Andy Yerzy


Andrew Jacob Yerzy is a Canadian professional baseball catcher and first baseman in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.

Early life

Yerzy, a native of Toronto, Canada, was born to David and Patricia Yerzy, and has two older brothers. His paternal grandparents were Eric Yerzy and Sonia Yerzy. His maternal grandparents were Cheuck Yu Wong and Shun Kiu Susan Wong. He attended York Mills Collegiate Institute in Toronto.

Career

Amateur career

Yerzy was selected for the Junior Canadian National Baseball Team at the age of 15. Yerzy was co-champion of Major League Baseball's Junior Home Run Derby at the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Yerzy was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, 52nd overall.
He was the third-highest Major League Baseball draft pick ever from the Greater Toronto Area, behind Josh Naylor and Joey Votto. He had signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Notre Dame, but instead signed for a signing bonus of $1.214 million. It was the 11th-highest bonus ever given a Canadian baseball player. Arizona scouting director Deric Ladnier said: "He has massive power."
After being drafted, at the age of 17, Yerzy played for both the AZL Diamondbacks and the Missoula Osprey in 2016. He posted a combined.216 batting average with one home run and 16 RBIs in 45 total games between both teams. After the 2016 season, Baseball America ranked him Arizona's #14 prospect.
He spent 2017 with Missoula. Yerzy greatly improved over his debut, batting.298/.365/.524 with 13 home runs, 45 RBIs and an.890 OPS in 54 games.
Yerzy played all of 2018 with the Hillsboro Hops, slashing.297/.382/.452 with eight home runs, 34 RBIs, and 34 walks in 63 games. He was both a Northwest League Mid-Season All Star and a Northwest League Post-Season All Star for Hillsboro.
Yerzy split 2019 between the Hillsboro Hops and the Kane County Cougars in the Class A Midwest League, batting a combined.179/.279/.275 with 46 walks, six home runs, and 39 RBIs in 357 at bats. His 34 RBIs and 37 walks with Hillsboro were both 6th in the league.

International career

Yerzy was selected Canada national baseball team at the 2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup and 2019 Pan American Games Qualifier and 2019 WBSC Premier12.