A dream comes true for Pier-Olivier Boucher: he was drafted in 10e round (309e overall) by the Atlanta Braves on Monday, becoming the first Quebecer to be called up this current year.
The 23-year-old athlete from Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce exemplified tenacity by being selected in the Major Baseball Draft. Coming through late development, Boucher played for Southern Illinois University in the NCAA this season. In 57 games, he had an excellent .331 batting average and hit 16 homers.
“There is a fast route for the best young baseball players in the province, but in the case of Pier-Olivier Boucher, we can say that he took the detour,” explained Jean-Philippe Roy, director of the Canonniers physical education program in the Quebec region. Being drawn in like that at 23 is the best message he can convey, which is that we must never let go.
Early in his teens, Boucher was unable to take advantage of a baseball physical education program at Beauce. So he finished his high school in the Quebec area, traveled back and forth a lot during his freshman year, and then lived in an apartment to finish his high school.
A good kick
Long before he pursued his dream in the United States, the Beauceron excelled at the AAA junior class with the Condors of Charlesbourg and then served in the Quebec Junior Elite Baseball League.
Photo provided by LBJEQ
“Pier-Olivier excelled at batting with good hand-eye coordination from a young age,” Roy said.
The Braves organization has selected a Quebecer in the major league draft for the second year in a row. In 2022, the Atlanta team chose pitcher Cédric De Grandpré in the 13th round. The presence of Montrealer Alex Anthopoulos as the Braves’ general manager certainly hasn’t been unrelated to the situation.
The Major League Baseball draft resumes Tuesday through Rounds 11-20 and more Quebecers still have hopes of being selected.