Home BaseballGateway Grizzlies Grizzlies’ Nate Garkow Signed By Blue Jays

Grizzlies’ Nate Garkow Signed By Blue Jays

by Jason Guerette and Mick Lite
The Gateway Grizzlies are pleased to announce that Nate Garkow has been signed by the Toronto Blue Jays, making him the 52nd player in Grizzlies history to sign with an MLB organization, and the second this season after Osvaldo Berrios was inked by the St. Louis Cardinals on June 2.
After putting up a 7-2 record in 40 appearances and a 3.80 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 18 walks in 47 1/3 innings as a trusted reliever out of the Grizzlies’ bullpen in 2023, the Glendora, California native was literally unhittable for the first month of the 2024 season, as he did not surrender a base hit nor any runs over his first 11 appearances spanning nine and two-thirds innings from the start of the season until June 12.
Overall this season, in 17 appearances, the right-hander was 3-0 this season with a 1.72 ERA, using a devastating changeup to strike out a whopping 37 batters while walking just eight along with only four hits allowed in 15 2/3 total innings.
“I am beyond excited for Nate Garkow and the opportunity he has earned with the Toronto Blue Jays,” Grizzlies manager Steve Brook said. “Garkow is at a level right now where I believe he will have success at any level. This signing marks a huge progression for the Gateway Grizzlies as well as the Frontier League as a whole. His success on the field has led to this opportunity more than anything else- it sends a clear message to all of our players that success can and will produce opportunities in Major League Baseball. We are excited to see his career blossom as he continues moving forward.”
Garkow initially came to the Grizzlies in what turned out to be a highly consequential 2022-23 offseason trade from the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association along with pitcher Matt Dunaway in exchange for all-star infielder Trevor Achenbach. Dunaway was then flipped to the Tri-City ValleyCats in exchange for starting pitcher Joey Gonzalez, who was a member of Gateway’s rotation throughout their 2023 West Division Championship season.
The Grizzlies return to action tonight, Friday, June 28, on the road in Florence, beginning a three-game series against the Y’alls at Thomas More Stadium. Kaleb Hill gets the start in the series opener against Florence right-hander Reed Smith, with first pitch scheduled for 6:03 p.m. CT.

Jason Guerette is the Grizzlies' Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations and the "Voice of the Grizzlies." 2023 will be his second season with the organization, handling lead broadcasting duties on the Grizzlies Media Network as well as being in charge of all team press releases and game-day media materials.

2023 will also be Jason's ninth season in the Frontier League after spending 2014-21 in the same role with the Southern Illinois Miners. Overall, he has broadcasted close to 800 games in the league, including playoffs. During the baseball offseason, he serves as a play-by-play broadcaster for Manhattan College and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, with games being seen on ESPN+ among other platforms.

In addition to broadcasting, Jason works as a public address announcer for Seton Hall University women's basketball as well as Columbia University men's and women's basketball. He also spent nine years working "behind the scenes" as a freelance board operator and highlight editor at Westwood One for their coverage of the NFL, NCAA football, and NCAA basketball.

Jason graduated from Seton Hall in 2012 with B.A. in Communication Studies and a minor in Broadcasting & Visual Media.

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Mick Lite served for 12 years in the military and is now an entrepreneur and photographer. Has worked as the official scorer and social media manager for the River City Rascals, Statistician for the Missouri Monsters and St. Louis Attack arena football teams, and as the Team Photographer and social media consultant for the St. Charles Chill, SLU Hockey, St. Louis Slam, and Gateway Grizzlies.

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