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Another Saskatchewan baseball product has entered the Major League Baseball pipeline.
The MLB draft was held July 11-12, and Carnduff, Sask., product Carter Beck was selected by the Atlanta Braves with the 26th overall pick.
He became the highest-drafted player from Saskatchewan, surpassing Logan Hofmann, who was drafted 138th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020.
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Beck appeared in 57 games with the Indiana State Sycamores in the NCAA’s Missouri Valley Conference this season. Along with a .346 batting average – which was second on Indiana State – the outfielder had 16 home runs and 59 runs batted in (RBI), leading the team.
He also spent time with the Saskatoon Berries of the Western Canadian Baseball League, slashing .385 with 65 hits, nine home runs and 43 RBI in 43 games.
While Beck is making waves in baseball as a first-round draft pick, he has been doing so in Saskatchewan for years. He long ago caught the attention of Saskatchewan Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame president Earl Berard.
“The first time I saw Carter was in Moose Jaw a couple of years ago, and then last year in Saskatoon. He’s playing center field and a strong batter. He is known for hitting home runs,” Berard said.
“He can run with the wind, and his arm – he has been clocked at 94 miles an hour. Major league standard is 96. But they will coach him to develop,” Berard explained. “Now with the Atlanta Braves, that is a really good achievement for him.”
Beck has been on the baseball hall of fame’s radar for nearly a decade, as he received a scholarship from the organization in 2015 for his play.
With Beck becoming the first player from Saskatchewan to be drafted in the first round, Berard said it is a benchmark for baseball in the province.
“Shows all of our younger players to have goals to strive for and it’s possible to do. But he’s not in the major leagues yet. He’ll have steppingstones to go through. But at least he’s (drafted). That’s the most important part.”
Beck wasn’t the only Canadian drafted by the Braves in the 2026 draft. He was joined by Langley, B.C., native Cole Dorland, who was taken in the 13th round. They now sit alongside Okotoks, Alta., product Eric Hartman as the three Canadians currently in the Atlanta Braves system.
