Meet the Fish: Dawson Tweet
Dawson Tweet was surrounded by baseball growing up.
The 22-year-old infielder for the Welland Jackfish hails from Russell, Man., a small town of less than 2,000 located approximately 15 kilometres east of the Saskatchewan border and 340 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, not the first place one would think of as a baseball hotbed.
But Tweet had a father who was a baseball coach, a batting cage in his backyard and quickly developed a passion for the game.
“It was never easy,” Tweet said. “I was lucky. We had a batting cage in my backyard and my brother is only two years younger so we would always be back there after school as much as we could and dad was always great coming out throwing whenever we asked him.
“I was very fortunate to have that baseball family. I was very lucky.”
Tweet played hockey at the high school level and enjoyed it, but baseball was always No. 1.
“My dad coached at collegiate level and so it was always part of our family and our everyday,” Tweet said. “He worked hard to build up the baseball around Russell. It became a thing. Me and my buddies always would go out and get extra reps and hang out whenever we could and it always seemed to be at the ball park.”
Tweet’s passion and talent led him to William Jewell College in Missouri. In two year with the Cardinals, Tweet recorded a .347 average with 36 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs and 83 RBI in 98 games played.
Tweet also suited up for the Moose Jaw Miller Express of the Western Canadian Baseball League where he had a .398 average with 58 RBI in 89 games played. Following the 2023 WCBL season, Dawson was named the Most Outstanding Canadian.
While with the Express, Tweet was coached by former Jackfish and Niagara Falls native Eric Marriott, who spoke in glowing terms of his time in Welland.
“He always talked so highly of it and how well they treat the players and the atmosphere and it seemed like a place I wanted to be so I gave it a chance,” Tweet said.
Tweet’s skill set is a perfect fit for the Jackfish.
“He’s one of the athletic guys we like to go after,” Jackfish manager Brian Essery said. “He can play multiple positions, hit in multiple spots in the lineup. He’s leading off the last few games so it gives us some flexibility. He can hit anywhere in the lineup through, from top to bottom. He’s one of those grinders who does whatever he can to get on base. He can steal bases too.”
Tweet grew up catching but moved all over the diamond in an effort to stay in the lineup as much as possible.
“My dad always encouraged playing everywhere. He would say if you can hit then you can play but you better be able to play everywhere,” Tweet said.
Tweet has settled in at second base for the Jackfish and is enjoying the experience.
“I’m loving it here. Upper management takes care of us and older players have been great helping me make the transition to the next level. The leadership here is very solid.”
Tweet is also taking in what Niagara has to offer. He has yet to see Niagara Falls, but recently went to see the Blue Jays in Toronto and rode a train for the first time.
“It’s a beautiful area,” he said.
Tweet is working on his masters in sports psychology with the hopes of coaching at the university level when he playing career is over.
Fish wrappings: The Jackfish have added pitchers Enrique Saldana, a 24-year-old Panama native who will start Saturday, and Canadian Brandon Markland, who pitched in the Kansas City Royals organization. Markland is a hard thrower who will be worked into the rotation.