Prep Baseball Report

Detroit Western International Cowboys


Bruce Hefflinger
PBR Michigan Senior Writer

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2023 Spring Team Preview: Detroit Western International

DETROIT - Success is nothing new to Detroit Western International since Juan Sanchez took over the program in 2002. There have been 17 district titles, 15 city championships and one regional title in that span, with the Cowboys claiming 14 consecutive Detroit Public School League titles.

The 2023 Western squad is looking to continue the winning ways with six seniors leading the cause.

“Our strength this season is going to be defense and experience with the hope that senior leadership develops into a strength as well,” Sanchez said. “The boys work really hard and spend a lot of time together in the off-season training and building camaraderie.”

Sebastian Jaimes is back for his final year as starting catcher, while also seeing time on the mound and third base.

“He is an amazing leader and has been a starter since day one,” Sanchez said of the team's top hitter a year ago, the seventh-ranked senior catcher in Michigan who hit .407 with 21 RBIs.

Senior outfielder and first baseman Julian Djurasaj, who hit .293 with 21 RBIs, is another major contributor with the bat returning, with a third starting senior back in utility player Abel Gutierrez, a Schoolcraft College commit ranked 81st in the Michigan 2023 class who is expected to pitch, catch and play the outfield.

Two more junior college signees are being counted on in outfielder/catcher Tristan Strong, a Henry Ford College recruit who batted .254 last season and is the 21st-rated senior catcher in Michigan, and Calbin Gonzalez, a Schoolcraft College commit who Sanchez has high hopes for on the mound this year.

Three of the top five hitters on the 2022 team that finished 23-11 were freshmen infielders bringing more promise to this season’s edition of the Cowboys. Justin Diaz, the 50th-ranked sophomore in the state, Norberick Garcia and Julian Contreras will all be back to man infield positions. Diaz hit .304 with 29 runs scored last season, Garcia .344 with 29 runs and Contreras .315 with 22 RBIs and 28 runs.

Contreras, the 10th-rated 2025 shortstop in the state, expected to be a pivotal starting pitcher as well this year. Garcia will also see time on the mound for Western, which lost left-handed ace Derick Garcia, Norberick’s older brother, who is now pitching at J Frontier College in Illinois.

“We have a deep bench and there will be two freshmen pushing for a starting spot and that is what we like,” explained Sanchez in reference to Emilio Zuniga and Rafael Valdovinos, the top-rated 2026 first baseman in Michigan. “Our coaches here work hard to create a super competitive environment and we are anxious to work with this group every day.”

The Cowboys advanced to the regional finals last year before losing 2-1 to Chippewa Valley, breaking a five-season run in which Western was knocked out of the tournament in the regional by U-D Jesuit.

“The keys to success will be how we hit as a team,” concluded Sanchez, who is 263-142 in his time in charge of Western. “I believe our defense and pitching will give us a chance every day and that is all we can ask for.”

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