Green Giants a professional launch pad for players
It is more than just a child’s dream of one day being a Major League Baseball player for members of the St. Clair Green Giants.
For the Green Giants, who are the newest member of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League, professional baseball is very much an attainable goal.
“We’ve got two that I’m sure will one day play in the majors, five more that, if they develop, could and another 10 that want to be and that’s the joy and the motivation,” Green Giants head coach Dave Cooper said.
The Green Giants play their first of 21 home dates Wednesday against the Lake Erie Monarchs at Lacasse Park. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
“It’s awesome for me,” said Green Giants catcher Matt Deneau, who is from Amherstburg. “It’s just a good opportunity for a lot of college guys. It’s definitely going to draw a crowd and bring a lot of excitement.”
Deneau was the first player Cooper tried to recruit when
the Green Giants were formally announced, but he had already committed to playing in another league.
When the coach he had promised to play for had to pull out, he turned back to Cooper.
“I played for the (Windsor) Selects growing up, but (Cooper) picked me up for nationals with Tecumseh (Thunder in 2013) and I liked the way these guys coached,” Deneau said. “It is nice to be home.
“The experience is different from going away, but it’s really good knowing the community and everyone around you. I’m very excited. I’ve heard the league’s pretty good and, this team, we’ve got some big arms and big bats.”
Cooper and general manager Chico LaBute spent a hectic offseason recruiting talent from across the Western Hemisphere to put this roster together.
“There’s a lot of anticipation,” Cooper said. “I don’t know what others teams are like, but these kids can play.”
Green Giants left-hander Pedro Julio Astacio Jr. is the son of former major league righthander Pedro Astacio.
His dad spent 15 seasons in the majors with eight teams and won a World Series with Boston, but this was his first trip to Canada and he’s not disappointed.
“This is awesome,” Astacio said of playing with the Green Giants. “I never expected to play summer ball, workout at a $25 million facility (the St. Clair SportsPlex) with a nice group of guys. This is as close as we’ve come to pro baseball.”
Astacio said he had no concerns about signing when approached by the Green Giants to sign, and the chance to play with the team provides another chance to grow and chase his dream.
“No hesitation for me,” Astacio said. “As long as I get to play, progress and get better and reach the goal I have. I think I have a chance. The more chance to be seen, you never know.”
It’s that passion for the game and excitement in chasing the dream that also has Cooper fired up for this season.
“We want to coach kids that want to win as much as us,” Cooper said.
“This fills a void and people in Windsor are going to see throwback baseball.
“You’re going to see kids that hustle and are motivated and it’s going to be entertaining.”