Cover Story By: Tim Rigby
Sports fans throughout Toronto and across Canada, remember this name: Owen Diodati.
One of the most exciting Canadian sports prospects in recent years is currently playing baseball for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and killing it. Diodati is a sophomore catcher/outfielder hailing from Niagara Falls (A. N. Myer High School) with golden boy good looks that suggest he could have been plucked off a California beach. “Dio,” as he’s affectionately known on the Tuscaloosa campus, was in fact highly scouted for not only baseball but also hockey, having excelled in both sports until he committed to go the baseball route at the age of 16.
Specifically, the ultra-athletic (6-foot-3 and 210 pounds) Diodati was drafted by both the Toronto Blue Jays and the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was also a member of the Canadian Junior National baseball team and was ranked #363 on the list of top draft prospects by Baseball America. On the ice, Owen was known for a booming slap shot, and not surprisingly, he’s got some serious thunder in his bat with a penchant for launching moon shots over the right field fence.
Diodati’s athleticism is likely attributable to incredible family genes. His grandfather, Doug Rombough, played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for five years with Buffalo, New York (Islanders), and Minnesota. Owen’s father Ryan was also a standout NCAA Division 1 baseball player and coached Owen in tee ball from the age of four. Each of his siblings and cousins also excelled at their respective sports.
It just clicked in my head that I wanted to be playing and studying down at the University of Alabama.
OWEN DIODATI
Mr. Clutch – In Life and in Baseball
During the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, Owen was forced to make a life-altering decision on the spot at the tender age of 18. The Blue Jays selected him in the 29th round, and made him a very generous offer. With composure and responsibility, Dio decided to forego the great deal in his midst and pursue his education.
“It just clicked in my head that I wanted to be playing and studying down at the University of Alabama,” said Diodati. “The plan is to graduate after three years with a double-major in Finance and Accounting, then re-enter the draft.”
Throughout his baseball career down in Dixie, the left-handed hitting Diodati has already become legendary for his ability to pound the apple. He’s also garnered a formidable reputation for coming through in the clutch, as he’s hit grand slams with the bases full – not once, not twice – but three times already, with a long way to go in the season. At press time, he also leads the entire Alabama team in home runs and RBIs.
As a human highlight reel, Owen has been the difference in the outcome of games several times. On March 19 this year, facing the #1 nationally ranked University of Arkansas, he crushed a home run plus hit another single, cashing in four RBIs as Alabama romped 16-1.
Making Canada Proud
Over the years, Canada has produced a handful of baseball superstars who’ve garnered incredible success in the major leagues. Diodati has continuously been inspired by these trail-blazers and hopes to follow in their footsteps.
“Larry Walker is the most obvious successful player out of Canada, and there have also been a lot of other guys like Joey Votto, Russell Martin, and Justin Morneau. To accomplish what they’ve done would be extremely meaningful as a Canadian,” said Diodati. “I’d be very happy to come home and play for Toronto. But I’m free to join any team. It would also be nice to play for a high-profile, warm weather team like the Los Angeles Dodgers.”
Again, with maturity far advanced of his years, Owen already knows that sports is just a microcosm of life, and it can often be a short-lived one at that.
“Ultimately, there’s more to life than baseball and it doesn’t clearly define entirely who I am. There’s also a career in business out there for me, and my long-term goal would be to achieve success in investment banking.”
There is little doubt that success is on its way for Owen Diodati, and the next two years will be incredibly exciting for this outstanding young athlete and scholar.
Canadian sports fans, stay tuned!
