Meet AJ King — the Caledonia catcher chasing the MLB

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Meet AJ King. He is 15, from Caledonia, and he catches (and plays second base) for the U15 Ontario Royals. AJ traded in his soccer cleats for a t-ball glove back when he was six years old, and he has not looked back since. These days he is chasing something big: a shot at university ball, and maybe, just maybe, the MLB. Here is his story, in his own words.

His Story

AJ's baseball story started with a simple decision. He did not want to play soccer anymore, so at six years old he signed up for t-ball in Ancaster. That small first step turned into nine years and counting behind the plate and around the infield.

His proudest moment came in U13, when he traveled all the way to Vancouver to play in the Intermediate Little League Canadian Championship. For a kid from Caledonia, suiting up at a national tournament on the other side of the country is the kind of memory that sticks for life.

Ask AJ who shaped him most, and he points straight to his dad. His dad is the one who pushes him to work harder, and the one who connected him with Mason Ault, a mentor who has helped AJ sharpen his game over the years. That mix of family in his corner and a coach who believes in him has carried AJ from the Ancaster t-ball diamonds to a roster spot with the Ontario Royals.

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What's Next

AJ is not shy about his goals. He wants to play at the university level, and he has his eyes set even higher, on the MLB. It is a big dream, and AJ is the kind of player who is willing to put in the work to chase it down.

And if baseball does not take him all the way? AJ already has a backup plan he loves. He wants to be a gym teacher and a coach, staying close to the game and passing it on to the next group of kids coming up. Either way, baseball stays right at the center of his story.

Who He's Thanking

AJ wants to give a shoutout to the people who have been in his corner from the start. He thanks his parents, who have pushed him to keep getting better and shown up for him along the way. He thanks Mason for the years of guidance. He gives a nod to Mikey, and to all the coaches who have shaped him over the years. Behind every kid chasing a big dream is a whole roster of people making it possible, and AJ knows exactly who his are.