Trey Newman, a 20-year-old catcher from Utah Valley University is the first ever player to sign with the Kamloops NorthPaws.

“He has everything you look for in somebody you’re going to have behind the plate,” said head coach Cole Armstrong. “He’s really good defensively. He can really catch and throw the ball, and he works great with the pitching staff.”

Armstrong adds he won’t be surprised if the 20-year-old right-handed hitter from Phoenix, Arizona becomes a fan favourite at Norbrock Stadium.

“He’s always at the centre of the clubhouse, a guy everybody likes to be around,” Armstrong said. “He plays with a lot of energy and grit.”

Newman and Armstrong have worked together on multiple occasions in the past including during the Arizona Collegiate Wood Bat League season.

“The amount that he cares is crazy. He put in more hours than anybody in the player development side of it,” Newman said of Armstrong. “That’s a guy that’s been in baseball a really long time. He’s been through it and he’s going to have the players’ best interest in mind. He’s a great guy to play for.”

Trey’s grandfather, Jeff, played nine Major League seasons with the Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox while his uncle Ryan is a manager in the Chicago White Sox minor league organization.

The Kamloops NorthPaws are set to begin their inaugural West Coast League season on June 4, 2021.

Photos via UVU Athletics