Poirier Sees Development Ahead At Miami Of Florida

Max Poirier RHP / Okotoks Dawgs Academy, AB / 2025

NANAIMO, B.C. - Traveling is just part of being a player on the Okotoka Dawgs. It helped prepare Max Poirier for what lies ahead after a college commitment to Miami of Florida.

“It’s a really good baseball program,” Poirier said of the university, an estimated drive of between 50 and 60 hours from his home in British Columbia. “They showed they’re able to develop pitchers which I like. They had three drafted last year.”

Miami got a glimpse of the 150th-ranked senior right-handed pitcher in North America while he was playing for the Canadian Junior National 17U team in North Carolina.

“One of the Miami coaches asked my coach who I was and after the game introduced himself and said he was super interested in me,” Poirier related. “My family was amazed and we set up an official visit in September.”

It proved to be a game changer.

“The coaches were super nice and the facilities were amazing,” the Okotoka Dawgs Academy senior said. “They offered and my family and I took a week to decide and then I committed.”

Portland and Gonzaga were other schools being considered by the 481st-rated 2025 in North America.

“It was stressful trying to handle everything,” Poirier explained. “The coaches with the Dawgs had a good perspective on what was good and what I should look for. They were really helpful. They have a lot of connections.”

The idea of playing at the highest level collegiately has been around for some time.

“I’ve always wanted to play college baseball,” Poirier said. “Division I is tough, but it really shows how good you have to be. You have to be one of the better players in North America and it pushes you.”

Miami saw an enormous amount of potential in the 17-year-old.

“They said they like that I’m an east-west guy,” noted Poirier, who uses a low ¾ arm slot delivery. “My sinker tails which pitching coach (Laz) Gutierrez likes, it’s hard to hit that. I can jam them with the sinker and then get them outside with my sweeper.”

The 481st-rated 2025 in North American believes he can make an impact in the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division program.

“I hope to be competing from day one as a starter,” Poirier said. “I’m planning to give my team quality innings and the best chance to win. It’s about weak contact with the bat, limiting hard hit balls. Put the team before yourself.”

Poirier pointed to his parents and trainer as being major influences in his baseball journey.

“My parents have always been there keeping me on track and helping me believe in myself when I wasn’t confident,” Poirier explained. “Isiah McDonald, my trainer who is now with the Yankees’ organization, is someone who helped me when I was young.”

Adding size proved to be beneficial in aiding development according to Poirier.

“I’ve really improved my strength,” the 6-4 165-pound right-hander related. “I’m not physical now, but putting on 10 pounds helped me go from the mid-80s to upper-80s and low-90s. It has hitters more conscious about my fastball.”

A commitment is called a “dream come true” by Poirier.

“Division I baseball has been a dream of mine,” Poirier said. “I’ve always wanted to see if I can play at that level. It means a lot that they want me and want to develop me. This is just amazing for me and my family.”

A major in criminal justice is in the works for Poirier, a 3.45 student ready for the challenges ahead at the university located in southeast Florida.

“I’m looking forward to working with pitching coach Gutierrez,” concluded Poirier about the Miami assistant who played in the Red Sox organization as well as serving as the mental skills coordinator in Boston. “He sees he can develop me and can definitely improve me to be the best I can be. He’s going to get every ounce out of me.”