October 12, 2022
By Kevin Glew
Cooperstowners in Canada
Regina, Sask., native Stu Scheurwater is part of the umpiring crew working the National League Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.
Scheurwater was the third base umpire in the Phillies’ 7-6 win in the opener on Tuesday.
Bill Miller is Scheurwater’s crew chief. David Rackley, Nic Lentz, Chad Fairchild and Ryan Blakney are also umpiring the series. If the regular rotation is followed Scheurwater would be calling balls and strikes in Game 4 (if necessary).
This is the second MLB postseason Scheurwater has worked. In 2020, he umpired the Braves and Cincinnati Reds Wild Card Series, as well as the Miami Marlins and Braves National League Division Series.
Scheurwater was hired as a full-time major league umpire prior to the 2018 season.
The 39-year-old Canadian, who umpired his first big league contest on April 25, 2014, had 253 games of major league experience under his belt before he was hired full-time.
Prior to his pro career, Scheurwater honed his skills through Baseball Canada’s National Umpiring program. Among his assignments were the Baseball Canada Cup in Medicine Hat, Alta., in 2005 and the 21U National Championships in Guelph, Ont. the following year.
His road to the big leagues in the professional ranks began in the Arizona League in 2007. He then worked in the Northwest, South Atlantic, Carolina and Texas leagues prior to calling games for six triple-A seasons.
Scheurwater is the first full-time Canadian big league umpire since Montreal native Jim McKean, who worked games from 1974 to 2001.
Thanks for the info. Nice to see a Canadian umpiring.
Thanks for reading and your support.
I think it was 2020 he umpired the NLDS. The Marlins weren’t in the playoffs last year.
You are correct and I knew that when I was writing it, but somehow I typed 2021. Duh by me. Thank you for letting me know.
Stu – we are proud of you, and you inspire more people than you could imagine! Good for you, for putting in the work for all of those years, and now being full-time, and getting play-off games. You have no doubt made countless sacrifices, and had some dog nights asking yourself, “What am I doing?” Congratulations for making it all the way to the top!