Chilliwack含羞草研究社檚 Connor Dykstra has signed his first professional contract with the Seattle Mariners following the conclusion of this year含羞草研究社檚 MLB Draft. 

含羞草研究社淭he phone call from the Mariners organization is something I含羞草研究社檒l never forget, it turned everything into a reality,含羞草研究社� said Dykstra. 含羞草研究社淐alling my parents (Tina and Gord) and giving them the news was special, hearing their pure joy and excitement pour out was a great moment we had together.含羞草研究社�

Dykstra, who graduated from Sardis Secondary School, spent his collegiate career in Fairfax, Virginia playing for the George Mason Patriots Division-1 baseball team. 

With the Patriots, Dykstra quickly came into his own behind the plate appearing in 161 games 含羞草研究社� 159 of which he started 含羞草研究社� garnering a .992 fielding percentage. On the offensive side of things he finished with a .291 batting average and .908 OPS. 

2023 was a standout year for the backstop who collected career highs in hits (57), doubles (18), home runs (9), RBI (48) and runs scored (45). His efforts helped the Patriots to just their second-ever Atlantic-10 Conference Championship which ended in him being named to the All-Conference First Team.

Dykstra also spent three seasons playing premier collegiate summer ball, with his most recent season spent with the Victoria HarbourCats in the West Coast League. 

It was a successful draft for the HarbourCats who, including Dykstra, saw five players signed or selected in this year含羞草研究社檚 draft. 

含羞草研究社淲e are immensely proud of these players, their hard work and dedication to the game and to our program when they were wearing our uniform,含羞草研究社� said HarbourCats managing partner Jim Swanson. 含羞草研究社淭hese are tremendous young men, each has their own story and it含羞草研究社檚 one of excellence and high achievement. 

含羞草研究社淲e hope they all make the steps to reach the MLB level and join the six players we have already produced since the HarbourCats landed in 2013.含羞草研究社�

Despite the accomplishment, Dykstra knows he has his work cut out for him. 

含羞草研究社淥nce I finally put pen to paper, it was like 含羞草研究社榦h OK now this is real含羞草研究社�, everything leading up to that point still hadn含羞草研究社檛 set in, but after signing it became reality,含羞草研究社� said the 23-year-old. 含羞草研究社淚'm looking forward to developing into a better man and baseball player as this process continues, and not taking each day for granted.含羞草研究社�

Dykstra is expected to join the Mariners rookie-ball affiliate the Arizona Mariners in the Arizona Complex League.