Kyle Orr (Victoria, B.C.) was the first Canadian to be selected in the 2006 Major League Baseball entry draft, today, being chosen with the seventh pick in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I hear the Dodgers organization is great for minor-leaguers and they’ve been really good to me along the way,” said the 17-year-old Lambrick Park Secondary School student who worked out at Dodger Stadium last week. “It’s just an honour because there are a lot of quality people over there.”
A projected power hitter, Orr played a key role in helping the Canadian National Junior Team earn a third place finish at the World Junior AAA Championship qualifier last September. His offensive skills will once again be called upon when Team Canada travels to the World Championship in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, Sept. 17-27.
"Kyle brings a tremendous presence to the middle of our lineup as well an outstanding leadership abilities on and off the playing field," said Baseball Canada's junior national team head coach, Greg Hamilton.
The 6’5”, 205-pound Orr, who brings a left-handed bat to the lineup, has shown plenty of versatility in the past, playing four separate positions and being used as a designated hitter for the Canadian National Junior Team.
Orr becomes the third Canadian in the Dodgers’ system, joining fellow Baseball Canada national team alumni Eric Gagné (Massouche, Qué.) and Russell Martin (Chelsea, Qué.) as well as catcher Eric Langill (Kirkland, Qué.) who is currently playing for the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s.
“It’s definitely good knowing that there are others that have made it in your position,” Orr said of Canadian connections in Los Angeles.
Orr, who has singed a letter of commitment to attend Kentucky University, has not yet decided whether he will sign with the Dodgers right away or opt to play for the Wildcats in Lexington, KY this fall.
“I haven’t decided yet so we’ll see what happens,” he said. “I’m just kind of taking all of this in right now to make sure I make the right decision.”
