Nolan Weinmeyer, 17, is helping bring some Island representation to Canadian baseball.
Weinmeyer, who grew up in Sidney, was selected as a shortstop and second baseman for Baseball Canada鈥檚 Junior National Team. The Sidney resident got the call he鈥檇 made the team on Sept. 14; he鈥檚 the only player from Sidney and is one of two Vancouver Island players to make the 28-man roster.
鈥淚t was super cool because it was a goal of mine for a while, and when I got the call saying I was on the team, it was surreal, almost,鈥� said Weinmeyer.
The decision, however, was less surprising to his dad, Brad Weinmeyer. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really proud of him. I鈥檓 not so shocked鈥攈e鈥檚 put in a lot of work over the years,鈥� his dad said.
鈥淲hen he hit 13, you could see that it was what he wanted to do.鈥�
Brad Weinmeyer said Nolan can credit his success to his coachability and his passionate work ethic. 鈥淲e always call him the baseball rat because, you know, he is going to be at the facility. He鈥檚 always working at baseball,鈥� Brad said.
Weinmeyer made his debut with the team in October when he joined them on a trip to the Dominican Republic, where they took part in the Dominican Fall Instructional Camp. The exhibition camp gave the team the opportunity to compete against Dominican Instructional League (DIL) teams 鈥� affiliates of Major League Baseball based in the Dominican Republic.
At the camp, Weinmeyer played a key role in helping Canada defeat the Kansas City Royals鈥� DIL team by closing out the game, retiring the Royals鈥� final three batters, and cementing the team's victory. He also helped turn the tide in Canada鈥檚 game against the San Diego Padres鈥� DIL team with an RBI single in the fifth inning.
But it wasn鈥檛 just his success on the field that Weinmeyer took away from the trip. 鈥淛ust to see how life is down there, it was super eye-opening on how fortunate we are to be living here with all the stuff that we have.鈥�
Making the Junior National Team is the most recent step in a baseball journey Weinmeyer has been on for most of his life. 鈥淢y dad played鈥攈e was the coach when I was a kid 鈥� so I鈥檝e been around it my whole life, and it鈥檚 been something that I鈥檝e always really enjoyed.鈥�
He鈥檚 come a long way since he began playing baseball at around three years old but is no stranger to representing Vancouver Island. He competed in Major League Baseball鈥檚 Pitch, Hit & Run skills competition in Seattle in 2018. Now, he plays for the Langley Blaze, who finished first in the British Columbia Premier Baseball League鈥檚 (BCPBL) premier division.
Like many young baseball fans, his favourite team growing up was the New York Yankees. He was inspired by players like Derek Jeter and, today, Alex Bregman. While he now plays in Langley, Weinmeyer says growing up on the Island had a unique impact on his baseball career.
鈥淚t was different for sure. When I was growing up, it wasn鈥檛 as popular here as it was in Vancouver or Toronto,鈥� Weinmeyer said.
鈥淚 found a core group of guys that I played with my whole life, and then some coaches that helped us a lot. I think that really helped鈥攑laying with my friends growing up.鈥�
Now, he hopes his success can set a standard for other young ballplayers on Vancouver Island.
鈥淚 think that it will help kids that are growing up in Victoria playing baseball to not look up to me, but see me as proof that just because you're from the Island, it鈥檚 not impossible.鈥�
For some, playing for the Junior National Team might be a nerve-racking experience鈥攑layers get cut and added for each trip. But for Weinmeyer, this isn鈥檛 something he worries about. 鈥淚 go down there to play baseball. I don鈥檛 really think too much about that stuff.鈥�
While making the national team was a milestone for Weinmeyer, it is just another step in his baseball journey as he sets his sights on college next year and, after that, the pros.
For now, though, he鈥檒l focus on his next trip with the Junior National Team when they travel to Dunedin, Fla., for their next camp in April.
