| Jimmy Van Ostrand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Van Ostrand as a coach for theArkansas Travelers in 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Infielder /Coach | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: (1984-08-07)August 7, 1984 (age 40) Vancouver,British Columbia, Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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James O. Van Ostrand (born August 7, 1984) is a Canadian former professionalbaseball player and current Mental Skills Coach for theToronto Blue Jays. Van Ostrand competed for theCanadian national baseball team in numerous international competitions and is now on the staff at the University of Arizona.
Van Ostrand attendedMcMath Secondary School inRichmond, British Columbia. While in high school, Van Ostrand played for the North Delta Blue Jays of theBritish Columbia Premier Baseball League.[1] He was drafted by thePittsburgh Pirates in the 29th round (855th overall) of the2003 MLB draft, but did not sign, choosing to attendAllan Hancock College. Van Ostrand transferred toCalifornia Polytechnic State University, where he played for theCal Poly Mustangs baseball team.[2] He was selected by theHouston Astros in the eighth round (249th overall) of the2006 MLB draft.
Van Ostrand played for theTri-City ValleyCats of theNew York–Penn League in 2006, leading the team to the New York–Penn League Finals.[3] Van Ostrand was named to theSouth Atlantic League All-Star team while playing for theLexington Legends in 2007. That year, he was also named to theAll-Star Futures Game.[2][4] He was named to theCarolina League All-Star team while playing for theSalem Avalanche in 2008. He was promoted to the Double-ACorpus Christi Hooks of theTexas League in 2008. In 2012, he began playing for theSugar Land Skeeters minor league team of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball. On May 26, 2012, Van Ostrand signed with theWashington Nationals.[5]
Van Ostrand played for theCanadian national baseball team in the2007 and2009 Baseball World Cup, winning the bronze medal in 2009. He also played for Team Canada in the2008 Summer Olympics,finishing sixth, and the2011 Pan American Games, where Canada won thegold medal. Van Ostranddrove in both of Canada's runs in the gold medal-clinching victory over theUnited States national baseball team.[4]
In 2014, Van Ostrand started to volunteer coach for theBoston College Eagles. As of 2016, he was the Director of Player Development for the University of Arizona.[6]
He currently works for theToronto Blue Jays as the mental skills coach. He previously worked for theSeattle Mariners.
