THUNDER BAY – Sean Heppner had an idea the Cleveland Guardians might show some interest in him at the MLB draft.
He had no idea just how much.
The Thunder Bay Border Cats reliever was snagged by the American League Central-leading Guardians in the 12th round on Tuesday, 355th overall, one of just a handful of Border Cats players to hear their name called while still with the Northwoods League team.
Pitcher A.J. Schugel, who played two seasons with the Border Cats, was taken in the 25th round of the 2010 draft by the Los Angeles Angels, then promptly left the team to start his journey to the big leagues, where he spent parts of three seasons with Pittsburgh and Arizona.
Heppner too, will leave Thunder Bay, headed south to Arizona to embark on his pro career in the Guardians organization.
“To be honest, I was a little surprised to go that high,” said Heppner, a junior at the University of British Columbia, where he went 6-2 as a starter, posting a 4.79 ERA and holding opposing hitters to a .222 average.
“I’m just honoured to be in that position to go and have a chance to make my dreams come true and play at the big-league level.”
The Guardians have a recent history of developing homegrown pitchers, from two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, to Shane Bieber to Tanner Bibee, last year’s American League rookie of the year runner-up.
“That was one thing I really liked about them,” said Heppner, adding he had conversations with the Guardians during the school year, so he had an inkling they might be interested.
“A lot of the pitchers on their rosters are homegrown guys. They came up through the Guardians organization, so that just shows the quality of the organization. And I know there’s four Canadian pitchers in the organization as well. It’s just kind of cool to be another Canadian guy to get drafted by the Guardians.”
It was a big day for Heppner, said Border Cats manager J.M. Kelly.
“It’s awesome,” Kelly said.
He’s got the talent, the second-year skipper added.
“The fastball plays really well. He’s got the breaking ball; he can spin it for a strike. He’s got to develop a third one he can really trust when he really needs it, but he’s got a really bright future ahead of him because he’s a hard worker. He’s going to do whatever they ask him to do and as good as they think they can make him, he’ll do it.”
In 11 appearances with the Border Cats, Heppner went 1-2 with a 1.83 ERA and five saves, taking on a relief role for the first time since 2022.
His composure on the mound is what he thinks attracted him to Cleveland.
“I’m really good at handling adversity,” Heppner said.
Heppner plans to leave Thunder Bay on Thursday, head home for a bit, then head to Arizona to start mini-camp.
“I’ve always had a dream to play at the next level and as I worked hard and kept grinding and advancing level by level, I kind of realized maybe it could happen,” the 21-year-old Heppner said.
Claw marks: Fourteen former Border Cats have made the major leagues, including seven pitchers, a list that includes Schugel, Boston reliever Greg Weissert and Cincinnati starter Brandon Williamson ... Heppner's UBC teammate, right-hander Vicarte Domingo, was also drafted, taken in the 19th round by San Diego.
