Harris headed to new team in Canada

Garrett Harris is on his way to a new baseball league.

The Trois-Rivieres Aigles of the independent Frontier League sold the right-handed pitcher’s contract Jan. 6 to the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent American Association.

“I wasn’t too surprised,” the Anderson-Shiro High School graduate said Jan. 15. “I was kind of hoping to go there. It’s supposed to be in the top two leagues. It’s a lot better competition.”

The 25-year-old compiled a 9-3 record and 3.75 earned run average in 20 games, including 16 starts, for Trois-Rivieres during 2019. It was his first year competing in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, known as the Can-Am League, which became part of the Frontier League after the season concluded.

“Last year a lot of things went well for me,” he said. “It (pitching in Canada) turned out to be pretty good.”

Harris was named the league’s Rookie Pitcher of the Year, as chosen by the managers and media members, and he received a plaque. “They made a pretty big deal about it,” he said.

He said the difference maker last year was that he was a starting pitcher. He was a reliever for his post-collegiate career from 2016, when he was with the Kansas City Royals’ rookie affiliate, to 2018.

“I’ve always been a starter,” said Harris, whose girlfriend and his parents attended last years Can-Am all-star game in New York after his selection to it. “That’s where I really need to be. That allowed me to get in the groove.”

Harris said he has heard from Major League Baseball clubs, namely the Chicago Cubs during the past two years. “I’ve always had the competitiveness,” he said. “It’s always been the end-game stats.”

His 2019 stats were the type of numbers MLB clubs desire, he said, so he is hoping to have a chance at affil iated ball again.

He has been conditioning five days a week and throwing six days a week as he prepares for the upcoming season.

Send updates about area athletes to Barbara Boxleitner at jdanddoc@gmail.com.