Breaking barriers is something Tillie Burlock has become accustomed to at this point in her baseball career.

Last summer she was the only Canadian to head down South to Vero Beach, Florida to take part in Major League Baseball’s first-ever Girls Breakthrough Series.

Just last week Burlock also became the first female to participate in a PBR Canada event.

While it was it was obviously something new and exciting for us here at PBR, Burlock didn’t look out of place. Whether it was cracking a joke with a player, talking with our scouts or her solid mechanics on the infield and mound, Burlock was right in the middle of her comfort zone.

It was easy to see this was nothing new to her.

“At this point I’m used to being the only girl when I step into a baseball activity, whether it be for a game or a tryout,” said the 16-year-old two-way player from the Toronto Cardinals. “I’ve never really been to any event where there’s been another girl so even if it wasn’t with guys I knew from playing against or playing with, for me personally it’s just not really an uncomfortable situation.”

Realistically, the only time she played baseball strictly with girls was at the MLB camp last summer at the Historic Dodgertown facility.

After playing her favourite sport her whole life with boys, it seems an invite by Major League Baseball at age 15 to its first ever all-girls camp would make all of her past baseball experiences worth it. But Burlock says whether she was invited or not, the joy baseball brings to her is what keeps her playing.

“It’s always kind of felt like it was worth it just because I love playing. Whatever sport I am playing I want to make sure I am happy and enjoying it so obviously that’s kind of made it seem like there’s a bit of a future for it,” explained Burlock, a 2020 grad. “I’ve never really had much of an issue in terms of feeling accepted in the baseball world, I’ve been lucky with the teams I’ve played on.”

The passion Burlock has for baseball is apparent in her game and was on full display at the EBLO Scout Day. She had a solid day on both sides of the ball and closed out her day on the mound where she showed the ability to throw strikes with both her fastball and curveball.

But she didn’t come out to the late March showcase just to get some extra reps in. Like most of the prospects in attendance, Burlock is looking to play baseball at the collegiate level after she graduates next summer. She says she’d like to play in the States, possibly an NAIA or D3, but also loves the possibility of playing college ball right here in Canada.

And while she was just looking to help make that goal come to life, she just so happened to become the first girl to use PBR Canada in her search for a post-secondary baseball career.  

“It’s nice to know that I am the first one to do it and I’m sure there will be girls after me to do it,” added Burlock. “Even if a girl decides to play in an all-girls league, just knowing they are not the only one to attend an event like this if they decide that they want to pursue baseball and knowing they have these opportunities and that they would be welcome at a PBR event is definitely a nice feeling.”

With the EBLO Scout Day in the rearview mirror and the regular season looming just about a month away, Burlock knows she has two years left to get after it and says she’s putting in the work to reach her full potential.

Major League Baseball saw the potential in her, now she’s hoping a college coach can see that too.