Ryder Farrer showing major commitment to achieve baseball dreams

Ryder Farrer on the mound for Team Alberta. Image submitted.

Ryder Farrer can throw heat, he can hit the ball far. 

Those are two darn good attributes to have in a game like baseball. 

But it’s no fluke. 

For the past four years, Farrer has committed to the game he loves: one that involves several 2.5 hour drives one way, waking up early for workouts, and giving up other sports to play ball. 

The ball player who began with Bonnyville Minor Ball is soaring to new heights.

“My second season, we were four days a week, commuting Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, to Sherwood Park,” said Farrer.

“It’s been a huge commitment, and obviously for parents too. I’m super grateful for them. A lot of people have helped out to get me on my way.”

With a rigorous weekly routine, he’s trained with local Reg Rivard to help him with his pitching.

The work is being noticed. 

While playing AAA baseball in Sherwood Park, it led to numerous opportunities, including multiple trips south of the border for tournaments, and now new opportunities to play in Arizona and Vancouver in the coming weeks. 

In total, he’s suited up for a dozen different teams. From his start with the Bonnyville Braves, to the Team Alberta North playing in Kamloops, to travel teams called Big League Experience and Going Yard Goats out of Saskatoon, he’s covered hundreds of thousands of kilometres through the game of baseball.

Last year was a standout season for Farrer. 

He was named the U15AAA MVP, and average two strikeouts an inning, while clocking speeds up to 80 miles per hour on his fastball. 

This includes an electric performance on the mound, where he struck out 14 of 15 batters on the Okotoks Dawg U15AAA Black Team over five innings of work this past season.  

In the future, Farrer is committed to the Central Alberta Sox Baseball Academy, but his goal isn’t just to play collegiate — he wants to be in the show and lace them up in Major League Baseball. 

“That’s the goal.”