York ‘Will Do Anything To Help The Team Win’ At St. Joseph’s

Evan York C / 1B / St. David Catholic, ON / 2025

WATERLOO, Ontario - There was no need for Evan York to consider elsewhere once St. Joseph’s came into the picture.

“Once I got in contact with St. Joseph’s I knew it was the school I wanted to go to,” York said.

After all, the ninth-rated 2025 catcher in Ontario, who has now reclassified to the 2026 class, saw all positives with the Division I university located in Philadelphia.

“It was a personable recruiting process,” York noted. “I went on a visit to the campus in the spring and watched a couple of games. That’s when I developed a personal connection with the coaches. I got to know all three.”

Head coach Fritz Hamburg, recruiting coordinator Jeremy Hileman and catching coach Doc Neiman liked what they saw of York and the process accelerated.

“I got the offer at the end of October,” York related. “Once I got the offer I really wanted to go there. They really develop catchers. I worked through the finances and accepted on Nov. 4.”

York, who is in his final year at St. David Catholic High School before taking a gap year, saw a lot that stood out about St. Joseph’s.

“It’s a very strong academic school and that’s a very big priority in my life,” York said. “Balancing baseball and academics is something I was looking for and St. Joseph’s definitely has that.”

There was a lot that shined about the 6-4 190-pounder.

“My ability to switch hit is one of the biggest things,” York pointed to when it comes to what the coaches at St. Joseph’s liked. “My defense at catcher is another thing. Leadership on the field is something I take pride in. Those three things make me a good fit.”

Switching hitting is something that York has been working at doing.

“I’ve been switch hitting on and off,” reflected York, a natural left-handed hitter. “This is my sixth year doing it.”

A move to the Fieldhouse Pirates club team proved to be a key part of his recruiting process.

“Once I got to Fieldhouse at 15U I was around guys that were committed when I got there or that committed my first year,” York explained. “That was something I thought, if I worked hard for, was attainable.

“It was a constant grind with so much work to put in with switching hitting, it was double the reps. But I love it. It’s something I want to do.”

Improvement was a big part in making an impression.

“The biggest thing for me is strength,” York said. “I weighed 160 when I started my recruitment and now I’m 190. I’ve gained 30 pounds in just over a year. It’s all about being in the gym. I increased my load in the gym from three days a week to six. Now I’m seeing more power at the plate and more extra base hits. Behind the plate my arm strength has gotten better.”

The process, admittedly, took some time.

“It was a bit longer since I started the process as a 2025 but on Aug. 1 reclassified to 2026,” the 17-year-old noted. “Basically it was 15 months going non-stop to camps, making videos and having phone calls with coaches. It was on and off with different schools.

“For me, taking the extra year to get bigger and stronger was big,” York added in reference to the decision to reclassify. “As a 2026 I have an extra year to mature physically so I can make an impact on day one when I get there. The goal now is to make an impact on the field at St. Joseph on the first day.”

Bob Hooper and Jimmy Richardson at Fieldhouse along with “all my coaches past and present” are credited by York with helping the cause in his baseball journey to the Atlantic 10 Conference program.

“My family was with me when I had the calls with coach Hamburg and Hileman at St. Joseph’s,” York reflected about making the commitment. “Afterward I had a special moment with my mom, dad and brother. Then I wanted to tell everyone at Fieldhouse the news because of all they’ve done for me to get me to that point. There’s no way I’d be where I am now without them.”

A 4.0 student looking at a math major and a future in statistics, York is confident about his ability to help the St. Joseph’s baseball program.

“The biggest thing I want to bring is leadership,” York said. “On the field I’m very vocal, talking to pitchers and communicating. I’m a guy that works hard and gives his best effort every day. I’m a team guy above anything else.”

It brings a lot of anticipation when looking ahead to a future playing baseball at the university which is 81/2 hours from home.

“The whole experience is going to be a lot of fun balancing baseball and academics,” York concluded. “I’ve gotten better working on my craft but there are so many goals I have. I want to do anything I can to help the team win.”