Sometimes you just need to "give the kid a chance!"
Former Waterloo Warriors Baseball Head Coach, Brian Bishop, used to say that line countless times each season. Whether being dropped in conversation with an umpire, or as a broader mantra for what Warriors Baseball really stood for - it continues to resonate for our current staff.
"Give the kid a chance". In my eyes, that aligns with the way a player like Evan Morrison (Mitchell/) arrived at the University of Waterloo.
Recruiting is an essential part of building a contending program in Canadian University Baseball, especially in the OUA. Evan was the kind of talented, motivated, student that excelled on the field and had the lofty prerequisite grades required to earn admission to a school like Waterloo, whose academic reputation is revered around the world. We pursued Evan early, and made sure he knew how much we valued him.
Normally, a true two-way standout from the Great Lake Canadians would receive plenty of offers to play collegiate baseball south of the border, the most traditional pathway for Canadian kids to put themselves on the map with professional organizations. Some combination of the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on youth sports recruiting, our belief in the kind of difference-making player he could become, and his own desire to pursue a top-rated academic program at Waterloo helped to pave the way for Evan to become a Warrior.
There are certain players who leave a lasting impression on a program — not simply because of what they accomplish on the field, but because of how they approach every challenge.
Evan Morrison (Mitchell/) is one of those players.
When Evan first joined the Warriors, you could immediately tell he was different. He wasn't interested in simply making the roster or putting together a respectable university career. From day one, he had an insatiable desire to improve. Every practice, every bullpen session, every lift, every conversation — he treated each opportunity as another step toward becoming the best version of himself.
As a coach, those are the athletes you never have to motivate.
Evan showed up expecting to be challenged and ready to work.
As a first-year, playing mostly second base beside an OUA all-star (Varun Kuo (Mississauga/)), Evan became an integral part of the lineup, and dominated on the mound as a starting pitcher each weekend as well. By his second year, his ability to defend helped him force his way over to shortstop, and he became the focal point in a stacked Warriors lineup. Tasked with starting some of the toughest assignments on the mound as well, when we gave him the chance to be challenged, he flat out delivered.
What made him special wasn't just his physical ability. It was the way he embraced these challenges. When things were going well, he stayed hungry. When adversity inevitably arrived, he pushed himself harder. Whether it was making adjustments, battling through difficult stretches, or facing higher levels of competition, he consistently found a way to not just respond, but to excel.
That's a rare quality.
Baseball has a way of testing your resolve more than almost any other sport. Success isn't guaranteed, and failure is part of the journey. Evan understood that. Instead of allowing small setbacks to define him, he used them as fuel. Every obstacle became another opportunity to learn and come back stronger.
That mindset elevated not only his own game but many others around him. He was part of a program that was developing into one of the strongest in the OUA, and he thrived on being the guy that other teams knew they'd have to try to beat.
In the summer after Evan's second season with the Warriors, I received a call from Dan Corbin, of the Waterloo Bucks (Iowa) of the Northwoods league, one of the premier collegiate summer baseball leagues in the United States. Dan and I had previously spoken about a couple of OUA players, and his team and league represented the kind of competitive environment that I felt could really challenge a select few of our players.
The Northwoods League regularly yields top MLB Draft picks and features a lot of NCAA Division 1 players. In late June, Dan called again, looking to add a couple of pitchers for the second half of the season. He wasn't interested in anyone in particular at that point, but we had built enough of a relationship that he trusted that the guys we'd consider sending him would be able to handle the experience.
This, in my opinion, was the perfect opportunity for Evan. He soaked up every bit of baseball he could, and loved being challenged. I called Evan to discuss the opportunity and put him in touch with Dan. Evan couldn't wait to get started. We gave Evan the chance to get out there and suit up with the Bucks, and boy did he deliver for them!
When we sent Evan out to Iowa, Alex Gordner (Associate Head Coach), AJ Wideman (Pitching Coach) and I joked that we may never see Evan again. We knew that schools down south would be crazy not to notice him and give him a chance! AJ, more than anyone, knows well what it takes to compete at the highest levels of baseball. AJ was drafted out of high school in the 11th round to the Montreal Expos, was traded straight-up to the Blue Jays for a guy who would play in the big leagues, and also played with Canada's Men's National Team on multiple occasions.
Fortunately for us, Evan came back from the Northwoods League and returned to the Warriors for the fall season. He did so armed with the knowledge that he could more than hold his own against D1-level players, and that fueled his fire more than ever.
The results that fall OUA season spoke for themselves and Evan was named OUA MVP, alongside Toronto standout Owen Taylor. Evan was our guy, and he helped us get to within an out of our first OUA Championship. What an accomplishment that would have been to cap off an incredible season! As heartbreaking as it was to be that close to achieving our team goal only to fall short, it didn't stop Evan from pushing himself in search of another chance to compete and to challenge himself.
He always believed there was another level to reach.
That mentality, combined with his strong play in the Northwoods League offered Evan opportunities competing in the spring, beyond Waterloo and the OUA's fall season. The next chapter included a transfer to McPherson College in Kansas and later to Grand Valley State University in Michigan, and strong showing with the Chatham Barnstormers in the Intercounty Baseball League in 2025.
As expected, he attacked those opportunities with the exact same commitment and work ethic that had defined him here at Waterloo. New teammates. New coaches. Tougher competition. Higher expectations.
Of course, he exceeded those expectations as well.
None of it changed who he was.
He continued doing what he had always done - embracing every challenge and trusting that consistent effort would eventually be rewarded.
That reward arrived in one of the biggest moments of his baseball journey.
Texas.
Hearing Evan Morrison's (Mitchell/) name called in the 10th round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft by the Texas Rangers is an incredibly proud moment for everyone connected to Waterloo Warriors Baseball. His selection represents the highest pick ever used to draft a former OUA Baseball player.
It's validation - not just of his talent, but of years of dedication, sacrifice, perseverance, and unwavering belief in the process. He earned this, the hard way!
For our current players and future Warriors, Evan's story serves as a powerful reminder that extraordinary achievements are built through ordinary habits repeated every single day. Talent may open doors, but character and resilience are what carry you through them.
For our coaching staff, seeing one of our own earn an opportunity like this makes the years of recruiting, training and competing alongside our student-athletes feel even more rewarding.
For the OUA Baseball community, seeing a former OUA MVP get selected in the 10th round - much like former Brock star Shaun Valeriote (39th round to the Blue Jays in 2012) - is further proof that OUA Baseball continues to grow and the level of competition has risen significantly.
The Texas Rangers are getting far more than a talented baseball player. They're getting someone who refuses to be outworked, someone who embraces adversity, and someone whose pursuit of excellence never stops.
Despite his unconventional path to Pro Baseball, I am so glad that the Rangers opted to "give the kid a chance"!
Congratulations, Evan. You earned every bit of this moment, and the entire Waterloo Warriors family will be cheering you on as your professional journey continues.
Rake it up, #10!
The next chapter has just begun!
Ben Norris
Head Coach, Manager of Baseball Operations
Waterloo Warriors Baseball
