection of arms has been dismantled, with the most notable departure being the league’s reigning Pitcher of the Year, Joey Matulovich, who retired earlier this year.

The depth of this year’s staff is also already being tested, as newcomers Aaron Shortridge and Marcel Renteria, two presumed starters, suffered season-ending injuries in their first spring throwing sessions.

Meanwhile, Tyler Jans and Brady Rose, two young arms expected to be key contributors out of the bullpen, were injured before camp started and have not reported to the Goldeyes as they await more information on their future.

“The league, they should be finalizing roster cuts here in the next two days, so we’ll be kind of on the lookout, looking to see if any guys come on waivers that we might claim, and we’re kind of taking that day by day,” said Watkins.

“I’m not gonna lie, it’s been a little bit of a tough-luck spring as far as injuries go, but that’s part of the job.”

The most recent blow came last week when all-star infielder Dayson Croes signed with the MLB’s San Francisco Giants. Ramón Bramasco will start most days at third base, while Ray-Patrick Didder and Andy Armstrong are used at shortstop and second base.

Watkins, who was anticipating Croes’ departure, remains optimistic about his bats.

“We still should have a really good defensive infield, and then, again, we’ll see how everyone hits, but I still feel pretty good,” Watkins said.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, losing Dayson Croes is a huge loss, but we stacked the lineup, we feel like, with some bats that are going to be productive this year.”

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca