Texada Island’s lights-out lefty is back from a year at college in Texas and taking some well-deserved rest at home.
“It was a crazy change from living on a small island to living in the third largest city in the States,” said Isherwood, 19. “I really enjoyed it, but it was long days at school and practice. Super long days.”
Isherwood has three pitches in his baseball toolbox: a sizzling fastball, a curveball and a change-up that baffles batters.
“I really wanted to get drafted and sign a professional contract out of school,” he said. “But I wasn’t ready to be there.”
Last summer Isherwood accepted a scholarship to attend two-year junior college San Jacinto College in Houston, Texas. Isherwood said that he was selected after one of his college coach’s lifelong friends, a San Francisco Giants scout who lives and scouts talent in and around Vancouver, saw him play.
He prefers attending a two-year school over a four-year school because at four-year schools athletes have to wait until they finish before they can be drafted. “At junior colleges you’re eligible every year,” he said.
Playing for San Jacinto has been challenging as a freshman, he added. He shares a room with the only other Canadian on his team.
“Since we’re the only Canadians, the coach will draw a line in the dirt and he’ll say ‘Canadians stand over there, this is our territory,’” he said. “There’s a lot of joking going on.”
Isherwood has plans to return to Houston in September to complete his second year of school and focus on business classes. He is hoping for a nod from the Toronto Blue Jays this time next year, but if that doesn’t happen then he will consider attending a four-year college.
“I’m happy to be back for the summer to relax after everything,” he said. “Right now I’m just resting my arm.”
To keep his pitches in shape he has agreed to play a few games for a Coquitlam team and he is focused on working to bring his fastball pitch speed up to an average of 90 miles per hour. “I throw with my dad every day in my backyard,” he said. “He used to play. He can keep up.”
