The lure of playing winter ball in front of professional scouts proved too much for one Loreburn native, so he packed up his bat and glove and headed to Palm Springs this past January and February for a reliever’s role with the British Columbia Bombers baseball team.
Brent Stamnes, 22, took to the mound seven times for the Bombers during their Jan. 19 to Feb. 9 season in the California Winter League (CWL) going 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA. In seven innings pitched, the 6’2″ 205 lb right-hander struck out six batters while allowing 10 walks and seven earned runs for the 6-12 Bombers.
“They called me one day at work and asked me to play baseball in Palm Springs in January,” said Stamnes, who earned the honour through his time playing with the Western Major Baseball League’s Saskatoon Yellow Jackets, a top collegiate team. “I couldn’t pass that up.”
Stamnes said the eight-team CWL is a minor league for free-agent players looking to gain attention from scouts for future contracts with independent teams or even minor league teams affiliated with big league clubs. He said this winter was his first time playing in the league and he was really pleased with the strong ability of the players who took to the field each day.
“There were a lot of guys in the league that have played independent or top-notch college ball or with a minor league affiliated team,” he said. “It was the top free agents looking for a job.”
Stamnes, who grew up playing ball in Loreburn and Davidson before moving on to play AAA baseball with the Moose Jaw Canucks as a midget player, said he originally played shortstop, but was moved to a pitcher’s role while suiting up with the Vancouver Island University Mariners.
“I figured out I had a good arm and I could throw, so I stuck with pitching after that,” he said, noting he utilizes four pitches including a curve, slider, a fastball that averages 88 m.p.h. and a changeup that sails over the plate 10 to 11 m.p.h. slower. “I try to set batters up to get them out with my high fastball, but my strongest pitch would be my curve.”
A tendon tear in his elbow forced Stamnes out with six days left in the regular season, but he said if given the chance he’d be back next year for another go at winter ball.
“Right now I’m doing (physiotherapy) to heal up my elbow, but I’m hoping to go for an open independent league tryout somewhere in May and to try and keep strong for next winter.”